You run a Banner report to get student information you need for your job. You complete it and save it to a document or desktop. But have you completed your task? NO, not if you haven’t taken the proper steps to make the document secure. When a computer was stolen in the past, the thief was normally after the hardware. That is no longer the case. Today’s criminals know that the information that might be stored on the computer is more valuable. This is especially true when the computer is owned by an institution such as Augusta State where personal, identifiable information may include such elements as social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, driver’s license numbers, passport identifiers, addresses, and phone numbers. These may not be in the one report that you’ve run, but every day, reports are run that contain valuable information for would-be criminals. As computer users and employees of the University System, we have the responsibility to safeguard information. In 2008, 52 incidents of possible data loss have occurred at U.S. educational institutions; 560,981 people have been affected by these potential data losses. (Source: attrition.org) This figure is for the educational arena alone; if it is broadened to include private and government markets, over 15 million people have been affected.

The importance of safeguarding our data is not only for compliance with regulations, but also to reduce the costs associated with breaches—not to mention the reputation of the institution. Also, there are many state and federal laws that protect an individual’s right to privacy. What, then, can you do to help safeguard that information?

Practice good data handling sense. The best method when handling sensitive data is to treat it as if it were your own. That heightens the senses to be extra cautious. But what else can you do to be conscientious when handling data?

Take a step back and look at your job function and the information you handle. Is there a form you collect that has a social security number on it? Do you need that social security number to complete the process, or does it merely save you a minute by not having to look up that person’s name in a database? If you are storing information electronically, do you need to collect that information, or has it just always been done that way? If you do need to collect sensitive data electronically or on paper, what are your purging schedules like? Are they followed and properly documented? The more we limit exposure to possible theft, loss, or carelessness, the less chance we have to damage our students’, faculty’s, and staff’s identities, credit records, or reputations.

This may require some additional work, but if the campus makes a unified effort to protect sensitive data as well as takes the proper steps to ensure its need and function, then the campus, our employees, and students will all be better off. ITS is currently evaluating some tools that will assist us in protecting sensitive data, but the responsibility belongs to all of us. If you have concerns with any element of information you are collecting, first take it to your supervisor/department chair who may know the reason behind it. If further efforts are needed, take it up your chain of command, or you may contact me (darmour@aug.edu) to assist in the evaluation.

Lee Ann Caldwell, interim director of the Center for the Study of Georgia History, received a 2008 Governor’s Award in Humanities on May 8 at the 23rd Annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities luncheon in Atlanta. The award recognizes efforts of individuals and organizations to impact their communities through their work in humanities education for the public. Dr. Caldwell, currently chair of the Department of History at Georgia College and State University, will be returning to ASU during the summer.

Tom Crute, chemistry and physics, has been elected chair of the Faculty Policies Committee for 2008-09.

Kristin Casaletto, art, has a solo show, 88 Square Feet: The Art of the Large-Scale Woodcut, on exhibition at The Fire House Gallery in Louisville, Ga., through June 8. The work was supported by a grant from the Porter Fleming Foundation. She also had artwork accepted into the University of North Dakota, Fargo, Print Collection. Ms. Casaletto had work on display at Georgia College and State University in an exhibit called Inscribing Meaning: The Context of Text in Visual Art. She was also featured in a concept show at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Mont., in a show titled Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate.

Jackson Cheatham, art, was the featured speaker May 9 in the Morris Museum’s Art at Lunch series. He spoke about his journey to abstraction, relating his own work to some works in the museum’s abstract art exhibit.

Rick Davis, communications and professional writing, performed at the Emerging Artists Theatre’s One Man Talking event in New York City on May 24. He wrote and performed the Sword Swallower’s Husband, a dark comic monologue in which a man at the edge of suicide remembers his life in the circus: his sword swallower wife, the Amazing Tattooed Man, his pet goat (Bucky), and his decision to end it all.

Josh Gregory, athletics, advanced to the U.S. Open sectional qualifying, after carding even-par 71 at Long Cove Golf Club, Hilton Head, S.C. Coach Gregory earned one of eight spots from a field of 114 players.

Sam Hardy, educational leadership, counseling, and special education, judged a fifth grade competition of We the People at Lake Forest Hills Elementary School on May 16. The students studied the U.S. Constitution as part of their social studies program and made group presentations covering different aspects of our Constitution.

Lillie Johnson and Walter Evans, English and foreign languages, have been named faculty marshals by the Faculty Policies Committee. The two professors replace Christopher Murphy, history, who retired this year.

