Women’s Economic Ventures of Santa Barbara, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, (“WEV”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information.  By visiting or using WEV’s Web Site, you consent to the data collection and use practices described in this policy (“Policy”).  If you do not agree with the Policy, please do not use our Web Site.  The mere act of visiting or using this Web Site, even without reading the subject legal document, will be viewed as acceptance of the terms contained in this Policy.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND USE:
WEV is the sole owner of the information collected on this Web Site. WEV will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this Policy.  WEV reserves the right to share such information with its affiliates and subsidiaries without your permission.  WEV further reserves the right to disclose your personal information, without notice, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to (a) conform to law or comply with legal process served on WEV or its Web Site; and (b) protect and defend the rights or property of WEV or its Web Site.  WEV partners with Network Merchants for purposes of billing, and may collect user credit card information directly at the user’s request.  Payments and credit card information are made through Network Merchant’s secured website at www.secure.networkmerchants.com.        

To access the base content on our Web Site, you will not be required to provide us with personal information.  However, in order to access certain conveniences of this Web Site, users may be required to provide information during registration for such conveniences (e.g., class registration, newsletter subscription, forums).  Information requested may vary but will typically include your name and at least one active email address.  Information concerning your computer hardware and software is automatically collected.  This information may include your IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring website addresses.  WEV uses this information to maintain the quality of its service and to provide general statistics about Web Site visitors.  WEV may store and process information in the United States or any other country in which WEV or its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents maintain facilities.  By using WEV’s Web Site, you consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country.

SECURITY:
This Web Site takes precautions to protect the users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web Site, the information is protected both online and off-line.  During the registration process, when users are asked to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the quality encryption software that is used throughout the industry - SSL.  While on a secure page, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked.  While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also protect user-information off-line. Access to users' information is restricted. Only employees and consultants of WEV or its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, any program staff, development staff and data managers) are granted access to personally identifiable information.  Furthermore, all employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. As new policies are added, our employees are notified and/or reminded about the importance we place on privacy.  You must keep your password confidential and not share this information with anyone.  It is, however, important to understand that information transmitted or disclosed online can be collected and used by others or unlawfully intercepted by third parties.  No data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.  While we take necessary steps to ensure the protection of your personal information, we cannot warrant the security of any such information transmitted to us.

USE OF COOKIES:
This Web Site uses cookies to assist you by saving time when you next visit this Web Site.  A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user.  Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer.  Once the user closes the browser, the cookie becomes dormant until the user’s next visit to the Web Site, at which time it assists the user. For instance, the cookie avoids the need for a user to log in a password with each visit, thereby saving time while on our Web Site. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies.  If a user rejects the cookie, they may still use our Web Site. The only drawback to this is that the user will be limited in some areas of our Web Site. Cookies can also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our Web Site.

LINKS:
This Web Site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that WEV is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites.  WEV encourage users to be aware when they leave WEV’s Web Site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information.  This Policy applies solely to information collected by this Web Site.

CORRECTIONS AND UPDATES:
WEV reserves the right to update this Policy.  At such time, WEV will also revise the “last updated” date at the end of this Policy.  For material changes to this Policy, WEV will notify you by placing prominent notice on the Web Site.  We recommend that you periodically review this Policy.  You can access some of the information that WEV collects and processes about you, such as personally identifiable information (name, email and password).  Users will be able to access and update such personally identifiable information. 

Last updated May 15, 2009