Privacy Policy
PURPOSE
This privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”) describes our privacy practices regarding information that we collect from individuals or entities who access or otherwise interact in any manner whatsoever (collectively, “Users”) with our website (the “Site”). Unless specifically stated otherwise, this Privacy Policy applies only to information that we gather or collect via the Site.
USER CONSENT AND POLICY CHANGES
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY. USERS EXPRESSLY CONSENT, WITHOUT QUALIFICATION, TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION, INCLUDING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY THAT DOES NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE OR INTERACT WITH THE SITE IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER.
THE SITE IS NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN AND WE DO NOT KNOWINGLY SOLICIT OR COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE SITE FROM CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. IF WE LEARN THAT A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 13 HAS SUBMITTED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION TO US THROUGH THE SITE, WE WILL TAKE REASONABLE MEASURES TO DELETE SUCH INFORMATION FROM OUR RECORDS AND TO NOT USE SUCH INFORMATION FOR ANY PURPOSE (EXCEPT WHERE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD OR OTHERS, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW).
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to modify, update, alter, revise and/or edit this Privacy Policy (“Updated Privacy Policy”) from time to time. Any and all Users hereby agree that we may notify Users of the Updated Privacy Policy by posting it on the Site and that use of the Site after the effective date of the Updated Privacy Policy (or engaging in such other conduct as we may reasonably specify) constitutes agreement to, and consent to be bound by, the Updated Privacy Policy. Accordingly, Users should review this Privacy Policy and any Updated Privacy Policy before using the Site. The Updated Privacy Policy will be effective as of the time of posting, or such later date as may be specified therein, and will apply to use of the Site thereon.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information. “Personally Identifiable Information” is information that identifies a User or can be used to identify or contact a User.
Personally Identifiable Information we collect may include, but is not limited to, a User’s name, age, email addresses, postal addresses, ZIP codes, social security number, driver’s license number, professional licensure information, education, employers, job titles, income, telephone numbers, credit card information, bank account information and routing numbers, date of birth, gender, age, marital status, user names and passwords (if a User elects to register with the Site), User tendencies and communication preferences, and any other information necessary or desirable to us in connection with providing quality services to Users.
We also may collect information that by itself typically cannot be used to identify or contact Users, such as demographic information (e.g. age, profession or gender), User Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser types, domain names, internet service providers, referring/exit pages, date/time stamp, operating system, clickstream data, and other anonymous statistical data involving use of the Site (collectively, “Non-Personally Identifiable Information”).
For example, if you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue. Website administrators can also see and edit your account and details thereon and associated therewith. Furthermore, visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
Users may choose not to provide Personally Identifiable Information by not entering it on the Site; however such Users will not be able to utilize certain services and features if those services and features require Personally Identifiable Information in order to function.
HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION
We may collect Personally Identifiable Information from Users at various places and through various mechanisms on the Site. This may include, for example, if Users complete and submit any electronic forms or payments to us on the Site, participate in promotions, register for services that we may provide with, through, or in connection with the Site, interact with any forum, bulletin board, or chat room that is offered by us on the Site, register for e-mail communications, or submit survey responses, questions or requests to the Site using a form or the e-mail address links on the Site. We may also ask Users to voluntarily provide us with information on this Site: for example, while many of the features of the Site are available without registering, Users may be asked to create an account or profile on the Site if they desire to access certain features. Although a User may decline to voluntarily provide Personally Identifiable Information when asked, some features, products and services will be unavailable to such User as a result.
We may also collect Personally Identifiable Information from Users through means other than the Site, including, but not limited to, email communications to us that are not conducted through email portals that may be available to Users on the Site, as well as any in-person or telephonic interactions and communications that you may have with us. Although this Privacy Policy does not apply to Personally Identifiable Information provided to us through any means other than a User’s interaction with the Site, if we combine the Personally Identifiable Information we collect from a User outside of the Site with Personally Identifiable Information that we collect through the Site, we will apply this Privacy Policy to the combined information unless specifically disclosed otherwise.
Furthermore, we may receive Personally Identifiable Information about Users from other sources that we may use to assist us in providing any services or features offered on the Site. This Privacy Policy does not apply to Personally Identifiable Information about Users that we receive from other sources. However, we may combine the information we receive from these other sources with Personally Identifiable Information we collect through the Site. In those cases, we will apply this Privacy Policy to the combined information, unless specifically disclosed otherwise.
USE OF COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES.
When Users visit the Site, we may automatically collect certain information on User activities. “Site Usage Information” is information about how our visitors use and navigate the Site. This may include, but is not limited to, the number and frequency of visitors to each web page, the length of their stays, the type of browser each visitor is using to view the Site (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox), the type of operating system each visitor is using, (for example, Windows XP, Mac OS), the domain name of each visitor’s Internet service provider (for example, America Online, Earthlink), the visitor’s IP address, the address (or “URL“) of the web site that the visitor came from before visiting the Site, which pages were visited on the Site, what was clicked on, and certain other available information. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to a computer whenever it accesses the Internet, which our web servers may use to identify where to send information requested by User computers. If a User requests pages from the Site, our servers may log the User’s IP address as well as information about the User’s activities on those pages.
