Data Protection

Information will be held securely on the FOCUS database in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.  This data is used by academic, administrative and support departments to promote links between Coventry University, its former students and supporters. 

These uses include: the mailing and emailing of news; promotion of relevant opportunities, benefits, services and events; friend-finding; enabling members to give back to the university and its past, present and future students through supporting recruitment, careers programmes and other volunteering initiatives, fundraising, research and by advocacy within the community. The data will not be disclosed to external organisations other than those acting in their capacity of an agent of the University, unless legally required by law enforcement agencies.

We will always keep records for historical and statistical purposes (and statistics will always be anonymous and unattributable), however, if you do not wish your contact details (addresses, telephone, faxes, emails) to be used for these purposes, or if you prefer to restrict their uses to specific activities listed above, please contact us at alumni@coventry.ac.uk, or write to the Data Officer, The Development Office, Alan Berry Building, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB.

We have a duty of care to keep data up-to-date in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998, so we will contact you periodically if the details we have for you appear to be out-of-date. You can always update your details directly by logging in and visiting your profile update form.

Please note: this statement must be read in conjunction with the University's data protection policies which can be found at this link. Please be aware that we may need to alter our data protection policies in line with Governmental policy. You should periodically check this statement, and the University's statement, to make sure that you agree to the terms and conditions listed.

Website use and accessibility

Use of Links

We may provide links throughout our website to other servers which may contain information of interest to our readers. We take no responsibility for, and exercise no control over, the organisations’ views or the accuracy of the information contained on other servers. Creating a text link from your website to our site does not require permission. If you have a link you'd like us to consider adding to our website, please send an email to alumni@coventry.ac.uk with the subject "Link request" and tell us about your website.

Use of Text and Images

If you would like to publish information that you find on our website, please send a request to alumni@coventry.ac.uk. Where text or images are posted on our site with the permission of the original copyright holder, a copyright statement appears at the bottom of the page. You can learn more about the University's policy on photographs here.

We will need to approve any profile pictures which you upload. These pictures will only be used in your online profile. They will not be stored or used by us in any other manner. Please bear in mind that other users may be able to see your profile picture(s) and it’s your responsibility to choose an image you are willing to share with other users. 

Data Protection & Privacy Policy

IN BRIEF: By using this website you agree to honour our terms and conditions. When you visit our site, we will not obtain personally identifying information about you unless you choose to provide such information to us. Access to the login area of the FOCUS online community is restricted to University staff and members of FOCUS. Details about FOCUS members are stored in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act on a secure database for specific uses and users.

Access to the online community

Membership

You must be an alumni (former student, graduate or staff member), or a current staff member or student of Coventry to access the secured online services. Friends cannot access the online directory. By registering online you are actively joining Friends of Coventry University (FOCUS). Please learn more about the benefits of joining here and how to register here. Membership to FOCUSonline requires a valid email address. If you require any further information, please contact us before joining at alumni@coventry.ac.uk.

Directory

By using the directory you agree to the terms and conditions listed:

• You will not share your login details with anyone else, or allow other people to use your login in order to access the online directory.
• Any business approaches must be targeted to the other member’s interests. You may not make more then one approach to a member, and must mention that you found their contact details on this site.
• You will not redistribute information, or compile and store it elsewhere.
• FOCUS cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or consequential losses or damages as a result of the online database; contact data is revealed on an opt-in only basis and is up to the member’s discretion.

Any use considered to be an abuse of these terms will result in termination of access.

FOCUS on groups

All graduates and students can join these but we do need to make a note of your contact details on our database in order to let you join; please login to the site to join or email us at alumni@coventry.ac.uk for more information.

Please note:
The only group not run by us is the Lanchester Association, the association for retired staff members of Coventry University. The link above therefore goes to their homepage. However, members of the Association do receive FOCUS member benefits and our bi-annual magazine evolve. If you join the Lanchester Association via our site, we will keep a note of your details to send you evolve, and will pass your details onto their secretary so that your membership request will be processed.