UniThrive Privacy Policy and Disclaimer


This document contains the privacy practices for the ***[www.UniThrive.org]*** website (the "Site"), which is owned and operated by UniThrive LLC ("UniThrive").  This privacy policy forms a part of the Site’s Terms and Conditions of Use and is subject to such Terms.  We at UniThrive take your privacy seriously. The purpose of this privacy policy is to inform you about the information that is collected about you, how UniThrive may use and disclose the information that is collected, how information can be corrected or changed and your obligations regarding information about others you may encounter in using the Site.

Information Exchanges Between Alumni Lenders and Student Borrowers

As described in more detail at http://www.unithrive.org/about, UniThrive has created a unique forum to facilitate college alumni making micro-finance loans to students in the interest of improving students' chances of success in life.  Because UniThrive connects students and alumni in a person-to-person lending mode, we want you to fully understand the dynamics of that relationship and interaction. While we have instituted a process to help control direct communications and protect everyone’s privacy and confidential information, no process is perfect and you must use common sense and act reasonably in order to protect your own privacy and know who you are dealing with when using this Site.  

Alumni lenders cannot communicate with student loan applicants until a student accepts the lender’s pledge through the Site.  A student borrower cannot contact its alumni lenders until the student accepts a loan offer.  Non-public blog or chat features may be made available on the Site to facilitate communications between funded student borrowers and their lenders.  

Information Collected and Use of that Information

From time to time, including when you register to use this Site, UniThrive may ask you, as a user of this Site, to provide certain information and documents by which you may be identified, such as your name, title, address, telephone number, e-mail address, credit card number, photograph, Social Security number, and similar information. This information will be referred to in this document as "Personal Information."  You may decline to provide this Personal Information, but please realize that you may thereby be unable to register or participate in activities or opportunities offered on this Site.

We will never share, sell or license your Personal Information to anyone else unless expressly permitted by the terms of this Privacy Policy.

This Site is operated in the United States. If you are a resident of the European Union or other location outside the United States, please be advised that any information you provide will be transferred to the United States. By using this Site, you consent to this transfer and to the use of the personal identifiable data you submit as described in this Privacy Policy.

UniThrive will be able to use this Personal Information in a number of ways, as follows:

(a)  For the purpose for which it was provided: If you give us information for a specific purpose, we will use it only for that purpose. For example, if you request information about UniThrive or material on the Site, UniThrive will utilize your name and address to send you that information.  If you are a student borrower and provide information for the purpose of securing loans through this Site, the information will be used only for that purpose and disclosed to potential alumni lenders.

(b)  To contact you about this Site: UniThrive would like to be able to contact you from time to time to request your input about this Site and ways in which we might improve it.

(c)  To inform you about UniThrive information, developments, events, services, opportunities and UniThrive fundraising efforts: UniThrive would like to be able to contact you and send you information about its activities, products, services, events and fundraising efforts in which UniThrive hopes you might be interested.   Please see the section below on “Opt-In/Opt-Out.”

(d)  Our necessary disclosure of Personal Information: UniThrive may disclose Personal Information to third parties (including alumni lenders and credit agencies) as necessary to carry out the purposes for which you provided the information (such as to send you information or an acknowledgement of contribution).  IN THE EVENT OF A BORROWER DEFAULT, UNITHRIVE RESERVES THE RIGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO NOTIFY APPLICABLE CREDIT AGENCIES OF SUCH BORROWER DEFAULT AND SUCH REPORTING MAY AFFECT BORROWERS’ CREDIT RATINGS.

(e)    Personal Information may also be disclosed by us as required by law as we deem necessary or appropriate, including pursuant to subpoena, court order, and governmental or law enforcement requests. We may also disclose Personal Information to third parties in our discretion if we determine such disclosure is advisable to help avoid harm to persons or property, to protect the rights and property of UniThrive, its affiliates and agents, its users and the public, and to enforce our Terms and Conditions of Use and this Privacy Policy.  If other users of this Site use or disclose information that they may have or to which they may gain access, we will not be held liable for any such use or disclosure.  To the same extent, UniThrive is also not responsible if another user of this Site shares your Personal Information with another user, such as in a message or posting update; however, UniThrive reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the access and use rights of any user of this Site who misuses any personal information of another Site user without such person’s consent or authorization.

(f)  Non-personal Information: UniThrive may use and disclose to others information about you and your use of the Site by which you are not identified, such as the type of browser you use, the files you request, the URL and geographic location from which you request information, the URL that you came from and link to, and similar information, and information compiled in the form of statistical, demographic, or aggregated anonymous information about visitors generally to the Site. This information is referred to in this document as "Nonpersonal Information."

(f)  In the event of a merger, acquisition or sale of UniThrive’s assets, Personal Information may be assigned or transferred to UniThrive’s successor, merged entity or new owner of such assets.  

