Waynesburg University’s Financial Aid department is implementing a new policy this semester regarding the privacy of students’ information. According to Financial Aid Director Matt Stokan, anyone attempting to access a student’s information must be able to prove that they are the student or a permitted affiliate of the student.

“When a student comes in the door, we need to make sure they [those asking a Financial Aid question] can identify themselves as the student who they are asking questions about,” said Stokan. “If there are specific questions that can break the student’s confidence or security information, then we need identification to prove people are who they are.”

According to Stokan, the United States Department of Education has given schools a standard on what is expected when it comes to disclosing private information. Waynesburg officially put the guidelines into effect Oct. 2. In order to discuss details in person, a photo identification must be presented by the student or eligible relative. When not in person, eligible parties must provide their full name, date of birth and social security number.

“With identification theft being a huge problem in this country, [the Department of Education] wants to make sure that schools are adhering to their policy,” said Stokan. “It was never emphasized the way it’s being emphasized now.”

Stokan said the way Waynesburg addresses the policy will also be looked into.

“When auditors come in, they’ll make sure you have policies in place to address certain issues,” Stokan said. “If they come in and ask about our policy on privacy and security, we have to be able to provide it to them.”

Nicole Snyder, business office supervisor, outlined the protocol for people other than the students, themselves, to seek information.

“Because it’s in their name, we can discuss anything with the student regarding questions on their tuition account,” Snyder said. “If we have a parent or relative that somebody wants us to disclose information to, we have a form that they fill out.”

According to Snyder, a person close to the student who isn’t listed on the form can still gain access to information, however they must gain permission from the subject whose situation is being discussed.

“If they’re not listed on that form, then we need to contact the student and say that they are reaching out, and ask if it’s okay to discuss the information with them.”

The goal of Waynesburg, with this course of action, is to make sure that information is being discussed only with whom it should be, according to Stokan.

“We’re implementing it now for the first time, and making sure that we’re giving the right information to the right person.”