Privacy Notice

Overview

The College of Charleston (“the College”) takes the privacy of its users seriously. This notice describes how we collect and use information that is obtained during use of the www.cofc.edu website (“Site”). 

NOTE: Consistent with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), this Site is not directed to children under 13 years of age, and the College does not knowingly collect any personal information from those under 13 years of age. Younger visitors should check with parents or guardians before entering information on any website, and we encourage households to discuss the online sharing of personal information.

Information We Gather

We automatically collect certain non-personal information from you when you visit the Site to gather metrics on Site usage, including user geographic location, pathways navigated through the Site, device and browser-related information, and which portion of users is internal to our network. The information we collect is not linked to anything that identifies you as an individual. Your session will be tracked, but you will remain anonymous as a user.

Cookies

We also may use “cookies” to enhance user experience. A user’s Web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping and sometimes to track information about them. Users may choose to set their Web browser to refuse cookies or to alert them when cookies are being sent. If you do so, please note that some parts of the Site may not function properly.

Information You May Provide

We may also collect other information, upon request, for users to take full advantage of our services. For example, to register for a visit or to request information from us, we may ask users to supply contact information and/or online identifiers. We only collect this information if voluntarily submitted. Users can decline to supply requested information, although doing so may prevent them from engaging in Site activities.

How We Use Your Information

We use gathered information to: track user trends and Site usage with the goal of improving user experience and optimizing our Site; administer the Site and prevent abuse; and provide College services to our users.

With Whom We Share Your Information

Information we gather may be shared internally with campus constituents and employees (as part of their job duties) to improve College programs, outreach and initiatives. Metrics also may be shared with vendors to improve communications related to these activities. However, we will not sell data to third-parties for their use in direct marketing, advertising or promotion of their products and services.

South Carolina Data Privacy and Access

As a public agency, collected information also may be subject to disclosure under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. However, this law includes some exemptions that allow us to withhold certain personal information from disclosure to protect individual privacy. We also may be required to disclose user data without consent and/or notice by law or legal process, such as a subpoena, court order or search warrant.

The College complies with the Family Privacy Protection Act of 2002, which prohibits use of any personal information obtained from a state agency for commercial solicitation purposes. Knowing violations of this prohibition amount to a misdemeanor and carry penalties specified in S.C. Code § 30-2-50(D).

Security

Due to the rapidly evolving nature of information technologies, no transmission of data over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure. While we are committed to protecting the privacy of our visitors, we cannot guarantee the security of any information that you transmit to the Site, and you do so at your own risk. However, once collected, we will use appropriate safeguards consistent with prevailing industry standards and commensurate with the sensitivity of the data to maintain the security and integrity of that information on our systems and in our physical facilities.  We also comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding the privacy and security of visitor information.

Links to Other Sites

Our Site may link to other sites outside of the College. Once you leave our Site, you are subject to the privacy policy for any site you visit. The College is not responsible for the contents of any linked site, and a link does not constitute an endorsement as to the security of that site.

Privacy Notice Changes

We may change this privacy notice by posting the changes on our Site. By using our Site, you accept the terms of this notice, as amended. If you do not agree, please do not use our Site.

Special Notice for EU Residents

If you are located within the European Economic Area (European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland), we acknowledge the rights and exemptions provided for under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You may contact us to review, update, correct, or request the deletion of the personal information that you provided through our Site or with other GDPR-related requests.

Contact Information

If you have questions about our privacy notice, practices or policies, please contact: privacy@cofc.edu.