Use of "Cookies":

This Site may use cookies to enhance your experience while using our Site. Cookies are small pieces of information that some websites transfer to the computer used for browsing that website that are used for record-keeping purposes.  Use of cookies makes web surfing easier by performing certain functions, such as tracking your activities through your IP address and computer settings, and saving your passwords and your personal preferences regarding your use of the particular website.  Many consider the use of cookies to be an industry standard.  Or cookies do not spy on you or invade your privacy, and they cannot fool your hard drive or steal any information.

Your browser is probably set to accept cookies.  However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you can alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies.  If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of this Site may not function properly when you view them and your ability to use certain features of this Website may be affected.

Student Profile Information:

Each student seeking alumni loans will be required to set up a student profile, which will require the posting of certain personal information.  Required profile information may include your name, class year, educational background, personal interests or hobbies, and your photograph.  Profile information will not include your address, social security number or other private financial or tax data.  Prospective lenders will have access to all student profiles, but students cannot view other students’ profiles.  


Security of account information:

When you provide UniThrive with your Personal Information, UniThrive offers the use of a secure server utilizing Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.  The server software UniThrive utilizes encrypts all information you input before it is sent to UniThrive.  UniThrive takes your privacy seriously. UniThrive makes significant efforts to protect from unauthorized access the data it collects.  You can typically confirm the secure mode of the portion of the Site through which you submit Personal Information by noting a small secure site icon or other notice at the bottom of your browser screen, depending on the type of browser you use.

“Opting In/Out” and Correction or Deletion of Your Information:

Opt-In/Opt-Out: From time to time we may offer you the opportunity to receive newsletters, special offers, news about not-for profit funding and other additional information we believe may be of interest to you. You will have the opportunity to select (“opt-in”) to receive such additional information, and also have the opportunity to “opt-out” from receiving such information at any time.

Requesting and Correcting information: You can request details of Personal Information compiled about you or correct information by contacting UniThrive at contactus@UniThrive.org.

    Deleting information: You may request that Personal Information be deleted by informing UniThrive at contactus@UniThrive.org of your request.  UniThrive also retains the right, in its sole discretion, to remove an individual’s personal information that is posted on the Site without such person’s consent or authorization.

Tell-A-Friend:

If a user elects to use UniThrive’s service for informing a friend about this Site, we ask them for the friend's name and e-mail address. UniThrive will automatically send the friend a one-time e-mail inviting them to visit this Site.  UniThrive stores this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time e-mail.  You expressly agree to hold harmless and indemnify UniThrive for any misuse or wrongful disclosure by you of such other names and email addresses, subject to the indemnification and other provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Use for this Site.

Minors:

No Personal Information about or from anyone under the age of 13 should be provided on this Site.  The services offered through this Site are not designed for children but solely for college and university students and alumni.  If by some chance you are a savant or child genius under the age of 13 who is a college student seeking alumni loans through this Site, you must secure, through verifiable means acceptable in UniThrive’s sole discretion and in conformance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), the express permission and guidance of your parents or legal guardian, who must provide such verification to UniThrive before such use of the Site may continue.  The validity of any parental or guardian consent shall be assessed in UniThrive’s sole discretion, consistent with the requirements of COPPA and any other applicable law. A parent or legal guardian may revoke previously extended approval at any time or can instruct us to delete a child’s personal information or to stop collecting or using such information by contacting us at contactus@UniThrive.org.  

Site Monitoring.

UniThrive reserves the right to monitor the Site and communications flowing through it for inappropriate behavior and communication that violates this Privacy Policy, the Terms and Conditions of Use, or applicable laws and regulations.  Site users should report to UniThrive any suspicious activity or misuse of the Site.

Links to Other Sites.

This Site may contain links to other websites.  Please be aware that once you leave this Site and enter another website, you may be subject to different privacy practices and policies over which we have no control and for which UniThrive is not responsible. Please use prudence in utilizing such links and in disclosing any personal information on those sites.

Interactive Portions of the Site.

Please be aware that when you provide information on bulletin boards, chat rooms and similar interactive portions that may be on this Site, you are making such information available to others. Please use prudence and good sense when participating in such interactive portions of this Site. To the extent others post their information in such interactive settings, you agree to use such information only to the extent and for the purpose permitted by such person. UniThrive may track your use of this Site and the information that you post or provide and anything that UniThrive deems inappropriate in its discretion could be deleted, result in your being blocked from using this Site, and/or your being refused the services provided by UniThrive.

California Residents Additional Privacy Rights.

California law permits visitors who are California residents to request certain information respecting our disclosure of personal identifiable information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes.  UniThrive does not intend to engage in any commercial marketing activities as it is a not-for-profit organization.  Nevertheless, to make such a request, please send an email to contactus@UniThrive.org.

Changes to Privacy Policy.

UniThrive may change this privacy policy at our discretion provided that any such change is posted on this Site.  Your continued us of the Site after such changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of such terms.

Contacting the Website.

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact UniThrive at contactus@UniThrive.org.

Last updated: June 14, 2009
© UniThrive LLC 2009.  Al rights reserved worldwide.