Privacy Policy

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University ("Pepperdine" or "the university") provides this Web site ("site") as a service to students, faculty, alumni, and prospective students. Use of the site is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below in Pepperdine's Privacy Policy ("policy").

Although Pepperdine respects the privacy of this site's users (or "members" or "visitors"), the university collects information from its Web site members and visitors. The Privacy Policy governs users' interaction with the site and users' registration for and use of the site's online services. Except as set forth within this Privacy Policy, the site's Terms of Service agreement, and/or other published guidelines, Pepperdine does not release personally identifiable information about the site's visitors without their permission.

Please note that Pepperdine reviews these privacy practices from time to time, and that these practices are therefore subject to change. Pepperdine asks users to periodically review this page to ensure continuing familiarity with the most current version of the site's Privacy Policy. To contact Pepperdine about privacy issues, to report a violation of the site's Privacy Policy, or to raise any other issue regarding the site, please send an e-mail to webcomm@pepperdine.edu.

The Information Pepperdine Gathers

Pepperdine gathers two types of information about the site's users:

1. Non-personally identifiable information. As users access the site, Pepperdine collects and aggregates information indicating, among other things, which pages were visited, the order in which they were visited, and which hyperlinks were employed. Collecting such information involves the logging of IP addresses, operating system, and browser software used by each visitor. Although such information is not personally identifiable, the university can determine from the IP address a visitor's Internet Service Provider and the geographic location of the user's point of connectivity.

   The non-personally identifiable information collected helps in diagnosing any server problems, administering the site, identifying the most popular areas of the site, and determining the effectiveness of promotional activities.

   For the same purposes, the university uses "cookies" – that is, small text files placed on your computer's hard drive – to help determine the type of content and sites visited, the length of time spent on a particular site, and the usage of services offered via the site. For information on how users can control their Web browser's acceptance of cookies, please refer to the documentation accompanying the browser.

   Pepperdine also uses pixels, or transparent GIF files, to help manage online advertising. These GIF files are provided by our ad management partner, DoubleClick. These files enable DoubleClick to recognize a unique cookie on your Web browser, which in turn enables us to learn which advertisements bring users to our website. The cookie was placed by us, or by another advertiser who works with DoubleClick. With both cookies and Spotlight technology, the information that we collect and share is anonymous and not personally identifiable. It does not contain your name, address, telephone number, or email address. For more information about DoubleClick, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to https://www.google.com/policies/privacy.

2. Personally identifiable information. Certain areas of the site may require that users provide personally identifiable information (including, for example, zip code, age, income, and e-mail address). In addition, when registering to set up an account to use certain services on the site such as e-mail, chat rooms, forums, or to receive newsletters or specifically targeted information ("services"), Pepperdine may require that users provide their name and e-mail address.

   The university does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children (defined herein as minors younger than thirteen years of age) without obtaining parental consent. Before registering for an account to use the services of the site, Pepperdine requests that all minors have their parents read the Privacy Policy and continue their involvement throughout the registration process.

   Pepperdine does not control the acts of this site's members or visitors. All members and visitors should be aware that their disclosure of personally identifiable information in a bulletin board, chat room, guest book, or other forum allows other parties to send them unsolicited e-mail. In the event visitors encounter any user on this site who is improperly collecting or using information provided by the site's members or visitors, please contact webcomm@pepperdine.edu.

How the University Uses/Does Not Use Gathered Information

Please take some time to become familiar with the different ways Pepperdine uses the information gathered. Keep in mind that, while the university encourages all third parties involved to adhere to this site's Privacy Policy and to otherwise handle personal information in a responsible manner, Pepperdine cannot and does not assume any responsibility for any actions or omissions of third parties, including the manner in which they use information received either from the university or independently. Nevertheless, in the event users encounter any third party associated with, or who claims association with Pepperdine, who is improperly collecting or using personal information, please contact webcomm@pepperdine.edu who will forward the message to the third party.

1. Use of non-personally identifiable information. The university uses non-personally identifiable information in aggregate form to build higher quality, more useful online services by performing statistical analyses of the collective characteristics and behavior of the site visitors, and by measuring demographics and interests regarding specific areas of the site.

   The site may contain links to other Internet Web site, including co-branded or other affiliated sites that may or may not be owned or operated by Pepperdine. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the university is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such sites, including such sites' use of any information (such as IP number, browser type, or operating system) collected when visitors to the site click through links to those sites. Even though such information might not identify the user personally, users should be familiar with the privacy practices of those other sites.

