Privacy Policies

Wellesley College Privacy Notice

Wellesley College is committed to respecting the privacy of information and data that may be used to identify you (your “personal information”). This Privacy Notice describes our policies and practices regarding the most common ways we collect, use, disclose, or otherwise process your personal information. In certain circumstances, we may provide you with supplemental disclosures regarding our data processing activities.

Information We Collect and How We Use Your Personal Information

Applicants and Prospective Students

Personal Information We Collect

Wellesley College collects and uses personal information about applicants and other prospective students, including students interested in our summer programs (referred to collectively as “applicants”). If you are or have been an applicant, we may collect and use the following types of personal information about you:

  • Information and supporting documentation that you provide in your application, including through third parties, such as The Common Application, The Coalition Application, or Questbridge
  • Related application materials (e.g., recommendations, references, and test scores)
  • Information that you have permitted a third party, such as The College Board, to release (e.g., AP or PSAT scores, demographic information, family information, academic information)
  • Contact information for prospective students that we receive from other institutions and from vendors who conduct advertising activities for us
  • Financial information, including financial information about your family members (e.g., information collected in connection with applications for financial aid, loans, and scholarships)
  • Survey responses (if you choose to respond to a survey sent by us or on our behalf)

How We Use Your Personal Information

Your personal information is used primarily to evaluate your application and related activities, such as evaluating requests for financial aid, communicating with you about your application, and other administrative functions related to the admissions and enrollment process. We may also use or disclose your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To consider requests for accommodations
  • For research and statistical purposes
  • To provide you with information about Wellesley College and events that you might be interested in attending
  • To send surveys for research purposes
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of Wellesley College's property, website, and other systems
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over Wellesley College, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors 

How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with the following individuals and entities:

  • Individuals who assist in the application process, such as faculty and outside consultants
  • Other departments within Wellesley College, including our fundraising offices
  • Your financial institutions and funders (e.g., as necessary for obtaining loans, scholarships, or other funding)
  • Other educational institutions (e.g., in order to send you information about jointly hosted informational events)
  • Vendors who provide services to Wellesley College
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over Wellesley College, such as accreditation organizations

Legal Basis for Processing (for personal information subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”))

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as conducting our admissions activities
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as processing your application for admission
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Students, Faculty, and Staff

Personal Information We Collect

When you are a student at Wellesley College, or a member or prospective member of the faculty and staff, we maintain records containing your personal information. We may collect and use the following types of personal information about you, as applicable:

  • Your contact information and biographical data (e.g., name, address, date of birth, race, ethnicity, family information)
  • Application materials and supporting documents (e.g., applications for admission or employment)
  • Copies of identification documents and other official documents (e.g. driver’s license, I-9 form, passport/visa information)
  • Employment and/or educational records (e.g., job history, job reviews, transcript information)
  • Academic work product and related information (e.g., research and course-related content)
  • Records about your other activities (e.g., involvement in clubs, disciplinary actions and similar incidents)
  • Financial information (e.g., payroll information, information related to tuition payments)
  • Health information (Most health information about students is stored in the records of Wellesley College Health Service for the purpose of providing you with health care services, although some is stored in other locations, such as in our Accessibility and Disability Resources Office. Please refer to the Wellesley College Health Service Notice of Privacy Practices for additional information regarding the use and disclosure of health information in connection with the Wellesley College Health Service.)
  • Information about technology usage (e.g., IP addresses, software downloads)

How We Use Your Personal Information

We use this information for the following purposes as applicable:

  • To provide educational, employment and/or related services (e.g., maintaining relevant records of your studies or employment, providing you with access to facilities and support services, such as counseling and IT services)
  • To administer the financial aspects of the relationship (e.g., payroll, collecting tuition, coordinating with lenders or other funders)
  • To enable your participation at events and in other opportunities (e.g., graduation, study abroad programs, internships)
  • To protect the educational integrity of the school (e.g. disciplinary actions)
  • To accommodate special needs (e.g., disability accommodations)
  • For research and statistical purposes related to our educational and/or other services
  • To provide basic contact information in student, faculty, and/or staff directories
  • For the general operations of Wellesley College and related administrative functions
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of Wellesley College’s property, website, and other systems.
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over Wellesley college, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

