You have received an email from your university IT department stressing that the IT department will NEVER ask you for your username and password to your email account. What type of scheme is the university most likely trying to protect you from

Answer: Phishing

Explanation:

Phishing is defined as the attacks that takes place through the attacker by falsely acting as the legal or trustworthy or original source and asking for the information like pin codes, passwords, credit card numbers etc through emails or text messages.

They try to steal the information for unauthorized access or misusing the information. According to the situation mentioned in the question, IT department of the company is sending email regarding the safety and awareness of the staff from phishing. They should be alert and never share their personal and confidential information such as ID and password with any source trying to act as IT department.