CSU Auditor Notification

Recently you may have heard about a hard drive that was either inadvertently discarded or stolen from a laptop computer belonging to an auditor from the Chancellor’s Office. Names and Social Security Numbers of some of our faculty, staff, and students enrolled in the Spring term were on the hard drive along with information from six other CSU campuses. While there is no indication that the confidential information that was on the hard drive was accessed for identity theft, the Office of the University Auditor has notified individuals whose names and Social Security Numbers were on the hard drive.

Critical facts about the incident as well as specific steps each individual may take to protect themselves from possible consequences of identity theft were included in a letter [PDF] sent to each impacted person by the CSU Auditor in a personal letter on July 21, 2004. If you received such a letter please read it carefully and act as appropriate to your circumstance. Contact the Chancellor’s Office’s designated point person should you have additional questions or comments. Those who DID NOT receive a letter from the auditor were not listed on the hard drive.

Although this incident did not occur here at Cal Poly, the campus is strongly committed to protecting personal data and continues to take steps to review procedures to prevent and mitigate risks.