How We Share Your Personal Information

We may share your personal information with the following:

  • Faculty and staff at Wellesley College in order to fulfill their responsibilities
  • Your lenders, funders, and/or other sponsors
  • Providers of any external program, such as study abroad programs, internships, and other collaborations
  • Your host institution and host family (in connection with study abroad or faculty or student exchange programs)
  • Student clubs and related organizations
  • Other departments within Wellesley College, including our fundraising offices
  • Individuals or entities inquiring about your attendance or employment history
  • Vendors who provide services to Wellesley College
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over Wellesley College, such as accreditation organizations

Legal Basis for Processing (for personal information subject to the GDPR)

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as fulfilling our educational mission
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as providing you with educational services or managing your employment relationship
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Alumnae and Other Supporters

Personal Information We Collect

Wellesley College holds personal information related to its alumnae and other supporters (such as donors, prospective donors, volunteers, and family members of students). If you are an alumna or other supporter, we may collect and use the following types of personal information about you:

  • Academic information (e.g., major, transcript, degree)
  • Biographical information (e.g., name, date of birth, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation)
  • Contact information (e.g., email address, phone number)
  • Your activities at Wellesley College (e.g., club memberships)
  • Your involvement with Wellesley College and other interests (e.g., attendance at events, philanthropic interests)
  • Family information (e.g., marital status, name of spouse)
  • Health information (e.g., disability, food allergies)
  • Financial information (e.g., history of donations, wealth information)
  • Employment information

We collect data about alumnae and other supporters from various sources, including directly from the individual (for example, by filling out a form on our website) and from other individuals (for example, students provide information about family members). We also retain information from your student records if you studied here. We also collect information from publicly available sources, such as social media, and from third parties, such as companies that conduct wealth screening or other people that might know you and your philanthropic interests.

How We Use Your Personal Information

Your personal information is used for the following purposes:

  • Sending you informational publications (e.g., Wellesley Magazine, newsletters from departments and clubs you may have interest in)
  • Conducting surveys so that we can learn more about our alumnae and other supporters
  • Providing services (e.g., networking features like The Hive, ongoing career services)
  • Sending you information about fundraising campaigns, events, and volunteer opportunities that may be of interest to you
  • Conducting wealth analysis and research to understand your philanthropic interests and ability to give in order to ensure that our fundraising efforts are tailored to your interests
  • For administrative purposes (e.g., processing donations and issuing a tax receipt, managing events, such as reunions)
  • For research and statistical purposes
  • To publicly acknowledge gifts (with consent of the donor)
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of Wellesley College’s property, website, and other systems
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over Wellesley college, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

How We Share Your Personal Information

We share your personal information with the following:

  • Wellesley College departments, clubs, and interest groups
  • Other Wellesley alumnae (limited contact information only)
  • The Wellesley College Alumnae Association, specific alumnae clubs and organizations and similar affiliates
  • Other individuals or entities with a legitimate interest in your personal information, such as scholarship supporters
  • Vendors who provide services to Wellesley College
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over Wellesley College, such as accreditation organizations.

Legal Basis for Processing (for personal information subject to the GDPR)

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as maintaining alumnae relationships and conducting fundraising activities
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as providing certain alumnae services
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Website Visitors

Personal Information We Collect

The Wellesley College website is an information system intended to present an integrated view of the College to prospective students, alumnae, the members of the Wellesley College community, and others with an interest in Wellesley College. If you visit this site to view or download information, or submit information to us, we or our third-party vendors may automatically collect the following types of personal information:

  •  the name of the domain from which you access the Internet
  •  the date and time of your visit
  •  the page/s you visit
  •  your computing platform

Some of this information may be collected through the use of cookies, which are text files that are placed on your hard disk by a web server, or similar technologies, such as web beacons. Some of these cookies are managed by third parties that we do not control, such as Google Analytics and Ping (used primarily for prospective student data). You have the ability to accept or decline cookies by changing your browser settings. If you choose to decline cookies, some features on this website may not work properly.

