Terms of Service
Welcome to ConnectEngi!
We operate as a platform for career mentoring, facilitating connections between students and industry engineers to make the job search experience more accessible and inclusive for individuals in college and beyond.
These Terms of Service govern your usage of ConnectEngi.com website and the ConnectEngi Service (referred to collectively as "the ConnectEngi Service" or "the Service"), as well as your interactions with DCMB Holdings., its affiliates, and service providers.
If you do not agree to these Terms, which include the Binding Arbitration Clause and a Class Action waiver stated below, we kindly ask you to refrain from using the Service.
Please note that these Terms may be subject to changes over time. In the event of minor modifications that do not significantly affect your rights, we will post the updated Terms on our website. For modifications that materially impact your rights, we will notify you through email, the ConnectEngi Service, or present you with a new set of Terms of Service for your acceptance. By continuing to use the ConnectEngi Service after a modification has been posted, you indicate your acceptance of the revised terms.
If you have a separate written agreement with ConnectEngi that explicitly supersedes these Terms of Service (such as in the case of being a University or Employer Partner), the provisions in your individual agreement will take precedence over any conflicting provisions in these Terms.
At ConnectEngi, we prioritize the privacy of our users and strictly prohibit third parties from bulk collecting student data, employer data, job descriptions, or any other marketplace information from our Services using automated scripts (referred to as "scraping") or similar technologies. For detailed information on our privacy practices, we encourage you to review our Privacy Policy.
Student Account Guidelines:
Your ConnectEngi profile plays a vital role in connecting with engineering industry professionals. To ensure a professional environment, it is important to adhere to certain guidelines when using ConnectEngi. Specifically, you are prohibited from posting any content, including photos, that is violent, nude, discriminatory, hateful, or sexually suggestive via the Service. You are responsible for all the content you upload to ConnectEngi.
Through the ConnectEngi Service, you have the ability to view profiles and communicate with other students and employers, including those from different universities or institutions. By using the Service, you agree not to engage in stalking, defamation, bullying, harassment, abuse, threats, intimidation, or impersonation of others. Furthermore, you agree not to employ the Service for any illegal or unauthorized activities, such as spamming, copyright infringement, identity theft, or fraud.
You are obligated to refrain from restricting another user from using or enjoying the Service, and you must not encourage or facilitate any violations of these Terms of Service or any other ConnectEngi terms.
Configuring Your Profile's Privacy Settings:
Upon activating or creating your ConnectEngi account, students are provided the option to set their profile as "private" or "public." When a student selects "public" for their profile, they can also control which general audiences can access and view their profile. For Student Accounts initiated by University Partners, the information provided to ConnectEngi by the University is private by default.
If your profile is set to "private," employers and other students will not be able to view any information about you. However, if your student account is associated with a University Partner, the University Partner will have access to certain information on your profile, even when it is set to private. All Career Center features, such as scheduling and appointments, remain accessible for private profiles. Even when your profile is set to private, you can still apply for job opportunities or RSVP for career fairs or events. In such cases, limited information from your profile will be visible to the relevant employer(s), including your name, primary contact email, the University you attend, and your educational college (engineering, liberal arts, etc.). However, other personal information such as your profile photo, GPA, sponsorship status, professional skills, personal bio, and resume will remain hidden or masked.
You have the flexibility to adjust your privacy settings at any time while your account is active by accessing User Settings from the Account Dashboard. This includes changing your profile visibility from public to private or vice versa, as well as making your GPA public (as it is private by default).
Recording ConnectEngi Communications:
In certain jurisdictions, wiretapping laws prohibit the recording of individuals without their knowledge and consent. It is strictly prohibited to initiate audio or video recordings of any third party in violation of the law. By initiating any audio or video recording through the Service, you confirm that you have obtained explicit permission from all individuals appearing in the recording for any potential use by ConnectEngi, as required by law. You acknowledge that ConnectEngi cannot be held responsible, and we shall not be liable, for your failure to comply with applicable laws, your failure to inform others about the recording, and your failure to obtain their prior consent.
Continued Support:
ConnectEngi is committed to supporting your professional journey throughout your academic years and beyond. We encourage you to update your contact information with a personal email address to ensure continued access to your profile even after your student email address expires. It is also important to keep your profile up to date. Any information you directly share with ConnectEngi is subject to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.
Employer Account Creation:
To create an Employer Account, please contact us and an account specialist will assist. Creating an account for someone else is strictly prohibited unless you have explicit authorization from an employer or client. Employers do not have access to student profiles unless they are approved by ConnectEngi or the student's university and given access to the student's shared information.
