Introduction
This Privacy Policy discloses the privacy practices for www.bchigh.edu (the “Website”). It describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you visit the Website and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. This Privacy Policy does not apply to information collected by us offline or through any other means, including on any other website operated by us or a third party. It also does not apply to information collected by third parties, including through any application or content that may link or be accessible from the Website.
User Consent
By accessing or using the Website, you are consenting to our collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. This Privacy Policy may change from time to time (see “Changes to Our Privacy Policy,” below). Your continued use of the Website after we make changes is deemed acceptance of any changes, so please check the Privacy Policy periodically for updates.
What information do we collect?
Through your use of this Website, we may collect the following types of information:
• Information you provide to us: In completing certain forms on our Website, you may be asked to provide personal information, such as your name, postal address, e-mail address, year of graduation, and/or telephone number (“personally identifiable information” or “PII”). The choice whether to provide such information is entirely optional.
• Information gathered automatically: As you navigate through and interact with our Website, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns. These may include details about your visits to the Website and the resources that you access and use on the Website. This may also include information about your computer and internet connection, including your IP address, operating system, and browser type.
• Cookies: Cookies are small data files that a website commonly places on a visitor’s hard drive to identify the user when the user returns. You may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. If you select this setting, however, you may be unable to access certain functionalities on the Website. Unless you have adjusted your browser settings to refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to the Website.
How do we use the information we collect from you?
Our primary purpose in collecting information from visitors to the Website is to improve the information offered on the Website.
We also use information to assist us in promoting Boston College High School to the public and to better communicate with members of the BC High community. The information we collect is used for a variety of reasons, including:
• Directory information, including the online alumni community.
• Communicating with you to let you know about BC High events and updates (including alumni events).
• General Fundraising.
• Conducting surveys of BC High community members; and
• Promoting services we may offer to alumni.
We will not share, sell, rent, swap, or authorize any third party to use your email addresses for commercial purposes without your permission.
User information may be shared with our third-party vendors to the extent necessary to provide and improve web services or other communications to users. For example:
BC High uses a third-party tool, Google Analytics, to gain visibility into site usage, web traffic, user behavior, and other user interests in order to optimize the Website for our users. Google Analytics collects only the IP addresses assigned to you on the date that you visit the Website, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine information collected through the use of Google Analytics with PII. Although Google Analytics uses cookies to identify unique users the next time you visit the Website, the cookies cannot be used by anyone but Google. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to the Website by disabling cookies on your browser.
Any third-party platforms will have their own terms of use and privacy policies. You can opt out of the collection and use of this information through tools like the Network Advertising Initiative’s opt-out page.
We may provide your information to third parties in circumstances where we believe that doing so is necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request; detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; or protect our rights and safety and the rights and safety of our users or others.
Notice of Rights
Every user of the Website is entitled to the following:
The right to access: You have the right to request copies of your PII from BC High.
The right to rectification: You have the right to request correction of PII that you believe is inaccurate. Where you believe the information is incomplete, you have the right to complete the information.
The right to erasure: You have the right to request that BC High delete your PII, under certain conditions.
The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request that BC High restrict the processing of your PII, under certain conditions.
The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to BC High’s processing of your PII, under certain conditions.
The right to data portability: You have the right to request that BC High transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
If you make a request, we will respond within one month. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us (see “Contact Information,” below).
Disclosure of PII
BC High may disclose PII to respond to legal requirements and enforce our School rules and policies. Such information will be disclosed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
We may also share PII with:
• Third-party vendors who process donations or other financial transactions conducted via the Website;
• Law enforcement or other governmental officials, in response to a verified request relation to an investigation or alleged illegal activity;
• Third parties that provide a valid subpoena or court order; or
• Third parties as requested or authorized by you (or your parent or guardian if you are a minor).
External Links
The Website offers links to other sites that are not owned or affiliated with BC High. These sites have their own security policies, terms of use, and privacy policies. If you choose to visit one of these websites you should review the policies of their sites. BC High is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any such websites.
Visitors to Website from Outside the United States
BC High and its website are located within the United States. If you are accessing the Website from the European Union, other countries in Europe, Asia, or any other region with laws or regulations governing personal data collection, use, and disclosure that differ from U.S. laws, please be advised that your continued use of the site indicates your consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the laws of the United States regarding the use, disclosure, and storage of information that you provide to us through the Website. Your personal information may be accessible to law enforcement and national security authorities in the United States, without notice to you and without the knowledge or consent of the School. The laws in the U.S. may not be as protective of your privacy as those in your location. By using our site and services, you agree that the applicable laws in the U.S. will govern the collection, use, transfer, and disclosure of your information. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this site or our services.
Children’s Privacy
This Website has no intention of collecting PII from individuals under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent. If you are under 13, do not use or provide any information on the Website. If we learn we have collected or received PII from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information.
Information Security
Pursuant to the School’s Written Information Security Program (WISP), we have implemented measures designed to secure your PII from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. All information you provide to us is stored on secure servers behind firewalls.
BC High will retain information provided to us in accordance with the School’s usual procedures and timelines for retaining and deleting data.
The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we do our best to protect your PII, we cannot guarantee the security of your PII transmitted to the Website. Any transmission of PII is at your own risk.
BC High is not responsible for any circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the Website.
Changes to Our Website Privacy Policy
BC High reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change this Website Privacy Policy, in whole or in part, at any time. When we make changes, we will revise the “last modified” date at the top of this Privacy Policy page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
Contact Information
You may send us an email at [email protected] to request access to, correct, or delete any PII that you have provided to us. We may not accommodate a request to change information if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement or cause the information to be incorrect.
To ask questions or comment about this privacy policy and our privacy practices, contact Colleen Carter, VP of External Relations, [email protected]
SMS Privacy Policy
BC High does not share your information (eg. cell phone) with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.
SMS Terms & Conditions
BC High is committed to building user trust and confidence by promoting and complying with the use of business practices that help protect the privacy of the user and his/her data. For more you can view a copy of our privacy policy.
BC High offers recurring text message services. By opting-in to any such service, you are confirming your entry into a recurring texting program and you give your consent to BC High to use an automatic system to deliver text messages to the phone number to which you have directed it to transmit text messages. Message frequency varies.
BC High does not charge for our texting service; however, message and data rates may apply from your mobile carrier. Subject to the terms and conditions of your mobile carrier, you may receive text messages sent to your mobile phone. By providing your consent to participate in our texting service, you approve any such charges from your mobile carrier. Charges for text messages may appear on your mobile phone bill or be deducted from your prepaid balance.
BC High reserves the right to terminate the SMS service, in whole or in part, at any time without notice. The information in any message may be subject to certain time lags and/or delays.
To stop receiving text messages, text “STOP” or “QUIT”. By enrolling in the texting service, you consent that after having submitted a request to opt-out you will receive one (1) final message confirming that you have been removed from the system. Following the opt-out confirmation message, no additional text messages will be sent unless you rejoin the system from your mobile device.
HotJar Surveys, Cookies & Data Collection
We use Hotjar in order to better understand our users’ needs and to optimize this service and experience. Hotjar is a technology service that helps us better understand our users’ experience (e.g. how much time they spend on which pages, which links they choose to click, what users do and don’t like, etc.) and this enables us to build and maintain our service with user feedback. Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data on our users’ behavior and their devices. This includes a device’s IP address (processed during your session and stored in a de-identified form), device screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, geographic location (country only), and the preferred language used to display our website. Hotjar stores this information on our behalf in a pseudonymized user profile. Hotjar is contractually forbidden to sell any of the data collected on our behalf. For further details, please see the ‘about Hotjar’ section of Hotjar’s support site.