Weekly Web Updates – June 19

We have disabled the creation of WebM videos when new video files are uploaded to MiddMedia. The server was experiencing issues transcoding video to that format. Firefox and other browsers now natively support H.264, removing the requirement for a WebM alternative file.

Updates

Fixes and Tweaks

  • Members of the “ADA Compliance” group will now automatically get added to WordPress sites created through the Course Hub so they can assist in making course materials accessible.
  • HTML files are no longer allowed to be uploaded to Drupal webforms and we’ve further limited the allowed files types that can be collected through submissions to these forms.
  • Fixed an issue in the Drupal WYSIWYG editor caused by the introduction of a new field for handling external media URLs which we don’t use.

Ongoing Work

  • Creating a new website for the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
  • Archiving Moodle.
  • Building out the configuration of our CAS servers in Chef, which is a configuration management system. We have already completed this work for our Drupal, WordPress, MediaWiki, GO, Omeka, and the Course Catalog services.
  • Upgrading the Drupal sites for the Davis programs, Dining Menus, and Museum of Art to Drupal 8.

Women in STEM roles ‘feel like frauds’

“Women aren’t falling out [of STEM], I think that men are failing to keep up with the way the world is going,” she said to cheers from the audience. “There’s nothing wrong with women; I think the choices they make and the quality of life they want, they expect a higher standard that is currently provided in organizations,” she said.

She argued that for organizations to be disruptive and successful, they need ‘cultural productivity.’ This comes from addressing the human aspects [of the work environment], she said.

Read the full article by Byron Connolly at CIO here.

Recent Grads – Internship Opportunity at the White House Fall 2017

The application deadline for the Fall 2017 White House Internship Program is coming up.  The application portal will remain open until 11:59PM EDT on June 23, 2017.  Any applications received after the deadline will not be considered.  Please visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/participate/internships/apply to apply.

The Fall 2017 White House Internship Program term runs from September 6 to December 8, 2017.  All applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the Internship Program start date, and must be able to commit to the full internship term to be eligible.  Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet at least one of the following criteria to apply:

– Are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university (two-to-four year institution).

– Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university (two-to-four year institution) no more than two years before the internship program start date.

– Are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty-for any length of time-in the two years preceding the internship program start date.

The White House Internship Program is highly competitive.  Applicants are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to public service, leadership in the community, and commitment to the Trump Administration.  Questions about the White House Internship Program application can be directed to intern_application@who.eop.gov. More information, including details about placement in the White House Internship Program and frequently asked questions, can be found on the White House website.

Middlebury Social Innovators DC Gathering

The Middlebury Social Impact (MSI) Ambassador Corps program convened in Washington, DC with a crowd of more than 50 alums of MIIS and Middlebury as part of the 5-day training to prepare 21 students from Middlebury College, MIIS, Colorado College, and Lynn University to do an 8 to 10 week international summer internship. This MSI Ambassador Corps is a cross-campus collaborative program between the Institute and Middlebury College, connecting students to the front line of social impact with unique global internship opportunities. This year the AC program was enriched with the Middlebury Social Impact Scholars, a fully funded opportunity for MIIS graduate students to act as a cadre of in-country peer coaches and social impact action researchers. Learn more: go.miis.edu/ambcorps

Retirement Transitions

 

 

 

 

Individuals who end employment after having worked for Middlebury in a benefits-eligible status for a minimum of ten years past the age of forty-five qualify as “Middlebury Retirees”.

Important message regarding paperless initiative in Payroll

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Student Employee Colleagues,

As part of our initiative to be more efficient, reduce costs and help in our overall sustainability goals, effective July 1, 2017 (check date July 7, 2017 for Middlebury and July 14, 2017 for Monterey) the Payroll Office will no longer be printing direct deposit stubs. All pay information can be found online via BannerWeb.

The online stub is an enhanced version of the paper stub and contains all the same information, and more. You can find detailed information on deductions, taxable income, employer contributions, year-to-date totals, and tax filing status. The electronic stub can be used for verification of employment for mortgages, loans, etc., and you have access to all of your paystubs anytime.

Access to your paystub is through BannerWeb. Instructions can be found here or at go/payroll.

As a reminder, direct deposit is another way we can all help reduce costs and increase efficiencies. Instructions for direct deposit can be found here or at go/payroll.

Contact payroll@middlebury.edu if you need more information.

Thank you.

Mike Thomas
Vice President for Finance
Middlebury

Sites DOT MiddleburyThe Middlebury site network.