Effective Date: June 6, 2025
Last Updated: June 6, 2025
Great Lakes Trade Academy (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected from students, prospective students, and website visitors (“you” or “your”). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our website, online learning platform, virtual training environments, and related services (collectively, the “Services”).
This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our Services, including our website at www.greatlakestradeacademy.com
, learning management system, virtual training environments, and any related applications or communications.
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
Educational Information: High school diploma or equivalent, prior education history, transcripts
Demographic Information: Date of birth, gender (optional), employment status
Program Information: Program selection, enrollment status, academic preferences
Financial Information: Payment information, billing address, financial aid documentation
Communication Records: Messages, emails, chat logs, and other communications with us
Application Materials: Enrollment applications, background check authorizations, accommodation requests
When you use our Services, we automatically collect certain information:
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, navigation paths
Learning Analytics: Course progress, module completion, assessment scores, time spent in training modules
Virtual Environment Data: Session logs, interaction patterns, skill assessments, safety protocol compliance
Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Technical Data: Login times, platform access logs, system performance metrics
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we maintain educational records including:
Academic Performance: Grades, assessment results, progress reports, certification status
Attendance Records: Login data, participation metrics, engagement tracking
Training Documentation: Virtual lab completion, practical skill demonstrations, safety certifications
Support Services: Tutoring records, accommodation documentation, counseling notes
Deliver online courses and training experiences
Track academic progress and generate progress reports
Provide personalized learning recommendations and AI-assisted instruction
Conduct assessments and issue certificates of completion
Facilitate instructor-student communications and office hours
Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance
Offer academic counseling and career guidance services
Coordinate accommodations for students with disabilities
Send important notifications about course updates, deadlines, and events
Process enrollment applications and manage student accounts
Handle billing, payments, and financial aid administration
Maintain accurate educational records as required by law
Generate reports for compliance and accreditation purposes
Send course-related notifications and reminders via email, SMS, or platform messaging
Provide AI-powered study tips, motivational messages, and learning assistance
Share program updates, career resources, and alumni networking opportunities
Respond to inquiries and provide customer service
Comply with federal and state educational regulations
Maintain records for licensing and regulatory audits
Investigate academic integrity or safety concerns
Respond to legal requests and protect our rights and interests
We work with trusted third-party partners to deliver our educational services. These partners may access your information solely to provide services on our behalf, including:
Learning management system providers for course delivery and progress tracking
Virtual reality training platform providers for hands-on skill development
Assessment and certification organizations for exam preparation and scoring
Technical support providers for platform maintenance and troubleshooting
All service providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for authorized purposes.
Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure for school oversight
Accrediting organizations for program evaluation and approval
Federal and state agencies for compliance reporting and audits
Certification bodies for exam eligibility verification
With your consent, we may share information with:
Employer partners for job placement and career opportunities
Career counseling services for resume development and interview preparation
Alumni networks for professional networking and mentorship
We may disclose your information when required by law or in good faith belief that disclosure is necessary to:
Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or regulatory requests
Protect the rights, property, or safety of Great Lakes Trade Academy, students, or others
Investigate suspected violations of our policies or terms of service
Respond to emergency situations involving health or safety
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to the same privacy protections outlined in this policy.
As an educational institution, we comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which provides students with certain rights regarding their educational records:
Right to Inspect: Review your educational records within 45 days of request
Right to Request Amendment: Request correction of inaccurate or misleading records
Right to Consent: Control disclosure of personally identifiable information
Right to File Complaints: Report FERPA violations to the U.S. Department of Education
We designate the following as directory information that may be disclosed without consent:
Student name and program of study
Enrollment dates and status
Certificates and credentials earned
Participation in school-sponsored activities
You may restrict disclosure of directory information by submitting a written request to our Records Office.
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:
Encrypted data transmission and storage using industry-standard protocols
Secure authentication systems with multi-factor authentication options
Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
Employee training on privacy and data protection requirements
Written information security policies and procedures
Regular review and updating of security practices
Incident response procedures for potential data breaches
Secure data centers with restricted access controls
Environmental monitoring and backup systems
Secure disposal of physical records and electronic media
While we implement robust security measures, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to promptly notifying affected individuals of any security incidents that may compromise personal information.
Student academic records: Minimum of 6 years after program completion or withdrawal
Transcripts: Permanently maintained for verification purposes
Financial records: 7 years after final transaction
Assessment and certification records: Duration required by certifying bodies
Learning analytics and progress data: Duration of enrollment plus 2 years
Virtual training session logs: 3 years for quality assurance and improvement
Communications and support tickets: 3 years for service improvement
Regulatory compliance documentation: As required by applicable laws
Incident reports and investigations: 7 years or as legally required
Access your personal information and educational records
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Updating email preferences in your student portal
Opting out of non-essential text messages by replying “STOP”
Upon program completion or withdrawal, you may request account deactivation while maintaining access to official transcripts and certificates.
Certification exam providers and testing platforms
Career resources and job placement services
Educational content and reference materials
Social media platforms and professional networks
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through our platform.
Our Services are designed for students aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information.
Our Services are primarily designed for students in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.
Posting the updated policy on our website with a new effective date
Sending email notifications to enrolled students
Providing notice through our learning management system
Privacy Officer
Great Lakes Trade Academy
522 2nd Street
Hudson, WI 54016
Email: info@greatlakestradeacademy.com
For FERPA-related inquiries:
Email: info@greatlakestradeacademy.com
For general student services:
Email: info@greatlakestradeacademy.com
U.S. Department of Education
Student Privacy Policy Office
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
Office of Private Occupational School Education
One Federal Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 701-8719
This Privacy Policy is effective as of June 6, 2025 and supersedes all previous versions. For the most current version, please visit www.greatlakestradeacademy.com/privacy.