Site Usage Information is frequently anonymous information since it is not normally associated with a User or their identity. However, Site Usage Information may be used for a number of purposes, such as system administration, analysis of User demographics, Site performance enhancement, reporting aggregate information to our business partners, or auditing Site use. If Site Usage Information is combined with a User’s Personally Identifiable Information in a manner that is directly associated with a User’s identity, it will be treated as Personally Identifiable Information under this Privacy Policy.
To collect Site Usage Information, the Site (and any e-mails sent to Users by the Site or otherwise by us) may utilize Cookies, Web Beacons, Embedded Scripts or similar technologies:
“Cookies” are small data files sent to a User’s browser when a User visits the Site, which are stored on the User’s computer. Whenever a User visits the Site, Cookies automatically identify a User’s web browser and may make navigating and using the Site easier. Also, by tracking User behavior, Cookies help us determine which areas are popular and which are not. Additionally, accepting Cookies may allow Users to, among other things, personalize and enhance their experience on the Site. If a User does not want to allow for use of Cookies, such User can generally opt-out by setting browsers to reject Cookies. However, please be aware that some areas and features of the Site may not be available to Users, in whole or in part, who disable the use of cookies.
“Web Beacons” are small, often invisible, graphic elements included in a web page or e-mail, allowing the party that set the Web Beacon to monitor and collect certain limited information about the viewer of the web page or e-mail message (such as the type of browser downloading the Web Beacon, the IP address of the computer that the Web Beacon is sent to and the time the Web Beacon was viewed, as well as the URL of the page the web beacon comes from). We may use Web Beacons for many purposes, such as to tally visitors to the Site, or to monitor how visitors navigate the Site, and we may include Web Beacons or similar technologies in e-mails in order to count how many of the e-mails (or particular articles, links, etc.) we send are actually opened.
“Embedded Scripts” are programming codes designed to collect information about User interactions with the Site, which are temporarily downloaded onto computers from our server or a contracted third party, and are active only while a User is connected to the Site – thereafter, Embedded Scripts are deleted. Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website. If you upload images to the Site, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
We may elect to utilize Google Analytics (and in the future may use other similar sites or services), a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”), to better assist us in understanding how the Site is used. Google Analytics place Cookies on a User’s computer that will generate information that we select about use of the Site, including such User’s computer IP address. That information is transmitted to and stored by Google, and used to evaluate User activities on the Site. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Typically a User may refuse the use of Cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on their web browser. However, by doing so, such User may not be able to use the full functionality of the Site. Because Google is a third party, the use of Cookies by Google Analytics is covered by Google’s privacy policy (https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/).
In addition to Cookies, Web Beacons, Embedded Scripts, and Google Analytics, we reserve the right to use other now known or later developed technologies to assist us in observing and analyzing User behavior. When visitors leave comments on the Site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We may contract with other individuals and entities to assist with providing services available to Users on the Site, and to otherwise assist us in operating and/or enhancing our business.
We do not share Personally Identifiable Information with third parties for those third parties’ marketing purposes. We may share Non-Personally Identifiable Information, such as Site Usage Information or other aggregated user statistics, with third parties. In addition, we may share Personally Identifiable Information as set forth in this Privacy Policy and in any other manner in which a User expressly consents via the Site.
We may, and reserve the right to, retain and use Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information for any and all purposes that we deem necessary or desirable to us, including but not limited to (1) the provision of services or transactions; (2) analysis of interactions by and among one or more Users and third parties; (3) communicating with Users regarding information, features or offers that we believe will be of interest to Users; (4) responding to User requests; (5) contacting Users in regard to the Site; (6) processing information submitted through the Site; (7) conducting User surveys; (8) combining such information with any other information that we may be lawfully in possession of in order to analyze any and all associations between Users and us otherwise; and (9) the fulfillment of any other purpose disclosed at the time a User provides Personally Identifiable Information.
We may share Personally Identifiable Information with affiliates, subsidiaries, or third parties who, without limitation, require access to Personally Identifiable Information for business purposes related to the services we may offer on the Site, such as, for example, colleges and universities, and/or accreditors of education programs we provide or intend to provide. We may also share Personally Identifiable Information with third parties who perform services on our behalf, including, without limitation, third parties that send communications, process payments, analyze data, provide marketing assistance, or create, host and/or provide customer service on our behalf.
We may disclose Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information (1) when we believe in good faith that the law requires it; (2) at the request of governmental authorities conducting an audit or investigation; (3) pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or discovery request in litigation; (4) to verify or enforce compliance with our Terms of Use or other agreements or policies governing the Site, and with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; or (5) whenever we believe disclosure is necessary to limit our legal liability or to protect or enforce the rights, interests, or safety of the Site, its Users or other third parties. We also reserve the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities that we, in good faith, believe to be unlawful.
