Northwest is committed to ensuring efficient management and security of all campus technology resources to ensure the University's strategic goals for student success. All individuals using Northwest-provided technology resources and accounts are required to support and abide by campus technology policies.
Everyone deserves a reasonable expectation of privacy and Northwest is committed to fostering an atmosphere where individuals can express themselves freely, share ideas and socialize without fear of being targeted due to affiliations (political or otherwise) or race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
While Northwest is committed to preserving the privacy of its campus technology users in an effort to encourage the free exchange of ideas and communication in an environment that promotes healthy debate, constructive criticism, creativity, scholarly accomplishments and educational research, the University is equally committed to protecting the integrity and security of Northwest's campus community, infrastructure, data and electronic communications.
Intercepting or endeavoring to intercept, as well as disclosing any electronic communication by unauthorized personnel is against Northwest Technology Policies and is subject to University disciplinary action and criminal charges.
Northwest does have the legal right to monitor communications and data whenever University-owned technology resources are used to protect the rights and property of the University and its strategic goals to ensure student success.
While Northwest's Office of Information Technology does not routinely monitor individual accounts, IT employees can perform monitoring in the normal performance of duties related to their employment, as well as when directed to do so by law enforcement or top-level University leadership whenever specific complaints are involved to protect the University and its campus technology users from illegal activities, legal charges or threats to incite or do physical harm.
IT staff duties can include, but are not limited to administration, troubleshooting, maintenance, repair of network online resources and infrastructure including servers, storage devices and all University-owned technology equipment located in offices and labs, as well as those issued to individuals.
Northwest does keep a record of all login attempts, printing jobs/charges, web pages and emails served from Northwest servers for back-up, legal, billing and statistical purposes. Communication to and from privately owned computers connected to the University wired or wireless networks are not excluded from monitoring.
Disclosure of any communications intercepted during performance of the IT employee’s job is strictly prohibited unless directed to do so by top-level University leadership for official University business permissible by law and Northwest Technology Policies and/or local, state and federal law enforcement as permissible by law.
Actively monitoring (beyond the normal performance of duties related to their employment) a single individual or group of individuals by IT staff without official University justification and an official directive by top-level University leadership (which includes the head of the Office of Information Technology) or law enforcement is prohibited and actionable.
Students, faculty or staff not associated with the Office of Information Technology using equipment and/or software to monitor and disclose the electronic communications of others is illegal and against Northwest Technology Policies.
Back to Northwest's Technology & Security Policies > Main Page
Northwest wants its students, staff and faculty to be aware of the importance of adhering to privacy rules and legal statutes to avoid civil and criminal charges and penalties, as well as Northwest disciplinary action.
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Invasion of privacy is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and fines of $5,000. However, if this is your second offense or violation, the charge is elevated to a Class D felony and you face 6 months to 3 years in prison as well as fines reaching $10,000.
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Under US Legal Code, Title 18, section 2511, interception and disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communication are prohibited except if the organization is the provider of electronic communication services. | |
18 U.S.C. United States Code, 2011 Edition Title 18 CRIMES & CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
From the U.S. Government Printing Office |
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§2701. Unlawful access to stored communications(a)
(b)
(c)
(Added Pub. L. 99–508, title II, §201[(a)], Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1860; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), (U), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147, 2148; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §601(a)(3), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498; Pub. L. 107–296, title II, §225(j)(2), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2158.) |
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§2511. Interception and disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communications prohibited(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter any person who—
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(Added Pub. L. 90–351, title III, § 802, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 213; amended Pub. L. 91–358, title II, § 211(a), July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 654; Pub. L. 95–511, title II, § 201(a)–(c), Oct. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 1796, 1797; Pub. L. 98–549, § 6(b)(2), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2804; Pub. L. 99–508, title I, §§ 101(b), (c)(1), (5), (6), (d), (f)[(1)], 102, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1849, 1851–1853; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320901, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2123, 2147; Pub. L. 103–414, title II, §§ 202(b), 204, 205, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4290, 4291; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(42), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3509; Pub. L. 107–56, title II, §§ 204, 217(2), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 281, 291; Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 225(h)(2), (j)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2158; Pub. L. 110–261, title I, §§ 101(c)(1), 102(c)(1), title IV, § 403(b)(2)(C), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2459, 2474.) |
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) affords individuals certain rights as to how their data is used and processed, and may give them rights to access, correct or delete their data. The GDPR may apply to some personal information held by Northwest because, in some circumstances, we engage in activities that collect or process the personal data of individuals residing in the EU, such as EU resident applicants and students, or students studying abroad in the EU.
It is important to note that once you apply to Northwest and/or use Northwest-owned technology equipment, services and online resources you are implicitly agreeing that Northwest has the right to collect and use your data for legitimate Northwest educational, recruitment and reporting reasons.
