Privacy Policy

CSTA respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its Web site. CSTA strongly believes that if electronic commerce and online activities are to flourish, consumers must be assured that information provided online is used responsibly and appropriately. To protect online privacy, CSTA has implemented the following policy.

WHAT INFORMATION DOES CSTA COLLECT?

Most data CSTA collects is used only to help us better serve our members. It is our general policy to collect and store only personal information that our members and visitors knowingly provide. If our privacy policies change, we will notify all users by e-mail or a special announcement placed on the Web site.

From General Users. CSTA does not collect any personal information from users browsing its Web site. Only aggregate data -- such as the number of hits per page -- are collected. Aggregate data are only used for internal and marketing purposes and do not provide any personally identifying information.

From CSTA's Members, Conference Registrants, and Other Customers. To gain access to members-only resources and personalization features on cascience.org, members and other users are asked to register and provide some limited information. This information is submitted voluntarily. CSTA asks users to provide their name, organization name, business phone, and e-mail. Similar information may be submitted to CSTA through membership applications, conference or seminar registration, publication orders, subscriptions, and contest registrations. Additionally, for some e-mails sent in HTML format by CSTA to its members through its e-mail service provider and electronic newsletters, we will collect specific information regarding what the recipient does with that email. For those emails, CSTA will monitor whether a recipient subsequently clicks through to links provided in the message. Other information collected through this tracking feature includes: email address of a user, the date and time of the user's "click," a message number, name of the list from which the message was sent, tracking URL number and destination page. CSTA only uses this information to enhance its products and distribution of those products to its members. This information is not sold or distributed in any other manner.

HOW DOES CSTA USE DATA COLLECTED?

CSTA uses information voluntarily submitted by members and other customers in the following ways:

CSTA Member Services and Products. Generally, CSTA use data collected to improve its own web content; to respond to visitors' interests, needs and preferences; and to develop new products and services.

Disclosures to Third Parties. CSTA also makes member contact information available through the mailing list sales to third parties who make requests for such lists that meet the criteria outlined in CSTA’s Sale of Membership Mailing Labels Policy. CSTA provides mailing lists of conference attendees to conference exhibitors. On occasion, CSTA may also provide limited data to third parties that offer products and services. Mailing lists are limited in data and include names, job titles, companies/organizations/schools and business or home addresses, but do not include phone numbers, fax numbers, or e-mail addresses. Users may request CSTA refrain from disclosing the data it collects to third parties on the membership application form, conference registration form or any other form on which they are providing information; an opt-out box will appear on each form on which a user provides information. Alternatively, users may contact CSTA at admin@cascience.org or 916-979-7004 to express their preferences if they determine later that they do not wish to have the information shared.

Sale of Membership Mailing List Policy. When the content of a mailing is deemed to be reasonably related to a member's interest as a member, mailing labels may be sold to individuals, organizations, and companies for the following purposes:

• To mail science-related product information
• To advertise a science-related educational event which does not compete with a CSTA event
• To solicit input on a science-related issue
• To mail campaign-related information when the requester is an official candidate for CSTA office

Mailing labels shall not be sold or given to any individual, organization, or company if the labels are to be used for the following purposes:

• To mail position statements or information designed to sway public opinion about an issue
• To mail information designed to influence legislation
• To incite action on a political issue

Consent to Use Personal Information. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act(s) 1984 and 1998 (as applicable), CSTA or its agents must store, host and otherwise process the information (including personal data) supplied by the User when registering for this Web site. User supplies as defined above when registering for the Web site in order to allow CSTA (or its designated agents) to use the information to send the User unsolicited direct mail advertisements, promotions, and solicitations for third parties' products and services.

Credit Card Account Information. CSTA does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, CSTA submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.

HOW DOES CSTA USE COOKIES?

Cookies are files that contain information created by a web server that can be stored on a User's hard disk for use either during a particular session ("per-session" cookie) or for future use ("persistent" cookie). CSTA uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity, store and track passwords, determine appropriate solicitations, and review navigation patterns. Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about Users over the Internet or to analyze any information that Users have knowingly or unknowingly provided. When a user registers, the system will ask whether the user approves of the attachment of a cookie. Users may instruct their Internet browsers to opt out of accepting a "persistent" cookie and rather accept only a "per-session" cookie, but will need to login each time they visit the site to enjoy the full benefits. If the user declines the attachment of any cookie, the user may not have access to the full benefits of the website. Registration enables the site to better determine members' interest areas and provide the most relevant information.

WHAT PRIVACY ISSUES ARISE WITH LINKS TO OTHER SITES?

This Web site contains links to other web sites. CSTA has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

WHAT MEANS OF REDRESS ARE AVAILABLE?

If any User suspects CSTA has handled its personal information in a manner that does not comply with this privacy statement, please contact us by e-mailing to admin@cascience.org or by calling 916-979-7004.