Purpose

User privacy and the privacy of others are important to the University of Saint Francis (SF). SF believes that a vibrant learning community depends on maintaining a trusted user environment. As such, the University of Saint Francis is committed to providing a clear and specific policy describing how information is collected, used and/or shared, and how said information is protected to ensure the privacy of its users.

Scope

This Privacy Statement applies to the University of Saint Francis (SF) and explains the practices concerning collection, use and disclosure of website visitor information. SF will only use information collected as outlined in the privacy statement.

Policy

1. Changes

IT Governance will review the website Privacy Statement on an annual basis to make appropriate changes to the policy as technology and laws change. University leadership will review and approve all changes.

2. Collection of Information

A. Passive/Automatic Collection

When viewing pages on sf.edu, the web server automatically collects certain technical information from the user’s computer and about the connection. In addition to any information collected by the web server, the SF server and/or site collects the following:

• The domain name of the user.
• The web page user is requesting.
• The referring web page.
• The browser and operating system of the user.
• Date and time of access.
• Some official university sites use cookies.
  A cookie is a small data file that is written by website to the user’s hard drive and contains information about user visit to their pages. If a user prefers not to receive cookies, the browser may be configured to not accept them at all, or to notify the user and require approval before accepting new cookies. Some web pages / sites may not function properly if the cookie functionality is turned off, or the user may have to provide the same information each time those pages / sites are visited. Cookies do not contain any personal information and do not compromise user security.

The university does not collect any personal information about the user unless that information is provided voluntarily by sending an email or filling out a web form. The University and the appropriate department use this information only to reply to a user’s request.

Continued use of a SF website indicates consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of information as described in this policy.

B. Active/Manual/Voluntary Collection

Other than automatically collected technical information about a user’s visit (described above), the user may be asked to provide information voluntarily, such as through forms or other manual input to make products and services available; to maintain and manage the university’s relationship with the user, including providing associated services; or to better understand and serve the user’s needs.

In most cases, SF retains information for as long as a relationship is maintained with the university. Local, state and/or federal law requires the university to retain some information for longer periods of time.

Providing the information is wholly voluntary. However, not providing the requested information may affect the ability to deliver the products or services for which the information is needed. Providing the requested information indicates user consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of this information as described in this policy. Information actively collected may include, but is not limited to:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Fax Number
• Email Address
• Social Security Number

3. Use of Information

A. Information Usage

Information collected may be used for the following:

• For internal review and then discarded or properly retained as required by local, state and/or federal law.
• To improve the content of the SF website and its affiliated web sites.

B. Information Used for Contact

A provided postal/mailing address will only be used to receive mailings from the University of Saint Francis. The University does not sell or share contact information with other institutions and/or organizations without proper consent.

C. Information Sharing

SF may share aggregate, non–personally identifiable information with other entities or organizations.

SF assumes implied consent to share information with university partners (such as the bookstore or dining services) unless an individual opts out.

SF does not share any personally identifiable information without consent with other entities or organizations, except when legally required to do so, at the request of governmental authorities conducting an investigation, to verify or enforce compliance with the policies governing the website and applicable laws, or to protect against misuse or unauthorized use of the website.

Excepting the provisions in the Disclosure to Third-Party Services section below, SF does not attempt to use the technical information discussed in the policy to identify individual users.

D. Disclosure to Third-Party Services

The University of Saint Francis may contract services from third-party providers to ensure quality and functionality, to maintain security of its web services, or to manage the user’s relationship with SF.

SF will not disclose personally identifiable information about the user except under the following circumstances:

• With user prior written (including email) consent.
• When SF has given the user clear notice that it will disclose information voluntarily provided.
• To appropriate external parties, such as law enforcement agencies, to investigate and respond to suspected violations of law or university policy. Any such disclosures shall comply with all applicable laws and university policies.
• To appropriate external parties such as services that support the relationship between the user and the university. SF will properly vet such external parties to ensure that they have proper policies and security in place to protect user information.

4. Security

Due to the rapidly evolving nature of information technologies, no one can guarantee any transmission of data over the internet to be completely secure. While SF is committed to protecting the privacy of its visitors, students, staff and faculty, it cannot guarantee the security of any information that a user transmits to university websites, and the user does so at their own risk. However, once SF receives user information, it will use reasonable safeguards consistent with prevailing industry standards and commensurate with the sensitivity of the data to maintain the security of that information on our systems.

In addition, SF will comply will all local, state, and federal laws regarding the privacy and security of the information that the user has provided.

SF has appropriate security measures in place in its physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information that it has collected from users.

5. Contact Information

Questions or concerns about this policy may be directed to the contact listed below.

President’s Office
president@sf.edu
(260) 399-7700

University of Saint Francis
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808