Terms of Service and Privacy Notice
Welcome to SSBM: Terms of Service and Privacy Notice
Please read these Terms of Service ("TOS") and Honor Code prior to registering for an account on SSBM or using any portion of the SSBM website or mobile applications (collectively, the "SSBM Site," which consists of all content and pages located within the ch web domain and all SSBM mobile applications), including accessing any course material, chat rooms, or other electronic services. These TOS and the Honor Code that follows are agreements (the "Agreements") between you and SSBM Inc. By using the SSBM Site, you accept and agree to be legally bound by the Agreements, whether or not you are a registered user. Please also read the Privacy Policy for the SSBM Site before you use any portion of the SSBM Site. The Privacy Policy describes how your personal data is collected and processed when you use the SSBM Site. If you do not understand or do not wish to be bound by the terms of the Agreements or Privacy Policy, you should not use the SSBM Site.
SSBM reserves the right to modify these TOS at any time without advance notice. Any changes to these TOS will be effective immediately upon posting on this page, with an updated effective date. By accessing the SSBM Site after any changes have been made, you signify your agreement on a prospective basis to the modified TOS and all of the changes. Be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of these TOS.
Any version of these TOS in a language other than English is provided for convenience and you understand and agree that the English language version will control if there is any conflict.
USER ACCOUNTS
In order to create a user account, you must provide your full name, an email address, your country or region of residence, a public username, and a user password. You agree that you will never divulge or share access or access information for your user account with any third party for any reason. In setting up your user account, you may be prompted to enter additional optional information (e.g., your year of birth). You represent that all information provided by you is accurate and current. You agree to maintain and update your information to keep it accurate and current.
We care about the confidentiality and security of your personal information. Please see the Privacy Policy for more information about the collection and use of data on the SSBM Site.
YOUR RIGHT TO USE CONTENT ON THE SSBM SITE
Unless indicated as being in the public domain, the content on the SSBM Site is protected by United States and foreign copyright laws. Unless otherwise expressly stated on the SSBM Site, the texts, exams, video, images, and other instructional materials provided with the courses offered on the SSBM Site are for your personal use in connection with those courses only. We aim to make much of the SSBM course content available under more open license terms that will help create a vibrant ecosystem of contributors and further SSBM's goal of making education accessible and affordable to the world.
Certain reference documents, digital textbooks, articles, and other information on the SSBM Site are used with the permission of third parties, and use of that information is subject to certain rules and conditions, which will be posted along with the information. By using the SSBM Site, you agree to abide by all such rules and conditions.
You agree to retain all copyright and other notices on any content you obtain from the SSBM Site. All rights in the SSBM Site and its content, if not expressly granted, are reserved.
Use for Personalization and Pedagogical Improvements. Our goal is to provide current and future visitors to the SSBM Site with the best possible educational experience. To further this goal, we sometimes present different users with different versions of course materials and software. We do this to personalize the experience to the individual learner (to assess the learner’s level of ability and learning style, and present materials best suited to the learner), to improve our understanding of the learning process, and to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our course materials, payment models, platform features, and offerings. We may publish or otherwise publicize results from this process, but, unless otherwise permitted under the Privacy Policy, those publications or public disclosures will not include your personal information.
USER POSTINGS
User Postings Representations and Warranties. By submitting or distributing your User Postings, you affirm, represent, and warrant (1) that you have the necessary rights, licenses, consents, and/or permissions to reproduce and publish the User Postings and to authorize SSBM and its users to reproduce, modify, publish, and otherwise use and distribute your User Postings in a manner consistent with the licenses granted by you below, and (2) that neither your submission of your User Postings nor the exercise of the licenses granted below will infringe or violate the rights of any third party. You, and not SSBM, are solely responsible for your User Postings and the consequences of posting or publishing them.
License Grant to SSBM.
By submitting or distributing your User Postings, you hereby grant to SSBM a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, assignable, sub licensable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to host, transfer, display, perform, reproduce, modify, distribute, redistribute, relicense, and otherwise use, make available, and exploit your User Postings, in whole or in part, in any form and in any media formats and through any media channels (now known or hereafter developed).
License Grant to SSBM Users.
By submitting or distributing your User Postings, you hereby grant to each user of the SSBM Site a non-exclusive license to access and use your User Postings in connection with their use of the SSBM Site for their own personal purposes.
DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTY / LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITIES
THE SSBM SITE AND ANY INFORMATION, CONTENT OR SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE SSBM SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND (EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, EXCEPT INSOFAR AS ANY SUCH IMPLIED WARRANTIES MAY NOT BE DISCLAIMED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.