Anthony Kellman’s, communications and professional writing, book of poetry, Limestone: An Epic Poem of Barbados, was released this month. It covers the whole span of Barbados history from the 1800s to Barbados present day.

Wayne Lord, educational leadership, counseling, and special education, was selected to participate in Participant–Centered Learning: A Workshop on Teaching by the Case Method to Prepare K-12 Education Leaders. The seminar will be held at the Harvard Business School.

Sharon Lorenti, nursing, was recognized with a Spirit of Nursing Award at the annual CSRA Nursing Showcase, held May 2 in Augusta. She was one of about 40 nurses selected for the honor from hospitals, doctors’ offices, and educational institutions.

Bill Nelson, Reese Library, delivered the second annual Charles Beard Memorial Lecture at the University of West Georgia during April titled Enhancing Student Achievement: Applying Standards and Assessment in the Library. Dr. Nelson has also been appointed parliamentarian of the Georgia Library Association, which is a board position of the GLA.

Saundra Reinke, political science and Master of Public Administration degree program, was recognized by the Girl Scouts as a Woman of Excellence. She and seven other women were honored for their contributions to the community within their profession during a May awards luncheon.

Therese Rosier, physical plant, made a presentation about the university to the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International on May 6.

Brian Rust, art, will have his installation artwork at the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson featured on South Carolina ETV in the fall as part of the Touch the Earth documentary series. His art is titled Earthen Bridge and is both functional and sculptural, serving as both a passageway and a focal point.

Kathleen Trigg, communications and professional writing, was honored with a Golden Apple Award from WJBF-TV and other community sponsors. Ms. Trigg was one of 32 school teachers to be recognized for outstanding teaching and the only college professor to receive the distinction. The ceremony, held in May at the Maxwell Theatre, was taped for broadcast during May and will be rebroadcast on Sunday, June 15, at 3 p.m.

Hubert van Tuyll, history, anthropology, and philosophy, signed copies of his recent book on May 24 at Barnes & Noble in Augusta. Dr. van Tuyll and Dr. Jurgen Brauer, Hull College of Business, co-authored Castles, Battles, & Bombs: How Economics Explains Military History. The book, published by the University of Chicago Press, has been reviewed by the New York Sun and The Atlantic.com and was the Book of the Week on The Times Higher Education website.

Two administrators were honored previously with awards from the University System of Georgia. In the Chancellor’s Customer Service Recognition program, Dan Whitfield, vice president for business operations, was recognized for his leadership in the Customer Service Initiative. Therese Rosier, assistant vice president for plant operations, was honored with a Distinguished Service Award at the 12th Annual Facilities Officers Conference.

The graduating nursing class honored Melissa Williams, nursing, during its annual pinning ceremony May 9 at the Maxwell Theatre. Ms. Williams missed her own pinning ceremony when she graduated, and the class elected to present her with an ASU pin, making her an honorary member of the class.

Seretha Williams, English and foreign languages, has been elected Vice President of S.P.A.C.E., Richmond County’s parent support group for the Georgia Association for Gifted Children.

Four faculty and staff members in the College of Education were honored at their annual end of the year luncheon that was held May 2. Dr. Richard Harrison, dean, presented the following awards: Faculty Research Award—Dr. Thomas Deering; Faculty Service Award—Dr. Paulette Harris; Outstanding Teaching Award—Dr. Wayne Lord; and Staff Excellence Award—Ms. Rosemary Grimm.

U.S. Army Col. Michele Goddett will be leaving ASU July 7 after serving four years as chair of the Department of Military Science. Her new assignment will be at the U.S. Army Training Center at Ft. Eustis, Va. Col. Goddett received a promotion earlier in the year, making ASU among the few elite institutions in the nation to have this rank as head of its ROTC program. Traditionally, only institutions such as the Citadel, West Point, etc., have this rank as professors of military science. Major Karen Roe, a Signal Officer, will be arriving at ASU on June 10 as Col. Goddett’s replacement.

In the News

The following faculty and staff appeared as a source for the media in print, television, or radio:

Paul Harris, political science—Augusta Chronicle, about high school competition on government issues; NBC Augusta, about Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama.

Steve Weiss, history, anthropology, and philosophy—NBC Augusta, on lawmaker’s possible conflict of interest

Hubert van Tuyll, history, anthropology, and philosophy — The Augusta Chronicle, signing at Barnes & Noble of his and Dr. Jurgen Brauer’s book Castles, Battles, & Bombs: How Economics Explains Military History.