Home > Privacy Statement
This online privacy statement is intended to inform you of the ways in which this website collects information, the uses to which that information will be put, and the ways in which we protect information you choose to provide us. This page also act as the portal to Google Apps/G Suite for Education which outlines an additional privacy statement.
Please note that other Michigan State University websites may adopt different privacy practices as their specific needs require.
Use of this Site is subject to all applicable state and federal laws, as well as general University policies.
This portal page collects two general types of information: (a) information you voluntarily provide to us, which may include personal information (such as your name, address, email address, etc.), and (b) information we collect automatically when you visit this Site through cookies, third party tracking technologies and server logs.
This Site will only collect personal information that you knowingly and voluntarily provide by, for example, responding to surveys, completing membership forms, sending emails, etc. It is this Site’s general practice to use personal information only for the purposes for which it was requested and any additional uses specifically stated on the Site. However, information collected through this Site may be subject to the University’s obligation to respond to subpoenas, court orders, discovery requests, and requests for public records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Further, the disclosure of information collected through this Site is subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The University may also access or permit access to information collected through this Site in accordance with and subject to the limitations of the University’s Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technology Resources.
Although this Site has security measures in place to protect personal information provided to us by users, users should also take steps to protect personal information by, for example, closing all web browsers after using the Site. Information disclosed in chat rooms, news groups, forums, message boards and similar contexts may become public. Users should therefore exercise caution before disclosing personal information in such contexts.
This Site collects information automatically through the use of cookies, third party tracking technologies and server logs. This information does not include any personal information. We use this information primarily to monitor the use of this Site and to make improvements. We may share this data with partners in order to enhance the functionality of this Site.
“Cookies” are small text files used to collect information about website activity. No personal information is collected through our use of cookies. This Site uses cookies for two main purposes: (a) to carry information about your current session at this Site from one web page to the next, which also allows you to automatically login to other Michigan State University websites, and (b) to identify you on this Site on return visits.
You have the option of disabling or not accepting cookies by changing the preferences on your browser. If you opt to disable cookies, you will still be able to use certain sections of our Site. However, you will not be able to use any parts of this Site that requires a login (e.g., accessing secured content).
This Site uses Google Analytics and Google Apps/G Suite for Education.
This Site uses a tracking technology called Google Analytics to obtain Site usage information such as users’ Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, Internet domain and host names, browser software, and the date and time that the Site is visited. Data obtained through Google Analytics does not include and is not linked to any personal information. Data from Google Analytics allows us to monitor the use of this Site, understand how users find our Site, and improve the Site’s function and content.
Site usage data collected through Google Analytics is not shared with other Google products and tools. Our use of Google Analytics is in compliance with Google’s Terms of Service and the MSU Access to Student Information Guidelines. Google provides more information about Google’s privacy practices and information on how to opt-out of Google Analytics tracking of your web browsing.
You may also wish to review the MSU Access to Student Information Guidelines.
This Site uses Google custom search.Our web servers routinely generate logs that contain the following types of information each time the Site is used:
This information is used primarily to monitor the functioning and integrity of the Site and other MSU websites.
MSU has executed a Google Apps for Education Agreement with Google for MSU-specific access to the “Core Apps” listed on the portal home page that provides limited protections. Use of any other Google tools for MSU data is not recommended. Google cannot collect or use student data in Apps for Education core services for advertising purposes. See Google Privacy Pages for additional information pertaining specifically to Google Apps/G Suite for Education.
MSU remains obligated to protect certain types of data. Most forms of confidential data should NOT be used with any Google Apps. Google has agreed to properly host MSU’s FERPA protected educational records as an institutional agent in Core Apps only. Please avoid any use of Google Apps with confidential data (other than educational records). Similarly Google Apps should NOT be used for any information subject to U.S. export control laws.
See the Appropriate Use of the Michigan State University Google Apps Education Services for additional guidance. See also MSU’s Policy on Access to Student Information.
Document Owners using the Core Apps must regularly review sharing permissions to validate authorized parties have a valid need-to-know, and that content of documents is appropriate for hosting under the Google Apps/G Suite for Education Agreement.
Document owners must ensure compliance with MSU policies when granting access to documents and avoid improper disclosure of confidential data that could occur from sharing folders and individual documents. Neither MSU nor Google makes backups of information stored on these services. MSU users should assume individual responsibility for regularly backing up information and data they store with Google.
This Site may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we do not control or claim any responsibility for the privacy practices or content of such other sites. We encourage users to read the privacy statements of each website they visit.
Our users are given the opportunity to receive communications from us. However, at this time this Site does not manage or send communications.
If we make changes to our privacy statement, we will indicate this on this page.
Neither Michigan State University, nor any of its units, programs, employees, agents or individual trustees, shall be liable for any improper or incorrect use of information obtained through the use of this Site.
By using this Site you consent to the terms of this privacy statement.