Muhlenberg College Digital Privacy Policy

Maintained by the Office of Communications and Marketing and the Office of Information Technology 

Muhlenberg College is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our websites and digital platforms. This Privacy Policy explains how Muhlenberg College collects, uses, and protects information gathered through our websites and related digital marketing and communications activities. This includes data collected for the purposes of research.

This policy is intended to provide clear notice about Muhlenberg’s digital privacy practices so that visitors can make informed choices about how they interact with College websites, forms, communications, and digital marketing activities. By using Muhlenberg College websites, submitting information through online forms, or adjusting browser, cookie, or advertising preferences, visitors can control certain aspects of their digital experience as described in this policy.

This policy applies to websites and online services operated by Muhlenberg College, including muhlenberg.edu and related College-managed domains and subdomains.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other circumstances. When updates occur, the revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Where required or appropriate, we may provide additional notice of material changes.

Information We Collect

When you visit Muhlenberg College websites or interact with our digital communications, we may collect certain types of information.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most organizations, Muhlenberg College collects information automatically when users visit our websites. This information may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address
• Browser type and device information
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring websites or search engines
• Approximate geographic location
• Date and time of visits

This information helps the college understand how visitors use our websites and allows us to improve the performance and effectiveness of our digital services. This automatically collected information, including IP address and approximate geographic location, and also may be used to help Muhlenberg College measure, evaluate, and improve digital marketing and communications efforts.

Information You Provide Voluntarily

You may choose to provide personal information through forms or other interactions on Muhlenberg websites. Examples:

• Requests for information
• Event registrations
• Newsletter subscriptions
• Inquiries related to admissions, academic programs, or alumni engagement

The information collected may include the following:

• Name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Birth date
• Phone number
• Academic interests or program inquiries

Depending on the form or service, certain information may be requested for specific administrative purposes. For example, birth date may be collected in connection with admissions and enrollment processes to support applicant identification and institutional recordkeeping.

Muhlenberg uses this information to respond to requests, provide services, and communicate about programs, opportunities, and events.

Muhlenberg College may use telephone numbers provided by individuals for communications related to college programs, services, events, or other activities, including SMS text messaging where appropriate consent has been obtained. Additional terms may apply to SMS communications.

Our sites include social media features and links (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn). Interactions with these are governed by each platform’s privacy policy.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Muhlenberg College uses cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality, analyze usage, and support marketing communications.

Cookies are small data files placed on your device that allow websites to recognize your browser.

We use cookies for several purposes:

Essential Cookies

These cookies support basic website functionality such as navigation and access to secure areas of the site.

Analytics Cookies

Analytics technologies help us understand how visitors interact with our websites so we can improve your browsing experience. 

Analytics technologies help us understand how visitors interact with our websites so we can improve the user experience and evaluate website performance. These technologies may collect information such as device identifiers, cookie identifiers, IP address, browser information, and website activity. Muhlenberg generally uses this information to understand usage patterns and website performance rather than to directly identify individual visitors. 

Advertising and Marketing Cookies

Muhlenberg may use marketing technologies such as advertising pixels, tags, and cookies to help us:

• understand the effectiveness of digital advertising campaigns;
• measure engagement with our communications; and
• display relevant Muhlenberg information or advertising on other websites or digital platforms.

These technologies may allow us to work with advertising partners to reach individuals who have previously interacted with Muhlenberg content online. For more information about cookies, please go to All About Cookies.

Advertising and Retargeting

Muhlenberg College may participate in digital advertising programs that help us share information about our academic programs, events, and opportunities.

These activities may involve:

• online advertising platforms;
• analytics providers; and
• marketing service providers.

These partners may use cookies or similar technologies to deliver and measure advertisements.

Muhlenberg also may use IP-based marketing or similar privacy-conscious technologies to help identify organizations, households, geographic areas, or audience segments that may have an interest in the college. These efforts may use IP address, device information, browsing activity on Muhlenberg websites, or approximate location data to support advertising, campaign measurement, audience development, and communications planning.

Muhlenberg does not use these technologies to collect sensitive personal information, and these efforts are intended to help the college share relevant information about its programs, events, and opportunities.

In some cases, Muhlenberg may use privacy-protective audience matching techniques such as encrypted or hashed identifiers to reach audiences who have previously expressed interest in the college. These methods are designed to protect individual identities while allowing the college to share relevant information.

Muhlenberg does not sell personal information for monetary compensation. Certain digital advertising and analytics activities may involve disclosure of limited information to advertising or technology partners as described in this policy. 

Email and Communications Preferences

If you provide your email address to Muhlenberg College, you may receive communications related to:

• academic programs;
• admissions information;
• events and campus opportunities;
• alumni engagement; and
• institutional updates.

Recipients may opt out of non-essential communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in emails or by contacting the college.

Muhlenberg complies with applicable regulations governing email communications.

Information Sharing

Muhlenberg College may share information with trusted service providers that assist the college in operating its websites, communications systems, and marketing programs.

These providers may support services such as:

• website hosting;
• analytics services;
• customer relationship management systems;
• digital advertising platforms; and
• email communications tools.

Service providers may process limited digital information, such as IP address, device information, cookie identifiers, or engagement data, to provide analytics, advertising delivery, audience development, campaign measurement, and related marketing services on behalf of the college.

Service providers and platform partners may process information on behalf of Muhlenberg College or, in some circumstances, for their own purposes as described in their applicable privacy policies and agreements with the college. Muhlenberg requires service providers and platform partners to appropriately safeguard personal information and to use or process that information consistent with applicable law and their agreements with the college.

These partners are contractually required to safeguard information and may only use it to perform services on behalf of the college. 

Muhlenberg does not sell personal information. Certain digital advertising and analytics activities may involve disclosure of limited information to advertising or technology partners as described in this policy.

Third-Party Websites

Muhlenberg websites may contain links to external websites or services operated by other organizations. The college is not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. Information collection on those sites is governed by the organizations’ privacy policies.

Visitors should review the privacy policies of any external websites they choose to visit.

Children’s Information

Muhlenberg College websites are intended for individuals interested in the college and its programs and are not directed toward children under the age of 13. The college does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through its websites.

Data Security

Muhlenberg College uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information collected through its digital platforms.

While the college takes steps to protect information, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure.

Data Retention

Information collected through Muhlenberg’s websites and communications platforms is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy or to comply with applicable institutional, legal, or regulatory requirements.

Privacy Choices and Opt-Out Options

Muhlenberg provides information about its digital privacy practices so visitors can make informed choices about cookies, analytics, advertising technologies, and communications preferences.

Users may choose to limit certain types of data collection:

• Most web browsers allow users to control cookies through browser settings.
• Users may opt out of certain advertising technologies through industry tools such as the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) or similar consumer opt-out mechanisms.
• Google Analytics provides an opt-out browser add-on for users who wish to prevent their data from being used for analytics.
• Some IP-based or device-based advertising technologies may not be fully controlled through browser cookie settings. Users may limit certain types of interest-based advertising through device settings, browser privacy tools, platform-specific advertising settings, and applicable industry opt-out mechanisms.
• Certain college websites, forms, and third-party platforms may provide additional privacy or cookie preference controls, such as a “Your Privacy Choices” or a similar link. Where available, visitors may use these controls to manage optional analytics or advertising technologies associated with that service.

Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the website.

Contact Information

Questions about this Privacy Policy or Muhlenberg’s digital privacy practices may be directed to:

Muhlenberg College
Office of Communications and Marketing
Office of Information Technology

Last Revised: 10/26/2026