RegardingID Archive | Another university bids goodbye to Social Security numbers

Monday, May 5, 2008

While the University of Arizona has eliminated use of Social Security numbers to identify most students, there are still some–about 4,400–who cling to the Social Security numbering concept. That’s going to change the last weekend in May when those numbers will be dropped in favor of the random-generation numbering sequence the university now uses, according to UA’s student publication The Wildcat Online.

Even though Social Security numbers for the most part were eliminated about seven years ago, students could choose to continue to use their old number because, as one administrator commented, it was easier to remember. Most of the students with the old numbers are now grad students.

A high school in Tarpon Springs, Fla. recently sent out a mass email bearing student Social Security numbers. The school’s guidance counselor sent the email to Tarpon’s entire senior class of about 400 students and parents regarding the Bright Futures Scholarship program.

Homeland Security nabs Seattle students buying fake IDs

Obtaining fake IDs, such as driver licenses, is becoming harder for college students. Not only must they deal with local law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security can also get involved.

University of Maryland student data displayed online

Information for 1,600 freshmen and sophomores in the College Park Scholars program at the University of Maryland was inadvertently posted to a public Web site, university officials said.

University of Tampa reports student, faculty data breach

A server error on the University of Tampa computer system led to the accidental release of student data containing Social Security and student ID numbers and birth dates. The information for thousands of students was accessible on Google, according to the university.

University of Maryland student information stored on publicly accessible computer

A state audit found that personal and financial information for students considering attending the University of Maryland were stored on publicly accessible servers that could make students easy prey to ID thieves.

Computer server at University of Maine hacked

Social Security numbers and credit card information of 2,818 users of a University of Maine computer server may have fallen into the hands of hackers, according to university officials.

Subscribe

Print Magazine

Featured Events

Links

Searching …

Another university bids goodbye to Social Security numbers