Introduction
HBCU AID ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website at hbcuaid.com (the "Site") and the services we provide.
By using HBCU AID, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide
When you use our contact forms, newsletter signup, or scholarship matching features, you may voluntarily provide:
- Name and email address (contact form submissions)
- Email address and preferences (newsletter subscriptions)
- Scholarship search filters (GPA, major, state, school) — stored in your browser, not associated with your identity
Automatically Collected Information
We collect limited technical information automatically when you visit the Site:
- IP address (for analytics and abuse prevention)
- Browser type and version
- Pages visited and referring URL
- Approximate geographic region (derived from IP, not precise location)
We use this data to understand site traffic, improve our service, and ensure security.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your inquiries and support requests
- Send newsletters and platform updates (if you opt in)
- Display relevant scholarships and grants based on your search filters
- Understand and improve site traffic and user experience
- Maintain platform security and prevent abuse
We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.
Cookies and Tracking
HBCU AID uses cookies to:
- Remember your theme preference (light/dark mode)
- Understand aggregate traffic patterns
- Enable the Miss Legacy chatbot functionality
You can disable cookies in your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some site functionality.
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Polsia infrastructure — our hosting and analytics provider
- OpenAI — powering the Miss Legacy AI chatbot (messages sent to Miss Legacy are processed by OpenAI; we do not store conversation history)
- Render — our web hosting provider (servers located in the United States)
These providers have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.
Data Retention
We retain:
- Contact form submissions for up to 2 years
- Newsletter subscriber emails until you unsubscribe
- Analytics data (aggregated, non-personally-identifiable) for up to 12 months
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data. However, no internet transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.
Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your personal data
- Unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time
- Object to certain processing of your data
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@hbcuaid.com. We will respond within 30 days.
Children's Privacy
HBCU AID's services are intended for high school and college students, including minors. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you believe we have collected data from a child under 13, contact us immediately.
International Users
HBCU AID is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the Site from outside the US, your information may be transferred to and processed in the US. By using the Site, you consent to this transfer.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:
Email: hello@hbcuaid.com
Website: hbcuaid.com/contact