IMPORTANT NOTICE - October 17, 2007

The Northwestern Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has just received notice that the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA) has been a victim of a data security breach.  The Northwestern Financial Aid Office would like to notify our students that you should be aware of the potential risk to your sensitive information.  This could affect any student who meets the following criteria:

• Anyone who has a Louisiana College Savings account (START Saving Program).
• Any resident of the state of Louisiana who has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Anyone who has completed a FAFSA and included a Louisiana postsecondary institution as an institution to which FAFSA data should be sent.
• Anyone who has applied for or received a Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Scholarship.
• Anyone who has applied for or who has received student financial aid in the State of Louisiana.

LOSFA has set up a website to notify students of this information and to check their identity.  Northwestern urges all students to check their information at the following site to see if this affects you:  http://www.osfa.state.la.us/Notice.htm

Update:  October 24, 2007

FAQ's from LOSFA regarding breach of information issue

 Please do not hesitate to contact the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance at 1-800-645-7990 or Northwestern Office of Student Financial Aid at 1-800-823-3008 for assistance.