Privacy Policy

Information You Provide Voluntarily

You may choose to provide personal information when you:

• Make a donation
• Register for an event
• Update your alumni profile or contact information
• Subscribe to emails or text messages
• Complete a web form or survey
• Contact us by email, phone, or mail

Depending on the interaction, this information may include your:

• Name
• Mailing address
• Email address
• Phone number
• Graduation or affiliation information
• Employer information
• Giving preferences
• Payment information necessary to process a donation
• Any additional information you choose to provide

We collect only the information necessary to respond to your request, process your donation or registration, communicate with you, and support the mission of South Dakota Mines and CARA.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, we automatically collect certain technical information when you visit our website, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited
• Date and time of your visit
• Referring website
• General geographic location based on IP address
• Other website usage information

We use this information to understand how visitors interact with our website, improve website performance, enhance the user experience, measure the effectiveness of our communications, and support our fundraising and outreach efforts. Whenever possible, this information is analyzed in an aggregated or de-identified form.

Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve functionality, remember user preferences, analyze website traffic, and enhance our communications.

We use third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to better understand how visitors use our website. These services collect information through cookies and similar technologies.

We also use advertising technologies provided by third-party platforms, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns, improve the relevance of our communications, and reach prospective alumni, donors, and supporters.

These technologies may collect information about your interactions with our website and may be used to create custom audiences or lookalike audiences for advertising purposes.

When creating custom or lookalike audiences, we may securely provide limited contact information to trusted advertising platforms. This information is used solely to match existing users or identify audiences with similar characteristics. We do not receive personal information about individuals from these advertising platforms, and we do not sell your personal information.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that doing so may affect the functionality of certain features of our website.

Donations and Payment Information

Online donations made through our website are processed using secure third-party payment processing services. CARA does not store complete credit card or bank account information on its servers.

Information related to your gift is used to process your donation, provide receipts and acknowledgments, maintain donor records, comply with applicable laws, and communicate with you regarding your support of South Dakota Mines.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information you voluntarily provide to:

• Respond to your questions or requests
• Process donations, event registrations, and other transactions
• Send receipts, acknowledgments, and confirmations
• Share university news, events, giving opportunities, and alumni communications
• Personalize and improve our communications and outreach efforts
• Support digital advertising and audience engagement through trusted platforms
• Maintain accurate alumni and donor records
• Meet legal, financial, and reporting obligations

If you subscribe to one of our communication lists, you will receive only the types of communications you have requested. You may update your preferences or unsubscribe at any time.

SMS and Text Messaging

South Dakota Mines Center for Alumni Relations & Advancement (CARA) may use SMS (text messaging) to send transactional and informational communications related to our programs, events, deadlines, giving opportunities, registrations, and other important updates.

By providing your mobile phone number and opting in, you consent to receive these communications.

Please note:

• Message and data rates may apply.
• Message frequency varies.
• Reply STOP at any time to opt out of receiving text messages.
• Reply HELP for assistance.

Information collected through SMS, texting, or two-way messaging is used solely to communicate with you regarding CARA programs, services, and activities. SMS opt-in information and text messaging consent will not be sold, rented, or shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

Information Sharing

CARA does not sell or rent your personal information.

We may share limited personal information with trusted third-party service providers that assist us in carrying out our mission and operating our programs. These providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for the services they perform on our behalf.

Examples of these services include:

• Processing online donations and payments
• Managing event registrations
• Distributing email communications
• Printing and mailing publications, solicitations, and other communications through mailing and fulfillment vendors
• Managing alumni and donor records
• Providing website hosting, analytics, and technical support
• Supporting digital advertising, audience analytics, and marketing communications through trusted vendors 
• We may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, or when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of CARA, South Dakota Mines, or others.

Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the personal information you provide. While no method of internet transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure, we use industry-standard security practices to help protect your information.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites for your convenience or additional information. CARA is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Copyright and Use of Website Content

Unless otherwise noted, the text, graphics, photographs, videos, logos, and other content on this website are owned by or licensed to the Center for Alumni Relations & Advancement or South Dakota Mines.

Permission to reproduce or publish website content must be obtained in advance by contacting CARA.

Accessibility

CARA is committed to providing a website that is accessible to all users and strives to follow recognized accessibility standards.

If you experience difficulty accessing any content or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us:

Email: CARA@sdsmt.edu

Phone: 605.394.2436 

Children’s Privacy

Our website is not directed toward children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our website.

Your Privacy Choices

We respect your communication preferences and provide several ways for you to manage how we interact with you.

You may:

• Update your contact information by contacting CARA.
• Change your email communication preferences or unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in our email communications.
• Opt out of SMS text messages by replying STOP to any text message.
• Reply HELP to receive assistance with SMS messaging.
• Manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.
• Manage certain interest-based advertising preferences through your browser, device settings, or available industry opt-out tools.

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still contact you regarding donations, event registrations, transactions, or other administrative matters related to your relationship with CARA.

Certain information may be retained as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, including donor stewardship, financial recordkeeping, tax reporting, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or organizational operations. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us:

Center for Alumni Relations & Advancement (CARA)

South Dakota Mines

330 E. Kansas City Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

Email: CARA@sdsmt.edu

Phone: 605.394.2436