Terms of Use
THESE TERMS OF USE DESCRIBE YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN USING HIGHEREDNOTDEBT.ORG. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.
Last updated: September 17, 2014
1. Acceptance of Terms. HigherEdNotDebt.org, including all site-related content and services (collectively, “Higher Ed, Not Debt”) is provided by Center for American Progress (“American Progress,” “we,” “us”). Your use of Higher Ed, Not Debt is subject to your compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Terms of Use agreement (“Terms of Use”), which supplement any additional guidelines or other terms posted by American Progress in relation to specific site-related services or content. Although you can access and read portions of Higher Ed, Not Debt by visiting the site, you must register as a member to use certain Higher Ed, Not Debt features—such as posting comments or signing up for action alerts.
Please note that we reserve the right to update or modify the Terms of Use without advance notice by posting a revised Terms of Use to this website. Visitors to Higher Ed, Not Debt (“you”) can determine whether the Terms of Use has been modified since your last visit by checking the “Last updated” legend posted at the top of the Agreement. By using Higher Ed, Not Debt, you agree to be bound by the version of the Terms of Use then in effect. If at any point you no longer agree to the Terms of Use, please arrange to cancel your membership of Higher Ed, Not Debt by notifying American Progress and/or discontinuing your use of Higher Ed, Not Debt. American Progress may deny service to you at any time, including in the event you do not adhere to the Terms of Use.
2. About American Progress; Purpose of Higher Ed, Not Debt. American Progress is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just, and free America that ensures opportunity for all. We believe Americans are bound together by a common commitment to these values and we aspire to ensure our national policies reflect these values.
As a tax-exempt organization, American Progress is prohibited from supporting attempts to influence the outcome of any election for public office. Accordingly, with Higher Ed, Not Debt, American Progress seeks to provide a forum for students and others to discuss progressive ideas and policies—not to advance the interests of any particular political party or candidate for office.
3. Signing Up for Certain Site Features. We welcome both registered members and non-registered visitors to sign up to enter contests, participate in polls, or use certain other features made available through Higher Ed, Not Debt from time to time. You must provide your email address and zip code to sign up for these features. Any contests, polls or other features requiring you to sign up may be governed by specific rules, which we will post for your review. By signing up for a particular feature, you become subject the rules governing that feature.
4. Submissions. We welcome you to post ideas and views to Higher Ed, Not Debt, subject to your agreement to comply with the Terms of Use. Please be aware that in order to operate Higher Ed, Not Debt or redistribute materials you post to Higher Ed, Not Debt or otherwise submit to us, we require certain rights in those materials. So, by posting to Higher Ed, Not Debt or otherwise transmitting comments, pieces, ideas or other information (collectively, “Submissions”) to us, you grant to us and our designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, sublicenseable, assignable, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right (including any moral rights) and license to use, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works based on, perform and display such Submissions (in whole or in part) in any media now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose whatsoever, without compensation to you or any other provider of the Submissions. You also permit any visitor or member of Higher Ed, Not Debt to access, display, view, store, and reproduce such Submissions for personal use.
You acknowledge that to the extent that you include personally identifiable information in Submissions, we may republish such information as part of the content. If we republish your content, we may provide authorship credit by listing your name as well.
Although American Progress has no obligation to monitor the Submissions, you acknowledge and agree that we may do one or all of the following: A) monitor the Submissions; B) alter, edit, or remove any Submission; or C) disclose any Submissions. This section will survive any termination or expiration of these Terms of Use.
5. Higher Ed, Not Debt Comment Community Rules. Higher Ed, Not Debt comment forums are designed to encourage discussion on topics related to ideas, issues, politics, campuses, and student activism. While Higher Ed, Not Debt is centered on progressive ideas and policies, we welcome a broad range of viewpoints. We have adopted the “Higher Ed, Not Debt Community Comment Rules” set forth below to create a forum where information and views can be shared in a productive and civilized way. While using Higher Ed, Not Debt, you agree to follow the Higher Ed, Not Debt Comment Community Rules.
You agree to:
Respect Others. Please do not threaten, abuse, intimidate, or harass other Site users.
Use Higher Ed, Not Debt for your personal use only. Posting entries solely to promote your own commercial ventures is not allowed.
You agree not to:
Post any content or provide links to any content that endorse or oppose a particular political party or candidate for office.
Post any private information or otherwise harvest, collect, or disclose information, about another Higher Ed, Not Debt user without his or her express consent.
