Cyber Incident Update
From the Office of Marketing and Communications at Southwest Tennessee Community College
Please check back here frequently for updates.
Greetings, Southwest Community!
Southwest Tennessee Community College has completed its forensic investigation into the cyber incident that disrupted campus computer systems on Friday, July 5, 2024.
RESULTS OF CYBER INCIDENT INVESTIGATION
The investigation confirmed that the College was targeted in a sophisticated ransomware attack that led to unauthorized access to certain information maintained by the College.
Following the advice of law enforcement and external experts, as well as Tennessee law that prohibits state agencies from paying ransom in these circumstances, the College did not engage with the cybercriminal.
The College’s IT team, in collaboration with an outside cybersecurity forensic team successfully expelled the cybercriminal from the system and are working diligently to restore all impacted computer systems.
Michael Boyd, chief of administrative services, said, “We are deeply committed to the privacy and security of our students, employees, and stakeholders. From the moment the incident was detected, we acted swiftly to mitigate the situation and prevent further access to our systems. Our efforts were focused on restoring our online services and reinforcing our cybersecurity measures to safeguard against future threats.”
IMPACT OF CYBER INCIDENT
The investigation confirmed that information from certain businesses associated with the College was accessed. The College has issued notification letters to those impacted.
While we do NOT have reason to believe the personal data of students and employees was compromised, the College recommends taking precautions to guard against potential identity theft. We have provided guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on how to protect your identity.
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENITY THEFT
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends placing a fraud alert on your credit file. An initial fraud alert is free and lasts for one year. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact a person before the creditor opens any new accounts or changes an individual’s existing accounts. You may contact any one of the three major credit bureaus listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms the fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts. The fraud alert can be renewed after one year.
Credit Bureaus
Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742 https://www.experian.com
TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19106
1-800-680-7289 https://www.transunion.com
Equifax, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
1-888-766-0008 https://www.equifax.com/personal
You should also ask each credit bureau to send a free credit report after it places a fraud alert on your file. Review your credit report for accounts and inquiries you do not recognize. These can be signs of identity theft. Visit the FTC’s site at IdentityTheft.gov to report the identity theft and get recovery steps. Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your credit report, the FTC recommends that you check your credit report periodically to spot problems and address them quickly.
Additionally, as you are aware, we established a dedicated web page for cyber incident updates that is now located on the top menu bar of our website’s home page at https://www.southwest.tn.edu/cyber-incident/index.php to provide you with ongoing details about the incident and updates on the College’s operations.
GOING FORWARD
Understanding Cyber Criminals: Cyber criminals use various tactics to exploit individuals and organizations. They often employ deceptive techniques to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. One common method is through phishing attacks, where they trick individuals into revealing personal data or installing malware.
Prevention of Phishing Attacks: Cyber criminals frequently use email to launch phishing attacks. These emails may appear to come from legitimate sources, like online services or even emails masquerading as the College. Their goal is to steal your personal information. Regularly monitoring your emails helps you identify and report suspicious messages.
The Risks of Clicking Suspicious Links:
- Malware Installation: Clicking on links from unknown or suspicious sources can lead to malware being installed on your device. This malware can steal your personal information, monitor your activities, or even lock you out of your files.
- Data Theft: Links in phishing emails may direct you to fake websites designed to capture your login credentials or financial information. Cyber criminals can use this data for identity theft or financial fraud.
Best Practices to Stay Safe:
- Verify the Source: Always double-check the sender’s email address and any links included in the message. If you receive an email to your Southwest email address from a seemingly legitimate source but feel unsure, contact Southwest’s IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu.
- Don’t Click on Unsolicited Links: Avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown or unexpected sources. Instead, navigate to the official website by typing the URL directly into your browser.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about common phishing tactics and share this knowledge with your fellow students and employees, friends and family to help protect them as well.
Let’s all stay vigilant and cautious. Your proactive measures help safeguard not only your personal information but also our college community as a whole.
Greetings, Students, Faculty and Staff,
During the summer, as most of you know, Southwest experienced an unprecedented cyber incident. More information about the incident is available on our Cyber Incident Page.
At the time, the College requested a mandatory reset of everyone’s password and installation of the DUO authentication security App. This enables access to your email, the Southwest portal and other connectivity to the College.
If you have not reset your password and installed DUO, you will need to do that now in preparation for the start of fall semester which is Aug. 26.
WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH THE IT TEAM TO GET DUO AND YOUR PASSWORD RESET COMPLETED. YOU CAN DROP BY THE MACON COVE CAMPUS LIBRARY, UNION AVENUE CAMPUS BUILDING M, AND MAXINE A. SMITH AND WHITEHAVEN CENTERS FROM 8 AM – 4:30 PM TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED. DON’T DELAY!
You may also call the IT Team at 901-333-4357 during normal business hours and leave a message after hours or email helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu.
In addition, the college will host a Saluqi Saturday event on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Macon Cove Campus from 8 am – 12 Noon, where you can also receive technical assistance as well as register for classes.
Again, we highly advise that you drop by in person now to get the technical assistance you need. Please forward this information to any student or employee whom you think may need the assistance. In addition, we will be sharing this information externally.
