Privacy Policy

Privacy and Security Policy

​​The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) maintains this Web site as a public service. This policy describes TEEX’s privacy and security practices regarding information collected from visitors to the site, including what information is collected and how that information is used. The policy applies to all pages beginning with www.teex.com, teexweb.tamu.edu, and teexweb.teex.tamus.edu. Please note that all information collected or maintained by TEEX is subject to the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552, Texas Government Code). The identity of most members of the public who communicate with state agencies through the Internet is confidential under Texas law. Exceptions to confidentiality may be reviewed at Texas Government code, Section 552.137. 

Social Security Number 

All participants of TEEX courses, technical assistance, and exercises are advised that disclosure of a full Social Security Number (SSN) is optional unless required for reporting purposes by the participant’s occupation’s certifying organization or a grant/contract sponsor. The SSN is used to maintain accurate participant training records and to reliably report such data to supervisors or other agencies. A participant SSN will not be disclosed to any other person(s) without the participant’s prior written consent. Section 559.003 of the Texas Government Code requires that all participants be informed that, with few exceptions, participants are entitled on request, to receive, review and correct any information collected by the use of this form. It is the policy of TEEX that all federal statutes will be followed pertaining to employment and recruitment of students without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability.

Use/Release of Information Server Logs/Log Analysis Tools

TEEX uses server logs and log analysis tools to create summary statistics about Web site usage to improve site management. The statistics are used for purposes such as assessing what information is of most interest to users, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas. TEEX does not report or use this information in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information, and does not release the information to any outside parties unless required to do so under applicable law. The following information is collected for this analysis:

  • User/client hostname – Hostname (or IP address, if DNS is disabled) of the user/client requesting access.
  • HTTP header, “user-agent” – Type of browser used, the browser version, and the operating system it is running on.
  • HTTP header, “referrer” – Page from which the user/client accessed the current page.
  • System date – Date and time of the user/client request.
  • Full request – Exact request the user/client made.
  • Status – Status code the server returned to the user/client.
  • Content length – Length, in bytes, of the document sent to the user/client.
  • Method – Request method used.
  • Uniform Resource Identifier (URI or URL) – Location of a resource on the server.
  • Query string of the URL – Anything after the question mark in a URL.
  • Protocol – Transport protocol and version used.

Security and Intrusion Detection Language

We use a secure socket layer (SSL) connection to enhance the security of any information you choose to submit to us on our Web site. In other areas of our Web site, we provide only the security necessary to maintain our Web site and information we provide to you. TEEX monitors network traffic for site security purposes and to ensure that the site remains available to all users. Unauthorized attempts to upload information, change information on this site, or otherwise cause damage are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under Texas Penal Code Chapters 33 (Computer Crimes) or 33A (Telecommunications Crimes). Except as may be required for authorized law enforcement investigations, no attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. TEEX does not use raw data logs for any other purposes; however, it is possible that parts of raw data logs could be determined to be open records by the Office of the Attorney General. If such a determination were made subsequent to a Public Information Act request for the logs, TEEX would be required to disclose parts of the logs deemed open by the Office of the Attorney General. 

E-Mail

State agencies may not sell or release the e-mail addresses of most members of the public that have been provided to communicate electronically with a government body without the affirmative consent of the affected member of the public. Exemptions to this confidentiality may be reviewed at Texas Government Code, Section 552.137. Personally identifiable information contained in a question or comment sent to TEEX in an e-mail message or submitted in an online form is only used by TEEX to respond to the request and to analyze trends. TEEX may redirect the message to another government agency or government employee who is in a better position to answer the question.

Web-Based Forms

TEEX uses Web-based forms for such purposes as collecting survey results and providing online registration. Personally identifiable information collected from Web-based forms has a specified use (for example, registration, survey response, etc.) and TEEX uses the information only for that purpose. Each Web-based form contains a link to this privacy policy. An individual who submits information in electronic format through this Web site is entitled, on request, to receive and review the information TEEX collects about the individual, and to have TEEX correct the information. To do this, please contact TEEX at [email protected]. 

Cookies and Web Bugs

The TEEX Web site may use cookies to provide interactive pages, such as Web-based forms, surveys and courses. TEEX does not use cookies for other purposes. The TEEX Web site does use Google Analytics to track what visitor’s are looking at on the website. If you have questions or comments about TEEX’s privacy and security policy, please send an email to [email protected] or call TEEX at (979) 458-6874.