Privacy Policy

About this policy

Ave Maria University operates alumni.avemaria.edu to help alumni stay connected, manage their profiles, share updates and prayer requests, and participate in university activities. This policy explains information use on this alumni platform. It supplements the University Privacy Policy. Other university services may have their own notices and choices.

Information we use and why

Profile information may come from university records, earlier alumni updates, or information you submit. A directory listing may exist before its owner claims an account. Claiming verifies control of the profile; it does not provide blanket consent to marketing or publication.

• Identity, contact details, graduation and academic information help us identify your profile, maintain alumni records, and respond to requests.
• Profile photos, employment, business, social links, location, and interests support the directory, map, service listings, and connections you choose to use.
• Messages, connection requests, volunteer or mentorship interests, event responses, stories, and prayer submissions let us provide the feature you request and review submitted content.
• Account credentials, verification information, session data, and technical request information support sign-in, account recovery, security, and operation of the site.

University staff with responsibility for these services may access information to administer them. A display setting controls sharing through the platform; it does not erase the underlying university record.

Who can see your information

The alumni directory and profile details are available to authorized signed-in users and university administrators. Your profile display choices control optional contact, location, business, social, and other displayed fields. Public news, events, stories, and other content published on public pages can be read by anyone and may be copied or indexed by search engines.

The map uses city-level locations rather than street-address pins. Choosing to appear by name on the map can show your name and class year with that approximate location. Map information may also include grouped location counts. Review your location and map choices before enabling them.

Only a claimed account that permits member messages can receive a new member message. A connection request or staff introduction does not mean the other person has agreed to a relationship or to further contact.

Manage your profile and contact choices

In My Profile, save your privacy choices separately from profile content edits. Saved privacy choices take effect without waiting for content moderation, including when another profile edit is pending. Profile content changes may require staff review.

• Member messages: choose whether other alumni can send you new messages through the platform.
• Staff relay email: a separate choice controls whether Alumni Relations may forward contact requests to you by email.
• Newsletters: newsletter subscriptions are separate from member messaging and account ownership. Use the unsubscribe or preference link in a delivered newsletter, or contact Alumni Relations for help. A profile setting alone does not establish the delivery preferences for every university mailing.

Account verification, password recovery, security notices, and confirmations needed to provide a service you request are separate from optional outreach. Turning off optional contact does not prevent these service messages. Changing a setting cannot retrieve information already received or copied by others.

Prayer requests and sensitive information

Choose an audience when submitting a prayer request:

• Private: Alumni Relations staff only.
• Community: the signed-in alumni community, with first name only unless you choose to be anonymous.
• Public: anyone visiting the website. Your name may appear unless you choose to be anonymous.

Requests are reviewed before publication. Prayer text can reveal health, religious, family, or other sensitive information. Anonymous display hides your name from the audience, but staff still receive your submission and contact details. Details in the text may identify you or another person. Do not submit someone else's private information without their permission. Contact Alumni Relations to request a change or removal after submission.

Service providers and outside content

Service providers support the platform. Amazon Web Services provides hosting and storage, and Resend supports platform email delivery. University newsletter delivery is managed separately. Staff have an AI-assisted news drafting tool that sends entered headlines, bullet points, and categories to Anthropic.

Maps use OpenStreetMap tiles and Nominatim location lookup. The location lookup uses city, state, and country information rather than your name or email. Loading maps or embedded YouTube and Wistia media can share your IP address, browser information, and details about the requested content with those providers. Their services may use cookies or other browser storage under their own policies. YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed address does not mean no information is shared.

The site uses session cookies for sign-in and account security. Browser controls can limit cookies and storage, but blocking them may affect site features. Links to outside websites take you to services with their own privacy practices.

Retention and security

We retain information as needed for the purposes described here, subject to university record-retention requirements and legal obligations. Retention can differ for account records, messages, submissions, and institutional records. Closing an account or removing public content does not necessarily delete records that the university must retain. Account access controls and other safeguards help protect information, but no online service can guarantee complete security. Keep your credentials private and report suspected misuse to Alumni Relations.

Questions, corrections, and removal requests

To request access, correction, removal, a change to sharing, or help with an unclaimed profile, email AlumniRelations@avemaria.edu. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. Available rights and any limits depend on applicable law and the records involved. For original student records or a student-record directory restriction, contact the University Registrar. Alumni profile choices do not replace those institutional restrictions.

Ave Maria University, Alumni Relations
5050 Ave Maria Blvd, Ave Maria, FL 34142

Updates to this policy will appear on this page with a revised effective date and notice version. Review the notice presented with a feature before submitting information or choosing a wider audience.