When we use the term personal information, we mean information that can be used to identify you as an individual person. We collect several categories of personal information through our services, including information you provide, data collected automatically (potentially including location information) and information we obtain from 3rd parties.
We generally use the personal information that we collect to operate and maintain Northwest functions and services.
Northwest relies on individual and overlapping systems to process personal information obtained lawfully through legitimate University internal business and external client services and resources. By way of example only, it may be necessary for Northwest to process personal information in specific ways in order to process a transaction you have requested or otherwise in accordance with a contract between Northwest and you (or other legitimate stakeholders), or in certain cases we may process your personal information as necessary to conduct Northwest's legitimate interests, when those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.
Northwest's collects and uses your information in various ways depending on the relationship between you and Northwest, as well as the specific Northwest function/resource/service with which you interact. The following sub-sections are intended to describe in more detail Northwest's information collection and use practices for a number of these relationships and functions.
Northwest collects personal information for a wide variety of legitimate business and academic purposes. For example, Northwest will collect the information you enter into Northwest-provided form fields for services or requests. As is true of most digital platforms, Northwest will also gather information automatically when you use our online services and resources.
Northwest web sites and online services may collection the following personal information:
What Type? | Why Collect? | Legal Reasoning? |
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Personal/Contact Information - including your name, home address, email address, phone number and social security number. | To respond to inquiries about Northwest and its services/resources and to communicate successfully with faculty, staff, students, alumni, potential employees and students, as well as other stakeholders and legal and education authorities. | Successfully process transactions, record interest and consent to programs and services and requests for information and services, as well as to successfully meet contractual obligations to our faculty, students, staff, stakeholders and other interested parties |
Log files - including IP addresses, browser type, device type, Internet service provider, referring/exit pages, operating system date/time stamp and/or clickstream. | To maintain the security of Northwest equipment, services and online resources for fraud detection and to protect the rights of the University and those who use Northwest resources. | Legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests of Northwest and those Northwest serves. |
Cookies, Analytics & Related Technologies - For details see Northwest's Cookies section. | To manage Northwest services/online resources and email communications and to collect, track and record information about our staff, students, stakeholders and other Northwest-interested parties and their activities online ov er time and across different websites and social media channels like Twitter and Facebook for University marketing purposes. | Legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable. |
Location information - IP address to identify geographic location (and any other location details permissible by law if applicable). | Northwest conducts analytics to expand, improve and/or enhance University services, track user trends, create custom lists and reach out to specific target audiences. Additionally, Northwest collects and connects data from different systems. Note: Northwest does not link IP addresses to any personal information. | Legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable. |
Northwest Admissions and Financial Aid may collection the following personal information:
What Type | Why Collect? | Legal Reasoning? |
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Personal/Contact Information - including your name, home address, email address, phone number and social security number. | To respond to inquiries about Northwest and its programs/services/resources and to communicate successfully with students, potential students and other pertinent University stakeholders about application status, acceptance to Northwest and records issues. | Successfully process transactions, record interest and consent to programs and services and requests for information and services, as well as to successfully meet contractual obligations to our faculty, students, staff, stakeholders and other interested parties. |
Demographics- including race, ethnicity, gender, age and marital status. | To evaluate the application process and provide appropriate information regarding diversity initiatives and engagement opportunities, as well as to successfully respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Education History -including prior schools, transcripts, school activities and disciplinary records. | To evaluate eligibility for admission and participation in certain Northwest courses, as well as successfully respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Testing History - including standardized testing. | To evaluate eligibility for admission to Northwest and participation in certain Northwest courses, as well as to successfully respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Personal History - including interests, extracurricular activities and recommendations. | To evaluate eligibility for admission to Northwest and successfully respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Employment History - including job title, location and work experience | To evaluate eligibility for admission to Northwest and successfully respond to records requests | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Criminal Record - including your self-reported and public record. | To evaluate eligibility for admission to Northwest and successfully respond to records requests | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Financial Information - including tax identification number, wages, scholarships, grants and family support. | To evaluate eligibility for financial aid and to respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Family Financial Information - including family member names, ages, occupations, wages and savings. | To evaluate eligibility for financial aid and to respond to records requests. | To process legitimate (business and educational) and legal interests and transactions of Northwest and those Northwest serves, as well as record consent whenever applicable and to fulfill contractual obligations. |
Once a Bearcat, Always a Bearcat...
Northwest collects and maintains personal information about alumni when it is provided to us. For instance, when an alumni updates his/her alumni profile, connects with Northwest on social media, or registers to attend alumni events. Northwest, Alumni Relations and the Northwest Foundation may also collect personal information from publicly available sources or third party sources that support Northwest.
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