SSBM AND THE SSBM PARTICIPANTS (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SSBM SITE WILL OPERATE IN AN UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE MANNER, THAT THE SSBM SITE IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT THE COURSES OR CONTENT PROVIDED WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS. SSBM AND THE SSBM PARTICIPANTS ALSO MAKE NO WARRANTY ABOUT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, OR QUALITY OF THE SSBM SITE OR ANY COURSES OR CONTENT, OR THAT ANY PARTICULAR COURSES OR CONTENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE. “SSBM PARTICIPANTS” MEANS MIT, HARVARD, THE OTHER MEMBERS, THE ENTITIES PROVIDING INFORMATION, CONTENT, OR SERVICES FOR THE SSBM SITE, THE COURSE INSTRUCTORS, AND THEIR STAFFS.
USE OF THE SSBM SITE, AND THE CONTENT AND SERVICES OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE SSBM SITE, IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOUR ACCESS TO OR DOWNLOAD OF INFORMATION, MATERIALS, OR DATA THROUGH THE SSBM SITE OR ANY REFERENCE SITES IS AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY (INCLUDING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM) OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OR USE OF SUCH MATERIAL OR DATA, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE PRIVACY POLICY.
User Postings Disclaimer.
You understand that when using the SSBM Site you will be exposed to User Postings from a variety of sources and that neither SSBM nor the SSBM Participants are responsible for the accuracy, usefulness, reliability or intellectual property rights of or relating to such User Postings. You further understand and acknowledge that you may be exposed to User Postings that are inaccurate, offensive, defamatory, indecent or objectionable and you agree to waive, and hereby do waive, any legal or equitable rights or remedies you have or may have against SSBM or any of the SSBM Participants with respect thereto. Neither SSBM nor any of the SSBM Participants endorse any User Postings or any opinion, recommendation or advice expressed therein. Neither SSBM nor any of the SSBM Participants have any obligation to monitor any User Postings or any other user communications through the SSBM Site.
However, SSBM reserves the right to review User Postings and to exercise its sole discretion to edit or remove, in whole or in part, any User Posting at any time and for any reason, or to allow the SSBM Participants to do so. Without limiting the foregoing, upon receiving notice from a user or a content owner that a User Posting allegedly does not conform to these TOS, SSBM may investigate the allegation and determine in its sole discretion whether to remove the User Posting, which it reserves the right to do at any time and without notice.
Links to Other Websites. The SSBM Site may include hyperlinks to websites maintained or controlled by others. SSBM and the SSBM Participants are not responsible for and do not routinely screen, approve, review or endorse the contents of or use of any of the products or services that may be offered at these websites. If you decide to access linked third-party websites, you do so at your own risk.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE THAT NEITHER SSBM NOR ANY OF THE SSBM PARTICIPANTS WILL BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES, EITHER ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, OR YOUR (OR ANY THIRD PARTY'S) USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SSBM SITE, OR YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON THE SSBM SITE, OR YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE SSBM SITE, WHETHER YOUR CLAIM IS BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTORY OR OTHER LAW.
IN PARTICULAR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER SSBM NOR ANY OF THE SSBM PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE AND WHETHER OR NOT SSBM OR ANY OF THE SSBM PARTICIPANTS HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT OR OTHERWISE AT FAULT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION, ERRORS, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERRUPTION IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA).
CERTAIN STATE LAWS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY TO YOU, SOME OR ALL OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS, EXCLUSIONS, OR LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS.
INDEMNIFICATION.
You agree to defend, hold harmless, and indemnify SSBM and the SSBM Participants, and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, faculty, students, fellows, governing board members, agents and employees from and against any third-party claims, actions, or demands arising out of, resulting from or in any way related to your use of the SSBM Site, including any liability or expense arising from any and all claims, losses, damages (actual and consequential), suits, judgments, litigation costs, and attorneys' fees, of every kind and nature. In such a case, SSBM or the applicable SSBM Participant will provide you with written notice of such claim, suit, or action.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
Termination Rights; Discontinuation of Courses and Content.
You agree that SSBM, in its sole discretion, may terminate your use of the SSBM Site or your participation in it, for any reason or no reason, upon notice to you. It is SSBM's policy to terminate in appropriate circumstances the accounts of users of the SSBM Site who are repeat copyright infringers. SSBM and the SSBM Participants reserve the right at any time in their sole discretion to cancel, delay, reschedule or alter the format of any course offered through SSBM, or to cease providing any part or all of the SSBM Site content or related services, and you agree that neither SSBM nor any of the SSBM Participants will have any liability to you for such an action. If you no longer desire to participate in the SSBM Site, you may terminate your participation at any time. The rights granted to you hereunder will terminate upon any termination of your right to use the SSBM Site, but the other provisions of the Agreements will survive any such termination.
Entire Agreement.
The Agreements constitute the entire agreement between you and SSBM with respect to your use of the SSBM Site, superseding any prior agreements between you and SSBM regarding your use of the SSBM Site.
Waiver and Severability.
The failure of SSBM to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Agreements shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the Agreements is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision and the other provisions of the Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.
Choice of Law/Forum Selection.
