Update: Roane State announces 11,000 employee and student Social Security numbers stolen from employee's car

Roane State Community College has announced that the names and Social Security numbers of 9,747 current or former students were on a data storage device stolen from an employee's vehicle, along with 1,194 current/former employees' information.

The Social Security numbers alone, with no names, were also stolen for 5,036 additional current or former students.

The data was on a 4GB USB drive used for work-related purposes. An employee took it home October 9 to do work after hours, and left it in the car. According to a report filed by the Knox County Sheriff's Office, the employee forgot to lock the car doors.

The USB drive was stolen along with a personal hand-held device.

The employee notified RSCC officials the following Monday, October 12.

Roane State said no academic records were leaked, and affected individuals have been notified, along with major credit reporting agencies.

VP for Business and Finance Danny Gibbs said in a release that the college has no reason to suspect the data storage device was stolen for identity theft purposes, and said information is being released now only to avoid interfering with the investigation.

"And we deeply regret the inconvenience this has caused our students and our employees. We will be reviewing all of our policies and procedures. When something like this happens, you step back and take a look at everything you're doing and see if there's any way you can improve and strengthen," Gibbs said.

The matter is being investigated by the Knox County Sheriff's Office because the employee lives in Knox County.

The employee did act against RSCC regulations by copying school data and taking it off the property. No reprimands have been issued at this time.

The college has created a website, www.roanestate.edu/idalert, to help provide further information.

There is also a hotline set up. The number is (865) 882-4688 or toll-free 1-866-462-7722 ext. 4688.