Bluefield University Privacy Notice

Bluefield University (“University,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy of individuals who visit or use University websites and online services. This Privacy Notice describes how the University collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information obtained through www.bluefield.edu, other websites within the bluefield.edu domain, and other online services operated by or on behalf of the University.

Personal information means information that identifies you or that can reasonably be associated with or used to identify you, including when combined with other information.

In addition to this Privacy Notice, the University’s Acceptable Use of IT Resources policy establishes requirements for the appropriate use of University technology resources.

Personal Information We Collect

The University may collect personal information in several ways, including information you provide directly to us, information collected automatically when you use our websites or online services, information generated through our interactions with you, and information obtained from third-party sources.

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you interact with the University, including when you:

• Request information about University programs or services;
• Submit an admissions or enrollment form;
• Register for an event or service;
• Subscribe to University communications;
• Make a payment, purchase, or donation;
• Contact the University;
• Complete a survey or other online form; or
• Otherwise provide information through a University website or online service.

Depending on the nature of your interaction with the University, this information may include your name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, academic interests, communication preferences, demographic information, and other information necessary to fulfill your request.

If you choose not to provide certain information, the University may be unable to process or fulfill your request.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit University websites or use other online services, the University and third-party service providers acting on its behalf may automatically collect information about your device and your interaction with those services.

This information may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address;
• Browser and device type;
• Operating system;
• General geographic location;
• Internet service provider;
• Pages or content viewed;
• Links or features selected;
• Referring and destination websites or URLs;
• Search terms;
• Dates and times of visits;
• Frequency and duration of visits;
• Website interactions and engagement; and
• Cookies, device identifiers, and similar technologies.

The University may use cookies, pixels, web beacons, tags, and similar technologies to collect this information.

Information From Third-Party Sources

The University may obtain information about you from third-party sources, including service providers, analytics providers, marketing and advertising partners, publicly available sources, social media platforms, educational partners, and other organizations with which the University has a legitimate institutional relationship.

Information obtained from third parties may include personal, contact, demographic, behavioral, or other information.

The University or its service providers may combine information obtained from third parties with information collected through University websites or information that you have provided directly to the University. This may allow the University to better understand website visitors, identify or associate website activity with an individual or household, measure the effectiveness of University communications, and provide more relevant information about University programs and opportunities.

How We Use Personal Information

The University may use personal information for legitimate institutional purposes, including to:

• Respond to requests and inquiries;
• Provide University programs, services, websites, and online resources;
• Support admissions, enrollment, student services, and other University operations;
• Communicate with prospective students, students, alumni, donors, employees, and other members of the University community;
• Analyze and improve University websites, programs, services, and communications;
• Understand how individuals interact with University websites and online content;
• Personalize website experiences and communications;
• Conduct marketing, recruitment, advertising, and outreach activities;
• Develop audiences or marketing segments based on interests or interactions;
• Measure the effectiveness of marketing and advertising activities;
• Maintain the security and integrity of University systems and services;
• Detect and prevent misuse, fraud, or security incidents;
• Maintain University records;
• Comply with legal, regulatory, accreditation, and institutional requirements; and
• Support other activities consistent with the University’s educational mission.

Marketing and University Communications

The University may use information collected directly from you, automatically through University websites, or obtained from third-party sources to communicate with you about academic programs, events, services, opportunities, and other University activities.

The University may use information about your interests and interactions with University websites to personalize communications, develop marketing audiences, and provide advertising or content that may be more relevant to you.

By providing your contact information through certain forms, such as Request for Information forms, you may consent to the University contacting you using automated technologies, including:

• Telephone calls;
• Text messages (SMS/MMS);
• Email;
• Prerecorded messages; and
• Artificial or AI-generated voices.

Message and data rates may apply. Consent to automated communications is not required as a condition of receiving information about the University through other available means.

You may opt out of certain marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe or opt-out method provided in the communication or by contacting the University.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

The University and third-party service providers may use cookies, pixels, web beacons, tags, and similar technologies on University websites.

These technologies may be used to:

• Recognize a browser or device;
• Remember user preferences;
• Understand how visitors use University websites;
• Measure website and campaign performance;
• Analyze audience characteristics;
• Associate website interactions with information from other sources;
• Personalize content or communications; and
• Support advertising, marketing, and recruitment activities.

Most web browsers allow users to control or disable certain cookies through browser settings. Disabling cookies or similar technologies may affect the functionality of some University websites or services.

Some third-party providers may also provide their own mechanisms for controlling the collection or use of information for advertising or marketing purposes.

Analytics, Advertising, and Marketing Services

The University uses third-party services to assist with website analytics, marketing, advertising, communications, audience measurement, and related activities.

These providers may collect information through cookies, pixels, web beacons, tags, or similar technologies and may process information on behalf of the University. Depending on the service, information collected through University websites may also be combined with information from other sources to provide analytics, identify or better understand audiences, measure advertising effectiveness, or support University marketing and recruitment activities.

The University may use services provided by organizations including:

• Google;
• Microsoft;
• Jenzabar;
• CollegeVine;
• Cloud Control Media;
• Wordsprint;
• Ad Symphony; and
• Other service providers engaged to support University operations.

The specific providers used by the University may change over time as technologies and institutional needs evolve.

For information about the privacy practices and available privacy choices provided by a particular third-party service, users should review that provider’s privacy documentation.

How We Share Personal Information

The University may share personal information with third parties when necessary to provide University services or conduct legitimate institutional activities.

Service Providers and Business Partners

The University may share or make personal information available to service providers and business partners that perform services on the University’s behalf, including providers supporting:

• Information technology;
• Website hosting and administration;
• Data analytics;
• Admissions and enrollment;
• Customer relationship management;
• Communications;
• Marketing and advertising;
• Payment processing;
• Security;
• Cloud services; and
• Other University operations.

These organizations may process personal information as necessary to provide services to the University and subject to applicable contractual, legal, and institutional requirements.

Legal and Institutional Requirements

The University may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, accreditation requirement, or other legal obligation.

Information may also be disclosed when necessary to protect the rights, property, security, or safety of the University, its students, employees, visitors, or others.

Third-Party Websites and Services

University websites may contain links to websites, applications, plug-ins, or services operated by third parties.

The University does not control the privacy practices of unaffiliated third-party websites or services. When you leave a University-operated website or interact directly with a third-party service, the collection and use of your information may be governed by that third party’s privacy practices.

Users are encouraged to review the privacy notices of third-party services they use.

Information Security

The University implements reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction.

No method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and the University cannot guarantee the absolute security of information transmitted or maintained electronically.

Personal information will be retained and disposed of in accordance with applicable legal requirements and University records management practices.

Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding personal information maintained by the University.

These may include the ability to:

• Request access to personal information maintained about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• Request deletion of certain information;
• Request that the University restrict or discontinue certain uses of information; or
• Opt out of certain marketing communications.

Some requests may be limited by legal, regulatory, contractual, academic, records-retention, or other legitimate institutional requirements.

Questions, concerns, or requests regarding personal information may be directed to:

Executive Director of Information Technology
Bluefield University
3000 College Avenue
Bluefield, Virginia 24605
[email protected]

Children’s Privacy

University websites and online services are not generally directed toward children under the age of 13 unless specifically identified as such.

Where the University operates a program or service involving children, personal information will be collected and processed in accordance with applicable legal requirements and University policies.

Changes to This Privacy Notice

The University may revise this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes in law, technology, University practices, or the services used by the University.

Material changes will be reflected by updating the revision date displayed at the beginning of this Notice. Users are encouraged to periodically review this page for the most current information.

Revision History

• January 2025
• December 2024
• February 2024