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Privacy Policy

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, Inc. (American Councils, we, us, our) takes your privacy seriously. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits our website — www.americancouncils.org — (American Councils Website) and when the online Applicant Information System Forms — ais.americancouncils.org — (AIS Forms) website is used (collectively, Our Sites). We will only collect and use your personal data in ways that are described herein, and in a way that is consistent with our obligations and your rights under applicable privacy and data protection regulations.

Information About Us

Our Sites are owned and operated by American Councils and are applicable to our subsidiaries and affiliates. American Councils is a nonprofit organization registered in the State of Maryland, United States of America, with its Head Offices located at 1828 L Street NW, Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20036‑5136, United States of America. We participate in numerous countries globally, which include offices located in 10 Member States of the European Union.

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How Do We Collect Personal Data

We collect personal data from you in one or more of the following ways:

  • When you deliver to us program application or other documents in paper form or by email or other electronic means
  • When you register to use AIS Forms
  • When you enter your information into a program application
  • When you use other forms on the AIS Forms website
  • When you complete the Contact Us form on the American Councils Website
  • When you sign up to or agree to receive our email subscriptions
  • When you donate to us
  • When you apply for a job with us on our career/employment pages

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What Personal Data Do We Collect

Depending upon your use of Our Sites and/or services, we may collect some or all the following personal data from you:

  • First, middle, and last names
  • Gender
  • Date of birth
  • Home address
  • Mailing address(es)
  • Email address(es)
  • Telephone number(s)
  • Social media ID(s)
  • Countries of citizenship(s) or residency(ies)
  • Country of birth
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Religious or philosophical beliefs
  • Occupational history
  • Educational history
  • Financial records
  • Resume or CV
  • Medical history
  • Medical insurance card
  • Dietary restrictions
  • Information about disabilities or request(s) for accommodation(s)
  • Personal statement
  • Language skills and testing results
  • Prior participation in American Councils or U.S. Government programs
  • Passport number(s)
  • Military service
  • Photos and videos
  • Credit card and bank account information
  • Driver's license
  • IP address
  • Web browser type
  • Operating system
  • A list of URLs starting with a referring site, your activity on Our Sites and the site you exit to
  • Other personally identifiable information you choose to provide to us

We may also request the following personal data about your parents/legal guardians, emergency contacts, recommenders, and colleagues:

  • First, middle, and last names
  • Gender
  • Home address
  • Mailing address(es)
  • Email address(es)
  • Telephone number(s)
  • Guardianship rights
  • Occupational history
  • Educational history
  • Resume or CV
  • Other personally identifiable information you or they choose to provide to us

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How Do We Use Your Personal Data

It is our practice not to ask you for personal data unless we need it or intend to use it. We use the personal data you choose to share with us.

This may be because:

  • The data is necessary for our performance of a contract with you; or
  • You have consented to our use of your personal data; or
  • It is in our legitimate business interests to process your personal data; or
  • We have a legal obligation to process your personal data.

Your personal data will be used for one or more of the following purposes:

  • Evaluating your program application or registration materials
  • Sending you program preparation materials
  • Generating invitations and other documents to assist you with obtaining a visa
  • Arranging a home, work, and educational placements for you while on program
  • Arranging transportation, such as airline and train, to and from, your program location
  • Arranging your participation in conferences, seminars, and other similar activities
  • Evaluating any health and medical information that you provide to us
  • Providing support to you while you are on program
  • Contacting you about post-program alumni activities
  • Generating tax and other governmental documents for you
  • Generating aggregated and anonymized statistical reports that may be shared with program funders
  • Other processes and activities that are consistent with the operation of American Councils' programs

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What Are Your Rights and How Can You Access Your Personal Data

If you want to know what personal data we have about you, you can ask us for details of that personal data and for a copy of it (where such personal data is held). This is known as a data subject access request.

All subject access requests should be made in writing and sent to the email address shown below. Please note that we may ask you to verify your identity before responding to such requests. We will respond to your request within 30 days of receiving such request.

There is normally no charge for a subject access request. If your request is manifestly unfounded or excessive (for example, if you make repetitive requests) a fee many be charged to cover our administrative costs in responding.

Exercising Your Rights or Submitting a Complaint to American Councils in the EEA

For more information about our use of your personal data or exercising your rights as outlined above, please contact us using the contact details provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.

Further information about your rights can also be obtained from the relevant Data Protection Authority. If you have any cause for complaint about our use of your personal data, please contact us directly.

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What Personal Data Do We Share and with Whom

We may share your personal data with various American Councils' offices, affiliated organizations, and third-party business partners. Our third-party business partners may include program funders, service providers, and others located in the United States of America and throughout the world that work with us to process your application or request and to deliver our program and other services to you. All third-party business partners that we share your personal data with are expected to comply with applicable regulations and privacy requirements. We strive to ensure that such third parties will only share this information with other organizations or individuals that are working with them to deliver American Councils'-related program and other services.

Some examples of why we may provide your personal data to such third parties are:

  • Sending you program preparation materials
  • Arranging a home, work, and educational placements for you while on program
  • Arranging transportation, such as airline and train, to and from your program location
  • Arranging your participation in conferences, seminars, and other similar activities
  • Evaluating any health and medical information that you provide to us
  • Providing support to you while you are on program
  • Contacting you about post-program alumni activities
  • Generating aggregated and anonymized statistical reports that may be shared with program funders

In the event we receive a governmental or other official request, your personal data will be made available to the appropriate authorities only if such an obligation will result from the applicable provisions of law.

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How Long Do We Keep Personal Data

We will not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in accordance with the reasons for which it was first collected.

When the personal data is no longer needed for its original processing goal, and there are no further legal requirements, we will delete your personal data.

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How Do We Protect Your Personal Data

American Councils uses appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data we process is protected from unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration, or disclosure in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Please note that no data transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot fully guarantee the security of personal data. When data transmission or IT storage problems arise, however, we have appropriate procedures in place to protect your personal data and privacy.

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How and Where Is Your Personal Data Stored

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Unsubscribing from Our Email Lists and Database

When you consent, we may also use your personal data for marketing purposes, which may include contacting you by email. We may also use your personal data for marketing purposes when you complete and submit a form found on Our Sites. You will not be sent any unlawful marketing or spam communications. You can always unsubscribe from these communications, and our email communications will include instructions for removing that information from our database.

We may use Third-Party Service providers, such as social and/or analytical platforms, to perform certain services on behalf of us or Our Sites or services. We may also use your personal data that has been collected by those Third-Party Service providers. Those vendors may have additional or different privacy policies and/or Terms of Service. You should be sure that you read and agree to those policies and Terms.

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Can You Withhold Information

You may access certain parts of Our Sites without providing any personal data at all. To use all features and functions available on Our Sites, however, you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data. You may restrict our use of Cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Declaration.

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Cookies

Our Sites make use of Cookies.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your terminal device. To find out more about how we use cookies please see our Cookie Declaration.

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Amendments to this Privacy Policy

American Councils reserves the right to modify this privacy policy at any time by posting changes on our websites. We encourage you to review it periodically.

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How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, if you wish to exercise your rights or options, or if you wish to lodge a complaint, please contact us:

By Email

privacy@americancouncils.org

By Postal Mail

You can write to us in the USA at:

ATTN: CIO
American Councils for International Education
1828 L St NW Ste 1200
Washington DC 20036-5136
USA

Addresses and other contact information for American Councils' affiliated offices around the world, including the EEA, can be found at:

www.americancouncils.org/field-offices

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Last updated: April 2023