At Río Hondo College, we are committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe and efficient experience when interacting with our website. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. You are not required to provide personal information to browse our website, but some services may require you to share specific data. This policy is consistent with the Internet Security and Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Law, and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, as well as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) concerning student records.
By using riohondo.edu, you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
Personal Information:
We collect personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, or mailing address only if you provide it voluntarily (e.g., through forms or emails). This information is used solely for the purpose it was provided, such as responding to inquiries or processing applications.
Automatically Collected Information:
When you visit riohondo.edu, we automatically gather certain non-personal information to help us understand how our site is used and how we can improve it. This includes:
- Your domain and IP address
- Browser type, operating system, and version
- The referring website (if you arrived via a link)
- Date and time of your visit
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
This information is collected for statistical purposes and helps us improve the functionality of our website. It does not identify individual users.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to collect and analyze non-personal data about the use of our website. Google Analytics collects data such as your IP address, browser type, device type, and interaction with the site. This information helps us understand user behavior and improve our website’s functionality.
To learn more about how Google Analytics collects and processes data, visit Google’s Privacy Policy.
Cookies and Tracking
Cookies are small files placed on your device to store data that enhances your browsing experience. Río Hondo College uses both session and persistent cookies to:
- Manage user interactions (e.g., completing forms, logging in)
- Remember user preferences
- Track and analyze website usage patterns
You can control how cookies are used by adjusting your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain website features.
Third-Party Services and Advertising
We may work with third-party service providers to enhance the functionality of our website and display relevant content to users. These third parties may include advertising networks, analytics providers, and social media platforms. Some of these third parties may use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior.
Río Hondo College does not sell or share your personal information for commercial purposes. Any data shared with third-party service providers is anonymized and used only for legitimate purposes such as improving site performance or delivering relevant content.
If you prefer to opt out of third-party tracking, you can adjust your browser settings or use tools such as the Network Advertising Initiative’s Consumer Opt-Out page.
How We Use Your Information
We use personal information provided by you to fulfill specific services or requests (e.g., responding to inquiries, processing applications). The automatically collected information is used to enhance our website’s performance and user experience.
Any information we collect is used internally for operational purposes and improving our services.
If you send us an email, we will use your email address and message to respond to your inquiry. Your email address will not be sold or disclosed for commercial purposes.
Security of Your Information
We take the security of your personal information seriously. Río Hondo College has implemented technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
While we take extensive measures to protect your information, no method of data transmission over the internet is entirely secure. We encourage you to exercise caution when sharing sensitive information online.
Disclosure of Information
We do not disclose personal information collected through riohondo.edu unless:
- Required by law (e.g., court orders, legal obligations)
- Necessary for the operation of college programs
- Authorized by the user
We may share anonymized, aggregated data with third-party service providers for analytics and performance evaluation. This data does not identify individual users.
Personal information may also be disclosed to law enforcement or government authorities if necessary to investigate or prevent security incidents or unauthorized access to our systems.
Children’s Privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If a child has provided personal information without parental consent, please contact us, and we will take steps to remove such data from our systems.
External Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. Río Hondo College is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any websites you visit through links on riohondo.edu.
Electronic Commerce for Donations
Our website provides a secure platform for making donations to the Río Hondo College Foundation. When you choose to donate, we collect only the information necessary to process and acknowledge your contribution. All donations are securely processed through a third-party service provider, Classy, which ensures that your payment details are encrypted and protected during transmission.
Classy follows its own security and privacy protocols, and by making a donation, you are also subject to their privacy and data protection policies. Your personal and payment information will be used exclusively to process your donation and will not be shared or sold for any other purposes.
By using this service, you can rest assured that your data is handled with the highest level of security, ensuring the safety of your transaction.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or relevant legal requirements. When changes are made, the “Last Updated” date at the bottom of this page will be revised. We recommend reviewing this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Río Hondo College
Attn: Public Information, Marketing & Communications
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Last Updated: 10/11/2024
