Information Usage
The Independent College website uses any information voluntarily provided by our users to enhance their experience in our network of sites, whether to provide interactive or personalised elements on the sites or to better prepare future content based on the interests of our users.
Where information is given voluntarily for the specific purpose, the information is used in order to send out electronic communications and to enable users to participate in polls, surveys and forums. We may send out communications to subscribers on a regular schedule (depending on the communication), and occasionally send out special editions when we think subscribers might be particularly interested in something we are doing.
Independent College never shares newsletter mailing lists with any third parties, including advertisers, sponsors or partners.
The Independent College website tracks information. We track how well each page performs overall. We use tracking information to determine which areas of our site users like and don’t like based on traffic to those areas. This helps us continue to build a better service for users. We track search terms entered in the ‘Search’ function to measure subjects and content that interest our users. The website creates aggregate reports on user demographics and traffic patterns. This allows our users to receive information that is pertinent to their needs. We will not disclose any information about any individual user except to comply with applicable law or valid legal process, or to protect the personal safety of our users and the public.
This website uses the above described information to tailor our content to suit user needs and help us better understand user demographics.
We will not share information about individual users with any third party, except to comply with applicable law or valid legal process, or to protect the personal safety of our users or the public.
Security
This website operates secure data networks protected by industry standard firewall and password protection systems. Our security and privacy policies are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary, and only authorised individuals have access to the information provided by our customers.
Our privacy policy is available here.
Cookies
The Independent College website, like most websites, uses cookies. A cookie is a file that is stored on a web user’s device by a website server, and is only readable by that web server. A cookie contains anonymous information including identifier details and the site name.
Cookies are intended to help improve the user experience. Cookies store a user’s preferences, allowing a website to remember the user for the duration of the visit to the website or for future visits.
There are different types of cookies, and blocking some may negatively impact on the website user’s experience.
Please be aware that restricting cookies from a website may impact the functionality of a website. Many of the interactive functions offered by a website are dependent on cookies, and disabling or blocking cookies can prevent these services from working or result in an inferior web experience.
How we use collected information
Independent College may collect and use personal user information for the following purposes:
• Session cookies are used to improve the user experience during the visit to the website. These cookies expire when the web browser is closed and no information is retained by the web server.
• Persistent cookies collect data about a user’s actions and preferences, and uses this information to inform future actions.
• First-party cookies are applied directly by the website owner and are not accessible by any other website.
• Third-party cookies are cookies from a different website that have been permitted for use on this website. These cookies allow the third-party website to record user actions on this website.
Managing Cookies
With the exception of those cookies which are essential for website functioning, users can accept or decline cookies. A user can set their cookie preferences in their own browser. This allows a user to accept or decline cookies. Declining cookies can prevent a user from benefitting in full from the website. Each web browser uses different methods for cookies management. Users should consult guidance from the web browser manufacturer to establish the steps for setting cookies preferences.
Information can be obtained from http://www.aboutcookies.org