Thank you for visiting the Lower Columbia College (LCC) website and reviewing our privacy notice. This statement addresses collection, use, security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of the LCC website. It also describes several state and federal laws that apply to personally identifiable information that you might provide in the course of navigating this site. This notice covers the following topics:
The information we automatically collect or store is logged and used by Lower Columbia College only to improve the content of our website and educational services, and to help us understand how people are using those services. All web pages on the LCC public site have a link to this privacy notice in the footer.
Lower Columbia College uses analytics to determine how the website is being used, for the purpose of continuous improvement. If you do nothing during your visit to our website but browse, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about the visit. This information does not identify you personally.
See Web Privacy Notice - Information Collected for a list of what is currently being collected when you do nothing but browse the Lower Columbia College website.
Volunteered information will be used only to improve educational services and/or further your educational experience. If during your visit to our website you submit feedback through a web form, send an e-mail, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional information will be collected:
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.
We use your e-mail to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our website, or to forward the e-mail to another agency for appropriate action. Each survey or on-line form on the website will identify how the information will be used from that specific survey or online form.
The records retention schedules published by the State Archives require us to keep this information only so long as it is useful, and then destroy it; these schedules change from time to time.
See also the Disclaimer section of this document.
You may choose whether to provide personal information online. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information supplied by the user of our online forms.
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 provide it to us by sending us e-mail, submitting a website feedback form, participating in a survey, or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by e-mail, participate in a survey or to provide any personal information using an online form. Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse the Lower Columbia College website and read or download any information provided on the site.
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.
If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Public Records Officer as shown in the Contact Information section of this statement.
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) governs information gathering online from or about children under the age of 13. We are especially concerned about protecting children's privacy. Under COPPA, a web site must get parental permission before collecting personally identifiable information about a child under the age of 13.
If you have questions about how we use your personally identifiable information, you can contact Lower Columbia College (see contact information, below).
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 Public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Both state and federal laws provide exceptions.
As a public agency, all our information is governed by laws such as Washington's Public Records Act RCW 42.56. Information you send us may become a public record, and it may be subject to public inspection and copying if not otherwise protected by federal or state law.
Information collected through use of this site may be public information and subject to inspection and copying by members of the public. For example, the Public Records Act 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 section RCW 42.56.070, Chapter 42.56 RCW, 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 Chapter 42.56 RCW, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with Chapter 42.56 RCW 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 agency's disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
The complete Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is available at https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/.
You may be required to provide certain personal information when you use the web-enabled applications that are described below. See also the Security section of this document.
Laws and regulations may prevent Lower Columbia College from disclosing personal information about you except for directory information. Only directory information can be released without student's authorization. Students must sign a release in order to have any other information disclosed or to withhold all information. Education information may be released to other institutions that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll. Information may be released to a third party without student's consent if an emergency situation exists or if information is requested officially by means of a subpoena, court order or legal report. Additionally, Congress requires student information to be released to military recruiters if officially requested. Directory information may include student's name, major field of study, enrollment status, dates of attendance, participation in recognized sports, degrees and honors.
Lower Columbia College may require you to provide certain personal information in order to pay tuition and fees online. The information is required in order to verify your identify and to verify your credit card number and expiration date. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it we will be unable to apply tuition and fee payment online, and you will have to pay your tuition and fees in person.
Lower Columbia College may require you to provide certain personal information in order to obtain your financial aid status online. The information is required in order to verify your identity. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it we will be unable to give you your financial aid status online, and you will have to obtain this information in person, by phone, or by mail.
Lower Columbia College may require you to provide certain personal information in order to allow you to view and copy course enrollment and payment information. The information is required in order to provide you with the tax information needed for compliance with the Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements for the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it, we will be unable to display your enrollment and payment information online and you will have to obtain a copy of your enrollment and payment records in person.
Lower Columbia College may require you to provide certain personal information in order to register for classes online. The information is required in order to verify your identity. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it you will be unable to register for classes online, and you will have to register for classes in person, by fax or by mail.
State law requires agencies that collect personally identifiable information to provide "procedures for correcting inaccurate information, including establishing mechanisms for individuals to review information about them and recommend changes in information they believe to be inaccurate." (RCW 43.105.365)
Some web sites use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your Web browser. We currently don't use any "cookies" on our website.
Lower Columbia College occasionally works with advertising agencies that assists us in advertising our website. In connection with their marketing efforts on our behalf, those agencies may utilize "cookies" and other tracking technologies and it may also permit selected third parties to do so. For the most part, the agencies only use what are referred to as "session cookies", which are cookies that expire upon the conclusion of your visit to our site. These types of cookies are widely used to facilitate a consumer's interaction with a website. These agencies also use cookies or permits its third party partners to use cookies that enable them to show you advertisements for our site when you visit other sites in the agencies network or in third-party networks. This is the sole use of the Advertising Cookies-they are not being used to track you in any other way. Moreover, these agencies do not link the information in the Advertising Cookies or any other cookie to any personal information that you may have provided.
Lower Columbia College, as developer and manager of the Lower Columbia College website, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, and to provide reasonable protection of private information in our possession.
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 Lower Columbia College sites and online forms.
This site contains text, artwork, photos or other content that is copyrighted by others and is being used with permission of the copyright holder. Therefore, we recommend that you contact our web coordinator for permission to use any content contained on this site.
The Lower Columbia College website has many links to other sites. These include links to sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the Lower Columbia College website and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another website, 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.
Lower Columbia College cannot be responsible for the accuracy of information voluntarily submitted via web surveys or on-line forms.
Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Washington, this agency, or its officers, employees or agents.
Lower Columbia College reserves the right to revise and update this Privacy Notice at any time.
Public Records Officer:
Nolan Wheeler
Vice President of Administrative Service
Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple Street
Longview, WA 98632
Email: nwheeler@lowercolumbia.edu
Phone: (360) 442-2200
Fax: (360) 442-2129