You agree that the Agreements and any claim or dispute arising out of or relating to the Agreements or any content or service obtained from or through the SSBM Site will be governed by the laws of the Switzerland, excluding its conflicts of law provisions. You agree that all such claims and disputes will be heard and resolved exclusively in the federal or state courts located in and serving Geneva, Switzerland. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts over you for this purpose, and you waive and agree not to assert any objection to such proceedings in those courts (including any defense or objection of lack of proper jurisdiction or venue or inconvenience of forum).
SSBM is a private school operating under Swiss law and obtains its accreditation from independent accreditation bodies. Private schools are under the supervision of each regional Swiss canton that is responsible for private sector accreditation and recognition. Private schools in Switzerland do not need to be accredited by Ministry of Education as only public schools have such obligation. SSBM is registered in Geneva canton, Switzerland under registration number CHE-131.073.981.
SSBM is present in several other countries (e.g., Croatia, Ghana, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, etc.) in which SSBM is offering its educational programs either directly or through partnerships with local schools. For example in Ukraine, SSBM works with KROK University which is accredited by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. In Croatia, SSBM does not have the accreditation from the Ministry of Education but delivers private MBA or DBA certificates. Our students are encouraged to verify with SSBM the accreditation status for each particular country.
Definitions
For the purposes of these terms:
Headings; Number and Gender: The headings of sections and paragraphs are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Contract or to affect the construction thereof. The use in this Contract of singular, plural, masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns shall include the others as the context may require.
“Contract”: The Terms and Conditions for the Provision of Services which shall regulate the contractual relationship between Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva Sàrl (hereinafter referred to as “SSBM”) and the Student.
“Course”: A learning module designed and developed by SSBM and/or any Partner, and/or any SSBM Professor including all revisions and updates to such Course as SSBM, its Partner or its Professor may make from time to time.
“Course Material”: Physical or electronic material relating to any Course, together with all revisions and updates applied regularly made by SSBM and/or any Partner, which may be in any format. The distance Learning Courses shall be delivered via the SSBM Online Learning System (here after “Portal”).
“Course Syllabus”: A document that includes but not limited to the detailed outline, Course structure, learning goals, assignments, and grading criteria of a single Course.
“Course Work”: Any work including but not limited to materials, projects, assignments, thesis, dissertation, required to be developed by the Student during the Course and submitted to SSBM.
“Diploma”: The document issued upon successful completion of all requirements set forth by SSBM as part of the Course and Course work.
“Enrolment Date”: The day on which SSBM provides Student with access to the Portal.
“Parties”: referred to SSBM and Student jointly.
“Partner”: Any third-party institution who shall provide any part of the services hereunder the overall responsibility of SSBM.
“Professor”: any party employed or engaged by SSBM who shall provide teaching and any other related services hereunder the overall responsibility of SSBM.
“Services”: The provision of relevant support, systems, processes, and benefits related to any Course offered and conducted by SSBM to the Student in accordance with the Course syllabus.
“SSBM”: Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva Sàrl, registered at c/o Calliopée Sàrl, rue de Chantepoulet 10, 1201 Genève, Switzerland or any other related legal entity in Croatia.
“Student(s)”: The party receiving the Services to be provided by SSBM and/or any Partner.
Area of Application and Effectiveness
SSBM undertakes to provide professional and high-quality education, on the basis of the Swiss Quality Education standards to carry out a one-year certificate MBA program. SSBM undertakes to issue a Swiss Certificate from SSBM to the Student, upon the completion of the program.
Valid for Croatia only: SSBM confirms that SSBM is not accredited in Republic of Croatia and that certificate issued by SSBM to the student is a professional MBA certificate. By accepting these terms, student confirms that he/she is aware of the SSBM accreditation status in Croatia.
SSBM undertakes to organize, define and implement the following in accordance with the curriculum:
-Lectures, seminars, exercises and case studies
-Professor consultations
-Practical teaching
-Tests and exams
-Use of the teaching classrooms in professional business buildings as decided by SSBM
-Development of Student identifications
-Use of teaching materials on Portal
Obligations
SSBM
- SSBM will deliver the course material necessary to achieve the educational goals set forth in the curriculum. SSBM does not guarantee that the Course Material will be errors- or omissions free.
- SSBM will deliver the Services to the Student in accordance with this Agreement and the rules and regulations set forth in the Student Handbook, if any, received by the Student.
- The Student will be responsible for inspecting the Course Material as soon as reasonably possible following delivery. Furthermore, the Student will be responsible for notifying SSBM about any errors or omissions in the Course syllabus.
- SSBM reserves the right to make variations to the content or methods of delivery, teaching, topics or assessment of Courses, to discontinue, merge or combine Courses if such action is required by SSBM or necessary to improve the quality of teaching and knowledge transfer from SSBM to Students.
