Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Website privacy policy

Portland Community College (PCC) is committed to protecting the privacy of its website users. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing information collected from users of our website. By accessing or using the College’s website, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

Information collection and use

When you visit the College’s website, we may collect the following types of information:

1. Automatically collected information:
   This information is collected to analyze trends, administer the site, track user movements, and gather demographic information. It does not include personally identifiable information (PII).
   • • Internet addresses and domain names
     • Browser type and operating system
     • Date and time of visit
     • Number of bytes transferred
     • Web pages or services accessed
     • Referral website (if applicable)
2. Personally Identifiable Information (PII):
   PII is collected only when voluntarily provided by users through forms such as requests for information, admissions applications, event registrations, or contact forms. PII may include:
   • • Name
     • Address
     • Email address
     • Telephone number
     • Other information that can identify an individual

Consent for information collection

The College actively gathers consent from users before collecting any non-essential information. Consent is requested through clear and explicit opt-in mechanisms, ensuring users understand what information is being collected, the purpose of the collection, how it will be used, and that consent is given on a voluntary basis. Users have the right to withdraw their consent at any time.

User rights and choices

Users have the right to access, correct, or delete their PII held by the College. To exercise these rights, users can contact the College’s Data Protection Program at dataprotection@pcc.edu. Users can also opt out of receiving marketing communications by following the unsubscribe instructions in the emails received.

Cookies and tracking technologies

The College uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your browser by the website. They help PCC track user preferences and activities to improve website functionality. Users can set their browsers to refuse cookies or alert them when cookies are being sent. Consent for non-essential cookies is actively gathered when users first visit the website. You can?update your cookie consent options at any time.

Third-party services

We may use third-party services, such as Google Analytics, to monitor and analyze website traffic and user behavior. These third parties may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect data on our behalf. We do not share PII with these third parties except as necessary for the services they provide. Users are informed and their consent is obtained before these services are employed.

Use and disclosure of information

The College uses the collected information for the following purposes:

• Improving website performance and user experience
• Providing information and services requested by users
• Communicating with users about College programs and events
• Complying with legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or market PII to third parties. However, we may share information with trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting college business, or serving our users, provided they agree to keep this information confidential.

Data protection and security

The College employs reasonable security measures to protect the information collected from users. These measures include encryption, access controls, and secure data storage practices.

Compliance with regulations

The College complies with applicable data protection regulations, including but not limited to:

• FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. This regulation ensures that students’ educational information is kept confidential and only shared with authorized individuals. For students, this means greater control over who has access to their academic records and the assurance that their personal academic history is protected.
• GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) grants rights to individuals regarding their personal data and mandates data protection measures for organizations handling data of EU residents. This regulation is crucial for students from the European Union, providing them with rights to access, rectify, and erase their personal data, and to restrict its processing.
• GLBA: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires financial institutions, including colleges handling financial aid information, to explain their information-sharing practices and to safeguard sensitive data. This regulation is important for protecting students’ financial information, ensuring that their financial records and data are securely handled and protected from unauthorized access.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

The College reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time without prior notice. Changes will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be updated accordingly. Continued use of the website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the new Privacy Policy.

Contact information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: dataprotection@pcc.edu.