Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Data Privacy Policy applies to the information we collect when you visit www.harding.edu, connect.harding.edu or pipeline.harding.edu (websites) and other services required for the effective operation of Harding. This notice describes how the information is processed and the choices you have regarding the use of the information you provide.

When this notice uses the word Harding or we, it includes Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, USA and Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas, USA.

We respect the privacy rights of our online visitors and recognize the importance of protecting the information we collect from you. We have adopted an organization-wide privacy policy that guides how we collect, store and use information you provide.

We recognize the need to protect private information and as such have several layers of protection in place.

We comply with relevant legal privacy acts, such as FERPA, GLBA and HIPAA.

Scope

This policy does not apply to any company or organization we associate with, including organizations whose services are linked to Harding through online content or services (such as apps and social media platforms). If you communicate with us or access information about us through a social network service or app, the social network or app provider and its partners may collect, hold, use or disclose your personal information for its own purposes and according to its own policies.

This policy does not cover these third parties or their services. We are not responsible for how third parties use information they collect. For information about third-party privacy practices, please consult with them directly.

We may amend this privacy notice at any time by posting the amended version on our websites and including the effective date of the amended version. Your continued use of our websites and third-party applications after any such change indicates your acceptance of the changes. We will announce any material changes to this privacy notice through our portal, which is known as Pipeline message center, and/or via email.

Personal information we collect

We collect personal information from you and any devices (including mobile devices) you use when you: apply for admission, are accepted as a student, are contracted by us, provide us information on a web form, update or add information to your account, participate in a community board discussion chat or when you otherwise correspond with us.

Some of this personal information, such as a way to identify you, is necessary to process your requests. The provision of all other personal information is voluntary, but may be necessary to use our services, for example, enrolling in courses; receiving academic information such as grades, diplomas and transcripts; and receiving payments.

We may collect the following categories of personal information you provide to us:

• name
• email address
• postal address
• phone number (including your mobile phone number)
• billing information
• survey responses
• demographics
• photos of you (for example, if you add your photo to your profile)
• account settings
• passwords
• contact information of people you add to, or notify of, your relationship with us
• customer-support and other requests you make 
• other information you provide about yourself or others or to which you provide us with access via third-party platforms

We do not, as a general practice, proactively collect personal information considered as sensitive personal information, including but not limited to health-related information. However, some of our programs may collect such information to complete their services. Information you submit to these services may reveal sensitive personal information.

Credit or debit card account information may be required for some services. We may also receive certain categories of personal information listed above and some device information listed below (for example, your name, email, browsing history and other details) from sources other than you, such as from third-party websites, applications and services.

If you want access to certain restricted sections of our websites, you must become a registered user and submit certain personally identifiable information to us. This happens in a number of instances, such as when you sign up as a student or employee, or if you desire to receive marketing materials and information. Personally identifiable information that we collect in these instances may include your full name, username, password, email address, address, telephone number, institution/organization affiliation(s) and other information you provide to us or include in your public profile.

Information provided to us from outside the United States may be transferred to the United States. By providing your information to us, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to and processed on servers in the United States. If you feel that we have not complied with laws of the European Union regulating such information, you have the right to complain to the appropriate supervisory authority in the European Union.

How we use your personal information

We collect, process and disclose your personal information for our legitimate interests, functions and responsibilities as a private, nonprofit institute of higher education, including but not limited to:

• employment-related matters, for example, for job applicants, employees and immediate family members
• student-related matters, for example, to:
  • register or enroll persons
  • provide and administer housing
  • provide and administer financial aid
  • manage student accounts
  • give academic advising
  • develop and deliver education programs
  • track academic progress
  • analyze and improve education programs, recruitment, regulatory reporting, auditing and maintenance of accreditation
  • scientific, historical-research or statistical purposes
  • general demographic and statistical research to improve our programs
  • identifying appropriate support services or activities, providing reasonable accommodations, enforcing our policies,and complying with applicable laws
  • managing the relationship and engagement of alumni, donors and event patrons

We may use your contact information to market to you and provide information to you about our programs and services. If you decide you no longer wish to receive such information or communications from us, follow the unsubscribe instructions in the communications.

If you use our websites and services that require you to be a registered user, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password and for restricting access to your computer. You agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account credentials. Harding reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts and remove or edit content in its sole discretion.

Your choices about how we use your information

You may access, change or correct information that you provide by logging into your Harding account or by submitting a request. We may need to verify your identity before granting access or otherwise changing or correcting your information.

Upon your request, we will close your account and remove your personal information from view as soon as reasonably possible based on your account activity and in accordance with applicable laws and accounting for the need for business continuity.

If you provide us your information while you are in the European Union, you have the right to request access to a copy of, or rectification, restriction in the use or erasure of your information in accordance with and subject to applicable laws. If you have given consent to use of your information, you have the right to withdraw consent without affecting the lawfulness of our use of the information before receiving your request. Certain information, such as official transcript information, student financial-aid records, student-discipline records and employment records will be retained by us without regard to this right.

How we might share your personal information

We may share information about you as follows:

• With other users of our services with whom you interact
• With other users of our services with whom you interact through your use of our services. For example, we may share information through interactions within our systems while you are enrolled in a course(s).
• With affiliated institution(s)/organization(s)
• With institutions/organizations where we need to conduct normal business. For example, we may share information with a payment service organization.

Log Data

We use Google Analytics to improve your experience using our websites. Google’s Privacy Policy may be reviewed at www.google.com/privacy. When you visit our websites, Google’s servers automatically record information that your browser sends whenever you visit a website as log data. This log data includes information such as your IP address, browser type or the domain from which you are visiting, the websites you visit and the search terms you use. For most users accessing the internet from an internet service provider, the IP address will be different every time you log on. We use log data to monitor the use of the sites and of our service and for the site’s technical administration. We do not associate your IP address with any other personally identifiable information to identify you personally.

Law Enforcement

We cooperate with government and law enforcement officials or private parties to enforce and comply with the law. We may disclose information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate to respond to claims or legal process (including subpoenas) to protect the property and rights of Harding or a third party and the safety of the public or any person; to prevent or stop any illegal, unethical or legally actionable activity; or to comply with the law.

Business Transfers

Harding may sell, transfer or otherwise share some or all of its assets, including your personally identifiable information, in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets or in the event of bankruptcy. You will have the opportunity to opt out of any such transfer if the new entity’s planned processing of your information differs materially from that set forth in this privacy policy.

How long we keep your personal information

We generally retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the services you have requested or for other essential purposes such as complying with our legal obligations, resolving disputes, business continuity and enforcing our policies.

Cookies and similar technologies

When you visit or interact with our websites, services, applications, tools or messaging, we or our authorized service providers may use cookies and other similar technologies to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for advertising and marketing purposes.

How we protect your personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect the security of personal information by regularly assessing risk of misuse, interference, loss and unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. Measures taken may be physical, electronic,or procedural. We treat personal information with care and in accordance with this policy and applicable laws.