PRIVACY
Protecting student privacy — the center of everything we do
The Clearinghouse maintains student data privacy through rigorous privacy practices, transparency, and responsible stewardship, honoring the trust placed in us.
PRIVACY
Protecting student privacy — the center of everything we do
The Clearinghouse maintains student data privacy through rigorous privacy practices, transparency, and responsible stewardship, honoring the trust placed in us.
How we protect student privacy
Purpose-Driven Use
We use information provided by colleges and universities solely for the purposes they permit, such as reporting student loan deferments to the Department of Education and education finance organizations, as well as verifying enrollment and degrees on behalf of institutions.
Data Aggregation
The national reports published by our Research Center, include only aggregate-level information, never personally identifiable student information (PII).
Training & Strict Access Controls
Clearinghouse employees complete annual mandatory privacy and security training. Additional privacy and security-related programs are also offered to employees each year.
Access to student data is limited to authorized personnel who have a clear, job-related need.
Transparency & Student Rights
As an authorized school official, we maintain records on behalf of our participating institutions as required under FERPA.
Our privacy policy provides transparent information about how the student data we receive from institutions and requesters is used in our services. It also describes how we use the data collected from you while you use our services and/or website.
No Sale of Personal Information
The Clearinghouse does not sell student personal information to third parties under any circumstances.
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
Our services and practices comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable privacy laws.
We maintain industry certifications and undergo regular audits to validate our privacy and security practices.
We proudly earn Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) certifications. The Clearinghouse was the first recipient of the iKeepSafe FERPA badge and later a recipient of the iKeepSafe California Student Privacy Badge, which were awarded to both our StudentTracker for High Schools and National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Center services. iKeepSafe, the leading digital safety and privacy nonprofit organization, requires companies participating in its FERPA assessment to undergo rigorous annual evaluation of their privacy policies and practices, data security, and encryption practices. iKeepSafe’s California Student Privacy Badge is the first independent assessment program specifically tailored to emerging student data privacy legislation, including the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA).
Responsible Data Sharing
When data is shared in performing services, we require strict contractual safeguards and prohibit unauthorized use or re-identification.
Your privacy, our commitment
The Clearinghouse is dedicated to student privacy. If you have questions about how your data is protected or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.