Student ID numbers to change

IU's number is up.\nFollowing in the footsteps of other state schools, IU is planning to replace its student identification number system so students will no longer be identified by their social security numbers. Instead, students will be assigned random 10-digit numbers.\nThe change is being made as IU converts to the Student Information System software the University began running this spring, said IU Spokeswoman Jane Jankowski.\nThe new numbers, which will go into effect at all eight IU campuses this fall, have already been assigned, Jankowski said, but students will not know what they are until the fall. Incoming students will have their numbers assigned as they enroll.\nIn the past, students were given the choice of using either their social security number or a random number. Under the new system, students will no longer have that option -- they must accept the random number.\n"Most students I've talked to have been eagerly anticipating this change," Dean of Students Richard McKaig said. "The only downside I can think of is they may think it's complicated to remember two numbers."\nMcKaig said student groups had recently complained to him they were having trouble getting students to sign their petitions because when asked for their student ID number, they did not want to give out their social security numbers.\n"This will certainly be easier," he said. "Students won't have to give their social security number when releasing certain things now."\nStudents receiving financial aid will still need to use their social security numbers in some aspects of the system, McKaig said.\nPurdue University changed to a random system last year, and Indiana State University switched two years ago.\n"Identity theft is an enormous problem," said Steve Hare, associate vice president for information technology at Purdue University. "There were more than 10 million cases of identities being compromised last year. We want to keep people from having access to social security numbers unless it's needed."\nHare said the only problems encountered at Purdue have been with groups that depended on the visual aspects of older identification cards and needed to update their software.\nSince IU won't be issuing new ID cards, minimal problems are expected when students enroll with the OneStart service next fall.\n"(Students) will not need to know their number to use the OneStart service or to enroll, since they will be entering into the system and authenticating their identity with their Network ID and password," said Roland Cote, associate vice chancellor for enrollment services. "If students forget their University ID number, they can always go back to OneStart to retrieve it."\nIn December, the U.S. Department of Education said college students are particularly vulnerable to identity theft because of the many ways they share their social security numbers, including applying for loans and professors posting grades online, according to The Associated Press.\nIn the case of freshman Tom Gillund, he's even had to put his social security number on tests, where it's easily accessible.\n"Anyone could get your social security number that way," he said. "This switch is a good way to protect the privacy of students."\n-- Contact senior writer Chris Freiberg at wfreiber@indiana.edu.