Electronic privacy is crucial for the ongoing success of the Internet as a convenient means to provide customer service. To complete your CalSTRS business, coordination of efforts with other parties, such as the State Controller's Office, or your employer or health plan is necessary. Your personal information will be used only to conduct CalSTRS-related business.

CalSTRS will never ask for your personal information in an unsolicited email or other type of electronic communication. If you receive such a request, please be aware that the party soliciting the information is not affiliated with CalSTRS and you may not want to respond or use any hyperlinks within the request without determining the source of the email and the purposes for which your personal information will be used. It is also possible that an unsolicited email could be an attempt to obtain your personal information for fraudulent activity.

CalSTRS is committed to responsible information handling practices. When you access or use the CalSTRS Web site, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined below. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this site. Since CalSTRS may change the Internet Privacy Policy, your use of this site will be subject to the most current policy version. Therefore, you may want to check the policy from time to time. Unless otherwise specified, your use and browsing of the Web site is anonymous.

Terms and Conditions

CalSTRS has a responsibility to protect its computing resources. If it believes an attempt is being made through the Internet to break into or otherwise abuse the computer systems or business information, the information in the computer logs, and other means available, will be used to determine those responsible. As part of these legal efforts, the information gathered may be shared with law enforcement agencies or other authorized entities.

Disclaimer

The information CalSTRS provides on its Web site is made available for the convenient access of the members and other interested parties. While CalSTRS makes every attempt to ensure the information provided is reliable, human or mechanical error remains a possibility. Therefore, CalSTRS does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information, and will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the use of, or results obtained from the use of the information. This applies to sites hyperlinked to and from the CalSTRS Web site. Please note that the privacy policies or statements of other sites linked to the CalSTRS Web site may differ from that of the CalSTRS Web site. CalSTRS is not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.

Note the CalSTRS Web site uses "cookies" to collect and/or store information about users. Typically, the information from cookies is used to monitor Web site traffic patterns or collect aggregate data about Web site use. This information helps CalSTRS improve its Web site and provide better service.

During your visit, the following information may be collected through cookies:

• Date and time you accessed the Web site
• Name of browser software and type of computer you are using
• Name of operating system on the computer you are using
• If applicable, the Web site you used to "link" to the CalSTRS Web site
• The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol Address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer
• The Web pages or services you accessed at this site
• The Web site you visited prior to coming to this Web site
• The Web site you visit as you leave this Web site
• If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded
  

Also, if you choose to contact CalSTRS through the Web site, the following personal information may be collected to help us better serve you:

• Type of Inquiry
• Relationship to CalSTRS
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• First and Last Name
• Telephone numbers
• E-mail address
• Physical address
• Best times to contact you

Security

The CalSTRS Web site and computer systems are for legal and authorized use only. Unauthorized access, attempted access, or use of this or any related State of California system is a violation of Section 502 of the California Penal Code and/or applicable federal law and may be subject to prosecution. Individuals using this system without authority, or in excess of their authority, are subject to having their activities on the site monitored and recorded.

If you choose to submit information while using the myCalSTRS Web site, the information will be transmitted using standard 128-bit encryption to our departmental database. By providing your e-mail address, CalSTRS may use this e-mail address to supplement communications with you about CalSTRS business.

Government Code 11015.5.(a)(6) prohibits all state agencies from distributing or selling any electronically collected personal information, as defined below, about users to any third party without the permission of the user. CalSTRS does not sell any "electronically collected personal information." Any use of "electronically collected personal information" will be solely for the purpose of CalSTRS business.

Also, any information acquired by CalSTRS is subject to the limitations set forth in the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Title 1.8 (commencing with Section 1798) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code) and is exempt from requests made pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1).

Electronically collected personal information means any information that is maintained by CalSTRS that identifies or describes an individual user, including, but not limited to, his or her name, Social Security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, financial matters, medical or employment history, password, electronic mail address, and information that reveals any network location or identity, but excludes any information manually submitted to CalSTRS by you, whether electronically or in written form, and information on or relating to individuals who are users serving in a business capacity, including, but not limited to, business owners, officers, or principals of that business.