Post any content to Higher Ed, Not Debt that is unlawful, racist, libelous, defamatory, obscene, or harasses particular individuals or groups.
Post any content to Higher Ed, Not Debt that infringes any third-party’s intellectual property or other rights.
Use Higher Ed, Not Debt for any unlawful purpose, or transmit or otherwise make available in connection with Higher Ed, Not Debt any material that would give rise to criminal or civil liability.
Use Higher Ed, Not Debt for advertisements, chain letters, “spamming,” survey solicitations, junk mail, or solicitations. We are not free advertising.
Impersonate any person or entity, including any American Progress employees, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
Imply that American Progress endorses any of your statements or positions.
Transmit any harmful, invasive or disruptive code or other materials (such as viruses, worms, or web bugs) through or to Higher Ed, Not Debt, or otherwise “hack” or deface any portion of Higher Ed, Not Debt.
Frame or mirror any part of Higher Ed, Not Debt without our prior written authorization.
You acknowledge that American Progress has the right, but not the obligation, to modify or remove, any Submissions that violate Higher Ed, Not Debt Community Rules or that otherwise violate the Terms of Use.
6. American Progress’s Proprietary Rights and Re-Use Policy. You acknowledge and agree that the information and materials presented on or through Higher Ed, Not Debt will remain the property of American Progress and its licensors or providers, and are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and/or other proprietary rights and related laws, rules and regulations. The materials produced by American Progress (including photographs, graphics, video and audio content) are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. All individual articles, content and other elements comprising this compilation and produced by American Progress are also copyrighted works. You agree to abide by all additional copyright notices or restrictions contained in any materials produced by American Progress.
The trademarks, service marks, logos, and trade names displayed on Higher Ed, Not Debt (collectively the “Marks”) are the registered and unregistered trademarks of American Progress, American Progress’s licensors and suppliers, and others. All Marks on Higher Ed, Not Debt not owned by American Progress are the property of their respective owners. The Marks owned by American Progress, whether registered or unregistered, may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not American Progress’.
It’s On Us Partner logos are provided to Higher Ed, Not Debt by the relevant Partners and may not be reused in any manner without explicit authorization from the applicable Partner. TWITTER, TWEET, RETWEET and the Twitter Bird are trademarks of Twitter, Inc. or its affiliates.
General Re-Use Policy
You may copy reprint, publish, reproduce, or otherwise display materials created by American Progress and made available through Higher Ed, Not Debt (collectively, the “Higher Ed, Not Debt Works”) on the condition that you attribute those materials to American Progress or Higher Ed, Not Debt, as applicable, and provide a link to the American Progress website (www.americanprogress.org) or the Higher Ed, Not Debt site (www.HigherEdNotDebt.org), as applicable. Specifically, any article or materials that you reprint or otherwise reproduce must be displayed with its by-line, if applicable, under one of the following headings:
“This material [article] was created by Higher Ed, Not Debt.” (online)
“This material [article] was created by Higher Ed, Not Debt (www.HigherEdNotDebt.org).” (print)
You can usually tell that a work is a “Higher Ed, Not Debt Work” because it has a by-line, tagline, or other attribution as such. “Higher Ed, Not Debt Works” do not include any materials posted on or through the site that do not include such an attribution. (such as an AP photo, an article by an outside contributor, a music/audio file or a cartoon) If you are uncertain whether a work is a Higher Ed, Not Debt Work, please contact us. Please contact the author of works published on Higher Ed, Not Debt that are not Higher Ed, Not Debt Works for permission to re-use such works.
Limit on Use
Except as expressly permitted above, you may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, enter into a database, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any material produced by American Progress. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you may not distribute any material produced by American Progress over any network, including a local area network, nor sell or offer it for sale.
You may not make any editorial changes to articles or materials without first receiving express permission from American Progress. This provision does not restrict excerpting portions of content in a manner that does not alter the editorial intent.
If any of these terms are breached, we reserve the right to withdraw your license to republish our material. In this situation, you must take immediate steps to remove our material from all current and past communications.
7. Information Available on or Through Higher Ed, Not Debt. Much information made available on or through Higher Ed, Not Debt is provided by third parties (such as news services) or other Higher Ed, Not Debt visitors or users (such information, “Third-Party Content”). The inclusion or appearance of Third-Party Content on Higher Ed, Not Debt does not indicate any approval or endorsement by American Progress. American Progress is not responsible for, and hereby disclaims any and all liability that may arise from Third-Party Content.