If you use our website to complete forms, use our applications, or submit information to us (such as through our alumnae and supplier registration pages), we will collect the information that you provide to us, as well as related information such as your login ID.

How We Use Your Personal Information

The data collected with cookies and similar technologies are used in the aggregate for purposes of analyzing site traffic, managing the site, and providing accountability regarding the usefulness of our work.

If you provide us with information (such as through our alumnae and supplier registration pages), we will use that information for the purposes described on the form or registration pages.

We may also use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of Wellesley College’s property, website, and other systems.
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over Wellesley college, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

How We Share Your Personal Information

Personal information collected automatically on this website is not disclosed to third parties unless the third party is an institutionally authorized provider of services to the College. Information collected through website forms is used as specified on the form or as otherwise described in this notice.

This web site contains links to many sites that are beyond our control. Wellesley College is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these other sites. Users of these services are subject to the privacy policies established by the third-party provider.

Legal Basis for Processing (for personal information subject to the GDPR)

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as monitoring our website usage
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as managing our relationships with our suppliers and alumnae
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • With your consent, when applicable

Transfer of Information to the United States

Wellesley College is located in the United States. Information we collect from you will be processed by Wellesley College in the United States. Wellesley College may also transfer your personal information to third parties, including our vendors, as described in this notice that may be located outside of the European Economic Area (“EEA”).

The United States has not sought nor received a finding of “adequacy” from the EEA, which means that the data protection laws in the United States may not offer you the same protections as in the country in which you are residing when the personal information is collected. With respect to transfers outside the EEA, Wellesley College generally relies on derogations for specific situations. In some circumstances, Wellesley College may enter into standard contractual clauses governing the import or export of personal information, or rely on your consent. In all cases, Wellesley College endeavors to apply suitable safeguards to protect the privacy and security of your personal information, particularly sensitive data, and to use it in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Notice.

Retention of Data

Wellesley College retains personal information about students and alumnae indefinitely for the purpose of alumnae relationships, academic record-keeping, and archiving purposes. Other personal information will be retained in accordance with applicable Wellesley College data retention policies.

Communications from Wellesley College

Wellesley College and the Wellesley College Alumnae Association periodically send marketing communications to alumnae, supporters, and other members of the Wellesley community, such as newsletters, event invitations, and fundraising information. If you would like to request that Wellesley College or the Wellesley College Alumnae Association limit or stop these marketing communications with you, please contact us at privacy@wellesley.edu. If you request to be removed from our mailing lists, we will retain your contact information to ensure that we do not continue to contact you for these purposes. If applicable, we will also continue to process your personal information for other purposes consistent with this Privacy Notice.

Individual Rights

If you are located in the EEA, you may have the following legal rights under applicable law with respect to the personal information processed by Wellesley College:

  • To withdraw consent at any time, if we are processing your personal information on the basis of consent
  • To access the information that Wellesley College has about you
  • To request that Wellesley College rectify or erase your information
  • To request that Wellesley College restrict the way it uses your information
  • To object to the way Wellesley College uses your information
  • To ask Wellesley College to transfer your information to someone else
  • To lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in the EEA

Wellesley College’s ability or obligation to comply with your requests may be limited by applicable law.

To request to exercise one of these rights, please contact us at privacy@wellesley.edu.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

Wellesley College reserves the right to amend this Privacy Notice at any time, for any reason, without notice to you. Any changes will be published here and you should check our website to access our current Privacy Notice. This Privacy Notice was last updated September 2020.

Contact Information

The controller of the personal information described in this Privacy Notice is:

Wellesley College
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
Email: privacy@wellesley.edu

Wellesley College’s legal representative in the EEA is:

Wellesley-in-Aix
16, rue Emile Tavan
13100 Aix-en-Provence

Questions, concerns, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Notice and the processing of personal information by Wellesley College should be directed to privacy@wellesley.edu.