PRIVACY POLICY AND YOUR PRIVATE POLICY RIGHTS

EDU, Inc. – Common Black College Application (CBCA)

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 9/1/2000

1. Overview

EDU, Inc. (“CBCA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains:

  • What information we collect
  • How we use it
  • Who we share it with
  • Your rights and choices

This policy applies to:

  • Common Black College Application platform
  • All related services, including CSA and CollegeBoundAI

2. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide (Applicants)

When you complete the CBCA, we collect information such as:

  • Name, address, email, phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Academic records (GPA, transcripts, test scores)
  • High school and counselor information
  • Essays and application responses

Important:

Your information is collected for the purpose of transmitting your application to participating CBCA Member Institutions.

B. Passive (Automatically Collected) Information

We collect information about how you use the Site, including:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device information
  • Pages visited and time spent
  • Navigation behavior

This information is used to:

  • Improve user experience
  • Analyze platform performance
  • Generate aggregate usage insights

We do not use passive data alone to personally identify you, but it may be combined with other data for operational purposes.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Process and transmit your applications
  • Provide access to dashboards and tools
  • Communicate with you about your application
  • Improve our services and user experience
  • Send relevant updates, opportunities, and reminders

4. Sharing of Information

A. Sharing with Member Institutions (CORE FUNCTION)

When you submit your application:

  • Your information is made available to CBCA Member Institutions you select
  • Institutions independently determine how they use your data

CBCA is not responsible for how institutions use, store, or process your data after transmission.

B. Important Clarification

Your data is NOT sold.

However, it IS shared with colleges and universities as part of the application process.

(This corrects a critical contradiction in your original policy.)

C. Sponsors & Partners

  • We do NOT provide your personal information directly to sponsors
  • Sponsors may provide content that CBCA sends to you
  • You must opt in to receive these communications

We may share:

  • Aggregated, anonymized demographic data
  • Usage trends that cannot identify individuals

D. School & District Partnerships

If your school, district, or program sponsors CBCA access:

We may share limited reporting data such as:

  • Student last name
  • High school affiliation

This is used for:

  • Program tracking
  • Participation reporting

E. Legal Disclosure

We may disclose information when required to:

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Respond to lawful requests
  • Protect safety, rights, or property

5. Email & Communications

We may contact you regarding:

  • Application status
  • Missing materials
  • Scholarship opportunities
  • Platform updates

You may also receive:

  • Educational content (financial aid, admissions tips)
  • Optional partner-related content (if you opt in)

We comply with the CAN-SPAM Act and provide opt-out options.

6. Text Messaging (SMS)

By providing your phone number, you consent to receive messages from:

  • CBCA
  • Participating Member Institutions

These messages may include:

  • Admissions updates
  • Financial aid information
  • Housing and enrollment details

Message frequency varies.
Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.

7. Children’s Privacy (Under 13)

CBCA does not knowingly collect information from children under 13 in compliance with:

  • COPPA

If we become aware that such information has been collected, we will delete it promptly.

8. Student Data & Educational Privacy

CBCA operates as a data facilitator for student applications.

We align our practices with:

  • FERPA

However:

  • CBCA is not a school or educational institution
  • Member institutions are responsible for their own FERPA compliance

9. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards including:

  • Secure servers
  • Firewalls
  • Password protection
  • Restricted access controls

While we strive to protect your data, no system is 100% secure.

10. Your Choices & Rights

You may:

  • Opt out of non-essential emails
  • Request updates to your information (before submission)
  • Contact us to correct inaccuracies

After submission:

  • Certain data may not be editable to preserve application integrity

11. Data Retention

We retain information:

  • As long as necessary to provide services
  • As required for legal or operational purposes

12. Third-Party Links

Our Site may link to external websites.

We are not responsible for:

  • Their privacy practices
  • Their content

You should review their policies separately.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy at any time.

If changes are material:

  • We will provide notice on the Site

Continued use constitutes acceptance.

14. Contact Information

EDU, Inc. – Common Black College Application
2625 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 56315
Atlanta, GA 30324
Email: contact@commonblackcollegeapp.com
Phone: 404-747-9315