The American Heritage University of Southern California (“University”) is committed to ensuring the privacy of confidential information, the accuracy of personal data, and compliance with international, federal, and state laws and regulations concerning the use of personal information. Other than as required or permitted by law, Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) is not shared. In particular, and regardless of how the information was collected, the University does not sell PII and it does not re-distribute PII for any non-University purpose.

Information Collected

The University collects and processes PII from individuals only as necessary in the exercise of the University’s legitimate mission, interests, functions, and responsibilities as a private, for-profit institution of higher education. The majority of PII comes from students (and members of their families), employees, alumni, friends, and people who apply to be students or employees. 

Use of Collected Information

PII collected from students or student applicants is used to register or enroll persons in the University, provide and administer housing to students, manage student accounts, provide academic advising, develop and deliver education programs, track academic progress, analyze and improve education programs, recruitment, retention, regulatory reporting, auditing, maintenance of accreditation, and other related University processes and functions. The University also uses PII to conduct general demographic and statistical research to improve University programs, to identify appropriate support services or activities, provide reasonable accommodations, enforce University policies, or comply with applicable laws. The University collects and processes PII from individuals who are employees or applicants for employment for the purpose of administering various employment benefits and functions.  The University also collects and processes PII from alumni, donors, parents, and friends of the University to advance the University’s mission.  PII may be shared by the University with third parties who have entered into contracts to perform functions on behalf of the University, but only when the third parties agree to protect PII and prevent unauthorized disclosure.

Distribution of Collected Information

The University will not disclose PII, without consent, except for certain explicit circumstances in which disclosure is permitted or required by law. Additionally, the University will not sell PII to third-party organizations for any non-University purpose.

Third-Party Use of Personal Information

The University may disclose PII and other information as follows:

• Consent: We may disclose information if we have an individual’s consent to do so.
• Emergency Circumstances: We may share information when necessary to protect health and safety interests, even if an individual is physically or legally incapable of providing consent.
• Employment: We may share information when necessary for administering employment or social security benefits in accordance with applicable law, subject to the imposition of appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
• Public Information: We may share information if the information already has been made public.
• Archiving: We may share information for archival purposes in the public interest, and for historical research and statistical purposes.
• Performance of a Contract: We may share information when necessary to comply with a contractual obligation.
• Legal Obligation: We may share information when the disclosure is required or permitted by international, federal, or state laws and regulations. The University will comply with lawfully issued subpoenas.

Notification of Changes

The University Privacy Policy is reviewed periodically and may be modified at the discretion of the University. Changes to the privacy policy will be incorporated and posted on the University’s website. Information will be handled according to the privacy policy in effect at the time the information is used.

Security

The University will implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect PII collected by the University, regardless of the method of collection.

Questions

If you have any questions about this privacy statement or the University’s privacy practices, please contact:

American Heritage University of Southern California

9227 Haven Ave, STE 210, Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730

info@ahusc.net  

Maintenance and Confidentiality of Student Records

Student permanent records are maintained on-site for a minimum of five (5) years in a secure fire-proof cabinet only accessible by the registrar or authorized officer. Students have access to their own personal records through the student portal of the University’s website and through Populi, AHUSC’s online college management system. Transcripts are kept permanently.

Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (“FERPA”) protects the privacy of students’ educational records. Access to academic and disciplinary records is limited to students and authorized school officials.

For more information on FERPA, please visit The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act website.

No one outside the University shall have access to, nor will the University disclose any information from students’ education records, without the consent of students.

The following exceptions are permitted under FERPA.

• to certain officials of the University to officials of other institutions in which students seek to enroll
• to persons or organizations providing students financial aid
• to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function
• to persons in compliance with a judicial order
• to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons
• in accordance with the Solomon Amendment (requiring the disclosure of certain information to military recruiters)

Within the University, only those officials, individually or collectively, acting in the students’ legitimate educational interests are permitted access to student education records. A “legitimate educational interest” will be present if the school official needs to review an education record to fulfill the official’s professional responsibility.

“Disclosure” means to permit access to or the release, transfer or other communication of education records, or the personally identifiable information contained in those records, to any party, by any means, including oral, written, or electronic means.

Directory Information

The University maintains student records in compliance with FERPA, which assures students and parents of their right to privacy of information. The University further complies with the California Education Code, sections 22509 through 22509.18, which states that the management of student records shall be a matter of Federal and State law and regulation.

The following is considered directory information and may be released or published without the student’s consent:

Student name, date and place of birth; major field of study; dates of attendance; degrees, honor, and awards received; most recent educational institution attended; campus address and telephone number and student assigned e-mail; home address and telephone number; cell phone number; participation in special academic programs; participation in recognized student activities; participation in officially recognized sports; class level, weight, and height of athletic team members.

Students who wish directory information to be withheld from all individuals outside the University must sign a request in the Registrar’s Office.

