Notices

Welcome Back to School - Security Updates

By Jerry Tylutki

September 2, 2025

Stay Alert: Phishing and Scam Awareness

As we start the new year, please remember that Hamilton College will only reach out via your official Hamilton College email address for any college-related communications. If you receive emails at your personal email account claiming to offer job opportunities or other ways to engage with the college, please treat these as phishing attempts and delete them immediately.

Be wary of all suspicious emails – sophisticated phishing attempts can look like legitimate DocuSign requests, PayPal notices, banking error notifications, or other trusted services. These fraudulent emails are becoming increasingly convincing and may appear to come from familiar organizations.

Never provide personal information via email or over the phone to anyone claiming to be from the Help Desk or Hamilton College staff. When in doubt, contact us directly through official channels to verify any requests.

Report Security Incidents Immediately

If you feel threatened online or in person: Reach out to the support services the college offers. Contact Campus Safety at campo@hamilton.edu or visit https://www.hamilton.edu/offices/safety

• Emergency: 315-859-4000
• Non-Emergency: 315-859-4141
• Get to know the Campus Safety staff members: https://www.hamilton.edu/offices/safety/meet-our-staff

For information security concerns (everything from confirming a suspicious email to receiving a phone call and inadvertently buying a gift card, or clicking on a link and entering your username and password):

• Hamilton College Help Desk: helpdesk@hamilton.edu or calling 315-859-4181
• Director of Information Security and Privacy: jtylutki@hamilton.edu

Remember: Your password is yours. Never share your password with anyone - not IT staff, not supervisors, not anyone claiming to be from tech support. Legitimate Hamilton staff will never ask for your password.

Download the Everbridge Emergency Alert App

Everbridge Mass Notification is the primary emergency alerting system for Hamilton College. Members of the Hamilton Emergency Response Team and Campus Safety will send push notifications through the Everbridge Mobile app, SMS text messages, and email messages to our entire community.

Hamilton College campus email addresses are automatically loaded for all students, faculty, and staff members. Mobile phone numbers are loaded but should be confirmed to ensure you receive critical alerts.

To stay connected:

• Download the Everbridge Mobile App from the Apple App Store or Google Play
• Once downloaded, search for "Hamilton College" under Organizations
• When prompted, login with your Hamilton username and password to receive push alerts

Having the app installed ensures you'll receive immediate notifications about campus emergencies, weather alerts, and other critical information.

Zoom AI Companion Now Available

Zoom's AI Companion for meeting notes and transcription is now an approved feature included  in  our Zoom license and is available for use. This tool can assist with meeting documentation and support consistent recordkeeping.

Important reminder: No other AI tools or third-party add-ons should be used to record or transcribe Zoom meetings without prior approval from LITS. 

If you have any questions about using Zoom or the AI Companion feature, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@hamilton.edu.

Generative AI Guidelines

Hamilton College supports the exploration of AI tools and systems that meet our established guidelines. Please review our Generative AI Guidelines before using any AI tools for college work.

For academic use: Students should consult with their faculty members about AI use policies for specific courses and assignments. All use of AI tools must comply with Hamilton College's academic integrity policies. When in doubt about whether AI use is appropriate for an assignment, ask your instructor before proceeding.

Critical reminder: Never copy, paste, or otherwise transfer personal data or sensitive college information to external generative AI tools. This helps protect both individual privacy and institutional data.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

During October, all employees will receive required security awareness training. Please watch for these communications and complete your training promptly. This training helps ensure our entire community stays informed about the latest security threats and best practices.

Windows 11 Migration Updates

The LITS Help Desk has recently notified users with eligible Windows 10 computers about upgrading to Windows 11. If you’ve received one of these notices, please take action promptly to avoid any service disruptions. Microsoft will officially end its support of Windows 10 in October. Upgrading ensures your device remains secure and fully supported within our environment.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions about these updates or information security in general, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk or contact me directly.

Thank you for your attention to these important security matters. Together, we can help maintain a safe and secure digital environment for the entire Hamilton College community.

Best regards,
Jerry Tylutki
Director of Information Security and Privacy