We reserve the right to disclose and transfer Personally Identifiable Information in connection with a corporate merger, consolidation, restructuring, financing, sale of substantially all assets, or other corporate change. In addition, in discussing and negotiating any of the foregoing transactions, we may provide the potential buyer with information about Users, which may include Personally Identifiable Information. Upon consummating one of the foregoing transactions, every User’s Personally Identifiable Information may be transferred to the purchaser, who will be required to treat such Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
HOW WE STORE INFORMATION
We maintain commercially reasonable safeguards to maintain the security and privacy of Personally Identifiable Information that we collect. However, we cannot guarantee the security of any data whatsoever submitted over the Internet. The information we collect from Users, in accordance with this Privacy Policy, is stored on servers protected by procedures and technology designed to block reasonably foreseeable intrusions by unauthorized third parties. We may store and process any of the information we may collect in the United States or any other country in which we or our agents maintain facilities. By using the Site, Users agree that any information that we are authorized to collect hereunder may be transferred to and stored at any of these facilities. No storage or processing of Personally Identifiable Information on the Site or on other servers or databases to which such information may be transferred can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please consider this prior to interacting with the Site and/or sharing Personally Identifiable Information in any interactions whatsoever that you may have with or on the Site.
Users are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of Personally Identifiable Information that they do not wish to be shared, and for controlling any and all interactions they may elect to have with the Site or any third party. Furthermore, we are not responsible for the functionality, privacy, or security measures of any other organization.
THIRD PARTIES
THIS PRIVACY POLICY DOES NOT GOVERN ANY INTERACTIONS OR USE, STORAGE, AND/OR FURTHER COLLECTION OR DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION THAT MAY OCCUR WHEN USERS ELECT TO ENTER, REGISTER, UTILIZE, OR OTHERWISE INTERACT WITH, IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER, ANY THIRD PARTY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY OTHER WEBSITES OR MATERIAL OTHERWISE ACCESSIBLE BY ENGAGING LINKS ON THE SITE, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ACCESS TO THIRD PARTY INTERACTIONS ARE OTHERWISE AVAILABLE ON, OR CAUSED OR OCCASIONED BY INTERACTING WITH, THE SITE. ANY INTERACTIONS BY AND AMONG USERS AND THIRD PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE PRIVACY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF SUCH THIRD PARTIES. ANY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE OR SERVICE THAT MAY PROCESS PAYMENTS OR PERFORM SCREENINGS FOR US, AS WELL AS ANY WEBSITES OF OUR ADVERTISERS, SPONSORS, AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE SITE, ARE CONSIDERED THIRD PARTIES, AND THEREFORE ANY AND ALL INTERACTIONS USERS MAY HAVE WITH THEM ARE NOT GOVERNED BY THIS PRIVACY POLICY.
In addition, third-party service providers may ask Users to voluntarily provide Personally Identifiable Information or Non-Personally Identifiable Information through the Site or on their websites and may share such information with us, as governed by their respective privacy policies. Unless expressly provided otherwise herein, our use of, or interaction with, any information received from any such third party will be dictated by the privacy policies of such third party and not this Privacy Policy.
Furthermore, certain content on the Site may be served by a third party. These third parties may also drop their own Cookies and/or use Web Beacons or Embedded Scripts. We do not control the use of such technology by third parties, the information they collect, or how they use and/or store such information.
Thus, Users should consult the specific privacy policies posted on third party sites when linking to them, as any links on the Site providing access to any third party web pages, services, or materials do not imply that we endorse or have reviewed such; furthermore, we are not responsible for any conduct employed by or related to any web pages, services, or materials linked to or from our Site, or any information or content contained therein. We are not responsible and do not have control over any third-parties that Users authorize to access Personally Identifiable Information or Non-Personally Identifiable Information, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Any User who interacts with a third-party website or service does so at their own risk. We, therefore, encourage Users to monitor when and if they are interacting with a third party and not us.
This Privacy Policy applies explicitly to the interactions between individual Users and the Site and, in regard to the subject matter discussed herein, does not apply to any interactions that Users may have with one another. For more information on our role in regard to interactions by and among Users, please visit our Terms of Use, available at [https://edtechnologyspecialists.com/terms-of-use/].
EMAIL MANAGEMENT
Users may receive emails from us for a variety of reasons associated with their interactions with or on the Site. We respect the desire of Users to manage email correspondence. Users can manage receipt of some types of communication by following the instructions included emails we send. Please note that, even if Users unsubscribe from certain email correspondences, we may still need to email Users with important information.
UPDATING USER INFORMATION
In accordance with routine corporate record-keeping practices, we may delete certain records. We are under no obligation to store any User’s Personally Identifiable Information or Non-Personally Identifiable Information indefinitely and disclaim any liability arising out of, or related to, the destruction of such information. However, we may retain Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information for a commercially reasonable time for backup, archival, and/or audit purposes.
SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Privacy Policy is held invalid under any applicable law, such invalidity will not affect any other provision of this Privacy Policy that can be given effect without the invalid provision. Further, all terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy will be deemed enforceable to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law.