Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo., has joined the growing number of colleges cracking down on use of Social Security numbers as student identifiers. In this school’s case, it involves using a university-issued ID number rather than a Social Security number and limiting access to records that contain a student’s full Social.
The problem came to light when it was discovered that a school administrator had downloaded 800 student names and Social Security numbers to a laptop. He left the university last June and has since been indicted on identity fraud and computer trespass.
In addition, dormitory staff had access to a list of student names and their Social Security numbers. Now, just the student’s last four numbers are visible. Also, at one time, student names, Social Security numbers and university ID numbers were available in a binder at the front desk of all dorms. That process, too, has been eliminated.
“When we made the transition from Socials to student ID numbers last year, there was a transition for the first couple of months in the fall” where both were listed, the administrator said. “That is no longer the case.”
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