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Sources: Sue Maes, 785-532-5644, scmaes@k-state.edu; Linda Teener, 785-539-8763,
lteener@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
THEFT OF ITEMS FROM AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED PERSONAL DATA
MANHATTAN -- Eighty-six Kansas State University students are receiving letters from the Division of Continuing Education advising them that papers with their names and Social Security numbers were stolen from a parked vehicle last week.
An instructor for classes offered through the Division of Continuing Education and taught through the UFM Community Learning Center reported an Aug. 15 overnight theft of numerous items from a car, which was parked outside a Manhattan residence. Items taken included a backpack with a list of names and social security numbers of 86 Kansas State University students who had taken that instructor's classes from fall 2007 through summer 2008. The instructor reported the theft to the Riley County Police Department Aug. 16 and to K-State officials Aug. 18. Riley County police are investigating.
The classes included:
Fall 07 91448 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Fall 07 91450 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Spring 08 92448 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Spring 08 92449 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Spring 08 92471 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Turbo Kick
Spring 08 92472 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Turbo Kick
Summer 08 90410 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Summer 08 90411 RRES 200 Topics in Recreation Resources/Total Body Toning
Letters are going out today to those students whose data was included on the class rosters.
"We have no indication that any student's personal information has been misused," said Sue Maes, interim dean of the Division of Continuing Education. "We are bringing it to the affected students' attention advising them to be alert for possible misuse of their personal data."
K-State has been phasing out the use of Social Security numbers as student identification, beginning with the elimination of these numbers from university ID cards in 2006. This semester, K-State adopted a new student system which totally eliminates the Social Security number as the student ID. In addition, a university campaign is being planned for this fall to increase awareness among faculty and staff of the need to be vigilant protecting personal information, including social security numbers.
Information on preventing identity theft is available at
http://www.k-state.edu/infotech/security/topics/idtheft.html
UFM Community Learning Center is a non-profit campus and community education program serving Kansas State University, the Manhattan area and communities across Kansas. UFM was started in 1968 by a group of KSU students and faculty as a way to bridge communication between the campus community and the Manhattan community.