College of Southern Idaho Online Privacy Statement

Thank you for visiting the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) Web site and reviewing our Online Privacy Statement. This statement addresses collection, use, security of, and access to information that may be obtained through use of the College of Southern Idaho's Web site (www.csi.edu).

Information Collected if You Only Browse the College of Southern Idaho Web Site

If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the Web site, read pages, or download information, we may gather and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit on some of our Web pages:

1. The IP address and ISP (Internet Service Provider) used to access our site. The IP address is a unique number that is assigned to your computer whenever you are using the internet;
2. The country in which the computer that is accessing the site is located;
3. The type of browser and operating system used;
4. The date and time;
5. The pages visited;
6. The bandwidth utilized;
7. The last Web site you visited before coming to College of Southern Idaho's Web site;
8. Referring search engines and top search terms/phrases used; and
9. The last CSI page visited before leaving the CSI Web site.

College of Southern Idaho uses any of the information it automatically collects to improve the Web services it offers. CSI analyzes this information (the Web site logs) to determine how our Web site is being used so that we may continually improve the site's usefulness.

What We Collect if You Volunteer Information

If during your visit to our Web site you fill out an online form, participate in a survey, send an electronic mail message, or perform some other transaction online, the following additional information will be collected:

1. The electronic mail address and contents of electronic mail, for those who communicate with us via electronic mail;
2. Information volunteered in response to a survey; and
3. Information volunteered through an online form.

The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats that you send us.

We may use electronic mail you send us to respond to you as needed, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our Web site, or to forward the electronic mail to a CSI department or another public agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used for official college business described on survey Web pages. Information from other online forms is used for official college business or for purposes expressly stated on the forms.

Cookies and Applets

To better serve our users we may use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience on the CSI Web site. Cookies are text files stored on your computer by your web browser. Cookies created on your computer by using this Web site do not compromise your privacy or security.

Applets are tools downloaded to your computer to work with the software you have. Applets are intended to enhance your browsing experience by enabling you to view information in a unique manner or enable access to information that your computer would otherwise be unable to access without the applet.

Several of the most recent versions of browser software can notify you before a Web site places a cookie or applet on your computer. Some browsers will allow you to block the creation of cookie files and downloading of applets altogether if you choose, or provide the option of individually accepting or rejecting any particular cookie or applet request.

You must allow your browser to accept cookies to be able to use some of CSI's online systems. If you disable cookies or run a “cookie cruncher” on your client computer, you will get errors when trying to use applications that use cookies.

Personal Information and Choice

You may choose whether to provide personal information online. "Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, SSN, and telephone number, but does NOT include the user's domain name or IP address.

We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us. You may choose not to contact us by electronic mail, participate in a survey, or to provide personal information using an online form. Your choice not to participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse CSI's Web site and read or download information provided on the site.

If personal information is requested on the Web site or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, some of the information may become public record once you provide it and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested or volunteered by children under 18 online or by electronic mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult and may be subject to public access.

Public Access to Information

In the state of Idaho, laws exist to ensure that government is open and the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs, including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.

Public Access to Your Personal/Private Information

College of Southern Idaho may require you to provide certain personal/private information in order to complete official college business transactions over the Internet. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it we will be unable to complete the online transaction, and you will have to complete the transaction by some other means (such as in person, via regular mail, over the telephone).

We may disclose all of the information we collect with nonaffiliated third parties that are acting on our behalf or are acting jointly with us, as permitted or required by law such as responding to subpoenas and other legal processes, and those with whom you have requested us to share information. We share information within CSI so that our offices can work together to meet your needs.

It is the intent of the College of Southern Idaho to adhere to federal and state privacy laws and regulations. Access to a student’s education record is regulated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

We are Committed to Protecting Your Personal Information

We are committed to protecting the security and integrity of your personal information through procedures and technology designed for this purpose. College of Southern Idaho has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information maintained by CSI. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, and to provide reasonable protection of private information in our possession.

For example:

• We limit employee access to personal information to those who need to know this information in order to provide the best customer service.
• We maintain policies and procedures covering the proper physical security of workplaces and records, and use appropriate physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information.
• We use technological means (such as backup files, virus detection and eradication software, firewalls, and other computer software and hardware) to protect against unauthorized access or alterations to personal information.

Privacy-Related Inquiries and Complaints

College of Southern Idaho takes its users' privacy concerns seriously. If you believe that CSI has not complied with this Online Privacy Statement with respect to your personal information or you have other related inquiries or concerns, you may write to:

Executive Vice President
Office of Instructional Administration
PO Box 1238
Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238
208-732-6281

In your letter, please describe in as much detail as possible the nature of your inquiry or the ways in which you believe that the CSI Online Privacy Statement has not been complied with. We will investigate your inquiry or complaint promptly.

The policies and practices described in this disclosure are subject to change, but we will promptly post any significant changes online for your information.

Please note that CSI is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of non-CSI Web sites to which this site or any other CSI Web site may link. You should review the privacy policy of such sites before using the sites.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via College of Southern Idaho Web sites.