De Anza College has mailed notices to 4,375 students and former students that a laptop computer stolen from the home of an instructor contained these students’ personal information.
Letters and e-mails are being sent to individuals who enrolled in the faculty member’s mathematics classes at the college between 1991 and 2003, and 2005 through 2007. Because some of the students may have moved or changed email addresses since they enrolled, the district also is attempting to notify students through the media.
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District has no evidence at this time that any unauthorized person is using the personal information. The laptop was protected by a password, as were the student files.
Students seeking information about whether their information was contained on the laptop may contact De Anza’s Dean of Admissions & Records Kathleen Moberg at mobergkathleen@fhda.edu or (408) 864-8292.
The stolen laptop contained grading records for De Anza students who took the instructor’s math classes, their first and last names and personal identification numbers. This information was contained in class lists maintained by the faculty member to manage grades and attendance.
The laptop, which was the instructor’s work computer, was stolen during an Aug. 24 break-in at the instructor’s home and the loss was reported to the district Aug. 27. The laptop also contained some faculty members’ personal information and the district has notified those faculty members.
The notifications provide information about precautions to take to protect against identity fraud.
The district and De Anza College are committed to maintaining the privacy of student information and are continually modifying their systems and practices to enhance the security of sensitive information.
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FOR RELEASE:
SEPT. 6, 2007
CONTACT:
Becky Bartindale
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
(650) 949-6107, bartindalebecky@fhda.edu
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