APS #7003

Active

Collection of Personal Data from Students and Customers

Brief Description

Sets forth requirements for the collection of personal data from students and other customers of the University, and for detecting warning signs associated with identity theft.

Reason for Policy

To set forth requirements for the collection of personal data from students and steps to be followed by organizational units when conducting business with students.

Policy Profile

APS Policy Title: 
Collection of Personal Data from Students and Customers
APS Number: 
7003
Effective Date: 
July 1, 2009
Approved By: 
President Bruce D. Benson
Responsible University Officer: 
Office of Vice President for Finance
Responsible Office: 
Office of University Controller
Policy Contact: 
Office of University Controller
Supersedes: 
July 1, 2007
Last Reviewed/Updated date: 
July 1, 2009
Applies to: 
All campuses

I. Introduction

This policy sets forth requirements for the collection of personal data from studentsStudentAny individual who applies to, is accepted for admission, and enrolls for a course at the University of Colorado. This does not include an individual who has never attended or never enrolled at the institution., including medical residents, and customersCustomersAn individual who applies for and/or receives goods or services from the University. for use in various business and regulatory processes, including but not limited to Internal Revenue Service reporting, collection efforts, and student insurance and medical services  It further sets forth requirements that must be followed by organizational units when conducting business with students, including medical residents, and other customers of the University. These requirements include detecting the warning signs, or "red flags," of identity theft in day to day operations and taking steps to prevent a red flag from escalating into an episode of identity theft.

II. Policy Statement

  1. Required and Preferred Personal Data

    The following are considered to be required personal data that must be collected in accordance with these procedures:
    1. Individual's legal name;
    2. Social Security Number and/or Federal Employer Identification Number;
    3. Permanent address; and
    4. Date of birth.

      The following data is encouraged (but not required) to be collected where applicable and cost-effective to do so:
    1. Current home and work address;
    2. Current home and work phone number; and
    3. Name and address of nearest relative or guardian not living with customerCustomersAn individual who applies for and/or receives goods or services from the University./student.
  2. Collection Requirements

    The collection of personal data from studentsStudentAny individual who applies to, is accepted for admission, and enrolls for a course at the University of Colorado. This does not include an individual who has never attended or never enrolled at the institution.​, including medical residents, and customers of the University is a sound business practice and is required per this policy for:
    1. students and customers with either a formal credit relationshipFormal credit relationshipOne between an individual and the University where a credit application results in the extension of credit through promissory note or equivalent instrument.​ or informal credit relationshipInformal credit relationshipOne between an individual and the University where a credit arises as a result of payment not being received when services are delivered with the University;
    2. medical residents providing training services at a medical affiliateAffiliateAn organization that has a contractual or other legal relationship with the University that closely aligns them operationally with the University to more effectively further both the University and the organization's missions. Affiliates are identified at https://www.cusys.edu/controller/policies/supporting%20listing.doc. Affiliates include Blended Organizations and Supporting Organizations.​; and,
    3. students applying for federal financial aid for which the University is the creditor and state financial aid1.

      The required personal data will be collected when an individual initiates the credit relationship, financial aid request, or medical resident training agreement.

      The required and preferred personal data (identified in Section A, above) will be maintained in accordance with the IT Administrative Policy Statement referenced in Section III.A., below.
  3. Collection Requirement Exemptions

    An informal credit relationship is created when the University receives an insufficient fund check or a credit card chargeback. These informal credit relationships are exempted from the requirements of this policy, but organizational units must comply with applicable policies issued by the University Treasurer that pertain to receiving payments by checks and credit cards.

    The University has a few services, such as parking, that are provided without registration or that demonstrate minimal collection risk. An organizational unit  may obtain an exemption from collection requirements for these services from the appropriate campus Controller.

    A customer (but not a student applying for financial aid or a medical resident entering into a training agreement) may request an exemption from providing her/his Social Security Number and/or Federal Employer Identification Number by paying for the requested services in full prior to receiving any part of the service.  The exemption may be requested from the responsible organizational unit.

    If an exemption is not granted and the personal data are not collected in accordance with this policy, then the goods, service, or financial aid may not be delivered to the customer, student, or medical resident. It is the responsibility of the organizational unit to ensure procedures are in place so as to prevent delivery of the goods, service, financial aid or medical resident training agreements.
  4. Potential Indicators (Red Flags) of Identity Theft

    In order to identify potential identity theft, the University considers a number of factors including:
    1. the types of accounts that it offers and maintains;
    2. the methods used to open accounts; and
    3. the methods used to provide access to accounts.  

      For purposes of this section, a covered account with respect to identify theft includes:
    1. Any credit account the University offers or maintains for that involves multiple payments or transactions.  
    2. Any other account the University offers or maintains in which there is a reasonably foreseeable risk to the safety or soundness of the University from identity theft, including financial, operational, compliance, reputation, or litigation risks.

