But colleges are taking measures to protect students and faculty from having their personal information fall into the wrong hands.
The George Washington University is preparing to reduce the use of social security numbers as student identification. Last fall, the university created a committee to explore new ways to identify students and staff that would lessen the risk of identity theft. Currently, most students use their social security numbers for such regular activities as checking grades, researching articles online, or registering for class.
The transition comes after pressure from both students and faculty into finding alternatives.
"I think it's a good idea to use other identification means rather than social security numbers to avoid misuse of information," says George Washington University student Chuck Davis. "Otherwise it could easily fall into the wrong hands."
Some universities have already implemented such change. Howard University is one of the growing number of schools that does not use social security numbers as student identification. Instead, the school provides students with randomly generated numbers.
"We are very conscious of possibility that [identity theft] could happen, but we are very vigilant in protecting students and faculty," says Howard University Interim Vice Provost Dr. Charles Moore. "We are being proactive and monitoring it as closely as we can to see if someone is even attempting to compromise the integrity of our database."
Although the school does not use Social Security numbers as student identification, the information is used for tax related paperwork, and when students apply for federal financial aid such as grants and loans. To protect the information, Moore says the university has installed two firewall systems and conduct routine audits to make sure the database is still secure.
"It's an important issue, and it's our job at Howard to protect interests of students and faculty," Moore says.
And while completely eliminating the use of social security numbers on college campuses is virtually impossible, there are ways that students can protect themselves from identity theft. The U.S. Department of Education recommends keeping close tabs on your personal information, monitoring your credit accounts carefully and if your social security number is used as your student ID, making sure you know where it is at all times.
The George Washington University is preparing to reduce the use of social security numbers as student identification. Last fall, the university created a committee to explore new ways to identify students and staff that would lessen the risk of identity theft. Currently, most students use their social security numbers for such regular activities as checking grades, researching articles online, or registering for class.
The transition comes after pressure from both students and faculty into finding alternatives.
"I think it's a good idea to use other identification means rather than social security numbers to avoid misuse of information," says George Washington University student Chuck Davis. "Otherwise it could easily fall into the wrong hands."
Some universities have already implemented such change. Howard University is one of the growing number of schools that does not use social security numbers as student identification. Instead, the school provides students with randomly generated numbers.
"We are very conscious of possibility that [identity theft] could happen, but we are very vigilant in protecting students and faculty," says Howard University Interim Vice Provost Dr. Charles Moore. "We are being proactive and monitoring it as closely as we can to see if someone is even attempting to compromise the integrity of our database."
Although the school does not use Social Security numbers as student identification, the information is used for tax related paperwork, and when students apply for federal financial aid such as grants and loans. To protect the information, Moore says the university has installed two firewall systems and conduct routine audits to make sure the database is still secure.
"It's an important issue, and it's our job at Howard to protect interests of students and faculty," Moore says.
And while completely eliminating the use of social security numbers on college campuses is virtually impossible, there are ways that students can protect themselves from identity theft. The U.S. Department of Education recommends keeping close tabs on your personal information, monitoring your credit accounts carefully and if your social security number is used as your student ID, making sure you know where it is at all times.
