The Georgetown University Alumni Association (GUAA) has adopted its privacy policy to protect Georgetown Alumni Online users, and promises that it will use their personal information only in ways that are compatible with the policies set forth here.

The following policies are in effect only for the web pages, newsletters, discussion lists, and announcement lists owned and operated by the alumni association; these electronic resources are collectively referred to as Georgetown Alumni Online, the online community of the the Georgetown University Alumni Association.

Information Collection

Every computer connected to the Internet is given a domain name and a set of numbers, which serve as that computer’s Internet protocol (IP) address. When a visitor requests a page from any website within the Georgetown University Network, the network’s web servers automatically recognize that visitor’s domain name and IP address. Domain names and IP addresses reveal nothing personal about users other than the IP address from which they have accessed the Georgetown University website. Georgetown uses this information to examine its web traffic in aggregate, and to investigate misuse of the Georgetown University Network or to cooperate with law enforcement, when necessary. Georgetown does not collect and evaluate information on specific individuals. Georgetown’s web servers do not automatically record visitors’ email addresses. See also Disclosure of Information to Outside Third Parties.

Cookies

From time to time, Georgetown University may send “cookies” to users’ computers. A cookie is a small piece of data that is sent to the user’s Internet browser from a Web server and stored on the user’s computer hard drive. A cookie can’t read data from a computer’s hard disk or read cookie files created by other websites. Cookies do not damage computer systems. Georgetown uses cookies to identify which areas of the Georgetown University Network a user has visited or customized, so those pages may be readily accessible on the user’s next visit. Georgetown may use this information to better personalize the content, banners, and promotions that users see on the university’s website. Users can choose whether to accept cookies by changing the settings of their Internet browsers. Browsers can be reset to refuse all cookies or to show when a cookie is being sent. If users choose not to accept cookies, their experience on hoyasonline and other websites may be diminished and some features may not work as intended.

Registration

Georgetown University offers access to some services that require registration. Georgetown may use registration contact information to notify users of new services by email or postal mail. The university may also use visitors’ IP addresses internally and share them with third parties. See Disclosure of Information to Outside Third Parties.

Use of Information by Georgetown University

Georgetown University may request users’ email or mailing addresses for the purposes of conducting a survey or to provide additional services (for example, subscriptions to e-mail newsletters and announcement lists or information about conferences and special events). Whenever hoyasonline requests the identity of a visitor, the purpose of the inquiry will be clearly indicated. Georgetown maintains a strict “no spam” policy: It does not sell, rent, or otherwise provide email addresses to third parties unless doing so is permitted by this Privacy Policy or is consented to by the user.

Georgetown University may from time to time send email announcing new Georgetown products and services. Except as stated above, the university will not send email that users have not agreed to receive.

When users sign up for Georgetown University discussion forums, their names or aliases are recorded solely for purposes of maintaining their own accounts within the forums. This information is not used to monitor user activity within a forum, nor is it used to identify users outside the Georgetown University Network.

When visitors use co-branded services, or those provided by a third party, within the Georgetown University Network, their information may be passed to the co-brand or third party provider, whose use of the information is subject to their own applicable privacy policies.

Disclosure of Information to Outside Third Parties

Georgetown University will disclose personal information and/or an IP address when required by law or when the university has the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  1. Cooperate with the investigation of purported unlawful activities and conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal processes served on Georgetown University
  2. Protect and defend the rights or property of the Georgetown University Network of sites and related properties, or visitors to the Georgetown University Network of sites and related properties
  3. Identify persons who may be violating the law, the Georgetown University legal notice and website user agreement, or the rights of third parties, or persons who are otherwise misusing the Georgetown University Network or its related properties

Georgetown University is not responsible for any breach of security or for any actions of any third parties that receive the information, nor is the university responsible for such third-party privacy policies or their treatment of information about their users.

See Online Privacy, Registration.

Online Privacy

The Georgetown University Network contains many hyperlinks to third-party websites, and may also contain advertisements of third parties. Georgetown University is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such third party websites or advertisers. Georgetown University does not share users’ individual personal information with the third parties to which Georgetown University links, except as stated elsewhere within this privacy policy. Georgetown University may share general, aggregate data with such third parties (such as how many people use our site). Please check each third party website to determine its privacy policy.

Whenever users voluntarily disclose personal information online – for example through email, on discussion lists, or elsewhere – that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if users post personal information in online venues that are accessible to the public, they may receive unsolicited messages from other parties.

Ultimately, each user is solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of his or her personal information. Users should be careful and responsible whenever they are online.

Consent To This Agreement

By using the Georgetown University Network, users consent to the collection and use of their information by Georgetown University as specified above. If this privacy policy is altered, changes will be posted on this page so that users are always aware of what information Georgetown collects, how that information is used, and under what circumstances it is disclosed.