Policy on Requests For Information From External Agencies

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Purpose

This policy is intended to provide guidance to Wentworth Institute of Technology (henceforth known as “the university” or “Wentworth”) related to requests from external government agencies and other parties for information related to any Wentworth community member and/or Wentworth Policy

Scope/Applicability

This policy applies to all members of the Wentworth community, students, faculty, staff, and affiliates.

Legal

n/a

Policy

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for managing all requests from external government agencies and other parties related to any Wentworth community member and/or Wentworth Policy. The Wentworth University Police Department is assisting with this effort. Therefore, all university employees are directed to immediately notify the Wentworth University Police Department if they receive a request for information from a Government Agency, as defined below. Under certain instances, select university departments or employees may be required to respond to external government agencies or other parties’ requests pursuant to governmental requirements under state and/or federal law. All requests will be responded to in a manner consistent with Federal and State law.

Definitions

Government Agency means any federal or state agency, including but not limited to, the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and/or other agencies acting on their behalf.

Procedure(s)

If you are contacted in person 

  1. Ask the official to identify themselves. Ask for name and business card and/or badge. 
  2. Inform the official that the university has specific protocols in place to ensure that inquiries are addressed appropriately. Those protocols start by directing the official to the Wentworth Police Department (WPD). 
  3. Lead the person to the Wentworth Police Department. If you are not able to leave the area, call the WPD at 617-989-4400. 

If you are contacted via email 

  1. Forward the email to the Wentworth Police Department (witpd@wit.edu) and the Office of the General Counsel (ogc@wit.edu).

If you are contacted via phone 

  1. Ask the official to identify themselves. Ask for their name and contact information. 
  2. Inform the official that the university has specific protocols in place to ensure that inquiries are addressed appropriately. Those protocols start by directing the official to the Wentworth Police Department (WPD) and provide the number to the WPD. 
  3. Guidance for employee interactions with government officials 
  4. Employees may not interfere with a government inquiry. Wentworth will appropriately comply with federal requests. 
  5. Employees should answer general questions posed by federal officials (such as, where is the Police Department?) but must refer all official requests for information related to any community member or policy to the Wentworth Police Department as stated in this procedure.

Additional Information & Related Documents

Interpretation & Revision

Any questions of interpretation regarding this policy shall be referred to the Office of the General Counsel. They will be the final authority regarding the interpretation of this policy. This policy shall be reviewed every 3 years; however, minor changes and updates can be made at any time. Wentworth will typically apply the policy in place at the time it receives a report concerning the respected policy.

Review & Revision History

This policy was drafted by representatives from the Wentworth Police Department and the Office of the General Counsel. This policy was reviewed by Cabinet and approved by the President on 2/5/2025.