The campus encourages employees to take precautionary steps to protect identity-related information on computers and other electronic devices. Student records, reference letters, financial information relating to others, certain grant information, employee information, etc., include personal information protected under state law.

If one has such information on a laptop, flash drive or other portable media and it is lost or stolen, the campus is required by law to send a letter to every individual whose information is potentially compromised. With 635,000 cases reported nationwide in 2004 alone, identity theft is widespread and costly. To mitigate these risks, the campus asks that employees search their electronic devices, particularly portable devices, and remove or secure any files that contain identifying information. For more information, contact Robert Ono, IT Security Coordinator, (530) 757-5795 or raono@ucdavis.edu.