College Guidance Network Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 13, 2026
1. Overview
College Guidance Network (“Company,” “CGN”, “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of students, parents/guardians, educators, and school communities who use our platform and services.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information when you use the CGN website, mobile application, AI guidance tools, and related services (collectively, the “Services”).
Privacy at a Glance
- We only collect information needed to provide and improve our Services.
- We do not sell student or parent personal information.
- We do not use student or parent data to train public AI models.
- Schools using CGN may have visibility into certain student progress or activity within the platform.
- We implement and maintain safeguards designed to protect personal information.
If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Services.
If you have questions, contact us at privacy@collegeguidancenetwork.com.
Collection, Use, and Sharing of Personal Information
“Personal Information” means information that can be associated with a particular user.
2. Information We Collect
|
Category |
Examples |
|
Account Information |
Name, email address, phone number, school affiliation, username, password |
|
Student Information |
Grade level, graduation year, interests, goals, responses entered into the platform |
|
AI Interactions |
Questions submitted to EVA or other AI-powered tools, generated responses, workflow activity |
|
Usage Information |
Pages visited, features used, time spent in the platform |
|
Device Information |
IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system |
|
Communications |
Messages |
|
Media & Content |
Files, documents, or images uploaded by users |
We may also receive information from schools or districts that provide access to CGN.
We may collect the following categories of information:
3. How We Collect Information
We collect information in three primary ways:
A. Information Provided by Users
- Users may provide information directly when:
- Creating an account
- Using EVA or other platform features
- Completing forms or surveys
- Contacting customer support
- Uploading content or documents
B. Information Provided by Schools or Districts
Schools or districts may provide information needed to create and manage accounts, including student roster information and school-related data.
C. Information Collected Automatically
When users access the Services, we automatically collect certain technical and usage information, including:
- Device and browser information
- IP address
- Pages visited and features used
- General location information
- Cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve functionality, security, and user experience.
We use personal information to:
4. How We Use Information
Provide and Improve the Services
- Create and manage accounts
- Deliver personalized guidance and recommendations
- Operate EVA and other AI-powered experiences
- Provide customer support
- Improve platform functionality and user experience
Communicate with Users
- Send account-related notifications
- Respond to questions and support requests
- Send optional updates, reminders, or educational content
Analytics and Reporting
- Understand how users engage with the Services
- Improve content, workflows, and platform effectiveness
- Provide schools with aggregate usage insights and reporting
Security and Legal Compliance
- Protect the safety and security of the Services
- Detect fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
- Comply with legal obligations
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell personal information or use student data for targeted advertising.
We may share information only in the following circumstances:
Service Providers
We work with trusted vendors and subprocessors that help us operate the Services, such as:
- Cloud hosting providers
- Customer support tools
- Analytics providers
- Email and messaging providers
- AI infrastructure providers
These providers are contractually required to protect personal information and may only use it to provide services on our behalf.
Schools and Districts
If CGN is provided through a school or district, authorized school personnel may have access to certain student information, including:
- Platform usage activity
- Student progress data
- Submitted responses
- AI-generated summaries or recommendation
This access is governed by applicable agreements and education privacy laws, including FERPA.
Legal and Safety Purposes
We may disclose information:
- To comply with legal obligations
- In response to lawful requests or court orders
- To protect the rights, safety, and security of users or CGN
Business Transactions
Information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets.
6. AI and Student Data Protections
CGN is committed to responsible and ethical use of AI.
Our Commitments
- We do not use student or parent personal data to train public generative AI models.
- We do not allow third-party AI providers to use student or parent data to train their public models.
- We do not build advertising profiles based on student activity.
- AI tools are designed to support educational guidance experiences, not replace school counselors or educators.
We may review anonymized or limited user interactions to improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of our Services.
7. Children’s Privacy & FERPA
CGN is designed for use by students, parents/guardians, schools, and educators.
When CGN is provided through a school or district, we operate as a school service provider and handle education records in accordance with applicable laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).
We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate authorization or consent.
Parents or guardians with questions about children’s data may contact their school or district or email us at privacy@collegeguidancenetwork.com
8. Data Retention & Security
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to:
- Provide the Services
- Fulfill contractual obligations
- Comply with legal requirements
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
Unless required by applicable law, we will not retain your Personal Information for longer than twelve (12) months past the termination of your account. We use appropriate administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.
However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your Personal Information, transmission of Personal Information to and from the Serviced is at your own risk. You should only access the Services within a secure environment.
9. Your Choices & Controls
Managing Your Information
Users may update account information through account settings or by contacting us.
Communication Preferences
Users may unsubscribe from optional marketing communications at any time using unsubscribe links or communication settings.
Users may still receive important service-related or school-related communications.
Account Deletion
Users may request deletion of their account or personal information by contacting:
privacy@collegeguidancenetwork.com
In some cases, we may retain limited information as required by law or contractual obligations.
10. State Privacy Rights
Residents of certain states, including California, may have rights under applicable privacy laws, including the right to:
- Access personal information
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of personal information
To submit a privacy rights request, contact: privacy@collegeguidancenetwork.com
11. Change to the Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
If we make material changes, we will provide notice through the Services or by other appropriate means.
The updated version will become effective on the revised effective date listed above.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, contact us at:
College Guidance Network
privacy@collegeguidancenetwork.com