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Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

These Terms of Use describe the terms of your usage of www.necmusic.edu (the “website”). Please read these terms carefully before using the website. By using the website, you signify your consent to the terms. If you do not agree to the terms, please do not use this site.

The text, audio, images, photographs, graphics, descriptions, and other material provided on the website are collectively referred to as the “Content.” You may view and listen to the Content only for personal and non-commercial purposes. Nothing contained on the website will be construed as granting, by implication or otherwise, any right to use, reproduce, modify, transmit, display, publish, sell, create derivative works, publicly perform, or distribute by any means, method, or process whatsoever, now known or hereafter developed, any of the Content on or transmitted through the website for commercial purposes. The use of any Content on any other World Wide website is prohibited.

All users shall comply with all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, and regulations regarding use of the website.

NEC generally welcomes links to its website. You may establish a link to the website, provided that the link does not state or imply any sponsorship or endorsement of your website or its contents by NEC or by any group or individual related to or affiliated with NEC. You must obtain NEC’s express written consent in order to use on your website any content provided on NEC’s website. NEC may include links to other Internet sites solely as a convenience to users of its website. NEC does not necessarily endorse any such websites or the information, material, products or services contained on or accessible through such websites. Users access and use such websites, including information, material, products, and services therein, solely at the users’ own risk. NEC is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such other Internet sites.

Your use and browsing in the website are at your own risk. NEC makes no warranties or representations as to the Content and assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions therein. NEC also assumes no responsibility, and shall not be liable for, any damages to, or viruses that may infect, your computer equipment or other property on account of your access to, use of, or browsing in the website or your downloading of any materials from the website.

Privacy Notice

Overview

The New England Conservatory of Music (“NEC” or “the Conservatory”) is committed to respecting the privacy of information and data that may be used to identify you (your “personal information”). This Privacy Notice describes our policies and practices regarding the most common ways we collect, use, disclose, or otherwise process your personal information. In certain circumstances, we may provide you with supplemental disclosures regarding our data processing activities.

Information We Collect and How We Use Your Personal Information

Applicants and Prospective Students

NEC collects and uses personal information about applicants and other prospective students, including Adult Education students, (referred to collectively as “applicants”). If you are or have been an applicant, we may collect and use the following types of personal information about you:

  • Information and supporting documentation that you provide in your application, including through third parties
  • Related application materials (e.g., recommendations, references, and test scores)
  • Information that you have permitted a third party, such as The College Board, to release (e.g., AP or PSAT scores, demographic information, family information, academic information)
  • Contact information for prospective students that we receive from other institutions and from vendors who conduct advertising activities for us
  • Financial information, including financial information about your family members (e.g., information collected in connection with applications for financial aid)
  • Survey responses (if you choose to respond to a survey sent by us or on our behalf)

Your personal information is used primarily to evaluate your application and related activities, such as evaluating requests for financial aid, communicating with you about your application, and other administrative functions related to the admissions and enrollment process. We may also use or disclose your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To consider requests for accommodations
  • For research and statistical purposes
  • To provide you with information about NEC and events that you might be interested in attending
  • To send surveys for research purposes
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of NEC’s property, website, and other systems
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

We may share your information with the following individuals and entities:

  • Individuals who assist in the application process, such as faculty and outside consultants
  • Other departments within NEC, including our fundraising offices
  • Your financial institutions and funders (e.g., as necessary for obtaining loans, scholarships, or other funding)
  • Other educational institutions (e.g., in order to send you information about jointly hosted informational events)
  • Vendors who provide services to the Conservatory
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as conducting our admissions activities
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as processing your application for admission
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Students, Faculty, and Staff

When you are a student at the Conservatory, or a member or prospective member of the faculty and staff, we maintain records containing your personal information. We may collect and use the following types of personal information about you, as applicable:

  • Your contact information and biographical data (e.g., name, address, date of birth, race, ethnicity, family information)
  • Application materials and supporting documents (e.g., applications for admission or employment)
  • Copies of identification documents and other official documents (e.g. driver’s license, I-9 form, passport/visa information)
  • Employment and/or educational records (e.g., job history, job reviews, transcript information)
  • Academic work product and related information (e.g., research and course-related content)
  • Records about your other activities (e.g., involvement in clubs, disciplinary actions and similar incidents)
  • Financial information (e.g., payroll information, information related to tuition payments)
  • Health information (Most health information about Conservatory students is stored in the records of NEC Health and Counseling Services for the purpose of providing you with health care services, although some is stored in other locations, such as disability services documentation submitted to Student Services. Please refer to the NEC Health and Counseling Services Privacy Practices for additional information regarding the use and disclosure of health information in connection with the NEC Health Services.)
  • Information about technology usage (e.g., IP addresses, software downloads)

