Re-using previous usernames

[enjay]

Our students' usernames are in the format [surname][forename initial], with the addition of numbers when needed to separate duplicates. We've had a couple of incidents recently with some ed tech subscription products, where a student has issues due to having the same username as an ex-student. ActiveLearn, for example, keep usernames in their system indefinitely even after we've deleted their account, which I'm about to raise with our DPO, and it looks like Quizlet do too as today's example shares their name with someone who left in 2018, although I don't think anyone in the school "manages" Quizlet, assuming that's even a thing.

 

Those of you without cohort names in usernames, do you re-user old usernames or set unique ones every time?

[3s-gtech]

We re-use, but the turnover period is very long due to our format (nothing to do with the student’s name). I have added more name variations to the ‘pool’ with the intention of not re-using for 10 years or more, due to the kind of issues you describe and email addresses finding their way onto spam lists.