Thank you!
Greetings, Southwest!
We have good news for you this week!
Our official College’s website is back online and in its original state.
You may need to clear your cache to access the website.
Please note that you will find some links, forms, files and features that are temporarily unavailable as they are housed on a server currently under restoration. For this reason, you may encounter messages indicating, “This service is not available at this time. Please be patient as we continue to restore all web services as soon as possible.”
The Cyber Incident Updates you’ve been accustomed to seeing are now housed via a link at the top of our website’s home page, for your ease of reference.
We hope you share in our excitement in bringing back our website. We are grateful to our IT and website teams for their diligent work on this important restoration, and ask for your continued patience as we work to restore full functionality to the website and our servers.
Thank you, again, for your flexibility and resilience as we remain Southwest Strong together!
Greetings, Southwest!
We have great news for you!
The Southwest portal is now accessible. You can access it the way we’ve always accessed it at: my.southwest.tn.edu (just type this into your browser). Be sure to input your new password. We are still working on some links within the portal, but happy to report that it is operational.
If you have questions about the portal or any IT issues, please email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. You may also call them at 901-333-4357, during normal business hours (8 AM – 4:30 PM), as well as leave a message after hours 24/7.
We are grateful to our IT and forensic teams for enabling us to resume classes this week! They are continuing to work diligently toward full restoration of our systems, though it will take some time.
On another note, now that we are getting back on track and achieving more systems access, we will provide regular updates as they come in (instead of daily). Rest assured, we will notify you of any special announcements and RAVE alerts.
Thank you for staying Southwest Strong with us!
Greetings, Southwest!
Our update today contains the following reminders. Help spread the word to those who many need help with their password reset and registration. Thank you!
IT HAS EXTENDED IN PERSON PASSWORD RESET HELP TO FRIDAY JULY 19!
The IT team has extended their in-person hours to help you with your password reset through Friday, July 19, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the libraries at our Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses and Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Center. We ask that you drop by to get the help you need as this is the best way. If you absolutely cannot drop by in person, please go ahead and email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. They will respond to your email after 4:30 p.m. as they will be helping individuals in person during the day. The IT department is always available to help you via phone and in person at 901-333-4357, however, at this time, they are fanning out to our locations to focus on providing assistance with password reset.
REGISRATION IS UNDERWAY!
We are currently registering students IN PERSON for Summer II Term through Friday, July 19. We are also registering students for Fall 2024 Semester (no July 19 deadline for this).This is for students who have not registered and for continuing students. Registration hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Locations: Macon Cove Campus library; Union Avenue Campus M Building; Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith centers. For questions, students can also contact an advisor at advising@southwest.tn.edu.
FAFSA COMPLETION CLINICS
Our FAFSA clinics start this Saturday, July 20.
Thank you and have a great evening!
Greetings, Southwest!
We hope everyone is adjusting well to work and class. While we continue to address some system issues, we’re making remarkable progress in a short span. Our main priority remains getting our students enrolled, registered, back in class, and ensuring they receive any necessary assistance.
Today we have the following reminders for you.
REGISRATION IS UNDERWAY!
We are currently registering students IN PERSON for Summer II Term through Friday, July 19. We are also registering students for Fall 2024 Semester (no July 19 deadline for this).
This is for students who have not registered and for continuing students. Registration hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Locations: Macon Cove Campus Farris Building; Union Avenue Campus M Building; Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith centers. For questions, students can also contact an advisor at advising@southwest.tn.edu.
FAFSA COMPLETION CLINICS
Our FAFSA clinics start this Saturday, July 20. Help spread the word!
IT HELP
The IT team has extended their in-person hours to help you through Thursday, July 18, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the libraries at our Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses and Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Center. We ask that you drop by in person to get the help you need as this is the best way. The IT staff is fanning out to these locations to be near you. If you absolutely cannot drop by in person, please go ahead and email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. They will respond to your email after 4:30 p.m. as they will be helping individuals in person during the day.
Thank you and have a great evening!
Greetings, Students!
We hope you are doing well. We have more news for you – see below. As you can see, we are making progress in getting all our systems functional. Thank you!
REGISRATION IS UNDERWAY!
We are currently registering students IN PERSON for Summer II Term through Friday, July 19.
We are also registering students for Fall 2024 Semester (no July 19 deadline for this).
This is for students who have not registered and for continuing students.
For questions, students can also contact an advisor at advising@southwest.tn.edu.
SUMMER II SCHEDULE
Summer II July 15 – August 15
- Last Day to Withdraw and Receive W – August 4
- Last Day and Final Exams – August 15
- Grades Due at 12p.m.(noon) – August 19
- Grades Available to Students at 12p.m.(noon) – August 21
Summer Extended May 28 – August 15
- Last Day to Withdraw and Receive W – July 19
- Last Day and Final Exams – August 15
- Grades Due at 12p.m. (noon) – August 19
- Grades Available to Students at 12p.m. (noon) – August 21
STILL NEED HELP WITH PASSWORD RESET?