- SSBM will open an email address for the Student for the purpose of using the Portal and communicating as a teaching process. Student gives SSBM permission to view and process his / her personal information as well as SSBM or his/her other e-mail addresses. The Student undertakes to attend classes according to the set curriculum and schedule of the group determined by SSBM.
Student
- In case the Student is intending to take leave from the Course for a period of 60 calendar days or more, the Student will be required to notify SSBM in writing (e.g., by email) in advance. If Student fails to notify SSBM in advance, continuation of the respective Course will be at SSBM´s discretion. Taking leave for less than 60 calendar days shall not grant an extension of time to affect any payments hereunder. Payments shall be affected on the agreed upon dates as provided in clause 4 hereto.
- All students must complete the entire Courses within a period not greater than 18 months from Enrollment Date. At the discretion of SSBM and at the request of the Student the period of the 18 months period from Enrollment Date may be extended, for which an additional fee may be applicable.
- The Student commits himself to the regularity of teaching attendances and the fulfillment of his / her assigned obligations, except in the case of justifiable absences evidenced by certified certificates.
- The Student undertakes to take the exam regularly and to fulfill all other obligations in accordance with the Study Regulations if any, the SSBM Statute, the Code of Conduct and other applicable acts of the SSBM.
- By accepting this Terms, the Student confirms that he / she is familiar with all SSBM acts published on the SSBM website or delivered to the Student and fully accepts them.
The Student undertakes to respect the organization of the study process and the rules of conduct established by the SSBM acts.
- By accepting this Agreement, the Student agrees to undergo testing for traces of narcotics and other opiates at the request of SSBM. SSBM reserves the right to require Student to be tested on a random basis. In the event of refusal to be tested, the Student shall be deemed to have breached the provisions of this Agreement referred to in Article 5, item 3 gross violation by Student.
3.11. Student hereby grant SSBM permission to use Your name, company, image in connection with offering, delivering, marketing, promoting, demonstrating, and selling the services, courses, school’s contents and submitted content to students and third parties and waive any and all rights of privacy, publicity, or any other rights of a similar nature in connection therewith.
Academic Dishonesty
All forms of academic misconduct including but not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty.
Fabrication: is the falsification of any data used by students in any academic paper or document. This includes making up quotations, inventing data to suit the results wanted, omitting certain data to that is inconvenient to the experiment and also making up bibliographical references.
Plagiarism: is the theft of intellectual property belonging to another person and passing it off as one’s own work, or failing to cite the source of the original work properly. Examples of plagiarism are: handing in someone else’s work and passing it off as one’s own; copying ideas from other sources, without giving that source credit; giving incorrect information about the source or failing to use proper references.
Forgery
Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any School document, record, key, electronic device, or identification. False information or Forgery of any documents used for the application.
Harassment
Harassment of any person by a student of SSBM. For the purposes of these policies, ‘harassment’ is: the use, display, or other demonstration of words, gestures, imagery, or physical materials, or the engagement in any form of bodily conduct, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, alienage, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, that has the effect of creating a hostile and intimidating environment sufficiently severe or pervasive to substantially impair a reasonable person’s participation in School Courses or activities, or use of School facilities.
Course Material
Selling, preparing, or distributing course lecture notes, power points, excel sheets, word and any other document or video or audio recordings of any course for any commercial purpose unless authorized by SSBM in advance and explicitly permitted by SSBM in writing. The unauthorized sale or commercial distribution of course notes or recordings by a student is a violation of these Policies whether or not it was the student or someone else who prepared the notes or recordings.
Appropriate student conduct
SSBM will not tolerate any harassment or threatening conduct towards, students, staff or faculty of SSBM. This includes e-mails or letters containing abusive or threatening language, as well as any false accusations intentionally made by a student against another student or a staff or faculty member, where the student knows the accusation to be false. Any negative comments or inappropriately aggressive behavior is not acceptable. Students must acknowledge any constructive criticism given by faculty or SSBM staff members.
Appropriate language
Faculty and staff members must be treated with respect at all times and students must reflect this in their general manner and tone of voice when addressing them. The authority of the faculty member must be recognized and other students must be treated in a courteous and appropriate manner.
Liability coverage provisions
- The Student agrees that the SSBM and its owners, directors, authorized persons, employees, agents, professors, affiliated and affiliated subjects of the SSBM as the Injured parties shall be free from solidarity for all losses, damages, claims, including claims for damages and liability to any the applicable law in any area of territorial jurisdiction or on some other basis related to the services the SSBM has directly or indirectly provided to the Student or to any of its clients, including Student(s) who may be considered by the Agreement, including but not limited to the costs of attorneys and attorneys' fees incurred in connection with investigative actions in the lawsuit, proceeding or ongoing proceedings, is expected or confirmed in relation to the Injured party as a result of the breach of this Agreement, irrespective of whether it is the party Injured in the dispute or, in the case of a defense in a confirmed or possible lawsuit, from a dispute or procedure under this Agreement initiated by the Student, its representatives, Client of the School for any breach of any Service or negligence of the SSBM in the performance of his services under this Agreement.
