Mississippi State University (MSU) is committed to protecting personal information and to deterring identity theft of its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others with whom it has an official association.  In the normal practice of conducting university business, MSU collects and maintains confidential information related to its students, employees, alumni, and other individuals associated with MSU.  The university is committed to protecting personal and confidential information and properly handling and maintaining such data.

• The collecting of social security numbers (SSNs) is required of all employees of the university, all tuition-paying students, students receiving financial aid, and other individuals for which state and federal law require the reporting of SSNs. 

• If there is no legal requirement to collect a SSN from a particular individual, MSU will not require such an individual to provide their SSN and will not deny any service as a consequence. 

• MSU will not disclose the social security number of any individual to anyone outside the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) system except as allowed by law or with permission from the individual or as approved by MSU legal counsel.