Bates College Financial Aid Information Available On Campus Network
Quick Facts
- Date: 10/23/2007
- Institution: Bates College
- Type of Incident: Unauthorized Disclosure
- Number Affected: 500
- Source: Pogo Was Right
- Abstract Source: The Bates Student
Abstract
Bates College is altering students after two files on the campus network containing financial aid information were found to be accessible to anyone with a Bates username and password. The files, containing information on Perkins Load recipients, contained the names, address, Social Security numbers, financial aid awards and dates of birth on nearly 500 Bates students. The Bates Students, the student newspaper, discovered the files and immediately brought the matter to the college's attention. According to the college's Student Financial Services Office (SFS) the e-mail alert from The Student was never received. However, a second attempt by The Student to contact SFS was successful and the files were removed. According to SFS officials, the files were accessible via a mistake by the college's Information and Library Services Office but would not comment further. According to Bates' Information and Library Services Vice President Gene Weimers and Dean of Students Tedd Goundie this appears to be the first such incident at Bates. Bates officials are currently investigating this incident.
