UTM addressing accidental information release

Forty-one former applicants of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin are being notified following the discovery of names, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information on an Internet site.
The information, which was discovered Saturday and removed immediately from an Internet link, affects applicants from the 2004 class of the Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences.
The information was discovered Saturday by the Liberty Coalition, an Internet watchdog organization. The information was posted accidentally by a UT Martin faculty member, who had backed up files to a publicly accessible server. The 41 applicants are being notified initially by telephone and e-mail and will be contacted again by letter.
Additionally, the names and academic information for fewer than 100 university students were posted to the link; Social Security numbers were not associated with these names. These students, who were enrolled in agriculture and natural resources classes, are being contacted and advised of the situation.
“This is an unfortunate accident for which we’re taking action to notify those affected,” said Dr. Jerry Gresham, chair of the UT Martin Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, also director of the Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences.
No improper use of the information posted on the Internet site has been reported, Gresham said.
Telephone numbers to call for information have been designated by the university. For questions about the 41 Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences applicants, call Gresham at (731) 881-7262; and for UT Martin students who have questions about the accidental release of academic information, call the Office of Academic Records at (731) 881-3050.
Published in The Messenger on 11.06.07

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