SPC Spotlight: Stuff You Should Know


	Notification of Social Security Number collection and usage
	In compliance with Florida Statute 119.071(5), this document serves to notify you of the purpose for the collection and usage of your Social Security Number (SSN). St. Petersburg College collects and uses your SSN only for the following purposes in performance of the College’s duties and responsibilities, including compliance with federal and state statutes related to employment, financial and academic assistance, interinstitutional articulation or transfer, and for actions imperative to the performance of St. Petersburg College’s duties and responsibilities as prescribed by law. To protect your identity, St. Petersburg College will secure your SSN from unauthorized access; strictly prohibit the release of your SSN to unauthorized parties contrary to state and federal law; and assign you a unique student/employee identification number. This ID number is used for associated employment and educational purposes at St. Petersburg College, except as set out below. EMPLOYEES Human Resources Your SSN is used for completing and processing the following: Federal I-9 (Department of Homeland Security) Federal W4, W2, 1099 (Internal Revenue Service) Federal Social Security taxes (FICA) Distributing Federal W2 (Internal Revenue Service) Unemployment Reports (Fla. Dept. of Revenue) Florida Retirement Contribution reports (Fla. Dept. of Revenue) Workers Comp Claims (FCCRMC and Dept. of Labor) 403b contribution reports Group health, life and dental coverage enrollment Designation of assignment and beneficiary forms Student employment work assignments Background checks Direct deposit files Adjunct position forms Providing your Social Security Card is a condition of employment at St. Petersburg College. STUDENTS A student Social Security Number may be used for the following: Admissions Federal legislation relating to the Hope Tax Credit and other tax benefits for education require that all postsecondary institutions report student SSNs to the Internal Revenue Service. This IRS requirement makes it necessary for community colleges to collect the SSN of every student. A student may refuse to disclose his or her SSN to the College for this purpose, but the IRS is then authorized to fine the student $50. In addition to the federal reporting requirements, the public school system in Florida uses SSN’s as a student identifier (section 1008.386, F.S.). In a seamless K-20 system, it is beneficial for postsecondary institutions to have access to the same information for purposes of tracking and assisting students in the smooth transition from one education level to the next. Programs of lifelong learning, corporate training, and other continuing education programs use your Social Security Numbers as student identifiers for program enrollment. Non-credit programs may use your Social Security Number for the purpose of reporting to the state to facilitate the process of certification and license renewal, and for reporting non-credit course and in-service training information as required by state law. Financial Aid A student’s SSN is required for the following financial aid purposes: The U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requires applicants to report their SSN for all federal financial aid programs as a student identifier for processing and reporting. In addition to its use by USDOE as a student identifier, the SSN is required for the Department of Homeland Security to investigate citizenship status, for the federal Work Study Program, and for all loan applications for use by the lender/servicer/guarantor. St. Petersburg College collects a student’s SSN on certain institutional scholarship applications for student files and federal and state audit/reporting purposes. If you are a recipient of a State of Florida grant or scholarship such as the Florida Student Assistance Grant, Florida Work Experience or Bright Futures, the Florida Department of Education will require the SSN on its grant/scholarship disbursement Web site and for reporting purposes. Outreach Programs The College Reach-Out Programs are youth outreach (intervention) projects funded by discretionary grants from the U.S. or Florida Departments of Education. To verify a participant’s project eligibility, Social Security Numbers are required when submitting information for the Annual Performance Reports due to the U.S. or Florida Departments of Education. Workforce Programs These programs, funded through the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) use your SSN as an identifier for program enrollment and completion. Also, it is used for entering placement information into either the OSMIS or the Employ Florida Marketplace statewide data collection and reporting system. Because these are performance-based contract programs, AWI requires all participants and their program-related activities be recorded in the Florida state system. CONTRACTORS The College collects contractor SSN information in order to file the required information returns with the IRS, as required by federal law.