Website Privacy Policy

Your privacy concerns matter to us. This privacy statement explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit Florida Southern’s website or interact with our digital tools. While we follow all applicable privacy laws, our approach goes beyond compliance; we aim to treat your data with care and respect, regardless of your location.

At Florida Southern College, we collect personal information in various ways to better serve you throughout your relationship with the College. You may provide information directly by completing an inquiry form, registering for a visit or event, applying, or communicating with us via email, phone, or text. This includes submitting documents related to financial aid, housing, student health, or immigration.

We also collect information when you apply for jobs, internships, or volunteer roles at the College, as well as when you engage with us on social media, participate in College-sponsored programs, or appear in photographs and video recordings related to our communications and outreach efforts.

In some cases, we receive information from third parties, such as standardized testing services, guidance counselors, prior schools, partner organizations, or marketing platforms to which you've opted in. These sources help us personalize your experience and keep you informed about opportunities that match your interests.

You have certain rights related to your personal information. These include:

• Accessing the personal data we've collected about you
• Correcting any errors or outdated information
• Requesting that we delete your personal data (when allowed by law)
• Choosing not to have your data shared for certain types of advertising
• Asking us to limit how we use sensitive information

We also honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals from supported browsers. If you wish to opt-out, see the Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information section below.

You may want to manage how your online activity is tracked. While we use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your website experience and gain a better understanding of how visitors interact with our content, you have several options to limit this type of tracking.

Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to block or delete cookies through your settings. You can use these tools to limit the collection of data from your browsing activity. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain features or functions of our website, such as form autofill or personalized content.

Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers support a Do Not Track (DNT) signal that you can enable to request that websites not track your activity. While Florida Southern does not currently respond to DNT signals, due to the lack of an industry standard, we are monitoring developments and remain committed to supporting user privacy as protocols evolve.

Third-Party Links

Our website may include links to third-party websites not operated by Florida Southern College. These external sites have their own privacy practices and policies, which may differ from ours. We encourage you to review the privacy statements on any site you visit to understand how your data is collected and used.

Like most modern websites, our site uses certain technologies to understand better how visitors use our pages and to help us improve your experience. Third parties provide some of these tools and may collect limited information about your device or activity on our site.

Ad Blocker Detection

We do not use ad blocker detection software. However, ad blockers may occasionally interfere with the functionality of tools embedded on our site (such as forms). If that happens, we'll always offer another way to get in touch.

Browser Fingerprinting

We do not use browser fingerprinting or other methods designed to identify your device uniquely. Our analytics tools collect anonymized, aggregated information that helps us understand general usage patterns, not individual usage. For example, what percentage of users are using mobile or desktop.

Keystroke Logging

We do not record what you type or track your keystrokes in any form. Submitted searches are anonymously saved to better understand what keywords are being commonly searched on the site.

Session Recording

We do not use software that records individual browsing sessions or replays your activity on our site. Browsing behavior is tracked exclusively in aggregate to produce heatmaps and general user trends. We do not track the specific actions of any one user.

We collect and use information to enhance your experience with Florida Southern, making it more useful, supportive, and efficient. In most cases, the information we gather is anonymous. When it's not, we take care to protect it.

We may use your information to:

• Understand how our website is used and make improvements
• Share information with you about our programs and events
• Support our recruitment and enrollment processes
• Connect your interactions with information you've voluntarily shared with us (like an event registration or application)
• Offer personalized digital advertising through trusted partners, such as Google or Meta.

We do not use automated decision-making or behavioral profiling to determine eligibility for admission, scholarships, or services.

We do not sell your personal information for money. However, specific digital advertising tools we use, such as Meta Pixel, Google Ads, and Technolutions Slate, a third-party CRM platform, might qualify as "sharing" under privacy laws in states like California. We use these tools to provide you with more relevant content, not to track or resell your data.

We do not share your personal information with data brokers or unknown third parties. We only share data with trusted service providers who help us fulfill our mission and improve your experience.

We use tools such as Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, and SiteImprove to understand how users interact with our website and to help us share information about Florida Southern in ways that are more relevant and helpful.

These tools may inlcude:

• Cookies or pixel tags to remember that you visited our sit
• Anonymous data about your visit (such as which pages you clicked on)
• General browser or device details

Our email communications may include tracking pixels that tell us whether a message was opened or a link was clicked. This information helps us understand what content is most helpful and tailor future messages accordingly.

Cookie and tracking consent is managed through CookieBot. You can also control how cookies are handled through your web browser settings. Learn more about opting out of Google Analytics. (https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/google-analytics-opt-out/)

We use videos hosted by platforms like YouTube and Vimeo to help tell our story. These videos are publicly accessible and do not require users to log in to view them. We:

• Do not track or log your video viewing behavior in a way that links it to your identity
• Do not share viewing data with third parties in a manner governed by the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA).

If our use of video tools changes in the future (e.g., if we enable login-based access or detailed tracking), we will update this policy and ensure compliance with the law.

Florida Southern College collects limited health-related information from students, such as immunization records, as part of the enrollment process. These records are submitted via a secure third-party platform, MedProctor. They are shared only with our Student Health Services, which are operated under contract by Lakeland Regional Health, a HIPAA-covered provider.

While Florida Southern does not use this information for marketing, profiling, or behavioral targeting, the collection and sharing of this data may fall under the definition of “consumer health data” under laws such as the Washington My Health My Data Act (MHMDA) and Nevada SB 370.

How We Protect Your Health Information

• Health information is collected solely to meet immunization requirements and support wellness protocols.
• Data is transmitted through secure systems and shared only with licensed healthcare professionals for direct service purposes.
• We do not sell consumer health data or use it for advertising, behavioral profiling, or commercial purposes.
• We do not infer health status for marketing or target users based on health-related behavior.

Biometric, Genetic, and Other Sensitive Data

We do not collect, store, or process any biometric data as defined under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) or similar laws. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial recognition scans, or voiceprints
• Genetic information, including DNA profiles or family medical history
• Protected Health Information (PHI) through our website or non-HIPAA systems

If students or users voluntarily disclose health-related details (such as through Title IX reports or accommodation requests), those submissions:

• Are handled following internal confidentiality protocols
• Are not used for diagnostic, insurance, or marketing purposes
• They are not processed through HIPAA-regulated systems unless explicitly stated

FSC’s website is designed for prospective college students, families, educators, and adult audiences—not for children under 13 (U.S./Canada) or 16 (EU/EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the specified age.

If we become aware that a child has provided personal information without parental consent, we will promptly delete it. Parents or guardians who believe their child has submitted information may contact us directly.

We retain your data for as long as necessary to support your relationship with Florida Southern or to comply with our legal obligations. When we no longer need your information, we securely delete or de-identify it.

We take the security of your data seriously. Florida Southern College uses a combination of technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your information and review vulnerabilities through external risk assessments.

While no system is 100% secure, we are committed to identifying and addressing issues quickly and transparently.

As technology, privacy standards, and legal requirements evolve, we reserve the right to update this privacy policy to reflect new practices or clarify existing ones. When we do, we’ll revise the effective date and publish the updated version on this page.

If you wish to opt out of the sharing of your personal information, including data used for digital outreach or marketing, you may contact us at any time. We will honor your request in accordance with applicable laws and update your preferences promptly. Please note that opting out may reduce the personalization of content or limit your access to certain digital communications and services.

To opt out, please contact:
Email: fscadm@flsouthern.edu
Call: 863.680.4131

We may need to verify your identity before completing your request, as required by law.

For questions about your privacy, to request your data, or to report a concern, please contact us at fscadm@flsouthern.edu.

Effective date: August 11, 2025