When you create an ConnectEngi Employer Account, we will request contact information such as your email address and telephone number. This information serves as a point of contact for universities and administrative staff and will be visible on your public profile. During the account creation process, you can choose to set your profile as either "public" or "private." You have the flexibility to change your account visibility settings at any time by accessing User Settings in the Account Dashboard. Rest assured, we will not use your phone number to send any commercial or marketing messages from third parties. We may share your data with vendors who assist us in preventing or detecting fraud or other misuse of our services. It is important that you provide accurate and up-to-date information and promptly correct any misrepresentations you discover. By creating an Employer Account, you affirm that you own or have obtained all necessary rights to grant ConnectEngi access to and process any data, materials, or information you provide. You authorize ConnectEngi to access, use, and display such information for the purpose of providing the Service.
When you create an ConnectEngi Employer Account, all universities will have access to the information used for account creation. Students can only access this information if you choose to make your profile public. Once participating universities approve your account, you will receive student data through our Service. It is strictly prohibited to disclose or share this information with third parties, and you must maintain the confidentiality of student data. You may only utilize student data to provide employer services to the students and must not use, sell, or disclose ConnectEngi Data for any other purposes, including data analytics, data monetization, advertising, marketing, or any similar purpose, even if the ConnectEngi Data is aggregated or de-identified. You agree to handle and maintain collected student data with standards that are equivalent to or superior to those outlined in our Privacy Policy, which includes compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 in relation to any Student Personal Data received from ConnectEngi.
Furthermore, you are not permitted to use the Service for sending spam or other unauthorized communications, nor are you allowed to use any collected student data for purposes that are not authorized by ConnectEngi. These restrictions are elaborated in more detail below.
Guidelines for Employer Accounts:
By utilizing the Service, you gain the ability to search and filter student results based on various criteria. You are obligated to maintain a fair and equitable recruitment process when selecting student candidates. Additionally, you agree not to discriminate based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status, as prohibited by law. You can directly contact students through the Service, but it is crucial that you refrain from stalking, defaming, bullying, harassing, abusing, threatening, intimidating, or impersonating individuals or entities.
Employer Accounts are managed by designated account administrators within the employer organization. If the employer permits additional employees to access the ConnectEngi Service through the Employer Account, you acknowledge that the account administrators bear responsibility for the employees' use of the Service, including requests related to personal data collected from those employees. You understand and agree that ConnectEngi is not accountable for your organization's privacy or security practices, which may differ from, but must not be less protective than, these Terms or our Privacy Policy.
Third Party Recruiter Guidelines:
ConnectEngi is enthusiastic about providing students with numerous career opportunities, including those offered by third-party recruiters. However, we strictly prohibit outside services from using automated scripts (commonly known as "scraping") or similar technologies to bulk collect student data, employer data, job descriptions, or any other marketplace information. This is done to safeguard our users and their data privacy. Furthermore, you are not allowed to utilize student or user data for marketing purposes unrelated to the specific employment opportunity for which the applicant applied through the ConnectEngi Service. Similarly, you cannot store any student's or user's data for the purpose of (1) marketing employment opportunities to the applicant in the future or (2) allowing any third party to use the data for marketing or any other reasons. Third-party recruiters are also prohibited from mandating that students create an account on an unaffiliated third-party platform unrelated to the company or brand offering the employment role. Violation of these or any other Terms, at our discretion, may lead to the suspension or termination of associated account(s) belonging to you or your recruitment service.
No Spam:
Our aim is to create a platform where employers and recruiters can connect with students and other users in a productive manner. In line with this goal, while we permit employers and recruiters to contact students and other users, we do not allow the use of the Service to send unsolicited marketing messages or broadcasts, commonly referred to as "spam."
Spam can take various forms, and our rules, designed to address a wide range of inappropriate content or messaging, include, but are not limited to, the following:
Unsolicited messages that attempt to divert traffic or attention from the ConnectEngi Service to accounts, websites, products, services, or initiatives unrelated to a job opportunity posted on the platform.
Bulk or repetitive identical messages, or high-volume messages with a low response rate from students.
Messages that fail to comply with applicable anti-spam laws and regulations.
If we determine that you have sent spam or other unauthorized content, we reserve the right to take any necessary action to protect our users' experience and the integrity of the Service. This may include requiring you to cease violating these Terms, suspending your messaging privileges with students, or suspending or terminating your account(s).
General Guidelines for Students and Employers
Ownership of Submitted Content:
ConnectEngi acknowledges that the Content you post on or through the Service belongs to you. By making Your Content available on or through the Service, you grant ConnectEngi a non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, copy, modify, publicly display, publicly perform, and distribute Your Content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the ConnectEngi Service.
