Terms of Use

Welcome to ProgressiveU.org ("Site"). Because we want this Site to be a space where you and your peers feel comfortable expressing your ideas sharing and opinions, we ask you to abide by a few policies. In return, we make certain promises to you about what you can expect from us.

These Terms of Use set forth the conditions for your use of this Site, including our Privacy Policy. By using this Site, you agree to be legally bound by and comply with them, in addition to other official policies (including the Editorial Policy and any policies laid forth in the FAQs section). If you are under eighteen, then you and your parent or legal guardian acting on your behalf are deemed to have consented to these Terms of Use when you use our Site. If you do not agree to comply with these Terms of Use, you are not authorized to use this Site.

ProgressiveU.org ("ProgressiveU," "we" or "us") may modify these Terms of Use in the future, so please check this page regularly. If you continue to use the Site after we post a change, we understand that you agree to the new terms.

You may not use this Site while impersonating any other person or entity, to collect or use any information about other participants for any purpose, or to distribute chain letters, junk mail, "spam" solicitations, commercial advertising, or other bulk communications of any kind.

Multiple accounts may be issued to one user under certain restrictions and in specific situations. You may not register more than one account under the same IP address unless given express permission by an officer, director or employee. Any multiple account registrants will not be eligible for any contest awards offered unless otherwise notified.

Copyright

The content on this Site is licensed under a Creative Commons License, except where otherwise noted.

Except for the foregoing, you may not copy, distribute, transmit, display, modify, create derivative works from, enter into a database, or in any way exploit any existing part of our Site, including computer programs and other coding.

Disclaimers

Our Site is available "as is" and "as available." We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted or error-free. There may be delays, omissions, interruptions and inaccuracies in materials available through our Site. We do not make any representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or reliability of any statement or information displayed or distributed on the Site or available through links on the Site. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions in the Site. If you rely on our Site and any materials available through it, you do so solely at your own risk.

To the maximum extent permitted under law, we deny all express or implied warranties with respect to the Site or any information that is available through the Site, including without limitation fitness for a particular purpose.

Although we intend to take reasonable steps to prevent the introduction of destructive materials to our Site, such as viruses, worms, and "trojan horses," we do not guarantee or warrant that our Site or materials that may be downloaded from our Site are free from such destructive features. We are not liable for any damages or harm attributable to such features.

Limitation of Liability

We and our officers, directors, and employees are not liable for any claim, loss or injury based on errors, omissions, interruptions or inaccuracies in our Site, including claims, loss or injury that result from your breach of any provision in these terms of use.

We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages (including lost revenues or profits, loss of business, or loss of data) arising out of or in connection with our Site, Site services, Site materials, or these terms of use, regardless of whether such liability is based in tort, contract or otherwise. Some states do not allow the limitation of liability for these kinds of damages, so these limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify us against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, we incur as a result of your violation of this Agreement. We have the right, but not the obligation, to take over the exclusive defense of any claim for which we are entitled to indemnification. You agree to provide us with whatever cooperation we reasonably request.

Termination

We reserve the right to terminate the Site and its Terms of Use at any time without notice for any reason, including your violation of any of the provisions of the Terms of Use. The Limitation of Liability and Governing Law Sections of these Terms of Use, and the restrictions imposed on you with respect to material you download from the Site survive any such termination, as does your license to ProgressiveU of any content you provide to us on the Site.

Governing Law

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and performed there without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Use is deemed unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be considered severed and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

Posting Rules

Our Site includes blog posts, comments, forums, and other messaging features (collectively, "blogs") that allow you to communicate with other visitors to the Site. Messages distributed through the blogs on the Site represent the views of participants and visitors, and not those of ProgressiveU.

The content you post on the Site is not private or confidential. Please read our privacy policy for advice on keeping your information and personal account safe. By posting content on the Site, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free unrestricted license (with the right to sub-license) to reproduce, modify, translate, transmit, or distribute in whole or in part any message file, data or other communication you post on the site in any form now known or later developed.

