Because of expressed student and faculty discontent toward using Social Security numbers as a form of identification, a team of Communication Network Services employees is working on keeping their use to a minimum.
The debate on using the numbers has been constant over several years, but action is now being taken.
Tom Reid, director of Communication Network Services at OU, said that since last year, We have been able to get our act together.
A CNS team and administrators Provost Stephen Kopp and Vice President for Administration Gary North have agreed that using Social Security numbers as identification is a problem.
The group will focus on the largest exposures first - class lists and DARS reports. Reid said they hope to replace the Social Security number with the PID - the Personal Identification number students are assigned by the university - and Oak identification methods.
We are not going to get rid of [Social Security numbers] as an identification number
but we'd like to remove it from public view Reid said.
Bob DeLong, associate university registrar, said several steps to phase out the use of Social Security identification are already in effect.
The number has been removed from DARS reports as well as adviser reports, faculty class lists, faculty grade reports and major program reports.
Online services provided by the registrar no longer ask for the Social Security number - except as an optional method for students to access the Web registration application.
A combination of consistent complaints from different individuals and the growing threat of identity theft have contributed to the need for alternate forms of personal identification.
Nicolette Dioguardi, Associate Director of Legal Affairs, said there have been no cases of identity theft at OU, but if someone were to obtain a Social Security number they could access financial accounts, Bobcat Cash, debit cards and even go as far as to register for classes.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that using your Social Security number as identification is a misuse she said.
Dioguardi, also a professor of business law, said, I wish more professors would stop using them.
The entire phasing-out process is estimated to cost around $10,000.
Reid said that it is worth it. Social Security number exposure is unacceptable
he said.
DeLong said that there are no current deadlines on completion, but they are committed to limiting the use of Social Security numbers.
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