The IT team has extended their in-person hours to help you and will be available Tuesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the libraries at our Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses
and Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Center. We ask that you drop by in person to get the help you need as this is the best way. The IT staff is fanning out to these locations to be near you. If you absolutely cannot drop by in person, please go ahead and email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. They will respond to your email after 4:30 p.m. as they will be helping individuals in person during the day.
REMINDERS AND RESOURCE LINKS
New APPLY NOW link
https://mafa1033ssbp.southwest.tn.edu/prod_ssb/bwskalog.P_DispChoicesStu
Academic Calendar (2024-2025):
https://catalog.southwest.tn.edu/content.php?catoid=38&navoid=1558
Disregard the red bar notice at the top of the page.
Academic Catalog Catalog:
https://catalog.southwest.tn.edu/
View Class Schedules
Click here to view class schedules:
https://mafa1033ssbp.southwest.tn.edu/prod_ssb/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched
PAWS
https://elearn.southwest.tn.edu/d2l/login
Banner Self-Service
https://int-p.southwest.tn.edu/ssomanager/c/SSB
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails for updates. For the time being, we will continue to post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
For the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, we have created an external web page. That is being updated today and we will include it in our next update.
Greetings, Southwest Faculty and Staff,
We have important updates and reminders for you today. See below.
INPUTTING SUMMER 1 TERM GRADES – SUBMIT BY 9 AM JULY 17
SUMMER II TERM
The last date to enter Summer II attendance is Sunday, July 21, by noon for faculty.
Summer II July 15 – August 15
-
Census Date – July 21
- Last Day to Withdraw and Receive W – August 4
- Last Day and Final Exams – August 15
- Grades Due at 12p.m.(noon) – August 19
- Grades Available to Students at 12p.m.(noon) – August 21
Summer Extended May 28 – August 15
- Last Day to Withdraw and Receive W – July 19
- Last Day and Final Exams – August 15
- Grades Due at 12p.m. (noon) – August 19
- Grades Available to Students at 12p.m. (noon) – August 21
REGISRATION IS UNDERWAY!
We are currently registering students IN PERSON for Summer II Term through Friday, July 19. We are also registering students for Fall 2024 Semester (no July 19 deadline for this).
This is for students who have not registered and for continuing students. For questions, students can also contact an advisor at advising@southwest.tn.edu.
APPLYING TO THE COLLEGE
We have a new application
New APPLY NOW link
https://mafa1033ssbp.southwest.tn.edu/prod_ssb/bwskalog.P_DispChoicesStu
Academic Calendar (2024-2025):
https://catalog.southwest.tn.edu/content.php?catoid=38&navoid=1558
Disregard the red bar notice at the top of the page.
Academic Catalog Catalog:
https://catalog.southwest.tn.edu/
View Class Schedules
Click here to view class schedules:
https://mafa1033ssbp.southwest.tn.edu/prod_ssb/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched
PAWS
https://elearn.southwest.tn.edu/d2l/login
Banner Self-Service
https://int-p.southwest.tn.edu/ssomanager/c/SSB
IT HELP WITH PASSWORD RESET
The IT team has extended their in-person hours to help you and will be available Tuesday, July 16 – Thursday, July 18, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the libraries at our Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses and Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Center. We ask that you drop by in person to get the help you need as this is the best way. The IT staff is fanning out to these locations to be near you. If you absolutely cannot drop by in person, please go ahead and email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. They will respond to your email after 4:30 p.m. as they will be helping individuals in person during the day.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails for updates. For the time being, we will continue to post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
Our temp site will be updated tomorrow with the new application link.
Hello, Students and Employees!
Thank you for your patience during our first day back. We are responding to technology and password reset requests as quickly as possible. We know this may take some time as we are servicing individuals who need additional help due to their personal situations.
Our IT team has extended their in-person hours to help you and will be available Tuesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the libraries at our Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses and Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Center. We ask that you drop by in person to get the help you need as this is the best way. The IT staff is fanning out to these locations to be near you.
If you absolutely cannot drop by in person, please go ahead and email the IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu and provide your name and contact information. They will respond to your email after 4:30 p.m. as they will be helping individuals in person during the day.
Thank you for your flexibility and resilience!
Good morning, Southwest!
Welcome back to campus! Thank you for your patience as we navigate our situation and continue to remain Southwest strong. A few reminders and updates are below:
Printing is not available. Our first focus is to get classes started today, students registering and people back in offices. IT will now begin building and installing the server for printers.
IT confirmed that instructors will have access to PAWS beginning today, July 15. You’ll need to reset your password, if you have not already.
If you need help with IT issues and password reset, today the IT Department will have IT technicians at the HelpDesk in the libraries at the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses, and the Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith centers during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You can also call them at 901-333-4357, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and leave a voicemail after hours. You may also email Jim Sorrell at jasorrell@southwest.tn.edu for assistance. Please allow time for the IT Team to respond as they are helping individuals as quickly as possible.
We understand there may be some delay with the start of classes for some students, faculty and staff, however, we will be able to provide the assistance you need and get you back up and running.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to restore normal operations.
FROM THE OFFICE OF DIGITAL LEARNING
Students and Faculty,
Below is information for using PAWS and Simple Syllabus. BEFORE YOU ACCESS THESE LINKS, BE SURE YOU HAVE INSTALLED DUO SECURITY AND RESET YOUR PASSWORD. Thank you!