- Maximum cap liability of SSBM for any damage the Student, its representative, cost carrier has suffered on other grounds, including substantial damage, negligence, inaccurate statement or lawsuit on the basis of any other Agreement or any other civil law basis, shall be up to the amount of direct costs for services that are the subject of this Agreement. Both Agreementing Parties declare that the total foreseeable damage due to the hidden treatment of the SSBM is the highest of the above sum.
Law and Dispute
These terms shall be governed by the laws of Switzerland.
Any disputes regarding the terms of this Agreement shall be decided by the School’s Director or his/her designee and the Agent.
If any provision of this Agreement is considered invalid or unenforceable, it does not result in the nullity or unenforceability of the entire Agreement. In that case, the parties are exempt from all rights and obligations from the pecuniary or unenforceable provision, but only to the extent that the provision is null and void and will seek to replace such provision with a valid provision that is closest to the economic and legal meaning of nullity and unenforceable provision.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to information that SSBM collects through the SSBM Site when you interact with SSBM, with Members, with other users, and generally with the SSBM Site.
Your information is received and controlled by SSBM according to this Privacy Policy when you sign up for an SSBM account or otherwise use the SSBM Site.
★ SSBM is solely and independently responsible for its own privacy practices. No Member is responsible for SSBM’s privacy practices.
If you enroll in a course offered by a Member through the SSBM Site, information about you and your activity in the course is received and controlled also by that Member as described in this Privacy Policy.
★ Each Member is solely and independently responsible for its own privacy practices. No Member is responsible for another Member’s privacy practices. Also, SSBM is not responsible for any Member’s privacy practices.
If you do not accept the terms of this Privacy Policy, then please do not access, browse, or register for the SSBM Site or enroll in any courses. If you choose not to provide certain information required to provide you with various products and services offered on the SSBM Site, then you may not be able to establish a user account or obtain those products or services.
Any version of this Privacy Policy in a language other than English is provided for convenience and you understand and agree that the English language version will control if there is any conflict.
INFORMATION THAT SSBM COLLECTS FROM YOU (INCLUDING PERSONAL INFORMATION)
SSBM directly collects information when you:
- sign up for an SSBM user account and create an SSBM user profile;
- enroll and participate in online courses;
- purchase a product or service (for example, Verified Certificates);
- send email messages to SSBM (including messages to learner support);
- participate in user surveys; and participate in public forums, webinars, and other interactive experiences on the SSBM Site.
- SSBM also indirectly collects usage information about your visit to the SSBM Site, as explained in the section below titled Cookies and Tracking Technologies.
- SSBM does not itself collect or store financial account numbers or identification issued by a governmental entity, employer, or other authority.
Instead, if you choose to make a purchase on the SSBM Site, for example a Verified Certificate, you will be directed to SSBM’s third-party payment processor and SSBM’s third-party ID verification service provider.
If you do not wish to submit the required authentication or payment information, then you will not be able to obtain a certificate via the SSBM Site.
SSBM requires your Personal Information only in limited circumstances when you: sign up for an SSBM user account (name, username, email address); purchase a Verified Certificate (so that SSBM’s third-party vendor can authenticate your identity) or other product or service (so that SSBM’s third-party vendor can process payment); participate in remote proctoring or other course facilitation processes (so that SSBM’s third-party vendor can monitor and assess the integrity of your course activity); or earn a Verified Certificate (the certificate will have your name on it).
To the extent that SSBM associates the information that SSBM collects directly or indirectly with an individual (for example, you), the association is based on Personal Information in your account profile.
You may voluntarily choose to share additional Personal Information on the SSBM Site, for example:
- in your SSBM account profile (and you may display a limited or full profile to other SSBM Site users); - in applying for financial assistance; or - when participating in a course, forum, webinar, or other interactive experience on the SSBM Site (noting that in some cases, this information is shared with a third party that provides tools or other assistance for the SSBM Site or a course).
SSBM encourages you to use discretion before voluntarily sharing additional Personal Information on the SSBM Site.
(If you later choose to delete your SSBM account, deletion of your Personal Information will be subject to the process and limits outlined below.)
Members do not receive your Personal Information unless and until you enroll in a course.
If you enroll in a course, the Member that offers the course will receive Personal Information from your SSBM account profile plus the information that SSBM collects about your activity and performance in the course in which you enrolled.
COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES ON THE SSBM SITE
Like many companies, SSBM uses Cookies and other common Tracking Technologies on the SSBM Site and in email communications to help SSBM better understand your use and needs of the SSBM Site, current and future SSBM-related products and services, and how SSBM and Members can improve.
