Privacy Policy

Wingate University is committed to personal privacy. This privacy statement outlines what personal information Wingate University may collect about you and how the University may use it. In the course of doing normal buisiness, Wingate University maintains or contracts with third parties to maintain a variety of websites on behalf of the University and affiliated organizations. 

As such, Wingate University:

• Respects privacy.

• May send email messages to our constituents that include embedded information in links to our websites.

• Collects data in the form of cookies, forms, website logs, and email tracking.

• Will not sell personally identifiable information (PII) collected on its websites to third parties.

• Uses collected data in accordance with applicable laws.

• Uses collected information to evaluate the performance of our information systems or in investigations of violations of Wingate University’s policies, standards, or procedures. This information is not reported or used in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information, and will not be released to any outside parties unless legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings.

• Informs Individuals that they may disable or not accept cookies by manually changing preferences in their web browser. Opting out is not available on portions of the University’s website requiring a login.

• Is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party websites.

Data collection

Cookies

Cookies are messages passed from a website to and stored in an individual’s web browser. Each time the individual visits the same website, the information from the cookie is passed back to the server. Cookies are generally used with the goal of being able to identify unique and/or repeat visitors to a website. Wingate University and third parties acting on behalf of the University, may store and read information from a cookie that the University has placed in an individual’s web browser.

Forms

In order to conduct regular business such as accepting admissions applications, event registrations, donations or taking surveys, we may require an individual to enter various information into forms on a website. This data may include personal identifying information (PII) as defined in North Carolina General Statute § 14-113.20 (b) that is subject to laws including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Logs and Email Tracking

The University generally logs activity and usage of our websites. Such logging includes, but is not limited to:

• IP Addresses

• Session Information (from cookies)

• Pages visited on Wingate University websites

• Browser information (such as browser software, version, and plugins installed)

• Referrer (the website in which you clicked on a link to Wingate's website)

• Date and Time

• Content Length

• Email Address (available primarily if clicking on a link to Wingate’s website that is embedded in an email message)

Data usage

The University will not sell personally identifiable information (PII) collected on its websites to third parties. Wingate University uses all collected data in accordance with applicable laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA. However, the University uses collected information to evaluate the performance of our information systems or in investigations of a violation of Wingate University’s policies, standards, or procedures, or as required by law.

Cookies

The University may utilize information from cookies to track and pass session and associated data.

Forms

Data collected via forms will be used as appropriate to process requests for services or respond to inquiries. Unless explicitly listed, confidential information provided for the purposes of a financial transaction will be used only for the purposes described in that transaction.

Logs and E-mail Tracking

The University uses logs, including cookies and e-mail tracking, to compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction. The University may also use information collected to serve targeted Wingate University advertising on websites not directly associated with the University.

Links to third-party websites

Wingate University may provide hyperlinks to websites that are not managed by the University or a third-party acting on its behalf. The University does not control these websites and is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these websites.

Exceptions

All Wingate University websites conform to this privacy statement unless an alternative privacy statement is explicitly provided on that site. The University is not responsible for the privacy practices of non-university websites, including independent websites of faculty, staff, or students that are not supported by the University.

Opting out

Individuals have the option of disabling or not accepting cookies by changing preferences in their browser. Portions of the University’s website will function normally with cookies disabled, but portions of the website requiring a login (e.g. accessing secured content, posting to message boards, etc.) will be unavailable.

Access, Control and Correction of Your Information

Wingate University respects your right to access, correct, request deletion, and request restriction of Wingate’s usage of your personal information. You have the right:

1. To request access to or transfer of your information;

2. To ask about the methods in which your information is maintained and processed;

3. To request information about the organizations with whom your information may be disclosed;

4. To ask Wingate University to delete or restrict how the university uses your information, but this right is determined by applicable law and may impact your access to and participation in the university’s activities and services;

5. If you believe your information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request corrections or updates to any inaccuracies, and for those corrections to be made if it is deemed inaccurate by Wingate University;

6. To object to the collection, processing, retention or use of your information; and

7. To lodge a complaint with the appropriate authorities, including the United States and European Union Governmental Bodies.

You may exercise these rights by contacting Wingate University’s data privacy support at dataprivacy@wingate.edu. If you choose to exercise these rights, Wingate University may be unable to effectively offer you certain educational services, which may prevent you from being accepted or participating in the university’s educational activities. In addition, Wingate University may not be able to comply with your request in order to meet its obligations and requirements under applicable laws.

Changes to this privacy policy

Wingate University reserves the right to update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in services.

Contacting us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at Information Technology Services by emailing datasecurity@wingate.edu.