RENO Nev.
A University of Nevada, Reno professor has lost a flash drive that contains the names and Social Security numbers of 16,000 current and former students, according to school officials.
The flash drive is about the size of a thumb and was lost somewhere in downtown Reno.
University spokeswoman Jane Tors said on Monday the device contained the information of incoming freshmen who enrolled in the fall semesters from 2001 through 2007.
That does not include freshmen who enrolled in the spring, transfer students or graduate students.
Tors said there has been no indication that the information has been accessed, but letters were sent to each of the students alerting them to the situation.
The university is providing students with access to an identity protection service for one year at no cost, she said.
The administrative faculty member who lost the device is not being identified. Tors said it is a personnel matter.
Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com
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