A microfilm containing the personal information of approximately 1,200 University of Akron alumni is missing.
The university has sent out letters to the affected alumni, graduates of the fall 1974 class, informing them that their names, previous addresses and phone numbers, along with birth dates and Social Security numbers, were on the missing microfilm.
Dave Russ, of the university's institutional marketing department, said the missing microfilm reel was one of several that was being digitized by an outside vendor. The university and the vendor have engaged in an exhaustive search, but have not located the missing reel.
Dr. Charles J. Fey, vice president of student affairs, said he doesn't believe the risk of identity theft is significant.
"Even though we believe this incident puts the affected graduates at extremely low risk of identity theft, we felt it was essential to notify them of this situation," Fey said.
The letter sent to the 1974 UA graduates included guidelines to help them guard against identity theft.
"We are also offering any of the affected alumni a year of fraud protection service at no cost," he said.