Frequently Asked Questions

What happened?
The personal data of approximately 15,000 students enrolled at TWU in the calendar year 2005 has been exposed to potential identity theft. This exposure affects the university’s three campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston.

The data was briefly exposed only during transmission and is now secure.

What information was exposed?
Student names, addresses and Social Security Numbers were inadvertently exposed.
Has any of this information been misused?
At this time TWU has no indication that this data has been accessed or used by anyone. However, the university recognizes the seriousness of this exposure and the need to inform the affected students as quickly as possible.
How did this happen?
University officials discovered the week of Dec. 18 that IRS 1098-T Tuition Statement data for 2005 was transmitted to an outside vendor via a non-secure connection.
How is TWU responding to this situation?
We are notifying all the affected students by letter and by email. We also have established a Data Exposure Response website and hotline, and provided information to students that will help them protect their personal information.
How can I determine if my information was exposed?
If you were enrolled at TWU during the calendar year of 2005 your information was inadvertently exposed.
Were faculty and staff affected?
No. You are only affected if you were enrolled as a student at TWU in calendar year 2005.
If I was one of the students affected by this incident, does this mean that I’m a victim of identity theft?
Not necessarily. At this time TWU has no indication that this data has been accessed or used by anyone. Even if someone may have viewed this information, it does not mean you are a victim of identity theft or that any information was accessed for the purpose of committing fraud.
Where should I go for more information?
Please go to the Identity Protection Resources page for more information on how to protect yourself.

You also may call the TWU Office of Finance and Administration at (940) 898-3505.