2. Use of personally identifiable information. The university provides notice to potential registrants of this site whose personally identifiable information will be collected during the registration process. Such notice is provided simultaneously with the user's registration on this site; moreover, this policy itself serves as notice that such information is collected under those circumstances. Although users may not "opt out" of the registration process and still receive access to the services, users may choose to "opt out" of receiving promotional materials from the university and/or other business partners. If the user does not "opt out" of receiving such promotional materials, Pepperdine reserves the right to release user's personally identifiable registration information to third parties who provide goods or services that the university believes may be of interest to the user. If the user decides to discontinue receiving promotional information from such third parties, please contact those third parties directly, or contact Pepperdine at webcomm@pepperdine.edu.

   Pepperdine limits its own e-mail contact and solicitations to those users who have not "opted out" of receiving such communications. The solicitations are limited in that they, among other things, will clearly indicate the originator of the e-mail and provide the user with a method of "opting out" of receiving future communications of a similar nature.

   Finally, Pepperdine may use individual members' data to "pre-populate" forms, which are displayed for the purpose of collecting individual data by the university. In no case does pre-populating a form transfer any data to any third party. Only if the user voluntarily requests that such data be transferred will any transfer take place – for example, if/when a user clicks a "submit form" button or other button.

   Pepperdine reserves the right to release any and all information contained within access logs concerning any visitor when that visitor is in violation of the university's "Terms of Service" agreement or other published guidelines, or partakes (or is reasonably suspected of partaking) in any illegal activity, even without a subpoena, warrant, or other court order, and to release such information in response to discovery requests, or in response to any circumstance in which the university, in its sole discretion, deems an emergency. Pepperdine cooperates with law enforcement agencies in identifying those who may be using its servers or services for illegal activities. Pepperdine also reserves the right to report any suspected illegal activity to law enforcement for investigation or prosecution.

   Pepperdine will post the relevant privacy information in the official rules and/or registration area for any promotions it sponsors. That privacy information, to the extent it conflicts with this Privacy Policy, will govern that particular promotion.

SMS/Text Messaging Terms and Conditions

Short Message Service (SMS) and WhatsApp text messages are methods of digital communication that Pepperdine may utilize to contact the University community, particularly to prospective students associated with the Graziadio Business School, Caruso School of Law, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and the School of Public Policy. 

Pepperdine adheres to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Messaging Costs

Those who opt in to receive SMS and WhatsApp text messages acknowledge responsibility for any carrier fees, including data plan charges, messaging charges, toll fees, out-of-area roaming, and other charges. 

Opt In

Prospective students will be able to opt in to receiving SMS and WhatsApp text messages via request for information, event registrations, and email campaign forms. 

Opt Out

Prospective students who choose not to receive SMS and WhatsApp text messages can reply to the delivered message with STOP, CANCEL, OPT OUT, or QUIT to opt out.

Security

All information gathered on the site is stored within a controlled database accessible only to the university to protect the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under its control. However, as effective as any security measure implemented by the university may be, no security system is impenetrable. Pepperdine cannot guarantee the security of its database, nor can it guarantee that the information supplied by users will not be intercepted while being transmitted over the Internet. Questions regarding this Privacy Policy should be directed to webcomm@pepperdine.edu.

Your Rights

Where authorized and subject to all applicable laws, you may have the right to request access to, a copy of, rectification, restriction in the use of, or erasure of your information. You also have the right to withdraw consent to the use of your information, without affecting the legitimacy of the University's use of the information prior to receipt of your request.

If users would like to have personally identifiable information changed or removed from Pepperdine’s database, please contact webcomm@pepperdine.edu. Keep in mind that there will be residual information remaining within the databases, access logs, and other records, which may or may not contain such personally identifiable information. The residual information will not be used for commercial purposes; however, the university reserves the right, from time to time, to re-contact former customers or users of this site if lawful.

Information collected in the European Union will be transferred out of the European Union to the University. If you believe that the University has not complied with applicable foreign laws regulating such data or data transfers, you have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate authorities.

Updates to this Policy

We may update or change this policy at any time. Your continued use of this site after any such change indicates your acceptance of such changes.

Questions?

Questions regarding the Privacy Policy should be directed to the university at webcomm@pepperdine.edu.

Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263