Faculty and students, please send all PAWS course related inquires to distance@southwest.tn.edu for a resolution.
Faculty and students can access the PAWS login page at https://elearn.southwest.tn.edu/ or https://my.southwest.tn.edu/.
Faculty can access the Simple Syllabus login page at https://southwesttn.simplesyllabus.com.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Kim P. Martin
Director, Digital Learning
TN e-Campus Administrator/Faculty Liaison
kmartin@southwest.tn.edu
901-333-4442
Greetings, Southwest!
Messages from the Office of Communications contain information that has been verified or shared by the IT department. The IT department advised that some portions of the My.Southwest portal might appear blank for a while. They did not confirm that roles have been deleted or changed as was reported by someone earlier today.
Right now, the “reply to all” feature needs some attention. IT will address it after they assist with passwords and DUO.
In the interim, please do not “reply to all.” Comments and questions should be addressed to the IT representative whose contact information has been provided in each message or to the Help Desk, which will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. The contact information for IT is highlighted below. Tomorrow, IT assistance will be available at the locations listed below or at the Help Desk from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
IT confirmed that instructors will have access to PAWS tomorrow, July 15. You can contact IT using the information below if you need assistance with your access.
If you need help now, you may contact Jim Sorrell at jasorrell@southwest.tn.edu. IT staff will also be able to assist you in person. They will be on campus today in the Bert Bornblum Library on the Macon Cove Campus, 5983 Macon Cove, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
TIP: Try clearing your browser history then follow the password reset instructions in this email. This has been the most common issue individuals have faced.
The IT Department will also be able to help you when we return to campus tomorrow, July 15. They will have IT technicians at the HelpDesk in the libraries at the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses, and the Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith centers during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You can also call them Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and leave a voicemail after hours.
We understand this may cause some delay with the start of classes for some students, faculty and staff, however, we will be able to provide the assistance you need and get you back up and running.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to restore normal operations.
Hello, Students and Employees,
Thank you to those who have responded and completed their DUO Security and password reset due today at 9 p.m.
We understand some of you may be experiencing difficulty and may need help with the instructions provided by IT. We also have an enormous amount of individuals who are attempting to set up their emails at the same time.
If you need help now, you may contact Jim Sorrell at jasorrell@southwest.tn.edu. IT staff will also be able to assist you in-person. They will be on campus today in the Bert Bornblum Library on the Macon Cove Campus, 5983 Macon Cove, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
TIP: Try clearing your browser history then follow the password reset instructions in this email. This has been the most common issue individuals have had.
The IT Department will also be able to help you when we return to campus tomorrow, July 15. They will have IT technicians at the HelpDesk in the libraries at the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campus and the Whitehaven and Maine A. Smith centers. You can also call them Monday – Friday, 8 – 4:30 pm and leave a voicemail after hours.
We understand this may cause some delay with the start of classes for some students, faculty and staff, however, we will be able to provide the assistance you need and get you back up and running.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to restore normal operations.
Greetings, Southwest Community,
Our update today contains good news!
We are sending our update tonight as a reminder that Summer II Term will begin on Monday July 15. Students can return to in-person classes.
NOW: Please follow the DUO Security System installation and password reset instructions sent to you earlier this evening. Once this two-step process is complete, you will have access to Banner Self-Service, PAWS, and the My. Southwest portal. Do NOT try to reset your password on your own. Follow the instructions sent to you earlier.
REGARDING SUMMER TERM CLASSES
- Students who registered for Summer II Term prior to July 3 when the servers went down are able to attend classes.
- Students who would like to register for Summer II Term are not able to at this time and as soon as we are fully operational, we will notify you when you can register.
- Summer I Term is over and ended in July.
- Extended summer term classes (the full 10-week classes) that began in May and ends in August will continue on Monday July 15 and end August 15.
- Students, faculty are impacted by this incident as well. They are aware of the need to be flexible as we gradually return to normal operations.
IN-PERSON WORK
The internet is now available at all campuses. On Monday, July 15, all employees should report back to campus for in-person work. (We realize some systems may still be down).
PAWS INQUIRIES
Faculty and students with PAWS course-related inquiries should email distance@southwest.tn.edu for a resolution.
APPLYING TO THE COLLEGE
We have set up a temporary application link for students to apply to the college. The link is located on our temporary site at https://www.southwest.tn.edu. This means students interested in attending fall semester at Southwest can apply to the College now! This temporary access will be available until we are ready to switch over to Banner. Southwest’s recruitment team will receive and respond to the applications.
MORE UPDATES AND FAQS
We have gathered updates and answered questions from students and employees on various topics. The information provided is detailed. Please visit our temporary site to read it fully. To access the site, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu.
BOOKSTORE
The Follett Bookstore WILL BE OPEN and resume regular business hours on Monday, July 15. Students can still purchase books online via http://www.stccsmaconhop.com.
REMINDERS
- Campus Child Care Centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses continue normal business hours.
- You may call the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours M-F, 8 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., and can leave a voicemail message after hours 24/7.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails for updates. For the time being, we will continue to post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
For the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, we have created an external web page. To access the page, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu. You may need to clear your internet browser’s cache or history if it pops up the old Southwest website.