For example: based on your cookie settings, SSBM tracks information indicating, among other things, which pages of the SSBM Site were visited, the order in which they were visited, when they were visited, and which hyperlinks and other user interface controls were used; SSBM may log the IP address, operating system, and browser software (including mobile use and device type when you use SSBM native mobile apps) you used when accessing the SSBM Site, and SSBM may be able to determine from an IP address your Internet Service Provider and the geographic location of your point of connectivity; and SSBM may track and collect information from emails that SSBM sends to you, for example whether you opened the email or clicked on any links from the email.
SSBM also partners with third parties to help us track and understand your activity on the SSBM Site, how you interact with SSBM’s social media, and how you find or may be referred to the SSBM Site.
Individual Members may separately use Tracking Technologies within their courses and email communications to understand your activity within a course and how you find or may be referred to a course on the SSBM Site.
SSBM and Members use Cookies and other Tracking Technologies for the following purposes:
when necessary for system administration, security, and integrity to ensure the SSBM Site works properly for you.
Without these technologies, the SSBM Site may not function correctly; to enable analytics, performance and functionality, to help SSBM and Members gather information about how visitors use the SSBM Site and monitor SSBM Site performance, and to enhance your experience by recognizing and remembering whether you have visited the SSBM Site before and may have any personal preferences; and to support marketing by enabling SSBM and Members to deliver content relevant to your interests on the SSBM Site and third-party sites based on how you interact with SSBM or Member advertisements or content.
SSBM and Members use “first-party” cookies, which means cookies served by SSBM or an individual Member, and also “third-party” cookies, which means cookies served by third parties that help SSBM and Members track this information.
You have some options for managing Cookies and other Tracking Technologies.
These include:
Modifying your browser settings: You should be able to control how and whether your web browser accepts Cookies by adjusting its privacy and security settings.
The “help” feature of the menu bar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new Cookies, how to receive notification of new Cookies, and how to disable existing Cookies.
If you reject SSBM’s Cookies, many functions and conveniences of the SSBM Site may not work properly.
Opting-out of certain third-party tracking and advertising: Some of the third parties used by SSBM or a Member for Cookies and Tracking Technologies offer the ability to opt-out from their tracking by following processes described on their websites.
A list of some such third parties is maintained and available at the SSBM learner Help Center and includes, for some, links to applicable opt-out processes.
Neither SSBM nor any Member is responsible for the effectiveness of any third-party opt-out options.
HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS USED
SSBM and Members use information, including Personal Information, to carry out the following purposes: Operate and improve the SSBM Site – This includes creating and improving features that support the SSBM community and enable SSBM Site usage at scale.
This also includes personalizing the SSBM Site, so your learning experience is tailored to your interests and needs.
Create, administer, provide, and teach courses – This includes creating and improving the delivery of massive open online courses and programs on SSBM.
This also includes personalizing courses, so your learning experience is tailored to your interests and needs, and assessing your performance and awarding certificates.
Offer and improve products and services – This includes enabling you to navigate the SSBM Site, to enroll and participate in courses and programs on the SSBM Site, to learn effectively in such courses and programs, and to purchase or obtain products and services on the SSBM Site such as Verified Certificates.
Develop and maintain the security and performance of the SSBM Site – This includes tracking SSBM Site outages and creating software solutions, detecting violations of the Honor Code and Terms of Service, and monitoring uses, misuses, and potential misuses of the SSBM Site.
Communicate with you – This includes answering your course and platform questions, notifying you of course and SSBM Site maintenance and updates, marketing to you about course offerings, programs, news, and related products and services of SSBM or SSBM affiliates, and as permitted under applicable law, sending you communications about products or services of selected business partners that may be of interest to you.
Support scientific research including, for example, in the areas of cognitive science and education – This includes collaborating to enable and conduct research about how learners access and master course materials online, with the goal of improving course outcomes.
Track SSBM Site usage against goals and mission – This includes performing analytics to evaluate access to and performance in courses and course-related products and services and to report aggregate usage information (not Personal Information) to business partners and external audiences.
Exercise, enforce, and comply with legal rights and obligations – This includes responding to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process; and investigating, preventing, or taking action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, security or technical issues, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of SSBM, Members, or others, and as otherwise required by applicable law.
SSBM or a Member may also seek your consent for additional uses of information, including Personal Information, and will use it only for the purpose described to you.
All use of Personal Information is subject to applicable law.
HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS SHARED
SSBM and Members share information, including Personal Information, with third parties for the following purposes: With service providers, contractors, and other third parties that help carry out the uses described above – SSBM requires third parties to: (1) abide by this Privacy Policy and applicable law; (2) handle Personal Information in a confidential manner and maintain adequate security; and (3) use Personal Information only as needed to fulfill the relevant purpose(s).
In some cases, the SSBM Site and individual courses are integrated with third-party services or contain links to websites published by third parties, including other content providers as well as service providers.
These third parties are responsible for their own privacy practices, so you should pay attention anytime you are redirected to a third-party website and be sure to review its privacy policy.
