Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy governs the use of GuideSpark’s online education software services, its website, and any other websites, sub domains, or services owned or controlled by GuideSpark, Inc. (collectively, the “GuideSpark Services”) by our users, customers, members, and others who visit and use the GuideSpark Services (collectively or individually, “You” or “Users”).

This Privacy Policy describes what information we gather from you, how we use that information, when we disclose that information, and what we do to protect it. If you use the GuideSpark Services as part of an entity or organization that has an agreement with GuideSpark, Inc., the terms of that organization’s contract for the GuideSpark Services may restrict our collection or use of your information more than what is described in this Privacy Policy. Otherwise, by using the GuideSpark Services, you expressly consent to the information handling practices described in this notice.

Please be aware that any personally identifiable or other professional information that you voluntarily choose to have displayed publicly on the GuideSpark Services – including your username, alias, or ID – becomes publicly available information and may be collected and used by others without restriction.

This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and is subject to the GuideSpark Terms of Use. Your use of the GuideSpark Services and any personal or professional information you provide on the GuideSpark Services are subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy and GuideSpark’s Terms of Use.

The Information GuideSpark Collects:

Subscriber-provided Information: You may provide to GuideSpark what is generally called “personally identifiable” information (such as your name, email address, postal mailing address, home/mobile telephone number, credit card number and billing information) if you subscribe to the GuideSpark Services, or otherwise purchase, use or download certain products or information or use other features on the GuideSpark Services. You may also provide to GuideSpark certain professional information such as your title, office location, job category, organization’s name, and organization’s address. You may also provide certain personal information to GuideSpark when you post a comment or rating, provide a lesson review, respond to a survey, use an educational tool, contact GuideSpark partners for personal assistance, or participate in a poll.
“Cookies” Information: When you visit the GuideSpark Services, we may send one or more cookies – small text files containing a string of alphanumeric characters – to your computer. GuideSpark may use both session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie disappears after you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains after you close your browser and may be used by your browser on subsequent visits to the GuideSpark Services. Persistent cookies can be removed. Please review your web browser “Help” file to learn the proper way to modify your cookie settings.
“Automatically Collected” Information: When you visit or use the GuideSpark Services we may automatically record certain information from your web browser or system by using different types of technology. This “automatically collected” information may include Internet Protocol address (“IP Address”), web browser type, the web pages or sites that you visit just before or just after the GuideSpark Services, the pages you view on the GuideSpark Services, and the dates and times that you visit the GuideSpark Services.
GuideSpark also uses web analytics services, which currently includes Google Analytic.
Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google“). Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to analyze how users use the GuideSpark website (the “Domains”). The information generated about Domain usage (including your shortened IP address) is transmitted to Google in the U.S. This information is used to evaluate visitors’ use of the Domain, compile statistical reports on Domain activity, and provide other services related to the Site and Internet use. Google may also collect information about Domain visitors’ use of other websites. For more information about Google Analytics, or to opt out of Google Analytics, please go to: h ttps://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

The Way GuideSpark Uses Information:

We use your information to operate, maintain, enhance, and provide the features and services found on the GuideSpark Services.
We reserve the right to use your email address, without further consent, for administrative purposes such as notifying you of major updates to the GuideSpark Services, for customer service purposes, or to address copyright infringement issues.
We use your information to understand the usage trends and preferences of our Users, to improve the way the GuideSpark Services work and look, and to create new features and functionality.
We may use your information to: (a) determine user-specific access privileges and remember your information so that you will not have to re-enter it during your visit or the next time you visit the GuideSpark Services; (b) provide you with customized third-party content and information, including targeted advertising and promotional material; (c) create course recommendations; (d) monitor aggregate site usage metrics such as total number of visitors and pages viewed; and (e) track your progress through online lessons, tools, polls, ratings, message boards, surveys and other educational features we may provide.
We will not use your email address or other personally identifiable information to send promotional or marketing messages without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature for which you will have the ability to opt-in. You may, however, receive such messages from a Subscribing Organization (see below).

When GuideSpark Discloses Information:

We may disclose your information to the person or organization (e.g. employer, union, financial services firm, financial educator) through which you are receiving the Services (the “Subscribing Organization”). GuideSpark is not responsible for the information practices of Subscribing Organizations.
We do not share your personally identifiable information with third-party organizations (other than Subscribing Organizations) for their marketing or promotional uses without your express consent.
We may aggregate information provided by Users and disclose such data, only in the aggregate and in a manner that is not personally identifiable, to Users for purposes of comparing their personal situation to the broader community and to other third parties. Such information does not identify Users individually.
We may provide links to third party services that may require personally identifiable information. If you choose to use these separate products or services, disclose information to the providers, and/or grant them permission to collect information about you, then their use of your information is governed by their privacy policies. We are not responsible for their privacy policies. If you click on a link to a third party site, we encourage you to read and understand the privacy policy of that site before you provide the third party any information.
We may disclose your information to businesses that we have retained to: provide web site hosting, maintenance, and security services; fulfill orders; conduct data analysis and create forecasts and reports; offer certain functionality; and assist GuideSpark in improving the GuideSpark Services and creating new services features. We require that these parties process such information in compliance with this Privacy Policy, we authorize only a limited use of such information, and we require these parties to use reasonable confidentiality measures.
We may also disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with state and federal laws (such as U.S. Copyright law) or respond to a court order, judicial or other government subpoena, or warrant. In some cases, we may make such disclosures without providing notice to Users.
We also reserve the right to disclose your information that we believe, in good faith, is appropriate or necessary to take precautions against liability; protect GuideSpark from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful uses; to investigate and defend ourselves against any third-party claims or allegations; to assist government enforcement agencies; to protect the security or integrity of the GuideSpark Services; or to protect the rights, property, or personal safety of GuideSpark our Users, or others.

Content Submitted to Community:

If you submit comments or other content to the pages of the GuideSpark Services containing “community” functionality (e.g. bulletin boards, blogs, chat rooms, comments to lessons), please understand that any information you submit there can be read, collected or used by other users and could be used to send you unsolicited messages. We are not responsible for the personal information you choose to submit to these forums.

Your Choices:

You may, of course, decline to share your personally-identifiable information with GuideSpark, in which case GuideSpark will not be able to provide to you all of the GuideSpark Services. You may update, correct, or delete your profile information and preferences at any time by going to the account section of the GuideSpark Services.

To protect your privacy and security, we take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting you account access or making corrections to your information. You are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your unique password and account information at all times.

Our Commitment to Data Security:

GuideSpark uses commercially reasonable physical, managerial, and technical safeguards to preserve the integrity and security of your information. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to GuideSpark, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission of information, GuideSpark makes commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the security of our systems. We cannot guarantee that your information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards.

If GuideSpark learns of a security systems breach, then we may attempt to notify you electronically so that you can take appropriate protective steps. GuideSpark may post a notice on the GuideSpark Services if a security breach occurs. Depending on where you live, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach in writing. To receive a free written notice of a security breach you should notify us at support@guidespark.com.

International Visitors:

For those of you visiting us from the European Economic Area or other non-U.S. territories, please note that any data you provide to us will be transferred outside the European Economic Area or such other territory for use by GuideSpark and its affiliates for any of the purposes described herein. In addition, because GuideSpark operates globally, we make information we gather available to our worldwide business units and affiliates. By providing any data on the GuideSpark Services you hereby expressly consent to such transfers.

In the Event of Merger or Sale:

In the event that all or part of GuideSpark is acquired by or merged with a third-party entity, we reserve the right, in any of these circumstances, to transfer or assign the information that we have collected from Users as part of such merger, acquisition, sale, or other change of control.

Changes and Updates to this Privacy Policy:

This Privacy Policy may be revised periodically without further notice to you and this will be reflected by a “last modified” date below. Please revisit this page to stay aware of any changes. Your continued use of the GuideSpark Services constitutes your agreement to this Privacy Policy and any future revisions.

For revisions to this Privacy Policy that may be materially less restrictive on our use or disclosure of personal information you have provided to us, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you and obtain your consent before implementing such revisions with respect to such information.

Effective Date, Date Last Modified:

This Privacy Policy is effective as of August 20, 2009, and was last modified on October 28, 2020.

GuideSpark Contact Information:

Please contact GuideSpark with any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, our third-party disclosure practices, or your consent choices at: GuideSpark, Inc. 1400A Seaport Blvd, Suite #500, Redwood City, CA 94063 and email: support@guidespark.com. We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days of its receipt.