Thank you for visiting the Skagit Valley College website and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use, and security of and access to information that may be obtained through the use of Skagit Valley College website. This notice covers the following topics:

• Information Collected and How it is Used
• Personal Information and Choice
• Public Access to Information
• Nondisclosure of Certain Personal Information
• Cookies
• Security
• Disclaimer
• Contact Information

If you do nothing during your visit except to browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

1. The Internet Protocol Address and the domain name is used but not the email 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;
2. The type of browser and operating system you used;
3. The date and time you visited this site;
4. The web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
5. 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, SVC-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 SVC website you send an email, the server may retain the email message and email address. We use your email address to respond appropriately to your request. This may be to address issues you identify, to further improve our website, or to forward the email 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 email). 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 website.

If personal information is requested on the website 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.

Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email 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 RCW42.17.310 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, the information presented by the government on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate acknowledgments is requested. Use of lists of individuals or directory information (including address, phone or email) 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 1998No. 2).