About Privacy
Our Approach to Privacy
At Tufts, privacy is more than a compliance requirement—it is an expression of our institutional values. Responsible data use supports discovery, innovation, and effective operations. At the same time, inappropriate or unclear data practices can create risk for individuals and for the University.
Our privacy program is designed to help the University:
- Support responsible use of information in teaching, research, healthcare, advancement, and operations
- Protect individuals from unnecessary or inappropriate collection, use, or disclosure of personal data
- Promote transparency and accountability in how information is handled across Tufts
- Meet global, federal, and state privacy requirements
- Foster thoughtful, ethical decision making when working with data
Privacy at Tufts is a shared responsibility, involving faculty, staff, students, leadership, and institutional partners. Working together, ethical data stewardship at Tufts includes:
Respect for Individuals
Recognizing the dignity, autonomy, and reasonable expectations of people whose information we hold.
Purposeful and Proportionate Use
Collecting and using data that is relevant and necessary to advance clearly defined, legitimate University activities.
Transparency and Openness
Communicating how information is collected, used, shared, and retained whenever possible.
Accountability and oversight.
Providing appropriate governance, documentation, and review of data practices across schools and departments.
Equity and Fairness
Being attentive to the ways data practices may affect individuals and communities differently, and working to reduce bias or unintended harm.
These principles are especially important as analytics, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence become more integrated into academic and administrative work.