Updates Oct. 11, 11:05 a.m.
The following are updates regarding the cyber attack.
This fall, several higher education institutions have been attacked by sophisticated hackers. New Mexico Highlands University is one of them.
Here is what we know at this point:
- No sensitive information on the university system has been breached.
- Our key business information has not been compromised.
- All employees, including students, staff and faculty, will be paid in full and on time. President Minner has made this a priority. Instructions for filing time sheets are pending. We will announce those here and through a global as more information becomes available.
- We have deep internal expertise to manage and restore the system, but in order to follow best practices, we have engaged statewide, regional and national high-level security firms to assist in removal of the malware and restoring secure service to the university computers. The main network itself has not been affected.
Everyone is reminded not to turn on your computers, and that classes are cancelled until Wednesday, October 16.
Please check back regularly. Information will be updated as we receive it. Check back here or visit nmhu.edu/updates
October 10
Early Wednesday morning, the NMHU network was attacked by malware that blocked access to the servers. No data was compromised, and the university is still holding on campus classes as usual. Please check with professors of on-line classes to confirm if the class will be held.
This is Windows-based malware. Do not log on to the NMHU wireless network if you are using a Windows-based device of any kind.
If you are using a Windows-based operating system, do not turn on your computer until it has been serviced by the ITS department, or your computer may automatically send the virus and delay repairs.
Please note that email, Brightspace and Zoom are available for use outside of the NMHU network, but Banner is temporarily offline.
The ITS department was able to contain the virus by shutting down the network completely on Wednesday. Professional internal and external teams are working with NMHU to clear the system.
Teams from West Las Vegas schools and the United World College will be assisting NMHU’s ITS department in running virus scans on each Windows-based computer on campus and at the centers. This must be done before anyone can turn their computer back on.
If you have a Mac, Android, iPad or iPhone, you may log on to the campus network. The malware was not designed to attack these devices.
Updates will continue on Facebook, via email, and on the website.
We would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and diligence in helping to resolve this issue.
DO NOT TURN ON YOUR COMPUTER! ITS will contact department administrative assistants by phone when you can turn on your computer. University Relations will also share updates via the official NMHU Facebook page.
• IT expects to have the technology issue resolved tonight, so the university’s main campus and centers will reopen at 8 a.m., Thursday Oct. 10.
NMHU Weather Policy
CLASSES: In general, it is the policy of New Mexico Highlands University to remain open during regularly scheduled hours. However, if any students, faculty, or staff believe that weather conditions prevent their traveling safely to the university, they may choose to remain at home. In such cases, students who miss class will be responsible for making up any work missed, and faculty should be reasonable in dealing with individual student situations.
If a two-hour delay is announced for the main campus, courses originating from the main campus starting prior to 9:30am are cancelled. Courses normally starting at 9:30am will begin at 10 a.m. Courses beginning at10 a.m. or later will begin on a normal schedule. Online courses will take place at the discretion of the course’s professor.
- Delays and Center closures at NMHU-Rio Rancho will be made by the center Director in consultation with the President or Provost.
- Courses and offices at NMHU-Santa Fe will correspond with Santa Fe Community College delays and closures.
- Courses and offices at NMHU-Farmington will correspond with San Juan College delays and closures.
- School of Social Work Albuquerque courses and offices will correspond with CNM Main Campus delays and closures.
In the event of a delay or closure at a Center, Center Directors should contact the Director of University Relations to coordinate appropriate announcements. The University Relations Office will update the main campus’s Face Book Page accordingly.
EMPLOYEES:
Employees should consult with their supervisor and arrange for taking annual leave.
In concert with all campus, non-exempt personnel who work six hours on delay days, Facilities non-exempt personnel will work six hours on delay days and shall leave work two hours early at the end of their shift(s).