Introduction:

Western Covenant University (WCU) protects the privacy of everyone who visits our websites and applications. This statement explains our privacy practices regarding the gathering, safeguarding, and sharing of information derived from your use of WCU’s websites and applications. This includes both data that is automatically collected and data you voluntarily submit. Specifically, we do not sell or redistribute personal information gathered through our websites and applications.

Law and Policy:

Western Covenant University complies with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including, but not limited to, the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the California Public Records Act, the Integrated WSU Policy for Responsible Use, and associated Data Security Policies.

WCU will also adhere to lawful subpoenas or court orders, which may encompass data collected through websites and applications.

Scope:

Western Covenant University, through its academic research and administrative units, programs, and Auxiliaries, owns, controls, operates, maintains, or has contractual relationships with various websites and applications. This policy pertains to all these sites and applications.

Intent:

This policy is designed to clarify the relationship between Western Covenant University and the data of students, faculty, and staff, friends of WCU, and all users of its websites and applications. Individual units within the University may provide additional details or amendments to this policy concerning their handling of private data. Any such details must reference the “WCU Online Privacy Policy,” including a link to this policy. No additional details may undermine the privacy protections outlined herein. All components of Western Covenant University are mandated to adhere to this privacy policy.

Information We Collect Automatically:

While you browse our pages, Western Covenant University gathers anonymous traffic data through cookies, which are small files linked to the website or application you’re using. These files act as a kind of ‘short-term memory’ for the site or application. The data stored in cookies may include generalized information about your visit, which is sometimes combined with data from other visits. This helps us understand user interactions with our websites and applications and ensures their proper functionality. This may involve details such as the internet address you connected from, the webpage that led you to our site, the sequence and duration of your visits to our resources.

Many Western Covenant University sites utilize the Google Analytics service. We may employ other data collection and analysis tools, provided they do not gather any Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Additionally, it is standard for all web servers on the Internet to log basic details about each connection in their server logs. This includes the IP addresses making requests, the types of resources requested, the timing of those requests, and whether the requests were successful.

How We Use This Data:

We compile this information to enhance our websites and applications by understanding usage patterns and maintaining the technical quality of our systems and services.

Western Covenant University may use both automatically and voluntarily provided information, including your personal details, to customize web pages or other communications according to your preferences, interests, or roles.

Information You Provide Voluntarily:

To access restricted data, our websites and applications require user authentication. Once logged in, you may need to provide personal details such as your name, email address, physical address, birthday, and student ID number, among others. While authenticated, you can also view and interact with private data like grades, enrollment details, class activities, or other sensitive information. This information remains under your control and can only be shared with others through your direct actions. Western Covenant University provides tools to help you share information with others, but no data will be shared outside of the University and/or its contracted providers without your explicit consent and action.

Links to external sites, or content embedded in our site(s) from outside sources:

Western Covenant University websites and applications may feature links to other websites and/or applications, or may display content from external services or providers. Except as part of formal business agreements between Western Covenant University and service vendors, a link from a Western Covenant University site does not constitute an endorsement of the linked site. While Western Covenant University aims to carefully manage third-party embedded content, these third parties maintain their own privacy policies. Western Covenant University is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external parties. For your own protection, it is advised that you review the privacy policy of any site that you visit through our links or to which you submit personal information.

Choosing not to be tracked:

Websites monitor users anonymously, utilizing both first-party and third-party HTTP cookies for usage analysis. These websites track visitors through first-party logging and reporting mechanisms, along with Google Analytics.

If you prefer not to be tracked during your visit to Western Covenant University websites, you can choose any of the following options:

• In Google Chrome: Download and install the Do Not Track extension from the Chrome Web Store.
• In Firefox: Activate the Do Not Track feature.
• Opt out through the Network Advertising Initiative.

This information is offered as a gesture of goodwill, and these functionalities are not
endorsed or supported by Western Covenant University in any capacity

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions:
If you wish to reach out to us regarding this policy, please feel free to contact the Western
Covenant University at info@wcuniversity.edu.

To report any violation of this policy:

If you suspect that your personal information has been disclosed without authorization,
please contact Western Covenant University at info@wcuniversity.edu.