Privacy Policy.
dec.edu/privacy-policy · Last updated: June 2026
Introduction
Information We Collect
DEC may collect personal information you voluntarily provide, information generated through your interactions with the site, and technical information collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies.
Information you provide: Names, email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, program interests, educational background, intended start dates, scheduling preferences, and other information you submit through inquiry, application, campus visit, open house, or scheduling forms. Information you provide when communicating with DEC by email, phone, text message, social media, or other channels, including messages, questions, and appointment details. If DEC uses scheduling tools, booking details submitted through those tools may also be collected.
Information collected automatically: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, approximate location derived from IP, referral source, and similar technical data. Pages visited, links clicked, time spent on site, session data, and other usage information collected through tools such as Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics. Cookie, tag, and pixel data used for analytics, advertising attribution, and audience measurement, including data collected through Meta (Facebook) Pixel or similar technologies where implemented.
How We Use Your Information
DEC uses personal information for legitimate educational, administrative, operational, and marketing purposes related to recruitment, admissions, student support, website management, and legal compliance.
To respond to inquiries, requests for information, event registrations, and applications, and to communicate with you about the programs or services you have expressed interest in. To send program information, admissions updates, appointment reminders, school communications, and other materials you have requested or that relate to your relationship with DEC, subject to your communication preferences and applicable law. To operate, analyze, maintain, troubleshoot, secure, and improve the website, digital experiences, communications, and recruitment efforts. To comply with legal, regulatory, accreditation, recordkeeping, and institutional obligations, and to protect the rights, property, safety, and security of DEC and others.
DEC does not sell student or prospect personal information to third parties.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
DEC uses cookies, tags, pixels, and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, understand how visitors use the site, measure performance, and support marketing attribution. These technologies may be placed by DEC or by service providers acting on DEC’s behalf. You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings and, where available, any cookie preference tools presented on the site; disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Google Tag Manager — used to deploy and manage analytics and marketing tags on DEC web pages. Google Analytics — used to understand website traffic, user engagement, and website performance in the aggregate. Meta (Facebook) Pixel — used to measure ad performance, attribution, and remarketing audiences where enabled.
Users may also review advertising or analytics opt-out tools offered by certain providers, such as Google and Meta, in addition to browser-based cookie controls.
Third-Party Services
DEC uses select third-party service providers to support website analytics, marketing, communications, scheduling, and student support resources. These providers may collect or process information in accordance with their own privacy notices and DEC’s instructions, where applicable. Users should review the privacy practices of those providers:
Google Tag Manager / Google Analytics — policies.google.com/privacy
Meta (Facebook) Pixel — facebook.com/privacy/policy/
BetterHelp — betterhelp.com/privacy/
Calendly — calendly.com/privacy
Conext (CRM) — engage.careerconext.com/privacy
Anthology Student (SIS) — ellucian.com/privacy
Canvas (LMS) — instructure.com/policies/product-privacy-policy
Global Financial Aid Services — globalfas.com/privacy-policy/
DEC also uses student-information, enrollment-management, payment, or learning-platform vendors in the ordinary course of operations. When such vendors process personal information on DEC’s behalf, DEC expects them to do so only for authorized institutional purposes and in accordance with applicable law and contractual obligations.
FERPA Notice
For enrolled students, and for applicant/admissions records that become part of an education record as defined by law, DEC complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA generally gives eligible students the right to inspect and review their education records, request amendment of records they believe are inaccurate or misleading, consent to most disclosures of personally identifiable information from education records, and file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged FERPA violations.
DEC may disclose education records without prior written consent in circumstances permitted by law, including to school officials with legitimate educational interests. Additional information is available at dec.edu/consumerinfo and dec.edu/catalog.
Data Retention and Security
DEC retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, provide requested services, maintain institutional and business records, comply with legal, accreditation, financial-aid, and other record-retention obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and whether the information is part of a student’s education record.
DEC uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Access is limited to employees, school officials, and service providers who require the information to perform authorized institutional functions and who are subject to appropriate confidentiality and security obligations. No method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and DEC cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may request access to the personal information DEC maintains about you in connection with this website, request correction or updating of inaccurate information, and request deletion of personal information when retention is no longer necessary or otherwise required by law.
Some information may be exempt from deletion or correction requests, including records DEC must retain for legal, accreditation, financial aid, educational-record, security, or other legitimate institutional purposes. To make a privacy-related request, please contact DEC using the information below. DEC may need to verify your identity before processing a request.
Contact
Privacy Requests · Douglas Education Center
dec@dec.edu · 1-800-413-6013
130 Seventh Street, Monessen, PA 15062