Use of Student Social Security Numbers as Student I.D.

There seems to be some confusion regarding the use of SSNs as student identification numbers.

A memo has recently circulated to all faculty members noting the following:

“It is mandatory for university students to disclose their social security numbers to the university upon request. Nevertheless, such disclosure is not a license to misuse these social security numbers. There is no statutory provision that allows the university’s employees, including faculty employees, to use social security numbers as routine identifiers or to deliberately or carelessly disclose those numbers to the public or any part of the public. Thus, professors may not use students’ social security numbers or parts thereof to post grades or list such numbers on a grading sheet, attendance chart or any other document that is not secured from public scrutiny.” (Quoted from Memo from UCF General Counsel to Campus Community dated December 5, 2000.)

All faculty members are routinely provided with all students’ social security numbers on final rolls and grade sheets. Use of your social security number for this class is mandatory on examinations because they are machine graded. If you do not use your social security number on the machine graded examinations, you will probably not have your examination returned at the same time as other students because your examination will have to be hand-sorted, filed, and recorded. I must require that you use your social security number as an identifier on scantron sheets for the three major examinations for this course because use of the number will ensure accuracy and facility in returning and receiving your examination grades. The Computer Center can process forms without SSNs, but identification is not ensured without appropriate use of the student identification number (which is your SSN). I will not REQUIRE (but can require) that you use your social security number on quizzes, but request that you use it along with your name to ensure accurate recording of grades.

Scantron sheets for examinations are secured from public scrutiny, as are grade sheets and final grades. I do not post grades. All graded assignments are returned to you either in class or during my office hours.