8. Links. The Site provides links to other websites and resources. Because American Progress has no control over these sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that American Progress does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. American Progress is providing these links to you only as a convenience. American Progress has the right, but not the obligation to block links from or to Higher Ed, Not Debt at any time.
9. Claims of Copyright Infringement. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that material appearing on the Internet infringes their rights under U.S. copyright law. If you believe in good faith that materials hosted by American Progress infringe your copyright, you (or your agent) may send us a notice requesting that the material be removed, or access to it blocked. Notices and counter-notices must meet the then-current statutory requirements imposed by the DMCA; see http://www.loc.gov/copyright/ for details. Notices and counter-notices with respect to Higher Ed, Not Debt should be sent to:
By Mail:
Debbie Fine
Counsel
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street, NW
Washington DC 20005
By email: copyright@amprog.org
10. Privacy Policy. All information provided by you or collected by us during visits to Higher Ed, Not Debt (including when you register to become a member or sign up to use certain features) is governed by American Progress’ Privacy Policy, which is hereby incorporated into the Terms of Use by this reference. Please review it carefully by clicking here.
Please be aware that if you decide to disclose personally identifiable information on forums open to other site visitors or Higher Ed, Not Debt members, this information may become public. American Progress does not control the acts of other Higher Ed, Not Debt visitors or members, so please be cautious when deciding to reveal personal information on Higher Ed, Not Debt. If you believe a Higher Ed, Not Debt visitor or member is improperly collecting or using information about you or other users, please contact us at CPwebmaster@HigherEdNotDebt.org.
11. Jurisdictional Issues. The Site is controlled and operated by American Progress from its principal office in the District of Columbia, U.S.A., and is not intended to subject American Progress to the laws or jurisdiction of any other state, country, or territory. Those who choose to access Higher Ed, Not Debt do so on their own initiative and at their own risk, and are solely responsible for complying with all local laws, rules, and regulations.
12. Termination. You agree that American Progress, in its sole discretion, may terminate your use of Higher Ed, Not Debt or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason, including if American Progress believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the spirit of the Terms of Use. Further, you agree that American Progress will not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to Higher Ed, Not Debt.
13. Disclaimers. Higher Ed, Not Debt IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY. YOU AGREE THAT YOU MUST EVALUATE AND BEAR ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF Higher Ed, Not Debt, AND ANY RELIANCE ON THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR USEFULNESS THEREOF. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, AMERICAN PROGRESS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO Higher Ed, Not Debt.
The Site may include inadvertent inaccuracies or errors, or information or materials that violate the Terms of Use (including Higher Ed, Not Debt Community Rules). Additionally, the possibility exists that a third party could make unauthorized alterations to Higher Ed, Not Debt, Content or Services. Although we attempt to ensure the integrity of Higher Ed, Not Debt, we make no guarantees as to its completeness or correctness. In the event that a situation arises in which Higher Ed, Not Debt’ completeness or correctness is in question, please contact us with, if possible, a description of the material to be checked and the location (URL) where such material can be found on Higher Ed, Not Debt, as well as information sufficient to enable us to contact you.
14. Limitation of Liability. NEITHER American Progress NOR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR CONSULTANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR OTHER DAMAGES UNDER ANY CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER THEORY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE BLOG AND/OR MATERIALS CONTAINED ON THE BLOG, ANY LINKED SITE OR ANY CONTENT OR SERVICE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BLOG. YOUR SOLE REMEDY FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE BLOG, CONTENT, SERVICES OR ANY LINKED SITE IS TO STOP YOUR USE OF IT.
15. Indemnification. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless American Progress and our directors, officers, employees and consultants, from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and other expenses that arise out of or from A) your activities in connection with Higher Ed, Not Debt; B) any violation of these Terms of Use by you; or C) any allegation that any Submissions or other materials you submit to us or transmit to Higher Ed, Not Debt infringe or otherwise violate the copyright, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property or other rights of any third party.
16. Miscellaneous. These Terms of Use is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any court located in the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, United States of America, and waive any jurisdictional, venue or inconvenient forum objections to such courts, in any matter arising out of or related to Higher Ed, Not Debt or these Terms of Use. If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be deemed severable from these Terms of Use and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. American Progress may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms of Use. These, together with all policies referred to herein, is the entire agreement between us relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous written or oral agreements between us with respect to such subject matter.
17. Questions. If you have any questions or feedback about these Terms of Use or Higher Ed, Not Debt, feel free to contact us at campus@HigherEdNotDebt.org or write to:
Higher Ed, Not Debt
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street, NW
Washington DC 20005