With other learners in courses that you take and with other visitors to the SSBM Site, to create an interactive learning environment, support class participation, and share course information – This includes sharing comments, coursework, or other information or content that you submit to a portion of the SSBM Site designed for viewing by other class members or for public communication.
This also includes providing opportunities for you to communicate with other users who may have similar interests or educational goals, for instance, recommending specific study partners or connecting potential student mentees and mentors.
In such cases, SSBM and each Member that offers a course in which you enrolled may use all information collected about you to determine who might be interested in communicating with you, but will only provide others your username (for clarity, no disclosure of your real name or email address).
With employers, government programs, institutions, or other enterprises that sponsor your enrollment in a course for training or other educational purposes – If an entity pays for or otherwise sponsors your Verified Certificate or course participation, SSBM will share information with the entity as needed to confirm your enrollment, participation, progress, and completion status in that course.
With affiliates of SSBM or a Member, or with successors in the event of a merger, acquisition, or reorganization, for their use consistent with this Privacy Policy.
SSBM or a Member may also seek your consent for additional disclosures of information, including Personal Information, and will share it only as described to you.
In addition, SSBM or a Member may share with the public and with third parties, including but not limited to researchers and business partners, information and Personal Information that is de-identified or aggregated in a manner that does not personally identify you.
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
You can manage your Personal Information through learner features on the SSBM Site and requests to the SSBM learner support team.
If your request involves information controlled by a Member, SSBM learner support will notify and coordinate with the appropriate Member to address your request.
SSBM will provide support to the extent required by applicable law (for example, learners in the European Union) and more broadly when possible, as a courtesy in our sole discretion.
SSBM will notify you in the event that SSBM is unable to meet a request that is not legally required.
Similarly, Members will only be obligated to comply with requests to the extent legally required, but may choose to comply with other requests in their sole discretion.
Access and correct your Personal Information Much of your Personal Information is available in your SSBM account.
Your name, email address, and other identifiable profile information is editable through the profile settings in your SSBM account except as noted below.
Your account dashboard lists all current and archived courses in which you have enrolled and includes links to any Verified Certificates you may have earned.
The dashboard also contains copies of your answers and other participation and performance in courses.
Please contact SSBM learner support to access and update this or other information.
If your request involves information controlled by a Member, SSBM learner support will notify the appropriate Member of your request.
Exceptions: Usernames cannot ever be changed.
This is an SSBM system restriction.
Because usernames identify you in courses and elsewhere on the SSBM Site, SSBM encourages you to use discretion in choosing your username.
If you want to protect your identity, do not use your real name or a name identifiable to you as your username.
SSBM does not track or index every time or every place on the SSBM Site when or where a learner may volunteer Personal Information, so neither SSBM nor Members will be able to help you locate or manage all such instances.
SSBM encourages you to use discretion before volunteering Personal Information on the SSBM Site.
Restrict or object to the processing of Personal Information If you want to manage emails and other communications to you, you may update your preferences in your SSBM account dashboard, follow the steps described in links at the bottom of email messages, or contact SSBM learner support.
You may object to, or request that SSBM or a Member stop, its use of your Personal Information for other purposes by contacting the SSBM learner support team.
If your request involves information controlled by a Member, SSBM learner support will notify the appropriate Member of your request.
Please note that if you choose to restrict SSBM’s or a Member’s ability to process Personal Information, and the processing is otherwise required to provide you with various services and products offered on the SSBM Site, you may not be able to establish an SSBM user account or enroll for a course, and SSBM or a Member may not be able to provide you with those services or products.
Delete account and Personal Information To request deletion of your SSBM account and Personal Information, you should click the button labeled “Delete my account” in your SSBM account settings.
Because deletion on the SSBM system is a permanent action and cannot be reversed, SSBM may ask you to complete a process that aims to confirm your authority to manage the SSBM account affected by your request.
With respect to your SSBM account, SSBM will permanently: - deactivate your SSBM account,
- remove the active profile,
- retire your username, and
- remove you from SSBM email lists.
With respect to your Personal Information, SSBM will permanently delete your SSBM account profile Personal Information from the SSBM Site.
As noted above, to the extent that SSBM associates the information that SSBM collects directly or indirectly with an individual (for example, you), the association is based on Personal Information in your SSBM account profile.
By erasing the Personal Information in your SSBM account profile, the remaining information about your activity on the SSBM Site will no longer be associated with you, except as noted below.
These changes will be applied to data stores that are used for operation of the SSBM Site including course administration by Members.
If you enrolled in any courses on the SSBM Site, the SSBM learner support team will share your request with the Members that offered those courses.
Exceptions:
Deletion will not apply to historical activity logs or archives unless and until these logs and data naturally “age-off” the SSBM system.
SSBM does not track or index every time or every place on the SSBM Site when or where a learner may volunteer Personal Information, so neither SSBM nor Members will be able to help you locate or manage all such instances.
SSBM encourages you to use discretion before voluntarily sharing your Personal Information on the SSBM Site.
