BC3 students affected by National Student Clearinghouse breach
Students at Butler County Community College are among those whose personal data was compromised in a cybersecurity incident involving National Student Clearinghouse, a Monday news release from the college said.
BC3 is one of numerous institutions countrywide that have reported student data was compromised in related cyberattacks.
The college’s servers and infrastructure were not comprised, and the institution does not use the National Student Clearinghouse’s third-party software program that was breached, Bill Foley, BC3 coordinator of news and media content said in the Monday news release.
National Student Clearinghouse is an organization that provides reports to institutions of higher education, guaranty agencies, lenders and servicers nationwide, Foley said.
“The college is actively monitoring the situation and working with the National Student Clearinghouse in its investigation,” Foley said. “Pending the result of that investigation, BC3 will provide direct notice to students or former students whose personal information was contained in the breached files.”
Officials with Slippery Rock University said National Student Clearinghouse informed institutions nationwide, including SRU, of the breach, but SRU was not identified as being affected.
According to Foley, the U.S. Department of Education requires that institutions of higher education whose students receive federal financial aid provide enrollment and degree information including a student’s name, date of birth, address, Social Security number and program of study.