Again, we thank you for your patience!
Greetings, Students and Employees,
We are excited to get students back on track for the Summer 2 Term to attend classes and access the services they need.
For this to take place, you must complete this two-step process!
STEP ONE: INSTALL DUO SECURITY (IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS STEP, GO TO STEP 2)
Students, faculty and staff with Southwest accounts will be required to install DUO Security, if you do not have it already. If you have Duo Security already, you do not need to re-install it.
DUO Security is a multi-factor authentication product and the College requires you to have it. You will not be able to function without it. It will protect you from hackers.
HOW TO INSTALL DUO SECURITY
To install DUO, you must download the app for your device listed below. Links to access and download DUO
Security apps:
- Apple App Store – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duo-mobile/id422663827
- Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duosecurity.duomobile&hl=en_US&pli=1
Next, click the image below to watch how to install DUO Security or click this link to the video: https://youtu.be/9yY486YLK7c.
You may also follow the instructions attached in this email. The link to begin this process was already sent to you from DUO mobile.
STEP TWO – PASSWORD RESET (THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 9:00 PM ON JULY 14)
All students, faculty and staff will have to reset your password to your Southwest account.
You must first install DUO before you reset your password. If you have DUO already, you do not need to re-install it and go ahead and reset your password now.
[CONFIDENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROVIDED HERE]
If your password is not reset by 9:00 p.m. on July 14, then your account will be locked. The IT HelpDesk can help you unlock your account Monday, July 15 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the libraries at the Macon Cove Campus, Union Avenue Campus, Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Centers.
Once both steps are completed, you can access Banner Self-Service, PAWS and the My. Southwest portal.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or need assistance, please call the HELP Desk at 901-333-4357 or email Jim Sorrell at jasorrell@southwest.tn.edu. The HELP Desk is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday; you can leave a voicemail after hours 24/7.
On Monday, July 15, IT technicians will also be available to help you in person at the HELP Desk located in our libraries at the Macon Cove Campus, Union Avenue Campus, Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Centers.
Greetings, Southwest Community,
Our update today contains good news!
Our Outlook email is working!
We will start Summer II Term on Monday, July 15!
To do this, we have a two-step process in place that includes installing the DUO Security system and resetting passwords. Once the two-step process is complete, you will have access to Banner Self-Service, PAWS, and the My. Southwest portal. This process was communicated earlier via Southwest email college-wide, SO PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS.
IN-PERSON WORK
The internet is now available at all campuses. On Monday, July 15, all employees should report back to campus for in-person work. (We realize some systems may still be down).
PAWS INQUIRIES
Faculty and students with PAWS course-related inquiries should email distance@southwest.tn.edu for a resolution.
Despite intermittent access faculty should not log into PAWS until told to do so.
APPLYING TO THE COLLEGE
We have set up a temporary application link for students to apply to the college. The link is located on our temporary site at https://www.southwest.tn.edu. This means students interested in attending fall semester at Southwest can apply to the College now! This temporary access will be available until we are ready to switch over to Banner. Southwest’s recruitment team will receive and respond to the applications.
MORE UPDATES AND FAQS
We have gathered updates and answered questions from students and employees on various topics. The information provided is detailed. Please visit our temporary site to read it fully. To access the site, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu.
BOOKSTORE
The Follett Bookstore WILL BE OPEN and resume regular business hours on Monday, July 15. Students can still purchase books online via http://www.stccsmaconhop.com.
REMINDERS
- Campus Child Care Centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses continue normal business hours.
- You may call the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours M-F, 8 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., and can leave a voicemail message after hours 24/7.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails and RAVE text alerts for updates. For those unable to access email, we will post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
For the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, we have created an external web page. To access the page, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu. You may need to clear your internet browser’s cache or history if it pops up the old Southwest website.
Again, we thank you for your patience!
Greetings, Students and Employees,
We are excited to get students back on track for the Summer 2 Term to attend classes and access the services they need.
For this to take place, you must complete this two-step process!
STEP ONE: INSTALL DUO SECURITY (IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS STEP, GO TO STEP 2)
Students, faculty and staff with Southwest accounts will be required to install DUO Security, if you do not have it already. If you have Duo Security already, you do not need to re-install it.
DUO Security is a multi-factor authentication product and the College requires you to have it. You will not be able to function without it. It will protect you from hackers.
HOW TO INSTALL DUO SECURITY
To install DUO, you must download the app for your device listed below. Links to access and download DUO Security apps:
- Apple App Store – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duo-mobile/id422663827
- Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duosecurity.duomobile&hl=en_US&pli=1
Next, click the image below to watch how to install DUO Security or click this link to the video: https://youtu.be/9yY486YLK7c.
You may also follow the instructions attached in this email. The link to begin this process was already sent to you from DUO mobile.
STEP TWO – PASSWORD RESET (THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 9:00 PM ON JULY 14)
All students, faculty and staff will have to reset your password to your Southwest account.
You must first install DUO before you reset your password. If you have DUO already, you do not need to re-install it and go ahead and reset your password now.
