Thank you for visiting the Washington State Board for Community and Technical College (SBCTC) web site. Detailed below is our Privacy Notice. This notice addresses collection, use and security of, and access to information that may be shared through use of this web site.
If you do nothing during your visit except to browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:
- The Internet Protocol Address and domain name is used but not the e-mail address. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic to you;
- The type of browser and operating system you used;
- The date and time you visited this site;
- The web pages or services you accessed at this site, and;
- Information is collected for site management and summary statistical purposes. This is used for such purposes as evaluating determining technical design specifications and identifying system performance or problem areas.
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, SBCTC-supported computer systems employ software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations and the security purposes mentioned elsewhere in this notice, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Base data logs are used for no other purposes and are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with public records retention schedules (Chapter 40.14 RCW).
Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the state Computer Trespass law (RCW 9A.52.110) and federal statutes including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.
If during your visit to the SBCTC web site you send an e-mail, the server may retain the e-mail message and e-mail address. We use your e-mail address to respond appropriately to your request. This may be to address issues you identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the e-mail for appropriate action.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include attachments such as documents, audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with Chapter 40.14 RCW, Preservation and Destruction of Public Records.
"Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an e-mail). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way effect your ability to use any other feature of this web site.
If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.
The SBCTC web site is a general audience site and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children. Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by e-mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. There are exceptions provided by both state and federal laws.
All information collected at this site becomes public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.17.260(1) states that:
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will prevail.
In addition, information presented by the government on this web site is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate acknowledgements is requested. Use of lists of individuals or directory information (including address, phone or e-mail) provided on this site for commercial purposes is prohibited under RCW 42.17.260(9). In the absence of a statutory definition of "commercial purposes, " the Attorney General of Washington views the prohibition as being broad in its application, given that "(t)here is nothing contained in the Act that distinguishes between different types of commercial purposes." Moreover, in the opinion of the Attorney General, "(w)hile the statute clearly encompasses a commercial purpose which involves direct contact of the individuals named in a list, we do not believe the scope of the term 'commercial purpose' is limited to situations in which individuals are directly contacted or personally affected." (AGO 1998 No. 2)
You can review any personal information we collect about you. You may recommend changes to your personal information you believe in error by submitting a written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact us. In all cases, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, as developer and manager of this web site, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day practices of the entire SBCTC operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management.
This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via SBCTC supported web sites.
The SBCTC web site has links to other web sites. These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, educational organizations, and non-profit businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the SBCTC web site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
The SBCTC reserves the right to revise and update this Privacy Notice at any time without notice by posting such revised Privacy Notice at the SBCTC home page.
To access your personally identifiable information that we collect [if any], request correction of factual errors in your personally identifiable information, offer comments about the SBCTC web site, or about the information presented in this Privacy Notice, you can contact SBCTC:
By telephone: 360-704-4400
By fax: 360-704-4415
By mail: State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, PO Box 42495 Olympia, WA 98504-2495
By email: webmaster@sbctc.edu