University Policies

Privacy Policy

Web Privacy Statement

Houston Christian University (HCU) is devoted to safeguarding the privacy of personal information; however at times we may share information gathered from our web servers. Since we are a private institution, some information collected from this web site, including summary server log information, emails and information collected from web-based form, may be subject to public information requests under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). This means that while we do not share information, in some instances we may be required by Open Records law to discharge information.

Student directory information is routinely requested by vendors through the TPIA. Students have the option of excluding their personal information from the directory during registration.

HCU fully complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which disallows the release of educational records without the student’s consent.

The HCU web consists of several web servers. Some servers hosted by HCU may embrace different privacy statements as their specific needs require. If another HCU web server has a privacy statement that is different from this statement, that policy will be posted on their site. The HCU web site encompasses links to external web sites; however HCU is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external web links.

Information We Collect

The following information is collected, used, stored, and protected automatically from all users accessing the HCU web site to browse or download information:

  • Internet address of computer being used
  • Web pages requested
  • Referring web page
  • Date and time
  • Type of web browser being used

This information is used to create summary statistics which are used for purposes such as assessing what information is of most interest to users, determining technical specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas. This information is not reported or used in any means that would disclose personally identifiable information, and will not be released to outside third parties unless legally obligated.

Request Information Form Submissions

We may collect the following personal information when you submit an RFI form:

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • High School graduation date
  • Program of interest

How We Use Your Information

We adhere to the FTC’s “one-to-one consent” rule for marketing or promotional text messages. We use your personal information to:

  • Process your RFI and respond to your inquiries
  • Send you relevant information, such as product updates, newsletters, and marketing materials
  • Improve our website and services

Consent for Text Messages and Emails

By submitting an RFI form, you consent to receive automated text messages and emails from Houston Christian University. You understand that these messages may include marketing communications.

Opt-Out

You can opt out of receiving marketing text messages and emails at any time by:

  • Text Message: Reply “STOP” to the message
  • Email: Click the unsubscribe link in the email

Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Terms and Conditions of Use

  1. Acceptance of terms and use and amendments
    Each time you use or cause access to the HCU web site, you agree to be bound by these terms of use, as amended from time to time with or without notice to you. In addition, if you are using a particular service on this web site or accessed through this web site, you will be subject to any rules or guidelines pertinent to those services. Please read the site’s privacy policy, which is comprised within these terms of use.
  2. Your responsibilities and registration obligations
    In order to use this web site or certain parts of it, you may be required to register for a user account on this web site. In this case, you agree to provide truthful information when requested. By registering for a user account, you explicitly agree to this site’s terms of use.
  3. Privacy policy
    Registration data and other personally identifiable information that the site may collect is subject to the terms of the web privacy policy. HCU is committed to ensuring the privacy and accuracy of your confidential information.
  4. Registration and password
    You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password, and you will be responsible for all usage of your user account and/or user name, whether authorized or not authorized by you. You agree to immediately notify HCU of any unauthorized use of your user account, user name or password.
  5. Disclaimer of Warranties
    You understand and agree that your use of this web site and of any services or content provided (the “service”) is at your own risk. Services and content are provided to you “as is,” and HCU expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, either implied or expressed, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. HCU makes no warranty, either implied or expressed, that any part of the service will be uninterrupted, error/virus-free, timely, secure, accurate, reliable, or of any quality, nor is it warranted either implicitly or expressly that any content is safe in any manner for download. You understand and agree that neither HCU nor any participant in the service provides professional advice of any kind and that any advice or any other information obtained via this web site may be used exclusively at your own risk and that HCU will not be held liable in any way. Some jurisdictions may not allow disclaimers of implied warranties, and certain statements in the above disclaimer may not apply to you as regards implied warranties; the other terms and conditions remain enforceable notwithstanding.
  6. Limitation of Liability
    You specifically recognize and agree that HCU will not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages; this includes, but is not limited to, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses (even if HCU has been advised of the possibility of such damages), resulting from the following:

    1. the use of services or the inability to use services,
    2. the cost of obtaining substitute goods and/or services resulting from any transaction entered into on through services,
    3. unauthorized access to or alteration of your data transmissions,
    4. statements by any third party or conduct of any third party using services, or
    5. any other matter relating to services.

In some jurisdictions, it is not permitted to limit liability and, therefore, such limitations may not apply to you.

Use of Google reCAPTCHA v3

We use Google reCAPTCHA v3 to help prevent automated bots from accessing our site. reCAPTCHA v3 analyzes your activity on our site and assigns a score based on whether it thinks you’re a human. This score is sent to Google anonymously. Google’s Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US) applies to your use of reCAPTCHA v3.

What little data reCAPTCHA v3 might collect:

  • IP Address: We use a legitimate interest legal basis to process your IP address for the purpose of protecting our website from spam and other malicious automated activity.
  • Browsing history on our website: We do not collect or store your complete browsing history. reCAPTCHA v3 might analyze your browsing behavior on our website to generate a risk score, but this data is not provided to us in a way that identifies you.
  • Google Cookies (if you have any): The use of Google cookies by reCAPTCHA v3 requires your explicit consent. We will only use reCAPTCHA v3 after you have granted your consent through our cookie consent banner. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time.

Why we use reCAPTCHA v3:

We have a legitimate interest in protecting our website from automated bots that can disrupt our service and compromise user data. reCAPTCHA v3 helps us achieve this goal while minimizing the data we collect about you.

Your Rights under GDPR

  • Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the data we collect through reCAPTCHA v3. However, as mentioned above, this data is anonymized and does not directly identify you.
  • Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interest. You can exercise this right by withdrawing your consent to the use of cookies on our website.
  • Right to Erasure: You cannot request erasure of data collected through reCAPTCHA v3 because it’s anonymized. However, you can withdraw your consent and we will stop processing your data for this purpose.

How to Control Your Information:

You can visit Google’s privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US to see how they handle your data. You can also opt out of some of Google’s advertising programs by visiting https://adssettings.google.com/.