We use this information for the following purposes as applicable:

  • To provide educational, employment and/or related services (e.g., maintaining relevant records of your studies or employment, providing you with access to facilities and support services, such as counseling and IT services)
  • To administer the financial aspects of the relationship (e.g., payroll, collecting tuition, coordinating with lenders or other funders)
  • To enable your participation at events and in other opportunities (e.g., graduation, internships)
  • To protect the educational integrity of the school (e.g. disciplinary actions)
  • To accommodate special needs (e.g., disability accommodations)
  • For research and statistical purposes related to our educational and/or other services
  • To provide basic contact information in student, faculty, and/or staff directories
  • For the general operations of NEC and related administrative functions
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of NEC’s property, website, and other systems.
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

We may share your personal information with the following:

  • Faculty and staff at NEC in order to fulfill their responsibilities
  • School officials with legitimate educational interest (e.g. for Harvard, Tufts or Pro-Arts Cross Registration)
  • Your lenders, funders, and/or other sponsors
  • Providers of any external programs you participate in
  • Student clubs and related organizations
  • Other departments within NEC, including our fundraising offices
  • Trustees for outreach in governance related matters
  • Individuals or entities inquiring about your attendance or employment history
  • Vendors who provide services to NEC
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as fulfilling our educational mission
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as providing you with educational services or managing your employment relationship
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Alumni and Other Supporters

NEC holds personal information related to its alumni and other supporters (such as donors, prospective donors, volunteers, and family members of students). If you are an alumna or other supporter, we may collect and use the following types of personal information about you:

  • Academic information (e.g., major, transcript, degree)
  • Biographical information (e.g., name, date of birth, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation)
  • Contact information (e.g., email address, phone number)
  • Your activities at NEC (e.g., club memberships)
  • Your involvement with NEC and other interests (e.g., attendance at events, philanthropic interests)
  • Family information (e.g., marital status, name of spouse)
  • Health information (e.g., disability, food allergies)
  • Financial information (e.g., history of donations, wealth information)
  • Employment information

We collect data about alumni and other supporters from various sources, including directly from the individual (for example, by filling out a form on our website) and from other individuals (for example, students provide information about family members). We also retain information from your student records if you studied here. We also collect information from publicly available sources, such as social media, and from third parties, such as companies that conduct wealth screening or other people that might know you and your philanthropic interests.

Your personal information is used for the following purposes:

  • Sending you informational publications (e.g. workshop and event notifications, and NEC publications)
  • Conducting surveys so that we can learn more about our alumni and other supporters
  • Providing services (do we provide alum or other services to this group?)
  • Sending you information about fundraising campaigns, events, and volunteer opportunities that may be of interest to you
  • Conducting wealth analysis and research to understand your philanthropic interests and ability to give in order to ensure that our fundraising efforts are tailored to your interests
  • For administrative purposes (e.g., processing donations and issuing a tax receipt, managing events)
  • For research and statistical purposes
  • To publicly acknowledge gifts (with consent of the donor)
  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of NEC’s property, website, and other systems
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

We share your personal information with the following:

  • NEC departments, clubs, and interest groups
  • Other NEC alumni (limited contact information only)
  • Other individuals or entities with a legitimate interest in your personal information
  • Vendors who provide services to NEC
  • Governmental bodies as necessary for compliance with law, with law enforcement authorities when necessary, and other third parties to enforce our legal rights
  • Private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations.
  • Trustees for outreach in governance related matters

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as maintaining alumni relationships and conducting fundraising activities
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as providing certain alumni services
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • When necessary for scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
  • With your consent, when applicable

Website Visitors

The NEC website is an information system intended to present an integrated view of the Conservatory to prospective students, alumni, the members of the NEC community, and others with an interest in the New England Conservatory of Music. If you visit this site to view or download information, or submit information to us, we or our third-party vendors may automatically collect the following types of personal information:

  •  the name of the domain from which you access the Internet
  •  the date and time of your visit
  •  the page/s you visit
  •  your computing platform

Some of this information may be collected through the use of cookies, which are text files that are placed on your hard disk by a web server, or similar technologies, such as web beacons. Some of these cookies are managed by third parties that we do not control, such as Google Analytics. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies by changing your browser settings. If you choose to decline cookies, some features on this website may not work properly.

