By dropping the numbers, we are making that possibility more remote. We are doing this in the interest of keeping Social Security numbers as confidential as possible. Hanson says there are myriad other ways that Social Security numbers are used at AU to identify students. Where use of the numbers can be avoided, the university is pursuing alternatives, but, he says, use of the numbers is almost unavoidable in certain instances. Hanson said the work of his committee will continue until the University Senate is satisfied that AU students are adequately protected.
People ask for it everywhere all the time.
But we're looking into ways to protect the privacy and the rights of our students and hope that, longterm, we'll find solutions for the remaining problems.