Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to CampusConnect. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

CampusConnect is an educational social platform designed to connect students, alumni, and educational institutions. By accessing or using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, information collected automatically when you use our platform, and information from third-party sources.

Information You Provide to Us

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, password, college/university affiliation, graduation year, and profile photo.
• Profile Information: You may choose to provide additional information such as your major, interests, skills, work experience, and biography.
• Content: Information you post on our platform, including posts, comments, messages, marketplace listings, event information, and other content you share.
• Communications: When you contact us for support or feedback, we collect the information you provide in those communications.
• Transaction Information: If you make purchases or sales through our marketplace, we collect details about those transactions.

Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: We collect information about the device you use to access our platform, including device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, and browser type.
• Log Information: Our servers automatically record information when you use our platform, including your IP address, access times, pages viewed, and the page you visited before navigating to our platform.
• Location Information: With your consent, we may collect information about your approximate location based on your IP address or more precise location from your mobile device.
• Usage Information: We collect information about your interactions with our platform, such as features you use, content you view, and actions you take.

Information from Third Parties

• Social Media: If you choose to link your account with social media services, we may receive information from those services.
• Educational Institutions: We may receive verification information from colleges and universities to confirm your enrollment or alumni status.
• Other Users: Other users may provide information about you when they use our platform, such as when they tag you in posts or send you messages.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes to provide, maintain, and improve our services:

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your profile information, posts, and other content you share publicly will be visible to other users of the platform according to your privacy settings.
• With Educational Institutions: We may share information with your affiliated college or university for verification purposes and to enable institution-specific features.
• With Service Providers: We share information with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, payment processing, and customer support.
• For Business Transfers: If CampusConnect is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of CampusConnect, our users, or others.
• With Your Consent: We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

• Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption protocols (TLS/SSL) to protect data transmitted between your device and our servers.
• Secure Storage: Personal data is stored on secure servers with restricted access controls and regular security audits.
• Password Protection: User passwords are hashed using secure algorithms and are never stored in plain text.
• Access Controls: We limit access to personal information to employees and contractors who need it to perform their job functions.
• Regular Monitoring: We continuously monitor our systems for potential vulnerabilities and security threats.
• Incident Response: We maintain incident response procedures to address any potential security breaches promptly.

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to implementing reasonable measures to protect your data.

Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information. Depending on your location, these may include:

• Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection: You can object to certain processing of your personal information.
• Restriction: You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal information.
• Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw your consent at any time.

Account Settings

You can access and update your account information through your profile settings. You can also manage your privacy preferences, notification settings, and connected accounts from your account dashboard.

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional email or by adjusting your notification settings. Note that you may still receive service-related communications.

Account Deletion

You can request deletion of your account by contacting us at privacy@campusconnect.com. Please note that some information may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and store information about your interactions with our platform.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the platform to function properly, such as maintaining your login session and remembering your preferences.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform, which pages are most popular, and how to improve user experience.
• Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your language preferences.
• Advertising Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Managing Cookies

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being set. However, some features of our platform may not function properly without cookies.

Do Not Track

Some browsers include a Do Not Track (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want to have your online activity tracked. We currently do not respond to DNT signals, but we provide you with choices about the collection and use of your information.

Children's Privacy

CampusConnect is designed for college and university students and alumni. Our platform is not intended for children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete such information as soon as possible. If you believe that we may have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us immediately at privacy@campusconnect.com.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you through the platform or via email for significant changes
• Provide a summary of key changes when appropriate
• Give you the opportunity to review the updated policy before it takes effect

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information. Your continued use of the platform after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us using the information below:

For general support inquiries, please visit our Help Center or contact our support team at support@campusconnect.com.