If you use our website to complete forms, use our applications, or submit information to us (such as through a form), we will collect the information that you provide to us, as well as related information such as your login ID.

The data collected with cookies and similar technologies are used in the aggregate for purposes of analyzing site traffic, managing the site, and providing accountability regarding the usefulness of our work.

If you provide us with information via a form, we will use that information for the purposes described on the form.

We may also use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • For compliance with legal obligations, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process, and to enforce our agreements
  • To prevent or investigate fraud or other unlawful activity, and to protect the security of NEC’s property, website, and other systems.
  • To meet the obligations of private organizations with oversight over NEC, such as accreditation organizations
  • To protect the health, safety, or rights of you, other students, faculty, staff, and visitors

Personal information collected automatically on this website is not disclosed to third parties unless the third party is an institutionally authorized provider of services to the Conservatory. Information collected through website forms is used as specified on the form or as otherwise described in this notice.

This web site contains links to many sites that are beyond our control. NEC is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these other sites. Users of these services are subject to the privacy policies established by the third-party provider.

With respect to personal information subject to the GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing:

  • Our legitimate interests, such as monitoring our website usage
  • To provide you with services or perform on contractual obligations, such as managing our relationships with our suppliers and alumni
  • For compliance with our legal obligations
  • With your consent, when applicable

Transfer of Information to the United States

NEC is located in the United States. Information we collect from you will be processed by NEC in the United States. The Conservatory may also transfer your personal information to third parties, including our vendors, as described in this notice that may be located outside of the European Economic Area (“EEA”).

The United States has not sought nor received a finding of “adequacy” from the EEA, which means that the data protection laws in the United States may not offer you the same protections as in the country in which you are residing when the personal information is collected. With respect to transfers outside the EEA, NEC generally relies on derogations for specific situations. In some circumstances, the Conservatory may enter into standard contractual clauses governing the import or export of personal information, or rely on your consent. In all cases, NEC endeavors to apply suitable safeguards to protect the privacy and security of your personal information, particularly sensitive data, and to use it in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Notice.

Retention of Data

The Conservatory retains personal information about students and alumni indefinitely for the purpose of alumni relationships, academic record-keeping, and archiving purposes. Other personal information will be retained in accordance with applicable NEC data retention policies.

Communications from the Conservatory

The Conservatory periodically sends marketing communications to alumni, supporters, and other members of the NEC community, such as newsletters, event invitations, and fundraising information. If you would like to request that the Conservatory limit or stop these marketing communications with you, please contact us at privacy@necmusic.edu. If you request to be removed from our mailing lists, we will retain your contact information to ensure that we do not continue to contact you for these purposes. If applicable, we will also continue to process your personal information for other purposes consistent with this Privacy Notice.

Individual Rights

If you are located in the EEA, you may have the following legal rights under applicable law with respect to the personal information processed by the Conservatory:

  • To withdraw consent at any time, if we are processing your personal information on the basis of consent
  • To access the information that NEC has about you
  • To request that NEC rectify or erase your information
  • To request that NEC restrict the way it uses your information
  • To object to the way NEC uses your information
  • To ask NEC to transfer your information to someone else
  • To lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in the EEA

The Conservatory’s ability or obligation to comply with your requests may be limited by applicable law.

To request to exercise one of these rights, please contact us at privacy@necmusic.edu.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

The Conservatory reserves the right to amend this Privacy Notice at any time, for any reason, without notice to you. Any changes will be published here and you should check our website to access our current Privacy Notice. This Privacy Notice was last updated February 11, 2022.

Contact Information

The controller of the personal information described in this Privacy Notice is:

New England Conservatory of Music
290 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Email: privacy@necmusic.edu

Questions, concerns, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Notice and the processing of personal information by the New England Conservatory of Music should be directed to privacy@necmusic.edu.