      Employees should be aware of and monitor for the following red flags when working with a transaction that involves a covered account:
    1. Notifications and Warnings from Credit Reporting Agencies
      1. Alerts, notifications or warnings from a consumer reporting agency;
      2. A fraudFraudIncludes certain illegal acts; misstatements arising from fraudulent financial reporting; and misstatements arising from misappropriation of assets. Fraudulent illegal acts are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust and perpetrated to obtain money, property or services; to avoid payment or loss of services; or to secure personal or business advantage. Misstatements arising from fraudulent financial reporting are intentional misstatements or omissions of amounts or disclosures in financial statements to deceive financial statement users. Misstatements arising from misappropriation of assets involve the theft of an entity's assets. or active duty alert included with a consumer report;
      3. A notice of credit freeze from a consumer reporting agency in response to a request for a consumer report; or
      4. A notice of address discrepancy from a consumer reporting agency.
      5. Consumer reports that indicate a pattern of activity inconsistent with the history and usual pattern of activity of an applicant or customer, such as:
    2. Suspicious Documents
      1. Documents provided for identification that appear to have been altered or forged;
      2. Documents in which the photograph or physical description is not consistent with the appearance of the applicant or customer presenting the identification;
      3. Documents containing information that is not consistent with information provided by the person opening a new covered account or customer presenting the identification;
      4. Documents containing information that is not consistent with existing customer information on file with the organizational unit;
      5. Applications for services that appear to have been altered or forged, or give the appearance of having been destroyed and reassembled.
    3. Suspicious Personal Identifying Information
      1. Personal identifying information provided is not consistent with personal identifying information that is on file with the organizational unit;
      2. Personal identifying information that is considered inconsistent when compared against external information sources used by the organizational unit. For example, the address does not match any address in the consumer report;
      3. Personal identifying information provided by the customer is not consistent with other personal identifying information provided by the customer. For example, inconsistent birth dates;
      4. Personal identifying information provided is associated with known fraudulent activity.  For example, the address on an application is the same as the address provided on a fraudulent application;
      5. Personal identifying information provided is of a type commonly associated with fraudulent activity. For example:
        • The address on an application is fictitious, a mail drop, or a prison; or
        • The phone number is invalid or is associated with a pager or answering service;
        • The SSN provided is the same as that submitted by other persons opening an account or by other customers;
        • The address or telephone number provided is the same as or similar to the address or telephone number submitted by an unusually large number of other customers or other persons opening accounts.
      6. The customer or the person opening the covered account fails to provide all required personal identifying information on an application when requested.
      7. When using security questions (mother's maiden name, pet's name, etc.), the customer or the person opening the covered account cannot provide authenticating information beyond that which generally would be available from a wallet or consumer report.
    4. Unusual or suspicious activity related to the covered account such as:
      1. Shortly following the notice of a change of address for a covered account, the organizational unit receives a request for new, additional, or replacement goods or services, or for the addition of authorized users on the account.
      2. A new revolving credit account is used in a manner commonly associated with known patterns of fraud. For example, the customer fails to make the first payment or makes an initial payment but no subsequent payments.
      3. An account which is used in a manner that is not consistent with established patterns of activity on the account. There is, for example:
        • Nonpayment when there is no history of late or missed payments;
        • A material change in purchasing or usage patterns
      4. An account that has been inactive for a reasonably lengthy period of time is used (taking into consideration the type of account, the expected pattern of usage and other relevant factors).
      5. Mail sent to the customer is returned repeatedly as undeliverable although transactions continue to be conducted in connection with the customer's covered account.
      6. The organizational unit is notified that the customer is not receiving paper account statements.
      7. The organizational unit is notified of unauthorized charges or transactions in connection with a customer's covered account.
      8. The organizational unit receives notice from customers, victims of identity theft, law enforcement authorities, or other persons regarding possible identity theft in connection with covered accounts held by the organizational unit.
      9. The organizational unit is notified by a customer, a victim of identity theft, a law enforcement authority, or any other person that it has opened a fraudulent account for a person engaged in identity theft.
  5. Required Red Flag Procedures

    When potentially fraudulent activity is detected, an employee must act quickly because a rapid and appropriate response can protect the University and its customers from damages and loss. Follow the steps below:
    1. Gather all related documentation and write a description of the situation.
    2. Present this information to the GLB (Gramm-Leach-Bliley) Compliance Officer for determination.
    3. The GLB Compliance Officer will complete additional authentication to determine whether the attempted transaction was fraudulent or authentic.

If a transaction is determined to be fraudulent, appropriate actions must be taken immediately. Actions may include:

    • Canceling the transaction;
    • Notifying and cooperating with appropriate law enforcement;
    • Determining the extent of liability of the University; and
    • Notifying the actual customer that fraud has been attempted.

III. Procedures, Forms, Guidelines and Resources

  1. Related Administrative Policy Statements
    1. IT Security in University Operations, Continuity, and Contracting
  2. Educational Resources

    Educational resources including guides, training announcements, and newsletters are announced and available on Office of University Controller and Office of Information Security websites.
  3. Related Policies and Laws

    The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act

    Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999

IV.  Definitions

Italicized terms used in this Administrative Policy Statement are defined in the Administrative Policy Statement Policy Glossary.

V. Contacts


The appropriate campus Controller, consulting with the University Controller as appropriate, will respond to questions and provide guidance regarding interpretation of this policy.  Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the University Controller.

VI. History

    • Revised July 1, 2009
    • New  July 1, 2007

VII. Key Words

Red, flag, rule
  • 1. State financial aid for the purposes of this policy includes stipend payments in the State of Colorado College Opportunity Fund.