If your password is not reset by 9:00 p.m. on July 14, then your account will be locked. The IT HelpDesk can help you unlock your account Monday, July 15 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the libraries at the Macon Cove Campus, Union Avenue Campus, Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Centers.
Once both steps are completed, you can access Banner Self-Service, PAWS and the My. Southwest portal.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or need assistance, please call the HELP Desk at 901-333-4357 or email Jim Sorrell at jasorrell@southwest.tn.edu. The HELP Desk is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday; you can leave a voicemail after hours 24/7.
On Monday, July 15, IT technicians will also be available to help you in person at the HELP Desk located in our libraries at the Macon Cove Campus, Union Avenue Campus, Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith Centers.
Greetings, Southwest Community,
We hope you are well. Here is our update for today.
Our cyber investigation continues and we are getting closer every day to restoration. Employees shall continue with remote work.
Some of you asked about using the computers in the libraries. At this time, the libraries are not open as we are monitoring all computers.
Students and faculty are not able to access PULSE because it is connected to PAWS which is on the network that has been impacted.
The TN Reconnect session was cancelled for today however we have another one scheduled on August 8, 5 – 7 p.m., at our Whitehaven Center, 1234 Finley Drive.
FAFSA CLINICS – BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION!
At this time, we are continuing with our FAFSA Completion Clinics to assist students and families in completing their FAFSA applications. If you haven’t completed your FAFSA application, we can help you. The clinic dates and times are below.
July 20: 10 AM – 2 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.20
July 23: 5 PM – 7 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.23
July 30: 5 PM – 7 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.30
All clinics will take place at the Bert Bornblum Library on the Macon Cove Campus, 5983 Macon Cove in Memphis. Financial aid and admissions staff will be on hand, and parents and guardians are encouraged to attend. We’ll have food, prizes, and giveaways at each event!
REMINDERS
- Due to all systems impacted including the College’s website (the Southwest Portal – My.Southwest), PAWS and Banner, the College will continue remote work.
- Please do not log out of your email or attempt to change your password. If you do, you will not have access to your email again until the incident is fully resolved.
- Campus Child Care Centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses will remain open during normal business hours.
- The Follett Bookstore will not be open however students may purchase books online via http://www.stccsmaconhop.com.
- You may call the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours M-F, 8 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., and can leave a voicemail message after hours 24/7.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails and RAVE text alerts for updates. For those unable to access email, we will post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
For the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, we have created an external web page. To access the page, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu. You may need to clear your internet browser’s cache or history if it pops up the old Southwest website.
Again, we thank you for your patience!
Hello, Southwest Community,
We are continuing the cyber investigation of our network systems with our IT Team and cyber forensic experts. These teams are working day and night to get our networks operational and we are grateful to them for all their hard work and dedication. We want you to know they are in control of the situation and are working through a process.
It is important to note that in a crisis situation, the standard procedure is to avoid providing piecemeal information for several reasons: 1) the investigation is ongoing, 2) releasing information in stages can lead to confusion, and 3) it is essential for safety, as it can mitigate further threats. As soon as we have more information, we will let you know.
REGARDING SUMMER TERMS
- As mentioned before, the 10-week summer extended term will now end on August 15. It was originally scheduled to end on August 8. This extension provides faculty and students the opportunity to make up missed instruction, assignments, etc., due to the cybersecurity incident.
- As mentioned before, the 5-week Summer II Term, will start on July 15 and has now been extended through August 15, 2024. It was previously scheduled for July 8 – August 8, 2024. Students will be able to register until July 19, 2024.
FAFSA CLINICS
At this time, we are continuing with our FAFSA Completion Clinics to assist students and families in completing their FAFSA applications. If you haven’t completed your FAFSA application, we can help you. The clinic dates and times are below.
July 20: 10 AM – 2 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.20
July 23: 5 PM – 7 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.23
July 30: 5 PM – 7 PM
Register at: https://go.southwest.tn.edu/register/FAFSA7.30
All clinics will take place at the Bert Bornblum Library on the Macon Cove Campus, 5983 Macon Cove in Memphis. Financial aid and admissions staff will be on hand, and parents and guardians are encouraged to attend. We’ll have food, prizes, and giveaways at each event!
REMINDERS
- Due to all systems impacted including the College’s website (the Southwest Portal – My.Southwest), PAWS and Banner, the College will continue remote work.
- Please do not log out of your email or attempt to change your password. If you do, you will not have access to your email again until the incident is fully resolved.
- Campus Child Care Centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses will remain open during normal business hours.
- The Follett Bookstore will not be open however students may purchase books online via http://www.stccsmaconhop.com.
- You may call the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours M-F, 8 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., and can leave a voicemail message after hours 24/7.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails and RAVE text alerts for updates. For those unable to access email, we will post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
For the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, we have created an external web page. To access the page, click here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu. You may need to clear your internet browser’s cache or history if it pops up the old Southwest website.
Thank you for your patience!
Due to the number of inquiries regarding our cyber incident, we wanted to send a quick message tonight to let you know that our IT Team and cyber forensic experts are diligently working on investigating our network systems and as soon as we have more information, we will let you know.
We will be updating you daily to keep you in the know.