Release of Academic Information

Confidential information is defined as any information contained in a student education record not included in “Directory Information.” The University respects the privacy rights of all students.  Students need to be aware that, under FERPA regulations, the University is permitted to disclose student education records to parents without the student’s specific consent if a student is a “dependent” (generally, by being designated as such on a parent’s federal tax form).  Students or parents who wish for the University to exercise this permission should make a written request and submit proof of dependency to the Registrar’s Office.

The University will not release confidential information for independent students (students over the age of 23, or “independent” as defined by University Financial Aid Policy) without written request of the student.

The student has the right to restrict disclosure/release of directory information to third parties.

Online Release of Information Forms

In accordance with The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), American Heritage University of Southern California will not release student records, including to a parent, without student consent or proof of dependency, or as listed in the University’s FERPA/Privacy Policies. A student may give permission for the University to release student record information to a person by completing this form.

Student-Initiated Authorization for Release of Information

Transcripts

An official transcript of a student’s academic record is issued only upon the student’s written, signed request. Transcripts submitted to the University for admission or credit transfer become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the student, copied or forwarded to other institutions.

Review of Academic Records

FERPA provides students with the right to inspect and review the information contained in their education records, to challenge the contents of their education records, to have a hearing if the outcome of a challenge is unsatisfactory, and to submit explanatory statements for inclusion in their files if they feel the decisions of the hearing panels are unacceptable.

Note: a) The Registrar coordinates the inspection and review procedures for student education records, which include admissions, personal, academic, and cooperative education records; b) the Student Finance Officer coordinates the inspection and review procedures for financial files.

Students wishing to review their education records must make written requests to the Registrar’s Office listing the item or items of interest. Only records covered by FERPA will be made available within forty-five days of the request. Students may have copies made of their records with certain exceptions (for example a copy of an academic record for which a financial “hold” exists, or a transcript of an original or source document that exists elsewhere). These copies will be made at the students’ expense at prevailing rates which are listed in the catalog.

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Alumni Privacy Notice

General Statement

American Heritage University of Southern California recognizes and respects the importance of confidentiality and security of the PII of our alumni, donors, and family members, (collectively, our “constituents”). This Alumni Privacy Notice addresses concerns about personal data collection and provides information about what is collected and how it is used. We strongly encourage you to read this notice in its entirety in advance of submitting any personal information to us.

Why We Collect Your Personal Information

University Advancement supports all of our core constituencies – students, faculty, staff members, and the community – by working to provide students with faculty with teaching and research opportunities, and the greater University community with resources to establish and expand programs that enable the institution to fulfill its non-profit educational mission. To achieve this, we seek to build and sustain key relationships with alumni, parents, and community members. Acquiring and maintaining information about constituents allows University Advancement to distribute meaningful communications, raise funds in support of University priorities, and engage alumni and friends in programs and events that add value to their lives. Additionally, alumni feedback and outcomes are important to our understanding of how to improve and expand programs.

How We Collect Your Personal Information

The University may collect PII from or about you in a number of ways.  For example, you or a family member may have attended the University and provided or updated contact information during or after enrollment, signed up for a University-sponsored event, shared news about your career and life, made a gift, inquired about a program, or otherwise communicate with us in person, by telephone, by email or through our website. The University may combine information you provide to us with information available from external sources to gather updated contact information and to better our understanding of our constituents to improve our methods of engaging with them. You may have voluntarily provided information to third parties with whom we partner. We may also acquire PII from publicly available sources.  We encourage you to review the privacy practices of any organization with whom you choose to share your personal information.

Types of Personal Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information about you (this is a representative list):

• Your name and contact information, such as your address, email address, telephone numbers, date of birth;
• Information relating to your education and employment history;
• Information about your family or personal circumstances; and
• Information needed to process credit card transactions such as contributions, event registrations, and memberships.

Sharing Your Personal Information with Others

For the purposes referred to in this Alumni Privacy Notice, we may share your PII with select third parties. Examples of sharing are listed below. The University will not share your personal information with individuals outside the University or with certain third parties if you ask us not to.

• We may disclose information to third parties if we have your consent to do so.
• We may share information with third parties that are affiliated with the University for the purpose of contacting you about goods, services, charitable giving, or experiences that may be of interest to you. This may include University volunteers who contribute important work in support of the University’s outreach efforts. We may also use third parties who have entered into a contract with the University to support the delivery of ordinary services and functions. In such cases, we share your information with such third parties on the condition that they use it only for the purposes for which it was shared, they keep it confidential, and they safeguard it from unauthorized disclosure.
• We use and disclose information about our constituents in de-identified or aggregate form.
• Information may be shared with third parties without your consent if the information already is public.
• We will share your information with third parties to the extent we are required to do so by law, court order, or subpoena.

Process for Handling Privacy Concerns

The University is committed to resolving complaints about your privacy and our processing of your PII. If you have an inquiry or complaint regarding this privacy notice, please contact

          Administrative Assistance

          adminassistant@ahusc.net 

          909-884-9000 ext 114

Filing a Complaint to the BPPE

If a student would like to file a complaint they may do so directly by contacting the BBPE at:

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225
Sacramento, CA 95834
Toll-Free (888) 370.7589
Fax (916) 263.1897
www.bppe.ca.gov