SSBM will archive course data (in a manner and to the extent permitted under applicable law) to serve its mission to enable scientific research on cognitive science and education.
These archives are used to produce encrypted research data packages for Members, and Personal Information may not be deleted from research data packages retained by Members.
SSBM and each applicable Member cannot always delete records of past interactions and transactions.
For example, records relating to previous purchases on the SSBM Site must be retained for financial reporting, audit, and compliance reasons.
SSBM and each Member will retain and use Personal Information as necessary to comply with its legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce its agreements, and as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Data retention
SSBM will retain your Personal Information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with services; to maintain a record of your transactions for financial reporting, audit, and compliance purposes; and to comply with SSBM’s legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce its agreements, and as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
If you enroll in a Member’s course, such Member will also retain your Personal Information for as long as needed to provide you with services; to maintain a record of your transactions for financial reporting, audit, and compliance purposes; and to comply with its legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce its agreements, and as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Upon your request that SSBM deactivate your account and delete your information, SSBM will follow the process described above, including without limitation archiving your course data (in a manner and to the extent permitted under applicable law) to serve its mission to enable scientific research on cognitive science and education.
These archives will be used to produce encrypted research data packages for Members, and each such Member may also keep and use course data for scientific research.
STORAGE & SECURITY
SSBM stores information, including Personal Information, on its own servers and also on servers of companies that SSBM hires to provide services.
Each Member also stores information, including Personal Information, on its own servers and/or on servers of companies that the Member hires to provide services.
In each case, information may be stored in the United States and in other countries where SSBM or a Member operates, and in countries where SSBM and each Member’s respective service providers operate.
If you are in the European Union, Switzerland, or other regions with laws governing data collection and use, you acknowledge that SSBM and each Member may transfer, process and store your personal information in the United States and other countries, the privacy laws of which may be considered less strict than those of your region.
SSBM controls its own copy of information collected through the SSBM Site and has an information security program designed to protect information in its possession or control.
This is done through a variety of privacy and security policies, processes, and procedures.
SSBM uses administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information that it collects, receives, stores, or transmits.
Nonetheless, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure; and therefore, SSBM cannot guarantee its absolute security.
While SSBM works hard to ensure the integrity and security of its network and systems, SSBM cannot guarantee that its security measures will prevent “hackers” or other unauthorized persons from illegally accessing or obtaining information.
If SSBM learns of a security breach involving its copy of your Personal Information, SSBM may attempt to notify you electronically so that you may take appropriate protective steps.
By using the SSBM Site or providing Personal Information to SSBM, you agree that SSBM can communicate with you electronically regarding security, privacy, and administrative issues relating to your use of the SSBM Site.
If a security systems breach occurs, SSBM may post a notice on the SSBM homepage (www.
SSBM.
org) or elsewhere on the SSBM Site and may send an email to you at the email address associated with your SSBM account.
Depending on where you are located, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach, involving your Personal Information, in writing.
If a Member learns of a security breach involving that Member’s copy of your Personal Information, the Member may attempt to notify you electronically so that you may take appropriate protective steps.
By enrolling in a Member’s course on the SSBM Site or providing Personal Information to the Member, you agree that the Member can communicate with you electronically regarding security, privacy, and administrative issues relating to your course enrollment and participation.
If a security systems breach occurs, the affected Member may post a notice on the SSBM site and/or send an email to you at the email address associated with your enrollment in the Member’s course on the SSBM Site.
Depending on where you are located, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach, involving your Personal Information, in writing.
PRIVACY POLICY UPDATES
This Privacy Policy will be reviewed and updated from time to time.
When changes are made, the Privacy Policy will be labeled as "Revised (date)," indicating that you should review the new terms, which will be effective immediately upon posting on this page, with an updated effective date.
By accessing the SSBM Site after any changes have been made, you accept the modified Privacy Policy and any changes contained therein.
In case you miss the notification referenced above, be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of this Privacy Policy.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have privacy concerns, have disclosed data you would prefer to keep private, or would like to access the Personal Information that SSBM maintains about you, please contact us at contact@ssbm.ch
GLOSSARY
Cookies are unique identifiers usually in the form of small data files placed on your device that send certain information about your activity on the SSBM Site or in an email communication back to SSBM or the authorized third party that served the cookie.
SSBM or third parties may also use Flash cookies.
SSBM Site consists of all content and pages located within the SSBM.
org web domain and all SSBM mobile applications.
Member is each educational institution or other leading global institution or entity that provides courses through the SSBM Site.
Personal Information is information that specifically identifies you or that, when combined with other information, could be used to identify you.
Tracking Technologies are web beacons, clear gifs, pixels, and similar technologies that are also unique identifiers used to track your online activity but are not stored on your device.
Verified Certificate is a virtual certificate that shows that you have successfully completed your SSBM course or program and verified your identity using your webcam and your acceptable form of photo ID.