Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to UMich Salary Explorer. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information when you interact with our website.

At UMich Salary Explorer, we are committed to maintaining transparency in our data practices and ensuring that your browsing experience is both secure and informative. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please visit our Contact Us page.

2. Information We Collect

When you use UMich Salary Explorer, we may collect certain types of information to enhance your experience and ensure the functionality of our services. This information is classified into non-personally identifiable information and voluntarily provided data.

A. Non-Personally Identifiable Information (Automatic Data Collection)

To improve the quality of our services, we automatically collect certain data when you access our website. This may include, but is not limited to:

• IP Address: Used for analytical purposes and to monitor site traffic trends
• Browser Type and Device Information: To optimize website functionality for different devices
• Operating System and Screen Resolution: To enhance user experience
• Website Usage Data: Including page visits, time spent on the site, and navigation behavior
• Referring URLs: To analyze how users arrive at our site

This data is collected for analytics and performance improvements only and is never linked to personally identifiable information.

B. Voluntarily Provided Information

Users may also provide information voluntarily through interactions with the site, such as:

• Search Queries: Collected to refine and improve search functionalities
• Feedback and Survey Responses: Used to enhance the quality of our services
• Contact Form Submissions: Used solely for responding to inquiries

At no point do we collect personally identifiable information unless it is explicitly and voluntarily provided by the user.

3. How We Use Your Information

The data we collect is used strictly for the purpose of improving the UMich Salary Explorer experience. Specifically, we use this information for:

• Website Optimization: Ensuring the site is user-friendly and accessible across different devices
• Traffic Analysis: Understanding how users interact with our website to make data-driven improvements
• Security and Fraud Prevention: Monitoring website traffic to detect and prevent malicious activity
• Compliance with Legal Obligations: In rare cases where data may be required for legal or regulatory purposes

Your data will never be sold, leased, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

A. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help improve your browsing experience. UMich Salary Explorer uses cookies for various functions, including session management, analytics, and performance monitoring.

B. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies to:

• Remember User Preferences: Save settings such as language and display options
• Analyze Website Traffic: Understand how users engage with different sections of our site
• Enhance Performance: Improve loading times and optimize content delivery

C. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have full control over cookie settings and can modify them through your browser preferences. However, disabling cookies may result in some features of the site not functioning as intended.

For more details on how cookies work, please visit our FAQ page.

5. Third-Party Services

To provide a seamless and efficient browsing experience, we may use third-party services such as:

• Google Analytics: To track website performance and user engagement
• Google AdSense: To display relevant advertisements based on non-personally identifiable data

These third-party providers have their own privacy policies, and we do not control their data collection practices. If you wish to opt out of third-party tracking, you can do so by modifying your browser settings or using opt-out tools provided by the respective services.

More details about our data sources can be found on our Sources page.

6. Data Retention and Security

A. How Long We Retain Data

We retain collected data only for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Data retention periods depend on the type of information:

• Website Analytics Data: Stored for up to 12 months for trend analysis
• Search Queries and Feedback Data: Stored indefinitely for continuous site improvement

B. Security Measures

We take reasonable precautions to protect user data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. Security measures include:

• Encryption: Securing data transmissions using industry-standard encryption protocols
• Access Controls: Restricting access to sensitive data to authorized personnel only
• Regular Security Audits: Evaluating vulnerabilities to ensure continued protection

While we strive to protect all data, no system is completely immune from cyber threats. We recommend that users take their own precautions when browsing online.

7. Your Rights and Choices

We respect your right to control how your data is used. You have the following options:

• Opt-Out of Analytics Tracking: Modify browser settings to disable cookies or use private browsing modes
• Access and Delete Data: Request a summary of any data stored about you and request deletion if applicable
• Modify Cookie Preferences: Manage your tracking settings through browser controls

For further assistance, please visit our Contact Us page.

8. Policy Updates and Changes

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any significant changes will be:

• Posted on this page with a revised Last Updated date
• Communicated via a site notification if the changes are substantial

Your continued use of UMich Salary Explorer constitutes acceptance of any modifications to this Privacy Policy.

9. Data Collection Transparency

Our salary data is sourced directly from publicly available University of Michigan reports to ensure accuracy and credibility. We do not manipulate or alter this data in any way.

For more details on our data sources, visit our Sources page.

10. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please reach out to us via our Contact Us page.

We are committed to transparency and user trust, and we appreciate your support in making UMich Salary Explorer a reliable and informative platform.