Humboldt International University (“HIU,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy, integrity, and security of personal information collected through its website and institutional services, in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and in alignment with the standards and expectations of recognized accrediting and licensing authorities, including the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC) and the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE), Florida Department of Education.
Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide educational services and maintain institutional operations. This may include identifiers such as name, email address, postal address, telephone number, account credentials, educational history, academic records, and website usage data. Information is collected directly from users, through institutional systems, and from authorized third-party sources such as application services, governmental agencies, and educational partners.
Purpose of Use
Personal information is used solely for legitimate educational and administrative purposes, including student admissions, enrollment, academic delivery, financial services, institutional reporting, accreditation and licensure compliance, communication, identity verification, and improvement of academic and operational services.
Disclosure of Information
HIU does not sell personal information. Information may be disclosed only when necessary and permitted by law to service providers, regulatory and governmental agencies, accrediting and licensing bodies (including DEAC and CIE), audit and legal advisors, and educational partners performing institutional functions or services. All third-party disclosures are limited to purposes consistent with FERPA and applicable regulatory requirements.
FERPA Compliance
HIU complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which governs the privacy of student education records. Eligible students have rights regarding access, review, and amendment of their educational records, as well as control over the disclosure of such records, subject to FERPA exceptions.
Cookies and Digital Tracking
The University uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure proper website functionality, enhance user experience, and analyze system performance. Users may manage cookie preferences through their browser settings; however, disabling cookies may impact certain website functions.
Data Security
HIU maintains administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. While the University follows industry-standard security practices, no electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed as fully secure.
Data Retention
Personal information is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill educational, administrative, regulatory, accreditation, and legal obligations, consistent with institutional policies and applicable federal and state requirements.
User Rights and Access
Where applicable under federal or state law, individuals may request access to, correction of, or updates to their personal information. Requests may be submitted through the University’s official administrative or compliance channels.
Compliance with Accreditation and Licensing Standards
HIU maintains policies and procedures designed to support compliance with DEAC accreditation standards and Florida CIE licensing requirements, including those related to student records confidentiality, data integrity, institutional accountability, and consumer protection.
Policy Updates
This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in legal, regulatory, accreditation, or operational requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Information
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information should be directed at the University through its official contact channels listed on the website.