Introduction
Thank you for visiting the website or using the mobile apps of the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED). Consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this policy describes NMHED's privacy practices regarding information collected from users of this website or app, what data is collected, and how that information is used. Please note that NMHED may, at its sole discretion, change modify, add, or delete portions of this policy. This privacy policy only applies to this website or app so you should examine the privacy policy of any app or website that you access through this app or website.
For purposes of this policy, “personal information” means any information concerning a natural person which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person. NMHED does not collect any personal information about you unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending us an e-mail or by initiating an online transaction with us such as completing a survey, registration or other form.
Information Collected Automatically When You Visit the NMHED Website
When you visit this website, NMHED automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:
The Internet Protocol address and domain name of your Internet service provider. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer, which can be used to direct internet traffic to you;
The type of browser and operating system you used;
The date and time you visited this site;
The webpages or services you accessed at this site;
The URL or website address of the web site you visited prior to coming to this website and from which any webpage on this site was linked; and
If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.
None of this information is deemed to constitute personal information. The information that is collected automatically is used to improve the website's content, to help NMHED understand how users interact with the website, and to help make the site more user-friendly. It is also used for statistical analysis to determine what information is of most and of least interest to our visitors, and to identify system performance or problem areas. The information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and NMHED does not sell or distribute the information collected from the website for commercial marketing purposes.
Cookies
Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of the NMHED website. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites. In order to better serve you, we may use "temporary" cookies to enhance, customize or enable your visit to this web site. Temporary cookies do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security and are erased during the operation of your browser or when your browser is closed. NMHED does not use “persistent” cookies on this site. Persistent cookies are stored on a user’s computer hard drive to allow the website to recognize the user the next time the user visits the site and tailor the information presented to the user’s interests. The software you use to access the website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies.
Information Collected When You Email or Initiate an Online Transaction through the NMHED Website
If during your visit to the NMHED website you send an email to NMHED, your email address and the contents of your email will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with the public record retention provisions in the State Public Records Act. Your email address and the information contained in your email will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to further improve this website, or to forward your email to another agency for appropriate action. Your email address is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and NMHED does not sell or distribute your email address for commercial marketing purposes.
If you initiate a transaction such as completing a survey, registration or other form while on this website, the information, including personal information, volunteered by you in initiating the transaction is used by NMHED to operate NMHED programs, which include the provision of goods, services and information. The information collected by NMHED may be disclosed by NMHED for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from the nature and terms of the transaction in connection with which the information was submitted by you.
Payment Card Information
If you initiate a payment card transaction through an online application on this website, NMHED provides a data entry screen that securely transmits your data directly to a third-party Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant payment card service provider. NMHED does not receive or retain any of your personal information, payment card or account information. The payment card service provider transmits only a successful or unsuccessful confirmation message back to NMHED so that NMHED can properly complete the transaction. For more information about PCI compliance, visit the PCI Security Standards Council website.
General Information about Student Online Privacy
NMHED does not knowingly collect personal information from students or create profiles of students through the NMHED mobile apps or website. Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information provided by any individual in an email or through an online transaction will be treated the same as information given by any adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or State law, be subject to public access. NMHED encourages parents and teachers to be involved in students’ Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever students are asked to provide personal information on-line.
NMHED is committed to promoting sound information practices and policies that will ensure the security and privacy of student data.
Information and Choice
NMHED does not collect any personal information about you during your visit to this website unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or initiating an online transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. You may choose not to send us an e-mail, respond to a survey or complete an order form. While your choice not to participate in these activities may limit your ability to receive specific services or products through this website, it will not prevent you from requesting services or products from NMHED by other means such as by regular mail or telephone, and will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the website, including browsing or downloading most publicly available information.
Disclosure of Information Collected Through The NMHED Apps or Website
The collection of information through the NMHED mobile apps or website and the disclosure of that information are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act. NMHED will only collect personal information through said apps or website, or disclose such personal information, if the user has consented to the collection and disclosure of such personal information. The voluntary disclosure of personal information to NMHED by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by NMHED for the purposes for which the user disclosed the information to NMHED, as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the disclosure.
Retention of Information Collected Through The NMHED Apps or Website
The information collected through the NMHED mobile apps or website is retained by NMHED in accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements of the New Mexico State Public Records Act. Information, including personal information that you submit in an e-mail or when you initiate an online transaction such as a survey, registration form, or order form is retained in accordance with the records retention and disposition schedule established for the records of the program unit to which you submitted the information.
Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through The NMHED Apps or Website
NMHED limits employee access to personal information collected through the NMHED mobile apps or website to only those employees who need access to the information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information are required to follow appropriate procedures in connection with any disclosures of personal information.
In addition, NMHED has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing and encryption. These security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this website as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in this policy should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the NMHED mobile apps or website. For site security purposes and to ensure that the NMHED website remains available to all users, NMHED employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to its website.
Links Disclaimer
In order to provide visitors with certain information, the NMHED mobile apps or website provides links to local, State and federal government agencies, and websites of other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of that website. Once you link to another website from the NMHED mobile apps or website, including one maintained by the State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website including, but not limited to, its privacy policy.
Information Disclaimer
Information provided on the NMHED mobile apps or website is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current, and reliable information, NMHED recognizes the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, NMHED, its employees, officers and agents make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided by the NMHED mobile apps or website, and deny any expressed or implied warranty as to the same.
(Updated December 19, 2019)