Privacy Policy
The College maintains a public-facing Privacy Notice on its website describing what information is collected, how it is used, when it may be shared, and the safeguards maintained to protect personal information. The notice should reference compliance obligations under FERPA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and identify a contact for privacy-related questions. Should look something like this:
Website Privacy Notice Language Privacy Notice
Benedict College is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information entrusted to the College by students, parents, employees, alumni, donors, and other members of the College community.
The College collects and maintains information necessary to support its educational mission, administrative operations, financial activities, and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Information Collected
The College may collect personal information including, but not limited to:
- Name and contact information
- Student and employee identification information
- Financial aid and financial account information
- Payment and billing information
- Educational records
- Information voluntarily submitted through College websites and applications
- Technical information associated with the use of College systems and services
Use of Information
Information collected by the College is used to:
- Deliver educational and administrative services
- Process financial aid and financial transactions
- Maintain student and employment records
- Support institutional operations
- Provide technology services and support
- Comply with legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements
- Protect institutional systems and information resources
Information Sharing
The College does not sell personal information.
Information may be disclosed to authorized third parties when necessary to:
- Provide educational or administrative services;
- Process financial transactions or financial aid activities;
- Comply with legal obligations;
- Respond to lawful requests from governmental authorities;
- Protect the safety, rights, and property of the College and its community; or
- Support contracted service providers performing authorized functions on behalf of the College.
The College requires service providers handling institutional information to maintain appropriate safeguards designed to protect information entrusted to them.
Information Security
Benedict College maintains administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
The College’s information security program includes safeguards such as:
- Access controls and authentication requirements
- Security monitoring and logging
- Security awareness training
- Vulnerability management activities
- Incident response capabilities
- Vendor oversight processes
- Backup and recovery capabilities
- Risk management activities
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
The College maintains safeguards designed to protect customer information as required by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule. Customer information collected in connection with financial aid programs, financial services, and related activities is protected through administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Student education records are protected in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Information contained in education records is disclosed only as permitted by applicable law and institutional policy.
Contact Information
Questions regarding this Privacy Notice or the College’s privacy and information security practices may be directed to:
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Benedict College
1600 Harden Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29204