Iowa Western Community College

Privacy Statement

Communications and Personal Information Privacy

1. Overview

Iowa Western Community College (“the College,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information provided by prospective students, current students, alumni, parents, and other constituents. This statement describes how we collect, use, share, and protect personal contact information and how we communicate with you across various platforms.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and maintain personal contact and related information you voluntarily provide to us, including but not limited to:

  • Name and preferred name
  • Mailing address
  • Email address
  • Telephone numbers (mobile and landline)
  • Emergency contact information
  • Demographic or biographical information
  • Communication preferences

We may also collect information automatically through technology systems, including:

  • Device and browser information
  • IP address
  • Website usage and interaction data
  • Communication engagement data (e.g., email opens, link clicks)

Cookies and Google Analytics


Cookies are small text files that can store information to your browser as a result of visiting a
website. The College makes use of cookies to enhance your current and future visits to our website. No personal information is collected through these cookies. The College does not store any personal identifying information within client-side cookies other than a temporary session id which is used to identify a user moving from page to page. You can control your cookie preferences, including options to refuse cookies, from within your browser settings. However, disabling cookies can cause problems with advanced features on some websites.
Some of our websites use Google Analytics to monitor web traffic. Google Analytics provides us aggregate data which contains no specific information that can be linked to an individual. If you wish to opt out of this web tracking, Google Analytics provides an opt-out browser plugin.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to support the College’s educational mission and operations, including:

  • Admissions, enrollment, and student services
  • Academic and administrative communications
  • Financial aid and billing
  • Event invitations and participation
  • Safety and emergency notifications
  • Institutional advancement, alumni engagement, and fundraising
  • Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

4. Communication Methods and Consent

General Communications

By providing your contact information to the College, you consent to receive communications through various channels, including:

  • Email
  • Telephone calls (live or automated)
  • SMS/text messages
  • Postal mail
  • Digital platforms (e.g., learning systems, student portals)

These communications may include informational, transactional, service-related, or marketing content relevant to your relationship with the College.

SMS/Text Messaging

By providing your mobile number, you consent to receive informational and transactional SMS messages from us related to your application, enrollment, account activity, event participation, and other college-related services

  • Message frequency may vary
  • Standard message and data rates may apply
  • Consent is not a condition of enrollment or participation
  • You may opt out at any time by replying STOP
  • For assistance, reply HELP

Automated Technologies

Some communications—including phone calls, emails, and SMS messages—may be sent or supported using automated technologies, including artificial intelligence, prerecorded messages, text-to-speech systems or automated dialing systems, to ensure timely and accurate delivery of information.

5. Sharing of Information

We do not sell or rent your personal contact information.
We may share your information only in limited circumstances, such as:

  • With trusted service providers (e.g., CRM platforms, email/SMS vendors) solely to support College operations
  • With academic or administrative partners as necessary to deliver services
  • When required by law, regulation, or legal process
  • To protect the safety and rights of members of the College community

All third-party partners are expected to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security safeguards.

6. Data Security

We use industry accepted best practices for administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. While no system is completely secure, we continuously evaluate and improve our data protection practices.

7. Your Choices and Rights

You have the right to:

  • Opt out of certain communications (e.g., SMS, marketing emails)
  • Update or correct your contact information
  • Request information about how your data is used
  • Manage communication preferences where available

Please note that even if you opt out of certain communications, we may still send essential administrative or transactional messages.

8. Student Records (FERPA)

For students, certain educational records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This statement complements, but does not replace, the College’s official FERPA policy governing educational records.

9. Protected Health Information (PHI)

Some information submitted by users may be considered Protected Health Information (PHI). The College complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which regulates the use and disclosure of PHI. Click for a Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

10. Students who are citizens of EU Countries (GDPR)

The College follows the GDPR rules to the extent they do not conflict with State or Federal rules.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this statement, comply with legal obligations, and support institutional operations.

12. Disclaimer

The College may provide links to other websites of interest to provide services for its users. The College is not responsible for the content and privacy practices of these websites. The use of such linked sites is subject to the privacy statements and use requirements of each respective site; please check each site for its respective privacy policy.

13. Updates to This Statement

We may update this statement periodically to reflect changes in practices, technology, or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on our website with the effective date.

14. Contact Information

For questions about this statement, your personal data, or communication practices, please contact:

Information Technology
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (712) 325-3200
Additional terms governing specific communication services may be outlined in our Terms of Service.