Internet Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting the MVCC web site. This web site is designed to make it easier and more efficient for people to interact with MVCC. MVCC recognizes that it is critical people to be confident that their privacy is protected when they visit MVCC's web site.

Consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law, Personal Privacy Protection Law, and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act this policy describes MVCC's privacy practices regarding information collected from user s of this web site. This policy describes what information is collected and how that information is used. Because this privacy policy only applies to this web site, you should examine the privacy policy of any web site, including other state agency web sites, that you access using this web site.

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.

MVCC does not collect any personal information about you unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail, responding to a survey, or completing an online transaction.

Information Collected Automatically When You Visit this web site.

When visiting this web site. MVCC automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:

User client hostname. The hostname or Internet Protocol address of the user requesting access to a state agency web site.
HTTP header, "user agent." The user agent information includes the type of browser, its version, and the operating system on which that the browser is running.
HTTP header, "referrer." The referrer specifies the web page from which the user accessed the current web page.
System date. The date and time of the user's request.
Full request. The exact request the user made.
Status. The status code the server returned to the user.
Content length. The content length, in bytes, of any document sent to the user.
Method. The request method used.
Universal Resource Identifier (URI). The location of a resource on the server.
Query string of the URI. Anything after the question mark in a URI.
Protocol. The transport protocol and the version used.

None of the foregoing information is deemed to constitute personal information.

The information that is collected automatically is used to improve this web site.'s content and to help MVCC understand how users are interacting with the web site. This information is collected for statistical analysis, to determine what information is of most and least interest to our users, and to improve the utility of the material available on the web site. The information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and MVCC is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose the information collected from the web site. for commercial marketing purposes.

Cookies

Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this web site. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet web sites. To better serve you, we occasionally use "session cookies" to enhance or customize your visit to this web site. Session cookies can be created automatically on the device you use to access this state agency web site. do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device you use to access this web site. A session cookie is erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.

If you wish, you may complete a registration to personalize this web site. and permit a "persistent cookie" to be stored on your computer's hard drive. This persistent cookie will allow the web site. to recognize you when you visit again and tailor the information presented to you based on your needs and interests. MVCC uses persistent cookies only with your permission.

The software and hardware you use to access the web site. allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your ability to take advantage of some features of this web site.

Information Collected When You E-mail this web site. or Complete a Transaction

During your visit to this web site. you may send an e-mail to MVCC. Your e-mail address and the contents of your message will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in the message. Your e-mail address and the information included in your message will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to improve this web site., or to forward your message to another State agency for appropriate action. Your e-mail address is not collected for commercial purposes and MVCC is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.

During your visit to this web site. you may complete a transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. The information, including personal information, volunteered by you in completing the transaction is used by MVCC to operate MVCC programs, which include the provision of goods, services, and information. The information collected by MVCC may be disclosed by MVCC for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from the nature and terms of the transaction in which the information was submitted.

MVCC does not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles of children through this web site.Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information submitted in an e-mail will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or State law, be subject to public access. The Agency strongly encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children's Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide personal information online.

Information and Choice

As noted above, MVCC does not collect any personal information about you unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail, responding to a survey, or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to send us an e-mail, respond to a survey, or complete an online form. While your choice not to participate in these activities may limit your ability to receive specific services or products through this web site., it will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the web site., including browsing or downloading information.

Disclosure of Information Collected Through This web site.

The collection of information through this web site. and the disclosure of that information are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act. MVCC will only collect personal information through this web site. or disclose personal information collected through this web site. if the user has consented to the collection or disclosure of such personal information. The voluntary disclosure of personal information to MVCC by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by MVCC for the purposes for which the user disclosed the information to MVCC, as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the disclosure.

However, MVCC may collect or disclose personal information without consent if the collection or disclosure is:

Necessary to perform the statutory duties of MVCC, or necessary for MVCC to operate a program authorized by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation;
Made pursuant to a court order or by law;
For the purpose of validating the identity of the user; or
Information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person.

Further, the disclosure of information, including personal information, collected through this web site. is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.

MVCC may disclose personal information to federal or state law enforcement authorities to enforce its rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to MVCC's information technology assets.

Retention of Information Collected Through this web site.

The information collected through this web site. is retained by MVCC in accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements of the New York State Arts & Cultural Affairs Law. Information on the requirements of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law may be found at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml. In general, the Internet services logs of MVCC, comprising electronic files or automated logs created to monitor access and use of Agency services provided through this web site., are retained for 3 years and then destroyed. Information, including personal information, that you submit in an e-mail or when you complete 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. Information concerning these records retention and disposition schedules may be obtained through the Internet privacy policy contact listed in this policy.

Access to and Correction of Personal Information Collected Through this web site.

Any user may submit a request to MVCC privacy compliance officer to determine whether personal information pertaining to that user has been collected through this web site. Any such request shall be made in writing and must be accompanied by reasonable proof of identity of the user. Reasonable proof of identity may include verification of a signature, inclusion of an identifier generally known only to the user, or similar appropriate identification. The address of the privacy compliance officer is:

Paul Graziadei
1101 Sherman Drive
Utica, NY 13501

The privacy compliance officer shall, within five (5) business days of the receipt of a proper request, provide access to the personal information; deny access in writing, explaining the reasons therefore; or acknowledge the receipt of the request in writing, stating the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied, which date shall not be more than thirty (30) days from the date of the acknowledgment.

In the event that MVCC has collected personal information pertaining to a user through the state agency web site. and that information is to be provided to the user pursuant to the user's request, the privacy compliance officer shall inform the user of his or her right to request that the personal information be amended or corrected under the procedures set forth in section 95 of the Public Officers Law.

Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through this web site.

MVCC is strongly committed to protecting personal information collected through this web site. against unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Consequently, MVCC limits employee access to personal information collected through this web site. to only those employees who need access to the information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information follow appropriate procedures in connection with any disclosures of personal information.

In addition, MVCC has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this web site. as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.

For web site. security purposes and to maintain the availability of the web site. for all users, the Agency employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage this web site.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this privacy policy should not be construed as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided through this web site.

Contact Information

For questions regarding this Internet privacy policy, please contact: