Dear Roadrunners,
Performance-goal season officially kicked off Monday, and I encourage you to begin setting your 2024-25 goals now so you aren’t rushing ahead of the Aug. 30 deadline, when the fall semester is in full swing. Employees can view the Metropolitan State University of Denver events calendar to find details about the virtual goal-setting webinars scheduled for Monday and Aug. 1.
Be aware of phishing scams
It’s important to stay vigilant when it comes to cybersecurity, especially as phishing scams proliferate.
Common phishing tactics include:
- Disguising an email as a useful update.
- Impersonating legitimate organizations or people via emails or text messages.
The goal is to trick recipients into clicking bad links, sharing personal information or unwittingly installing malware.
How to spot a phishing attempt:
- Look for poorly crafted writing with misspellings and bad grammar: “We will play info we hold about you, so you ca be sure this is a genuine request.”
- The sender’s email address doesn’t match the name of the person or company purportedly sending the email. For example, an email from an MSU Denver colleague where the sender’s address ends in “[email protected],” instead of “@sharphover.com” should raise red flags.
- Bizarre or unprofessional subject lines, for example: “MESSAGE FROM C.E.O” or “ATTN: MY DEAR FRIEND.”
If you receive a suspicious email, do not forward or reply to the message. Instead, immediately complete one of the following steps to report it. The exact method will vary depending on how you access your email:
Outlook Web App (email.sharphover.com):
- Right-click the offending email.
- Select “Report.”
- Select “Report phishing” or “Report junk” as appropriate.
Outlook Mobile App
- Highlight the offending email.
- Tap the three dots at the upper right.
- Select “Report Junk.”
- Select “Phishing.”
Outlook Desktop App
- Open the offending email.
- Click the “Report Message” button in the top ribbon.
If you do not have these options, please see How do I install the Report Message Add-In for Outlook?
Please take the time to review this Technically Speaking article that outlines everything you need to know for reporting spam as an MSU Denver employee. MSU Denver no longer supports using the [email protected] email address to report spam. If you receive a phishing email and can’t use the Outlook reporting tool, please open a service request to alert Information Technology Services. Service – Report an IT Security Issue (teamdynamix.com)
Facilities updates
Martha Nelson joins Sharon Lorince as co-interim director
Effective July 1, Martha Nelson, senior project manager, joined Sharon Lorince as a co-interim director of Planning, Design and Construction. This joint interim leadership will remain in place until a permanent director is appointed.
Given Nelson’s tenure at MSU Denver, she has valuable insights on the challenges we are facing, and her presence at the leadership table will be instrumental in guiding our PDC efforts through this time of change.
Lorince will continue to serve as co-interim director, particularly focusing on MSU Denver’s planning initiatives. Her ongoing involvement is crucial, ensuring continuity and depth in our strategic-planning efforts.
Please join me in supporting Nelson and Lorince in their additional roles.
SIM Labs and Project B continue as scheduled
I am also pleased to announce that Project B is on schedule with a planned occupancy date of Aug. 12. MSU Denver Facilities, Information Technology Services and Auraria Higher Education Center staff are working together closely to ensure a smooth transition back to work before the fall semester.
Employees can visit the Facilities website for information including maps, scheduled move dates, frequently asked questions and more.
RTD reroutes free service; LightRail project continues
Lastly, some important commuting news. From now through fall (exact date to be determined), the Regional Transportation District Free MallRide service will run only between Union Station and Champa Street as part of RTD’s Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. Employees who travel to and from Civic Center are encouraged to use the RTD Free MetroRide.
MallRide service will gradually return to 16th Street this fall.
- See Auraria Campus-specific FAQs here.
- See more service changes here.
- See updates and impacts related to the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project here.
Thank you all for continuously engaging with campus-operations updates. You are what makes MSU Denver the best place to be.
Sincerely,
Larry Sampler, chief operating officer and vice president for Administration
