E. Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy, we provide this policy explaining our websites information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this policy easy to find, we make it available on our homepage and at every point where personally identifiable information may be requested. This policy applies to all information collected or submitted on University System of New Hampshire (USNH) websites or mobile applications. By using USNH websites, you are consenting to our collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

International Visitors

USNH is located in the United States (State of New Hampshire). By providing information to USNH, you are transferring your personal data to the United States. If you are providing personal information and are not a resident of the United States, your country’s laws governing data collection and use may differ from those in the United States. 

The Information We Collect

Personal Information

USNH collects personal information about you through our websites and mobile applications only when you voluntarily submit your information to us.

"Personal information" is any information that can be used to identify you or that may be linked to you. This information is commonly limited to the information found in a public directory, such as first name, last name, postal address, email address, and phone number. 

Certain USNH websites allow individuals to create and maintain individualized accounts. Where these sites are concerned, users have the responsibility of maintaining the confidentiality of their accounts and passwords, and for restricting access to their computers. Users agree to accept responsibility and repercussions for all activities that originate from their accounts.

Log Files

USNH and our third-party vendors may automatically collect certain information regarding your use of our websites, devices and applications. Information collected includes:

  • Your session and the pages you visit; 
  • Network device addresses such as IP address;
  • Cybersecurity Metadata such as vulnerability data, patch levels and malware data;
  • Date and time of access;
  • Operating system of the device through which you access USNH websites;
  • Browser type and version, the monitor screen size and color depth and other plugin and program information as sent by your browser.

The generic information we collect is based on IP address, which is the location of a computer or network.  We may use or disclose your IP address and data connection-specific information, to help us diagnose problems with our servers and network, and to administer our websites by identifying (1) which parts of our sites are most heavily used, and (2) where our audience comes from, from both within and outside the USNH data networks.  In addition, generic information collected during your visit can be associated with you, if 1) you choose to provide your personal information during your visit, 2) for marketing and development purposes, 3) it is necessary to do so to investigate an cybersecurity incident, and/or 4) we are required to do so by law or court order.

Mobile Applications

When you install mobile applications with the publisher name “University of New Hampshire,” “Keene State College,” “Plymouth State University” or “Granite State College”, the application may ask for permission to use or access:

  • GPS services
  • Push notifications 
  • Camera

The general information described above may be aggregated with the general information of all site visitors to identify and improve how our websites or applications are used. In turn, we may share this aggregate information about our site with partners or the general public. Aggregate data does not contain any information that could be used to contact or identify you.

Web Analytics

Some USNH websites and mobile applications (“apps”) use Google Analytics, a service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics places a cookie on your computer or a code embedded in the mobile application to analyze how you use the site or app. The information generated by the cookie is transmitted to and stored by Google on its servers. Google uses this information to compile reports on website and mobile activity, and then the university site and application owners use that information to improve their sites and apps. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google does not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

Cookies

Cookies are small files that are stored on your computer (unless you block them). We use cookies to understand and save your preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. You may disable cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser or you can opt out of the collection and use of this information; however, this may prevent you from experiencing the full functionality of our websites.

Other Sources

USNH may receive information about you from other sources, including third parties, that help us update, expand, and analyze our records, identify new customers, or prevent or detect fraud. USNH may also receive information about you from social media platforms, including but not limited to, when you access our social media content or interact with us on these platforms. The information we may receive is governed by the privacy settings, policies, and/or procedures of the applicable social media platform; therefore, we encourage you to review them.

How We Use Collected Information

USNH may use the information we collect:

  • To respond to your inquiries;
  • To provide services or materials you request;
  • To operate and understand how services are utilized;
  • To maintain our contact list(s);
  • For marketing and development purposes;
  • To provide business services for which the information is intended;
  • To assess the effectiveness of our events, campaigns, and publications;
  • For information processing that is reasonably appropriate or necessary within our legal obligations.

On some pages, you can request information, make requests, and register to receive materials or make recommendations about other people. We use the personal information you provide when placing a request to complete that request to the best of our ability. We use return email addresses to answer the email we receive. Such addresses may be used to communicate further with you for internal marketing and development purposes.  You can choose to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by “unsubscribing” using the instructions in any marketing email you receive from us. 

We process your Personal Information for the purposes described above to facilitate transactions requested by you and to meet our contractual obligations (for example, registering you for events); on the basis of our legitimate interests (for example, website analytics); or on the basis of your consent, where applicable.

How We Share Collected Information

We do not share this information with outside parties except for the following limited purposes:

  • When we have your consent to share the information;
  • To the extent necessary to complete your request;
  • To verify (or match) information about you from other sources;
  • With USNH school officials and administration;
  • In response to subpoenas, court orders, or legal processes;
  • As we deem necessary to protect the legitimate interests, rights, safety or property of the University System of New Hampshire and its component institutions.

Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us online in ways unrelated to the ones described above. If we are required to disclose information by law or court order, we will make reasonable efforts to notify any affected parties in advance.

Internet-Based Advertisements

We use tools such as Google Adwords to remarket to individuals who visit our program and promotional pages. Third-party vendors, such as Google, show our ads on sites across the internet, and in some cases, use cookies to serve ads based on someone's past visits to our website. You can opt out of Google's use of cookies by visiting Google's Ads Settings. You can also opt out of all third-party vendor use of cookies by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

Our Commitment to Data Security

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Our Commitment to Children's Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of the very young. While our websites are generally not directed at or intended to attract visitors under age 13, our institutions do run certain programs for children for which online registration or participation is available. For those activities, the following additional Children's Privacy Policy supplements this USNH Privacy Policy.

Children's Privacy

We recognize the need to provide additional privacy protections when information is collected from or about children under the age of 13. The following guidelines apply to activities (including but not limited to on-campus camps or lessons for children and online activities designed for children), in addition to our general Privacy Policy. These rules follow the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Information We May Collect

We may collect the following information about a child who will participate in a USNH-administered youth activity:

Name
E-mail address
Street address
Date of birth (to ensure enrollment in age-appropriate activities)

Depending upon the activities in which your child chooses to participate, your child may be asked or choose to provide additional information. We do not require a person to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary to participate in an activity.

How We Use the Information

We use the information about your child to register your child for a USNH event and to insure appropriate content and safety for participants. USNH and its institutions will not disclose a child's information to any third party without parental authorization, except as may otherwise be required by law.

Parent/Guardian Consent

We will not collect or store online information from or about a child under age 13 until we have received a parent's or guardian's verified consent.

Parents or Guardians may review their child's personal information in our online databases; correct factual inaccuracies in the information collected about their child; refuse to permit us to collect further personal information from their child; and ask that information be deleted from our online records. Appropriate contact information for parents will be provided on every webpage promoting or permitting activities by children under age 13.

COPPA Notice Template

A Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act ("COPPA") notice template is provided for use by the institutions of USNH.

Questions Regarding this Privacy Policy

If you have questions about the data we collect, how that data is used, or this privacy policy in general, please contact the appropriate USNH Institution:

External Links

Some USNH websites may contain links to external websites not owned by, or officially affiliated with, USNH in any way. USNH is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites.

Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of our privacy statements at any time. Any such amendments will be noted on this page, so please visit periodically to view current statements.

This page last updated Wednesday, August 24, 2022. For information on the adoption and effective dates of policies please see explanation on the OLPM Main Menu.