Privacy Policy
University of Bridgeport (“UB”) respects and protects the privacy of its website users (“users”) in accordance with applicable state, federal, and international law. As such, UB provides the following information to clearly and simply explain how personal information is collected and used.
UB collects two general categories of information, as further described below:
A. Automatically collected information
UB’s website automatically gathers certain information to track user website browsing patterns. This data — which generally does not contain any personally identifiable information — is used by UB to more fully understand how its website is being used and whether certain website content could be enhanced. This automatically collected information includes:
- Routing information: the internet address from which the user accessed the UB website, transaction size and referring domain.
- Technical access information: basic information about how the user accessed the UB website including date/time, size and browser/system type.
- Cookies and similar technologies: small pieces of data stored in the user’s browser (cookies, local storage and session storage) and small pieces of code (“tags” or “pixels”) that send information about a visit to UB or to its service providers. These are described, with the user’s choices, in section C below.
B. Personal information provided by user
Users might also provide various types of personal information to UB (through its website) as part of their educational experience, employment, or other participation in the University community. This information can be shared at several different stages of the educational process — prior to admission, as a student, and post-graduation. “Personal information” refers to information related to the identity of a person, including but not limited to:
- Contact information such as name, email, address, date of birth, social security number, and phone number.
- Academic information such as schools attended, academic history (courses, testing results, grades), extracurricular interests (athletics, clubs), and academic recommendations.
- Other relevant information such as job history, family/personal circumstances; disciplinary and/or criminal history, information regarding health, disability, race and/or national origin.
The following examples illustrate situations in which users might provide personal information to UB:
- Fundraising: Communications with or outreach from UB regarding development, fundraising, and/or alumni events.
- Admission applications: Responses to questions in UB admissions process (regarding the topics listed above) and submission of related materials.
- Athletic recruitment: Information provided to a UB coach or contracted recruiting partner regarding the user’s athletic and academic capabilities.
- Accessing electronic resources and databases: Basic name, username, and/or profile information submitted when creating user accounts for various databases and educational resources through the UB network.
- Questions about or communications with UB: General inquiries to the University regarding admissions, facilities, academic programs, athletics, and/ or other University functions.
C. Cookies, tracking technologies and your choices
UB’s website uses three kinds of cookies and similar technologies:
- Strictly necessary: these keep the website working and secure and remember the user’s cookie choice. They are always on.
- Analytics and performance: these help UB understand how the website is used, such as which pages are visited and how visitors arrive, so that content can be improved.
- Marketing and recruitment: these help UB’s admissions team and its advertising and marketing service providers measure outreach campaigns and show relevant program information on other websites and platforms.
Unless a user chooses otherwise, analytics and marketing technologies are turned on when the user visits the website. Users can opt out at any time by choosing “Essential Only” or closing the cookie banner, or by using “Cookie Settings” to turn off either category. After a user opts out, UB stops loading those technologies and deletes the cookies they placed on UB’s website where it is able to. The choice is stored in the user’s browser for 180 days; clearing the browser’s cookies resets it. Users may also refuse cookies through their browser settings, but doing so may affect their ability to use parts of the website.
If a user’s browser sends a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, UB treats it as a request to opt out of marketing technologies, unless the user later chooses otherwise in the cookie banner.
When a user arrives at the website from an advertisement, an email or another campaign link, UB records the campaign details included in the web address (such as the source, medium and campaign name, and advertising click identifiers), the page where the visit began and the referring website, for the length of the browser session. If the user then submits an inquiry form, these details are sent with the inquiry to UB’s admissions system so that UB can understand which outreach is effective.
Some features are provided by third parties, which may place their own cookies or collect information directly under their own privacy policies. These include website analytics services such as Google Analytics, advertising and marketing measurement providers, the admissions chat assistant (which uses its own analytics tools), and embedded videos from YouTube, which are shown in YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode.
UB collects and uses personal information with regard to applicants and students toward the goal of providing quality, post-secondary educational services to undergraduate and graduate students and continuing engagement of alumni and others who support the University’s mission. Specifically, the University collects personal information in its admissions process (including student-athlete recruitment) to recruit and select candidates who are academically suited for UB, as well as to identify accepted students who would benefit from specific campus services. Information about students is maintained by various departments, including the Registrar, Student Services, Athletics, and University Research, for purposes of supporting and enhancing students’ educational experience, and reporting to federal and state agencies, accreditors, and the NCAA. Personal information regarding alumni, donors, and other supporters of the University is maintained and used by the Office of Advancement.
Personal information of students is generally retained for a minimum of five (5) years from graduation or the last date of attendance. Personal information of employees is generally retained for a minimum of seven (7) years from the last date of employment. However, some information may be permanently retained by UB to properly maintain users’ academic records (e.g. transcript), as well as to support UB’s related alumni engagement and development outreach.
In certain circumstances, UB shares limited personal information with third-party contractors and vendors providing specific services related to the University’s educational purpose. These relationships are generally subject to contract, requiring the third party’s legitimate interest in the user information which is only used as necessary to perform the third party’s contracted services. Most of these relationships are related to the UB’s academic or IT services.
Please note: Mobile numbers collected for SMS consent are strictly excluded from any third-party data sharing or vendor processing agreements noted above.
UB uses substantive technical measures to safeguard and protect user personal information, including without limitation: firewalls, Secure Socket Layer communications, and password protected systems.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding this Privacy Policy or the manner in which UB processes user personal information, please contact us by email at communications@bridgeport.edu or by mail at University of Bridgeport, 126 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604.
If you check the text message consent box on one of our forms, you agree to receive SMS messages from University of Bridgeport at the mobile number you provide, related to the University admissions process and enrollment. Consent is not a condition of applying or enrolling.
Message frequency
Message frequency may vary.
Message and data rates
Standard message and data rates may apply.
Opting out
You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying with “STOP” to any SMS message you receive from us. After opting out you will receive a confirmation message, and we will cease sending SMS messages to your number.
Help and support
If you need assistance or have questions about our SMS service, reply HELP to any message or call 800-392-3582.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared, sold, or rented to any third parties.
These terms are also published on their own page: SMS Terms and Conditions.
The University may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting the most recent version on its website.