RGVBizgrid Privacy Policy

This privacy policy (“policy”) will help you understand how UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) (“us”, “we”, “our”) uses and protects the data you provide to us when you visit and use www.rgvbizgrid.com (“website”, “service”).

We reserve the right to change this policy at any given time, of which you will be promptly updated. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we advise you to frequently visit this page. 

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) maintains its web site, www.rgvbizgrid.com, as a service to its students, employees and to the general public. UTRGV CIC has created this privacy statement to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy and to address concerns about the types of information gathered and how that information is used for all pages on the official UTRGV site. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for the web site: ww.rgvbizgrid.com. 

What User Data We Collect

When you visit the website, we may collect the following data:

1. Your IP address.
2. Your contact information and email address collected by email and forms.

If a member of the general public sends UTRGV an e-mail message or fills out an e-mail or web-based form with a question or comment that contains personally identifying information, that information will only be used for the purposes for which the form is intended, to respond to the question or comment, and to analyze trends. The message or form may be redirected to another department or office in the University, institution, government agency or person who is better able to respond to the question or comment. UTRGV does not use such information in any way that would reveal personally identifying information to outside parties unless we are legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings.

1. Other information such as interests and preferences.
2. Data profile regarding your online behavior on our website.
3. Notice About Information Laws and Practices.

With few exceptions, you are entitled on your request to be informed about the information UTRGV collects about you. Under Sections 552.021 and 552.023 of the Texas Government Code, you are entitled to receive and review the information. Under Section 559.004 of the Texas Government Code, you are entitled to have UTRGV correct information about you that is held by us and that is incorrect, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Business Procedures Memorandum 32.  The information that UTRGV collects will be retained and maintained as required by Texas records retention laws (Section 441.180 et seq. of the Texas Government Code) and rules. Different types of information are kept for different periods of time.

1. Cookies

A “cookie” is a small file containing information that is placed on a user’s computer by a web server. Typically, these files are used to enhance the user’s experience of the site, to help users move between pages in a database, to customize information for a user or for web analytics. Information stored in cookies by UTRGV web servers is used for internal purposes only. It is not used in any way that would disclose personally identifiable information to outside parties unless the University is legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceeding.

1. Links

This site contains links to other sites outside of the utrgv.edu domain. UTRGV is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites.

1.  Contacting the Web Administrators

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or dealings with this web site, you can contact us at websupport@utrgv.edu.

Why We Collect Your Data

We are collecting your data for several reasons:

• To better understand your needs.
• To improve our services and products.
• To send you promotional emails containing the information we think you will find

interesting.

• To contact you to fill out surveys and participate in other types of market research.
• To customize our website according to your online behavior and personal preferences.

Safeguarding and Securing the Data

UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is committed to securing your data and keeping it confidential. CIC has done all in its power to prevent data theft, unauthorized access, and disclosure by implementing the latest technologies and software, which help us safeguard all the information we collect online.

Our Cookie Policy

Once you agree to allow our website to use cookies, you also agree to use the data it collects regarding your online behavior (analyze web traffic, web pages you spend the most time on, and websites you visit).

The data we collect by using cookies is used to customize our website to your needs. After we use the data for statistical analysis, the data is completely removed from our systems. Please note that cookies don’t allow us to gain control of your computer in any way. They are strictly used to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not so that we can provide a better experience for you.

If you want to disable cookies, you can do it by accessing the settings of your internet browser. You can visit www.internetcookies.com, which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers and devices.

Links to Other Websites

Our website contains links that lead to other websites. If you click on these links UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is not held responsible for your data and privacy protection. Visiting those websites is not governed by this privacy policy agreement. Make sure to read the privacy policy documentation of the website you go to from our website.

Restricting the Collection of your Personal Data

At some point, you might wish to restrict the use and collection of your personal data. You can achieve this by doing the following:

When you are filling the forms on the website, make sure to check if there is a box which you can leave unchecked if you don’t want to disclose your personal information. If you have already agreed to share your information with us, feel free to contact us via email and we will be more than happy to change this for you.

The UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) will not lease, sell or distribute your personal information to any third parties, unless we have your permission. We might do so if the law forces us. Your personal information will be used when we need to send you promotional materials if you agree to this privacy policy.

Personally Identifiable Information

Except as otherwise provided by applicable state or federal law, CIC does not sell or release personally identifiable information. Please note that information provided to CIC is generally public information subject to disclosure pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act or applicable federal legislation unless a specific statutory exception applies. Information about the Texas Public Information Act is available from the Office of the Attorney General, and at Texas Government Code, Chapter 552.

Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please feel free to contact our general CIC office to (956) 665-3918 or via email to Vivian Vargas, Program Coordinator at vivian.vargas01@utrgv.edu. If you have questions or concerns about how other state agencies or local government bodies handle personally identifiable information, please contact those governmental bodies directly.