A new rash of phishing attacks against campus email accounts shows why people need to know how to identify and avoid the scams.

In the past week, countless people with UC Davis email accounts have received email messages that pretend to come from senders like the "MyUCDAVIS Technical Team" or "Ucdavis Support." The messages urge recipients to go to a website and enter their user names and passwords.

These sham messages, like others over the years, are trying to steal access to your campus account. If you receive one of these messages, delete it without responding.

If you went to one of the scam sites and entered your information, you need to change your campus passphrase and challenge questions immediately. Call the IT Express Computing Services Help Desk, (530) 754-HELP (4357) if you need help.

Read more in this TechNews article.

Hutchison Drive to close for the summer

The Hutchison corridor improvement project in the center of campus is moving into Phase 2, bringing a summerlong road closure, rerouted buses (A, L and W lines) and a different path for pedestrians.

Construction on the $3.7 million project has been under way since March, mostly on the north side of Hutchison, where the contractor has been putting in new sidewalks, seating walls and landscaping. Next comes the same kind of work on the south side.

And, with the close of spring quarter, and a significant drop in student population, the contractor can go to work in the road: rebuilding about 1,250 feet and installing a larger pipeline for storm drainage, and widening a section of Hutchison in front of the art-music-theater district, while also eliminating a dip in the road and some of the curve in this same section.

Read more.

Blood drive on the Quad, June 26-27

Before heading out for vacation, consider one last bit of important business: the ASUCD Blood and Marrow Drive, Wednesday and Thursday, June 26 and 27. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, in BloodSource bloodmobiles parked along the Quad.

No appointments necessary — just remember to bring a photo ID, and drink plenty of fluids and eat something before donating.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Brie Leon by phone or text, (916) 416-9459, or email, brie.leon@bloodsource.org.

Fire chief named to state’s 911 board

Gov. Jerry Brown has named UC Davis Fire Chief Nate Trauernicht to a two-year term on the State 911 Advisory Board. The unpaid position does not require Senate confirmation.

The board serves as a link between public safety answering points (i.e., police, California Highway Patrol and other agencies that receive 911 calls) and the California 911 Emergency Communications Division, and advises the division on policies, practices and procedures; technical and operational standards; and other 911 matters.

Trauernicht, campus fire chief since 2008, is chair of the Yolo County Emergency Medical Care Committee and president-elect of the California Fire Chiefs Association.

3 women’s teams earn NCAA academic honors

Three UC Davis’ athletics teams — all women’s squads: basketball, gymnastics and tennis — have earned NCAA honors for academic progress.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Public Recognition Awards are given annually to Division I teams whose academic progress rates are among the top 10 percent of all teams in each particular sport. Academic progress rates are calculated on the basis of student-athletes’ retention and graduation, and eligibility for NCAA competition.

The latest awards — 976 in all — recognize academic progress during the four-year period 2008-09 to 2011-12.

UC Davis has had at least two teams receive the awards during each year the NCAA has presented the recognition.

Women’s tennis is the most honored Aggie team, recognized six years running. Women’s gymnastics is the second most honored, recognized three years running. Women’s basketball is on the list for the first time.

UC Davis and Cal State Northridge led the Big West Conference with two awards apiece: basketball and tennis for the Aggies, and  men’s and women’s cross country for the Matadors. The Aggie women’s gymnastics team was the only such team in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation to receive an award, and one of only nine teams out of the federation’s 99 to receive an award.

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