Baker University Provides Notice of a Data Security Event

BALDWIN CITY, Kan., Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker University is in the process of notifying its stakeholders about its findings following a December 2024 data security event that may affect the security of their personal information. Baker was one of many educational institutions nationwide targeted in the data security incident.

"The confidentiality, privacy, and security of our Baker community's personal information is one of our university's highest priorities," said Jody Fournier, Baker University President. "Our team has been working alongside an external team of experts at a cyber security firm since the incident and has rebuilt one of our primary platforms that was compromised during the cyber incident. All of us at Baker are fiercely dedicated not only to restoring and enhancing our systems, but also rebuilding the trust our community has placed in us."

In December 2024, Baker discovered suspicious activity related to certain systems which resulted in a network outage. Baker took immediate steps to secure its environment and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity. The investigation determined there was unauthorized access and/or acquisition of certain files and folders within Baker's network between December 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024. As a result, Baker initiated an extensive review of these files and folders to determine whether sensitive information had been compromised and to whom it was related. Through this review, Baker determined that information that may have been involved included data related to those affiliated with the university. Although the information varied by individual, it includes name, date of birth, driver's license number, financial account information, health insurance information, medical information, passport information, Social Security number, student identification number, and tax identification number.

Baker is providing notice of this event to individuals directly whose information was involved, for whom the University has address information. Although Baker does not have evidence to indicate that any of the compromised information was subject to actual or attempted identity theft or fraud, the university is providing individuals with complimentary credit monitoring services and is notifying state and federal regulators. Baker also reviewed existing security policies and implemented additional measures to further protect against similar incidents moving forward.

Individuals who have questions related to this incident can contact 1-844-948-2042 for more information Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Individuals may also write to Baker at P.O. Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006.

Baker encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor their credit reports and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer's name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; (202) 442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers' files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; www.riag.ri.gov; and 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event. There are a number of Rhode Island residents that may be impacted by this event.

About Baker University
Founded in 1858 as the first university in Kansas, Baker University is a private institution that educates traditional and nontraditional students through small classes, innovative instructors, and rigorous coursework. Fortune 500 CEOs, New York Times best-selling authors, and Super Bowl champions all proudly claim Baker as their alma mater. Baker has the highest return on investment among private universities in Kansas, a 99 percent career and graduate school placement rate, and Baker graduates earn the highest average salaries among those from Kansas universities.

SOURCE Baker University