The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (“KSTF”) is strongly committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to this site.  The purpose of this privacy policy is to inform you, as a visitor to this site, what kinds of information we may gather about you when you visit this site, how we may use that information, and whether we disclose it to anyone.  This privacy policy applies to the information collected from you online, not offline. This privacy policy applies only to KSTF, and not to other companies’ or organizations’ websites to which we link.

If KSTF decides to change any of its privacy policies, the changes will be posted here in this area so that you will always know the information we gather, how we might use that information and to whom we will disclose it.  We reserve the right, at our discretion to change, modify, add or remove portions of this policy at any time.  Please make sure to check this page periodically for any changes.

Information About All KSTF Visitors

KSTF collects certain information from and about its users in three ways – directly from visitors to the site, from our Web server logs, and with cookies of other forms of passive data gathering.

User-Supplied Information: There are several areas in the Website where we collect personal information from you on a voluntary basis.  Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable that is not otherwise publicly available, such as your name, address, e-mail address, mailing address, gender, date of birth, or phone numbers or other information or photos or videos submitted by you.  We may collect this information at the following times: (i) when you fill out an application for a Teaching Fellowship position through the Website; (ii) when you register to receive communications from this Website;  (iii) through our password-access only portal which contains various Teaching Fellowship forms and policies and provides for online discussion forums; and (iv) when you provide personal information to us through feedback, survey, or other forms hosted on this Website. 

Third Parties:  We may receive information about you from third parties, such as service providers, for tracking purposes.  We may add the information we receive about you to your existing account. 

Server Log Information:  When you visit any site, including this one, you disclose certain information about yourself, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, the time of your visit, and the referring location (e.g., the site or page that offered a link to a KSTF page).  Like many other sites, KSTF records this basic information about visits to this site.

Cookies:  In order to offer and provide customized, personal service, KSTF may use cookies to store and help track your information.  These cookies are relatively standard and do not collect personally identifiable information.  Nor do we combine information collected through cookies with other personally identifiable information to tell us who you are or even what your username or e-mail address is.  If for any reason you wish not to take advantage of cookies, you may have your browser not accept them, although this may disable or render unsuable some of the features of this site.

You should remember that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online, such as on message boards, through e-mail, discussion groups, or in chat areas, your information can be collected and used by others.  Although KSTF tries to protect your personal information, KSTF cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.  You are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of any passwords you set up and/or any account information.

THIS SITE IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY MINORS. ACCORDINGLY, KSTF DOES NOT REQUEST ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM MINORS.  MINORS SHOULD NOT POST ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THIS SITE.

How and When Information is Used

We use information in different ways, depending on the type of information:

User-Supplied Information:  This information is used for purposes such as personalization and verification.  We also use this information to improve our internal operations, as well as to ensure that we:  (i) administer your account in accordance with your agreements with us; (ii) properly perform the services you have requested; and (iii) communicate with you about this Website, our services, your requests, and any service announcements.

Web Server Logs:  This information helps us identify which areas of our site are of interest to our visitors.  KSTF may also collect the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of its visitors for the purposes of system administration.

Cookies:  We use to let you use our services more easily and to let us keep track of certain statistical information that helps us improve our Site.  Cookies also allow us to save preferences for you so that you will not have to re-enter them the next time you visit.

How We Protect Your Information

We do not use or disclose your personal information to any third parties without your permission.  Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.  Accordingly, while we strive to protect your personal information, KSTF cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, or to or from our online services.  You transmit all such information at your own risk.  However, once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to ensure its security on our servers.

Who Has Access to the Information

KSTF may establish contractual relations with third parties where, subject to confidentiality agreements, such parties work on behalf of KSTF to further the performance objectives of this Website. 

Except as described below, KSTF will not willfully disclose any individually identifiable information about its users to any third party without first receiving that user’s permission.  KSTF may disclose personal information when we believe in good faith that the law requires it or to protect the rights or property of KSTF.

When KSTF requests personal information from you, you share that information with KSTF alone, unless the service is offered in conjunction with another party.  For example, some KSTF services may be offered in conjunction with other individuals or companies.  In order to provide such co-branded services to you, it is necessary for us to share your personal information with the KSTF or individual offering the co-branded service.  If you do not want your data to be shared, you can choose not to allow the transfer of data by not using that particular service.  WHILE KSTF STRIVES TO SELECT THIRD PARTY PARTNERS WHO HAVE OR SHARE THE SAME STANDARDS IN REGARDS TO PRIVACY POLICIES COMPARABLE TO ITS OWN, YOU AGREE THAT WITH RESPECT TO THOSE THIRD PARTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WEB SITES KSTF LINKS TO, KSTF DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING THE SAME, NOR WILL KSTF BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE USER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR OTHER MATERIAL THAT MAY BE SOLD, LICENSED, DISTRIBUTED OR PROMOTED BY SUCH THIRD PARTIES OR ON SUCH WEBSITES, OR FOR ANY CONTENT ON SUCH WEBSITES.  KSTF ENCOURAGES VISITORS OF THOSE SITES TO REVIEW THE PRIVACY POLICIES POSTED ON THOSE SITES.

Legal Compliance

KSTF may disclose any of the information collected from you through this Website in order to: (i) comply with applicable laws; (ii) respond to government inquiries; (iii) comply with valid legal process; and (iv) protect the rights or property of KSTF, the Website, or consumers of the Website.

Opting-Out

You may register to receive communications from us directly on the Website or through a third party.   If you no longer wish to receive these communications, please let us know by clicking on the unsubscribe link in our e-mails.  Our e-mail database is continually updated.  However, you may continue to receive e-mail communications from us for up to ten business days from the time we receive your unsubscribe request.  Please note that KSTF can only control its own mailing list and policies.  Third party advertisers that maintain their own mailing lists may send communications that advertise our products, and you may need to contact those parties directly in order to stop receiving their e-mail communications.

California Privacy Rights

Under California law, California residents who provide personal information in obtaining products or services for personal, family or household use are entitled to request and obtain from KSTF once a calendar year information about the customer information we shared, if any, with other businesses for their own direct marketing uses. If applicable, this information would include the categories of customer information and the names and addresses of those businesses with which we shared information for the immediately prior calendar year (e.g. requests made in 2011 will receive information regarding 2010 sharing activities).
To obtain this information on behalf of KSTF please send an email message to info@kstf.org with "Request for California Privacy Information" on the subject line and in the body of your message. We will provide the requested information to you at your e-mail address in response.

Please be aware that not all information sharing is covered by the California law referenced above, and only information on covered sharing will be included in our response.

Questions regarding the above statement should be directed to KSTF for clarification.  To return to the site, please use the “Back” button on your browser.