Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Wayform is an online learning platform operated by Abilene Christian University’s Center for Vocational Formation (“we,” “our,” or “us”). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information about you when you use our website and platform (the “Service”).

Contact: Center for Vocational Formation, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX 79699. Questions about this policy may be sent to the contact address listed on our main university website.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly, information collected automatically, and information from third parties.

• Account information: name, email address, username, and profile photo when you register or sign in.
• Usage data: pages viewed, courses started or completed, lesson progress, time spent, search queries, and community posts.
• Device & log data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, and crash reports.
• Cookies & similar technologies: session tokens, preference cookies, and analytics identifiers. See Section 5 for details.
• Communications: messages you send to us or post in community features.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and improve the Service.
• Authenticate your identity and maintain your session.
• Personalize your learning experience and track your progress.
• Send transactional emails (password resets, enrollment confirmations).
• Send optional communications about new courses and features (you may opt out).
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service.
• Comply with legal obligations.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We may share it with:

• Service providers: vendors who help us operate the platform (hosting, authentication, analytics, email) under confidentiality agreements.
• ACU affiliates: other ACU departments as needed for institutional reporting.
• Legal compliance: when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and the rights of others.
• Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our assets.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in across page loads (strictly necessary session cookies).
• Remember your preferences (functional cookies).
• Understand how users interact with the platform (analytics cookies).

You can disable non-essential cookies in your browser settings. Disabling session cookies will prevent sign-in. We honor browser Do Not Track signals for analytics cookies.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us or using the “Delete account” option in Settings. Certain data may be retained for legal or audit purposes for up to seven years after deletion.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”).
• Object to or restrict certain processing.
• Data portability (receive your data in a machine-readable format).

To exercise these rights, contact us. We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request.

8. Children’s Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.

9. Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. No security measures are perfect, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized parties will never defeat our measures.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email or by posting a prominent notice on the platform. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any change constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

Questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy should be directed to the Center for Vocational Formation, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX 79699 or via the contact information published at acu.edu.