Privacy Policy

This statement pertains exclusively to the collection of personal information on official university and partnering/affiliate websites. Official university and partnering/affiliate websites use the domain names "umd.edu" and "maryland.edu" and are controlled, operated, and maintained by university personnel in connection with university business. However, all uses of university computing resources are subject to the University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources.

 

Collection of Non-Personal Information

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) uses information available in website server logs, such as network connection details, IP addresses, date and time, and content accessed to analyze trends, to create summary reporting for troubleshooting or design purposes, and to identify performance or problem areas.

An IP address identifies the computer and its network connection, not the computer user. USG does not normally link IP addresses to personally identifiable information, so that the identity of users remains anonymous, but not, for example, the time users log on, log off and how long they visit any one site. USG uses IP addresses to identify a user when necessary to enforce compliance with law or University System of Maryland policies, for purposes of system administration, and to ascertain demographics and visitor usability.

USG also uses Google Analytics and similar measurement tools to understand how visitors find the USG website and content and how they interact with them. We use this information to improve the user experience on the website and to optimize our marketing efforts. While USG uses various first- and third-party tools to collect and report visit data, these data are collected to measure USG’s website and advertising performance and to inform future content and functionality development.

 

Collection of Personal Information

Generally, USG does not automatically collect the identity of individual users of or visitors to official university websites. The Universities at Shady Grove uses voluntarily provided personally identifiable information, such as name and contact information, to respond to requests for information about its services, opportunities, and events and to provide information about new services, opportunities, and events.

If you are asked to provide personal information on the USG website, university policy provides that you should be notified of the following:

  • The purpose for which the personal information is collected;
  • Any specific consequences for refusing to provide the information;
  • Your right to inspect, amend, or correct personal records, if any;
  • Whether the personal information is generally available for public inspection; and
  • Whether the personal information is made available or transferred to or shared with any entity.

Unless otherwise notified by the collecting office, information provided to USG may be shared among offices within USG and with the University System of Maryland and outside entities as necessary or appropriate in the conduct of legitimate university business and consistent with applicable law. Because USG is a State partnership entity, such information may also be subject to disclosure under the Maryland Access to Public Records Act (Public Records Act). Individuals may inspect and/or correct their personal information as provided by the Public Records Act or applicable university policy. USG is also subject to the disclosure requirements of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Moreover, personal information you disclose to others via message boards and chat rooms may be collected and used by others who are not under the control of USG.

USG collects information that is available from server logs about user Internet connections and visits to the USG website. USG may use this information to analyze trends, create summary statistics for the purpose of determining technical design specifications, and identify system performance or problem areas.

USG web pages may utilize "cookies" to better serve you with more tailored information when you return to our site. Cookies are identifiers that a website can send to user browsers to keep on file in order to facilitate future visits to that site. Some USG web pages may use cookies as a way to provide users with more tailored information when they return to those web pages. Users can set their browsers to receive notification when a website sends them a cookie so users may accept or reject it. Note that some parts of USG’s web pages that offer cookies may not function properly or may be considerably slower when users reject cookies.


Data Security

USG will take appropriate steps to protect the information you share with us from unauthorized access or disclosure. USG strives to implement security measures that protect the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under our control.

Not all transmissions to and from official university websites are secure: the website may not encrypt or decrypt data sent to or from the website. In addition, emails that you send to a university address may be subject to interception. If your communication includes personal information that you do not wish to provide electronically, contact the university by postal mail or telephone.

 

Links to Other Sites

Some official university websites link to websites that are outside the "umd.edu" and "maryland.edu" domains and are controlled and operated by third parties. The university is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such third party websites.

 

Photography and Videotape Privacy Policy

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) reserves the right to take photography or videotape of faculty, staff, and students engaged in teaching, learning research, clinical practices, and other activities, including campus life and events. These photographs and films will be used in such publications as catalogs, posters, advertisements; recruitment, and development materials; campus digital screens, social media, videos and the website. This content may be used for promotional purposes.

Such photographs and video – including digital media – will be kept in the files and archives of The Universities at Shady Grove These files will remain available for use by USG without time limitation or restrictions. Faculty, students, and staff are made aware by virtue of this policy that USG reserves the right to alter photography and video for creative purposes.

Faculty, staff, and students who do not want their photographs used in the manner(s) described in this policy statement should a.) verbally decline to be photographed/videotaped b.) contact the Marketing and Communications Department.

Faculty, staff and students are advised that persons in public places are deemed by law to have no expectation of privacy and are subject to being photographed by third parties. USG has no control over the use of photographs or videotape taken by third parties not approved by USG, including without limitation the news and media covering USG activities.

 

Changes to Privacy Statement

Advances in technology, legal developments, and new university policies and practices may necessitate the need to change or update this privacy statement from time to time. We reserve the right to change this policy without notice. It is the responsibility of the user to check this page for any changes to this policy.

 

Questions or Complaints

Specific questions about the collection of personal information on specific official university websites should be addressed to the person identified on that site.

If you have any comments or questions about this privacy statement or complaints about official university websites, please contact: sgitsecurity@umd.edu