Privacy Policy

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (“HGSE”) is committed to respecting the privacy of users who access the Reach Every Reader website (the “Site,” which will include all pages within the http://gse.harvard.edu/reach-every-reader/ directory).  This policy will tell you (1) what information is collected when you visit our site or send us an email, and (2) how that information is used.

INFORMATION YOU VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE

Our Contact Us page contains a form you may complete in order to communicate with us and/or to subscribe to the Reach Every Reader newsletter.  The form calls for you to enter your first name, last name and email and to provide additional information about the capacity in which you are writing (for example, as “Parent or Caregiver”).  We will only record this information if you send us a message or ask to subscribe to the Reach Every Reader newsletter.

We will only use this information, including your email address, for the purpose for which you have provided it — i.e., to respond to a message from you, send you the newsletter, or communicate with you about your subscription.  You may change your email settings at any time to subscribe or unsubscribe to these mailings.

INFORMATION COLLECTED WHEN YOU VISIT THE SITE

Web Server Logs.  When you visit the Site, our web hosting vendor’s web server may record certain information in its server log, such as your IP address, your device type, any unique device identification numbers, browser types, information about your broad geographic location (for example, country- or city-level location).  For more information about what information our vendor, DreamHost, collects and how it uses this information, please consult DreamHost’s Privacy Policy.

Google Analytics.  HGSE uses Google Analytics software to perform site usage analytics.  Google Analytics collects anonymous information from users to help HGSE track Site usage and referrals from other websites.  These data are used primarily to optimize the website experience for our visitors, but we may use the data as well to assist us in our marketing of the Site.

Information collected and processed by Google Analytics includes the user’s IP address, network location, and geographic location.  Google Analytics acquires all its information directly from the user, by installing a cookie (see below) on JavaScript-enabled computers.  The Site does not share any information it collects with Google, and Google does not collect any personal identifying information such as names, contact information, social security numbers or financial information.

For more information on Google Analytics, consult its terms of use, privacy practices, and ads settings.  You can opt out of the collection and use of this information through tools like the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

Cookies.  Cookies are unique bits of computer data that many major websites will transfer to your computer the first time that you visit.  Cookies are stored on your hard drive and may be later accessed by the website to track prior usage.  As noted above, Google Analytics will install a cookie on the hard drives of Site visitors.  You may disable cookies through your individual browser options.

Salesforce.  HGSE contracts with Salesforce to assist with email delivery of newsletters and other mailings arising from your use of the Site.

Salesforce is prohibited from using or sharing Site user information for any purpose other than facilitating communications on behalf of the Site.

DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES

We will not sell, lend, or disclose to third parties any information collected from visitors, except as disclosed in this Policy or in the event we are required by law to do so.  We may disclose information to employees, consultants and agents who have a legitimate need to know the information for the purpose of fixing or improving the Site and monitoring and improving the security of our network.  We also reserve the right to disclose this information when special circumstances call for it, such as when disclosure is required by law or court order or when disclosure is, in our sole discretion, necessary to protect our legal rights, including intellectual property rights.

OTHER WEBSITES

This Site may contain links to other web resources, including websites of organizations other than HGSE or Harvard University.  The websites to which the Site links may also collect user-identifying information directly from you once you proceed to browse those sites.  We are not responsible for the privacy policies of other sites or businesses to which the Site provides links.  Please visit the relevant sites to review their privacy policies.

DATA SECURITY

We have in place physical, electronic and managerial procedures to protect the information we collect online.  However, as effective as these measures are, no security system is impenetrable.  We cannot completely guarantee the security of our database, nor can we guarantee that the information you supply will not be intercepted while being transmitted to us over the Internet.

NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO PRIVACY POLICY

We will review our security measures and Privacy Policy on a periodic basis, and we may modify our policies as appropriate.  We may also change or update our Privacy Policy if we add new services or features.  If any changes are made, we will make appropriate amendments to this policy and post them at the Site.  We encourage you to review our Privacy Policy on a regular basis.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this Site, or your dealings with this Site, you can contact Amanda Taylor at amanda_taylor@gse.harvard.edu.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Privacy Policy is in effect as of Friday, March 13, 2020.