We welcome active debate but in order to ensure a safe and civil online environment, ProgressiveU reserves the right to remove any content you post on the Site or terminate your participation. To maintain that safe and civil environment, you agree not to upload, post, display, distribute, transmit or otherwise publish on the Site any material that:

(1) is libelous, obscene, pornographic, harassing, invective, or abusive;

(2) is violent, hateful, or threatening to anyone or any group;

(3) infringes any copyright, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right of another;

(4) violates anyone's right of privacy or publicity or is otherwise illegal;

(5) contains code that can disrupt or damage the Site, its underlying software or any hardware or computer equipment, including viruses, bugs, worms, or trojan horses; or

(6) sells or promotes any products or services.

As a participating member of the ProgressiveU.org community, you agree to adhere to the following rules before posting materials to the site.

Freedom of Speech

ProgressiveU.org views Freedom of Speech as your right to communicate your thoughts and ideas freely. However, as with most rights, this right is accoompanied with the understanding that you accept the responsibility to choose your words carefully and, even if in disagreement with someone, handle the situation with grace and respect instead of disrupting the discussion. Your primary focus should be on contributing to the ProgressiveU.org community and the discussions therein.

Spamming

Spamming is generally known as a message or advertisement posted indiscriminately to a wide range of blogs and discussion forums; or a message (or series of messages) posted by a registered member of this site that promotes a site, service, or product where it is apparent that the member does not intend to participate in the discussion put forth on ProgressiveU.org

Flaming

Flaming another user (sending an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about) is prohibited on ProgressiveU.org. Our members post a variety of entries regarding highly controversial topics and often convey their personal values or beliefs regarding these topics. As such, some disagreement and argument is bound to happen.

Don't be a jerk

This is not limited to Flaming. Common sense should prevail - don't be a jerk. When communications break down, you have no idea how your words are being read by someone else. If you're angry, stop to take a breath before replying to that comment. If you have a problem with someone's cited source, explain your concern respectfully. Do not treat the member in question with a condescending (or jerk-like) tone.

Multiple Posts

Flooding the "Recent Posts" list, or posting several entries on the same subject may lead to a warning regarding these Terms of Service regulations. If you have a question regarding appropriate posting intervals and what constitutes a series vs. several copies of the same blog, ask a member of the faculty prior to posting or read through the FAQ.

Faculty members and Moderators

Our Faculty members, just as moderators of other discussion forums, are the key to keeping this site comfortable and running smoothly. They are vital to the success of this board and because of that they are held to a higher standard than other members of this site. As such we expect you to treat them with a higher standard. Any rule broken against a moderator could result in a temporary suspension of posting priveleges. Publicly disrespectful behavior from a member toward a moderator regarding moderator actions or decisions may also result in a summary suspension of that member's posting privileges.

Please note that the moderating team is under no obligation to read every post. Occasionally, inappropriate posts will slip by unnoticed by the faculty members; if you see one of these posts, please report or flag it immediately. If there are any concerns over moderator actions, the only way to officially address them is with a private message (PM) to another faculty member or to use the site's email forms.

Your feedback and concerns are very valuable to the success of this board. Each and every message will be read and investigated. However, until specifically told by a moderator, of a reversal, any action taken on a post by a faculty member is to be considered official.

Publicly disrespectful and/or negative behavior from a member regarding a moderator's capacity as a faculty member, the faculty team in general, or actions taken by a faculty member is not allowed in any open forums.

The one exception to this rule is located in the Forums, where a specific forum has been created where you may publicly question the roles and actions of Faculty members respectfully.

Not all disciplinary actions will be public.

Furthermore, moderators are not obligated to notify general membership of whether a particular member has received a warning. Nor are moderators obligated to discuss any disciplinary actions taken against a member with any other member.

Links to Other Web Sites

We may make content or services from other web sites available to you from links located on our Site. When you click on these links, you are leaving our Site for others that are governed by their own terms of use and privacy policies. Please read the terms of use and privacy policies of third-party sites that you visit. We have no control over these other sites or their content. Except for information or services clearly identified as being supplied by ProgressiveU, we do not in any way review, operate, or control any material, information, products or services on other sites. Because we are not responsible for and cannot control these outside resources or their content, you should direct any concerns regarding a linked site to the administrator or webmaster of that site.