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2008-2009 IT Security Implementation Plan update!

The dates for the quarterly implementation plan submissions have been updated to reflect the 2008-2009 schedule.

Incident Response

Social Security Numbers FAQ

Below are commonly asked questions regarding SSN usage and protection. Questions about the OSU ID are available on the Alternative Identifier FAQ.

  1. Why is it necessary to protect Social Security Numbers?
  2. What Ohio legislation has been passed to help address the identity theft situation?
  3. What federal legislation has been passed to help address the identity theft situation?
  4. Does this mean that I will never have to provide my Social Security Number at the University?
  5. What changes can I expect to see at the University related to my Social Security Number?
  6. Will an alternative identifier be assigned to students?
  7. When will students be assigned the OSU ID number?
  8. How will the OSU ID number be any safer from identity theft than the Social Security Number?
  9. How do I find out my OSU ID number? What is my OSU ID number?
  10. Who do I contact if I believe my Social Security Number is being inappropriately used or protected?
  11. What tools are available to locate SSN?

Download a PDF copy of these FAQ

Further Questions?

If your question is not listed above, please use the email form at the bottom of this page to contact us.

Why is it necessary to protect Social Security Numbers?

Social Security Numbers are a key piece of information that provides access into an individual’s financial, employment and medical records. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is one of the largest growing crimes with 10 million Americans affected annually. Estimates are that this crime costs the United States $55 billion. Ohio State University wants to ensure that our procedures help protect our students and employees from identity theft and misuse of personal information.

What Ohio legislation has been passed to help address the identity theft situation?

Ohio Revised Code Section 1347.12 became effective in February, 2006 and requires companies to notify affected individuals if a breach of security occurs where personal information may have been compromised. Personal information includes Social Security Number, driver’s license number and/or credit card information.
In addition, the State of Ohio passed legislation in 2005 that increased the penalties associated with identity theft crimes with special emphasis for fraud committed on elderly or disabled individuals. This legislation also established that identity theft victims could obtain a “passport” that would provide individuals with proof that they were the victim, not the criminal.

What federal legislation has been passed to help address the identity theft situation?

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act passed in October, 1998, makes identity theft a federal crime. Specifically this legislation mandated that all states remove Social Security Numbers from driver’s licenses and state identity cards.

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Does this mean that I will never have to provide my Social Security Number at the University?

No, there are instances where the Social Security Number is required by law. For instance, all employees must provide their Social Security Number in order to report wages and tax information to the government. Students who are applying for financial aid will be asked to provide Social Security Numbers. These are just two examples of legitimate SSN use.

What changes can I expect to see at the University related to my Social Security Number?

You should not be asked to provide your Social Security Number for enrolling or attending classes, for scheduling appointments with your advisor or for accessing campus systems. There will be many other situations where your Social Security Number will no longer be requested. You can also expect that the University is required to protect any information that you may have been asked to supply in the past.

Will an alternative identifier be assigned to students?

Yes, students will be assigned a nine-digit OSU ID number. Students who have been employed and have an eight-digit OSU ID number will retain that identifier.

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When will students be assigned the OSU ID number?

The current plan is to assign the OSU ID number to students during the conversion to the PeopleSoft Student Information system for go live (June, 2008).

How will the OSU ID number be any safer from identity theft than the Social Security Number?

The OSU ID number pertains to business related to the University while the Social Security Number can provide access to financial and credit card records across the country.

How do I find out my OSU ID number? What is my OSU ID number?

Currently students who are also employed by the university have been assigned an OSU ID number. If you are employed, the department you work for will be able to provide you with that information. Students who have not worked at OSU are being provided an OSU ID number through the SIS project. Details on the timeline for this effort are available at http://oaa.osu.edu/sis/. Questions can be sent to sis@osu.edu.

Who do I contact if I believe my Social Security Number is being inappropriately used or protected?

Contact the Office of the CIO Security Group at security@osu.edu.

What tools are available to locate SSN?

There is software that can help you determine whether files with an SSN exist on your computer. These programs scan your computer for SSN-like patterns and produce a report of the files that may contain one or more Social Security Numbers. You can receive information about these tools on the website or by contacting the Office of the CIO security group at security@osu.edu.

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Further Questions?

If your question is not listed in the above FAQ, please use the form below to contact us. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

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