WGU's Privacy Policy
Effective December 2021 - September 2023
WGU Respects your Privacy
Effective 12/02/21
Western Governors University and our affiliated entities (collectively, “WGU”) are all committed to ensuring your privacy. WGU will safeguard your information as a student or as an interested party in one of WGU’s degree programs. WGU and its affiliates and legally contracted third-party affiliates have permission to contact you regarding your education related needs via phone call, physical mail, voicemail (including pre-recorded informational voice-messaging and reminders), text/SMS, email or other electronic communications initiated by a WGU Enrollment Counselor, affiliate or auto-dialer to a mobile phone device, landline, computer, tablet or any device not yet invented.
WGU message frequency varies based on account status and best practices for reaching and helping each student, and contact may occur between the hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (including in WA, OK, FL, or other states or US territory). Since many degrees and programs can take up to four, six and even eight years to complete, this permission will be valid for up to eight years of the opt-in date. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, reply STOP to unsubscribe. If you opt-out at any point and wish to receive scholarship or program information call 866-225-5948 or text reply START to re-subscribe.
We also ensure your privacy in the following ways:
- We require our employees to keep your personal information confidential.
- We only authorize access to your personal information to employees and vendors working on our behalf who need your information to perform their duties (further explained below).
- We safeguard your personal information through electronic, procedural, and physical means.
WGU Affiliates include WGU Academy,
WGU Advancement, and WGU Labs.
All WGU Affiliates are required to
protect your data in accordance with this policy.
Website Information
When you visit the WGU.edu website, the only personal information WGU collects about you is the information you voluntarily provide through our online inquiry or application forms. Any personally identifiable information collected about you on this website is used by WGU to contact you about the university’s programs, administer your application to the university, improve our services, and provide additional information as needed, potentially including contact via phone or email.
WGU will not release, sell, rent, or trade your personal information gathered on the website to any third party.
WGU will collect anonymous non-personally identifiable information about your website visit through pixel tags, sometimes known as cookies. These tags help us track information about your visit and are used to deliver banner advertisements to you on the Internet. WGU participates in the Adobe Marketing Cloud Device Co-op to better understand how you use our websites across various devices you use, and to deliver personalized content.
How We Treat your Personal Information as a Prospective Student:
As a prospective student, your email address and other personal information will never be shared with third parties. Your assigned WGU Enrollment Counselor and other departments in the university will use your email address and other personal information to provide you with the information you request about your degree program of interest, tuition, financial aid, and any other topics pertaining to enrollment in the university.
If you apply or enroll as a WGU student, WGU uses passwords to protect the privacy of applicants and students who use personalized areas of its sites. The highest level of security is used for storing information (SSL encryption). WGU staff monitors the sites for technical reliability.
How we Treat Your Personal Information as a Student:
As a WGU student, your personal information (including email address) may be shared with learning resource providers, assessment sites, and other external vendors who support the academic programs. These vendors are obligated through their agreements with WGU to maintain the privacy of WGU students. Student directory information may be shared with outside institutions and corporations.
Opt-out policy:
At any time, you have the option and the right to request that WGU discontinue further communications via email, text/SMS, phone, or direct mail.
To opt out by postal mail, send a written request containing your name and mailing address to:
Western Governors University
ATTN: Enrollment Department
4001 South 700 East, Suite 700
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
To opt out by phone:
Call the WGU Enrollment Department toll-free 1-866-225-5948
To opt out via WGU’s website:
Visit the WGU Preference Center
You can also send your request via email to unsubscribe@wgu.edu.
Call recording.
All calls with WGU and its affiliates may be recorded for quality and training purposes.
- As a prospective student, you may opt out of outbound call recording at any time by
- updating your preferences in the enrollment portal upon completion of an admissions application or
- emailing enrollment@wgu.edu.
- As a WGU student, you may opt out of outbound call recording at any time by updating your call recording preference through the Security tab in the student portal or WGU mobile app.
Note: It may take WGU and its affiliates up to three (3) business days to implement an opt out request.
FERPA Compliance:
As WGU complies with the protections established under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student education records. FERPA governs the release of education records and access to education records.
The FERPA policy is intended to ensure students have the right to inspect and review their education records; the right to amend their education records as appropriate; and the right to control access to their education records. Students have the right to: (1) inspect and review their education records, (2) request amendment to their education records, (3) consent to disclosures of non-directory information, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent, and (4) file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by WGU to comply with FERPA requirements.
Students have the right to request that their records be amended if they believe the content is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Student directory information may be shared with outside institutions and corporations.
For details about WGU’s policy on the use of student information and the procedures WGU has established in accordance with FERPA, please see the WGU Student Handbook.
Students who do not wish to be listed in the student directory or to be included on WGU mailing lists may send their request via email to unsubscribe@wgu.edu.
