College Transitions to New Identification Method

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — Centenary College is doing its part to stop identity theft and has transitioned from using social security numbers as the primary means of identification for its students, staff, faculty and associates.

"The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year," said Zeke Aull, Director of Public Safety. "Centenary College ID numbers are being changed from social security numbers to randomly generated numbers to protect the privacy of those numbers and reduce the threat of identity theft to our community."

identity theft

Upon admission or employment, all members of the Centenary College community will be assigned a unique and randomly generated identification number. This permanently assigned identification number is directly connected with the student or employee record and is used in conjunction with their PIN to access their own confidential enrollment and registration records.

To assist the Centenary College community with their new ID numbers, the Department of Public Safety has printed new ID cards with the nine digit number located on the back of the cards. If a student or employee has misplaced their card and needs their ID number, they will be able to ask any department on campus to look that information up. There is also a user ID look-up located on Banner Web.

In order to receive a new or replacement ID card, students, staff, faculty and contracted employees can contact the Department of Public Safety Monday through Friday from 1 until 5 p.m., or by appointment. The fee for a replacement card is $20 for replacement.

Members of the Centenary Fitness Center and dependents of Centenary students and employees will need to first go to the Fitness Center to fill out paperwork for risk management purposes. Dependents will then be able to go to Centenary Square to receive their ID cards. Fitness members will need to go to the business office in Hamilton Hall to complete their payment schedule before going to the Department of Public Safety for their ID card.

Centenary College will continue to request Social Security Numbers (SSN) at the time of application or employment. The Social Security Number will not be used as the ID number but will be provided to entities requiring Social Security Number, including but not limited to the federal government for financial aid and Tax Relief Act (1997) reporting, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and as required by court order in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Safety at 318.869.5000.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.