We ask that you continue to monitor your Southwest emails and RAVE text alerts for updates. For those unable to access email, we will be posting updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
Thank you for checking in with us!
Southwest Tennessee Community College has identified a cyber incident that has impacted its network systems. This issue extends beyond the server problem initially reported to the College on July 3.
The College is actively working with computer forensics experts to thoroughly investigate the incident to determine its full scope and restore full functionality to the computer systems as soon as possible.
“We are deeply committed to protecting important information our students and employees entrust to us,” said Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College. “Unfortunately, in the current digital landscape, cybercriminal incidents are increasingly prevalent and pose considerable risks. Our team responded promptly to secure our systems and are diligently working to restore our online services and strengthen our defenses. We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our students, faculty and staff as we navigate this circumstance.”
The College will continue remote work and learning. Summer II Term classes and registration will be delayed until Monday, July 15 with registration extended through July 19.
Campus child care centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses will remain open during normal business hours.
The College is coordinating efforts with the Tennessee Board of Regents and appropriate state officials and will continue to provide updates on any potential impacts to students and employees through official channels.
FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SPECIAL ALERT UPDATE
Greetings, Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration
The College is still experiencing issues with the server environment. Unfortunately, this outage has impacted all systems including PAWS, Banner and the Southwest Portal (My.Southwest), except for Outlook email. The Technology Operations department is diligently working to bring all services back online as soon as possible.
Regarding Summer I and Summer II Terms:
- The deadline to enter grades for Summer I term will be determined once all services are restored.
- We are extending access to Summer 1 term PAWS courses to Friday, July 12 at 11:59 p.m.
- Students who need to register for Summer II can do so through Friday, July 12 at 11:59 p.m.
Additionally, the air conditioning on the Union Avenue Campus is still not operating. We are monitoring the situation and anticipate it being restored by Monday.
Thank you for your cooperation. We do apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SPECIAL ALERT UPDATE
Greetings, Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration
Thank you!
FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SPECIAL ALERT UPDATE
Greetings, Students, Faculty and Staff,
The College’s network continues to be down at all campus locations. At this time, Southwest is pivoting to remote work and learning.
Students taking in-person classes should contact your instructor for information regarding your class. Employees should contact their supervisors for work arrangements.
Again, please continue to monitor your Southwest email for updates.
Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Southwest Tennessee Community College Cyber Incident
On July 3, 2024, Southwest became aware of a server problem impacting the entire college. The College notified faculty, staff and students of the situation and the College pivoted to remote work and learning with instructions for employees and students on how to navigate their work and summer term classes.
Subsequently, the Information Technology department, through a forensic investigation of the College’s network systems, revealed a cyber incident had occurred beyond the server environment.
On July 7, notification was sent about the cyber incident to students, faculty and staff, the media, the College’s stakeholders, and appropriate officials.
The College is actively working with computer forensics experts to thoroughly investigate the incident to determine its full scope and restore full functionality to the computer systems as soon as possible. Because this is an active investigation, certain aspects cannot be shared publicly. (On Sept. 20, 2024, students and employees were notified that the forensics investigation had concluded and informed them of safety measures to take to guard their credit reports).
The College is returning to work, and all classes will resume on July 15. The process to return has been detailed in an email to all students, faculty and staff on July 12. If you cannot access your Southwest email account, please contact the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You may also leave a voice message after hours 24/7.
Personal devices are not on the Southwest network and were not impacted by this incident. There is no evidence that any personal devices were compromised.
Students and employees should have access to their Southwest email account. If you do not, please contact the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You may also leave a voice message after hours 24/7.
The process to access the Southwest Portal (My.Southwest), PAWS and Banner was conveyed in an email to all students, faculty and staff on July 12. Please follow the instructions in that email to regain access to these platforms.
The College is coordinating efforts with the Tennessee Board of Regents, College’s stakeholders, and appropriate officials to reduce the risks, review protection and procedures and strengthen network defenses.
Southwest is actively working with computer forensics experts to thoroughly understand the impact and will update the college community as soon as possible.
While the investigation is ongoing, individuals concerned about illegal use of their personal information, should take steps to protect their information. Learn more at https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft.
(On Sept. 20, 2024, students and employees were notified that the forensics investigation had concluded and informed them of safety measures to take to guard their credit reports).
The results from the investigation of the College’s cyber incident confirmed that information from certain businesses associated with the College was accessed.
While we do NOT have reason to believe personal data of students and employees was compromised, the College recommends taking precautions to guard against potential identity theft. We have provided guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on how to protect identity here.
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENITY THEFT
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends placing a fraud alert on your credit file. An initial fraud alert is free and lasts for one year. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact a person before the creditor opens any new accounts or changes an individual’s existing accounts. You may contact any one of the three major credit bureaus listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms the fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts. The fraud alert can be renewed after one year.
Credit Bureaus
Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742 https://www.experian.com
TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19106
1-800-680-7289 https://www.transunion.com
Equifax, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
1-888-766-0008 https://www.equifax.com/personal
You should also ask each credit bureau to send a free credit report after it places a fraud alert on your file. Review your credit report for accounts and inquiries you do not recognize. These can be signs of identity theft. Visit the FTC’s site at IdentityTheft.gov to report the identity theft and get recovery steps.
Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your credit report, the FTC recommends that you check your credit report periodically to spot problems and address them quickly.
Additionally, as you are aware, we established a dedicated web page for cyber incident updates that is now located on the top menu bar of our website’s home page at https://www.southwest.tn.edu/cyber-incident/index.php to provide you with ongoing details about the incident and updates on the College’s operations.
GOING FORWARD
Understanding Cyber Criminals: Cyber criminals use various tactics to exploit individuals and organizations. They often employ deceptive techniques to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. One common method is through phishing attacks, where they trick individuals into revealing personal data or installing malware.
Prevention of Phishing Attacks: Cyber criminals frequently use email to launch phishing attacks. These emails may appear to come from legitimate sources, like online services or even emails masquerading as the College. Their goal is to steal your personal information. Regularly monitoring your emails helps you identify and report suspicious messages.
The Risks of Clicking Suspicious Links:
- Malware Installation: Clicking on links from unknown or suspicious sources can lead to malware being installed on your device. This malware can steal your personal information, monitor your activities, or even lock you out of your files.
- Data Theft: Links in phishing emails may direct you to fake websites designed to capture your login credentials or financial information. Cyber criminals can use this data for identity theft or financial fraud.
Best Practices to Stay Safe:
- Verify the Source: Always double-check the sender’s email address and any links included in the message. If you receive an email to your Southwest email address from a seemingly legitimate source but feel unsure, contact Southwest’s IT Department at helpdeskstaff@southwest.tn.edu.
- Don’t Click on Unsolicited Links: Avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown or unexpected sources. Instead, navigate to the official website by typing the URL directly into your browser.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about common phishing tactics and share this knowledge with your fellow students and employees, friends and family to help protect them as well.
PC’s in all offices are turned on to expand the work of the investigating group. Please do NOT turn off your PC at this time.
If you need further technical assistance, please contact the IT HelpDesk at 901-333-4357 during business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You may also leave a voice message after hours 24/7.
If you have academic questions, please contact your dean or program coordinator.
At this time, the College has pivoted to remote work and learning. Southwest in-person events and activities are cancelled.
Community partners with previously scheduled in-person events that do not require access to Southwest’s networks are able to continue with their events.
(On campus learning and work resumed at the start of the 2024 fall semester).
The 10-week summer extended term will now end on August 15. It was originally scheduled to end on August 8. This extension provides faculty and students the opportunity to makeup missed instruction, assignments, etc., due to the cybersecurity incident.
The 5-week Summer II Term will now run from July 15 – August 15, 2024. It was previously scheduled for July 8 – August 8, 2024. Students will be able to register until July 19, 2024.
For the instructors, access to Summer I Term PAWS course shells will now be available until July 19, 2024.
At this time, the Follett bookstores are closed for in-person services however you can purchase books online through http://www.stccsmaconhop.com.
(Bookstores are now open).
At the time of the cyber incident, we cannot print or email transcripts. Please continue to contact the Records department for any updates.
Campus Child Care Centers on the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses will remain open during normal business hours.
The College will provide updates through several channels: RAVE alerts, Southwest email and via Southwest’s Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.
After systems are fully operational, students and employees will be notified through Outlook or the email they provided on their student and/or employee application.
Yes, payroll will be processed for July on the regular pay date. It is critical that all non-exempt employees and their supervisors enter and approve their time worked during the network outage into the UKG system as soon as the system is operational. For regular full-time employees, time and leave for the month of June must be finalized and approved. For temporary and student employees, timecards for the pay period June 16 through July 15 must be completed and approved.
Once the Banner system is operational, the Accounts Payable department will resume paying invoices.
Please email purchasing at purchasing@southwest.tn.edu with questions regarding critical purchases.
Please email purchasing at purchasing@southwest.tn.edu to request a manual Single Trip Authorization form.
Please check your email for a communication sent 7/12/24 providing a manual time sheet to be used for interim time tracking. Once UKG is operational, it will be critical that non-exempt (hourly-paid) employees immediately enter their time worked during the network outage. Supervisors must also approve the timesheets once submitted by the employees. This will be used to process the payroll for July and is very time sensitive.
Faculty and students should send all PAWS course related inquires to distance@southwest.tn.edu for a resolution.
This means any computer that is:
- College issued or personal laptop that you physically bring to a Southwest campus and utilize to access, to internet, email, PAWS, Banner, Argos, etc. This applies to docked computers and those you use to connect via Wi-Fi.
- A college issued or personal laptop that is used with a VPN to remotely access college internet, email, PAWS, Banner, Argos, etc.
No, you only need to bring your laptop in if it fits the criteria above and is currently at home with you.
Yes, if use that MacBook to connect to the college’s network while on any campus you will need the update.
This does not currently impact you if you do not bring that device to a campus and connect it to the network.
There is no available download. There will be additional opportunities to get your laptop updated soon.
Please contact the IT Department if you are experiencing any technical issues.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Please continue to monitor your Southwest emails for updates. For the time being, we will continue to post updates on our Southwest Facebook and Instagram at @SouthwestTN.