Athens, Ohio ? Ohio University said Tuesday it has suspended two information technology supervisors over recent breaches by hackers who may have stolen 173,000 Social Security numbers from school computers.

The school in Athens did not identify the director of communications network services – identified on the school’s Web site as Thomas Reid – and manager of Internet and systems. Both were suspended pending the school’s investigation of the breaches, five of which have happened since March 2005.

Citing results from an independent audit, the school also said University President Roderick McDavis will ask trustees for up to $2 million to improve computer security.

The school said in April it had discovered a computer breach at its training center for fledgling businesses. Since then, electronic break-ins also were reported at the school’s alumni office, health center and the department that handles records for businesses the university hires.