Responsibility for Your Content:
You are responsible for the Content you post. You represent and warrant that you either own the Content or have all the necessary rights to grant us the license to use Your Content as described in these Terms. Additionally, you represent and warrant that Your Content and its use on the ConnectEngi Service will not: (a) infringe upon or violate any third party's intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, moral rights, or rights of publicity or privacy; (b) violate any applicable law or regulation or give rise to civil liability; (c) be fraudulent, false, misleading, or deceptive; (d) be defamatory, obscene, pornographic, vulgar, or offensive; (e) promote discrimination, bigotry, racism, hatred, harassment, or harm towards individuals or groups; (f) be violent or threatening or promote violence or threatening actions towards any person or entity; or (g) promote illegal or harmful activities or substances.
Ownership of ConnectEngi Intellectual Property:
ConnectEngi Content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, and trademarks, is protected by various intellectual property laws, and ConnectEngi retains all rights to the ConnectEngi Content and the Service. You are not permitted to remove, alter, or conceal any copyright, trademark, service mark, or other proprietary rights notices embedded in or accompanying the ConnectEngi Content. Furthermore, you are prohibited from reproducing, modifying, adapting, creating derivative works, performing, displaying, publishing, distributing, transmitting, broadcasting, selling, licensing, or otherwise exploiting the ConnectEngi Content.
Termination:
ConnectEngi reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account(s) if you violate these Terms of Service or any other associated policies.
Account and Website Security:
While ConnectEngi takes measures to safeguard your data from unauthorized access, you have a responsibility to keep your password secure and confidential. Regularly updating your password is encouraged. Misrepresenting the association of the Service with another website, as well as creating accounts through unauthorized means such as scripts, bots, or automated crawlers, is prohibited without our express consent. Collecting content by crawling, scraping, or caching user profiles without permission is also prohibited.
Respect for Others and No Monitoring:
Your interactions with other users, whether online or offline, are solely your responsibility. ConnectEngi is not liable for your conduct. We may monitor disputes between users, but we are not obligated to do so. Use common sense and exercise your best judgment when interacting with others and sharing Content or personal information.
Third-Party Links:
The Service may contain links to third-party websites, apps, services, and resources ("Third-Party Services") that are beyond ConnectEngi's control. These links are provided for convenience, and ConnectEngi is not responsible for the content, products, or services available on Third-Party Services. You assume all risks and responsibilities when using any Third-Party Services.
Violation and Enforcement of Terms:
ConnectEngi reserves the right to deny access to the Service to anyone at any time and for any reason. We may also force forfeiture of usernames or accounts. We may remove, edit, block, and/or monitor Content or accounts that we, at our sole discretion, determine to be in violation of these Terms of Service.
Controlling Terms:
As ConnectEngi continues to improve its Service, there may be occasions where special features or functionality are introduced with additional Terms of Service. In the event of a conflict between these additional Terms and the Terms described below, the additional Terms will take precedence.
Reporting Copyright and Other IP Violations:
We uphold the rights of others and expect you to do the same. If you violate the intellectual property rights of others, we may disable your account when deemed appropriate.
Disclaimer of Warranties:
The Service, including ConnectEngi Content, is provided on an "as is," "as available," and "with all faults" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the ConnectEngi parties, including employees, partners, managers, officers, or agents, make no express or implied representations, warranties, or endorsements regarding: (a) the Service; (b) ConnectEngi Content; (c) User Content; or (d) the security of information transmitted to ConnectEngi or via the Service. Additionally, the ConnectEngi parties hereby disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, title, custom, trade, quiet enjoyment, system integration, and freedom from computer viruses.
The ConnectEngi parties do not guarantee that the Service will be error-free or uninterrupted, that defects will be corrected, or that the Service or the server making it available are free from harmful components, including viruses. The ConnectEngi parties do not represent or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information (including any instructions) provided on the Service. You acknowledge that your use of the Service is at your sole risk. The ConnectEngi parties do not warrant the legality of your use of the Service in any specific jurisdiction and explicitly disclaim such warranties. Some jurisdictions may restrict or disallow the disclaimer of implied or other warranties, so the above disclaimer may not fully apply to you based on applicable laws.
By accessing or using the Service, you represent and warrant that your activities are lawful in all jurisdictions where you access or use the Service.
The ConnectEngi parties do not endorse content and explicitly disclaim any responsibility or liability to any person or entity for any loss, damage (whether actual, consequential, punitive, or otherwise), injury, claim, liability, or other cause of any kind or character arising from any content.
By using the Services, users provide any consents required by law for the Services to operate as described in these Terms of Service.
Limitation of Liability-Waiver:
The ConnectEngi parties will not be liable to you for any loss or damages of any kind, including direct, indirect, economic, exemplary, special, punitive, incidental, or consequential losses or damages. These damages may be directly or indirectly related to: (a) the service; (b) ConnectEngi content; (c) user content; (d) your use of, inability to use, or the performance of the service; (e) actions taken in connection with investigations by the ConnectEngi parties or law enforcement authorities regarding your or any other party's use of the service; (f) actions taken in connection with copyright or other intellectual property matters; (g) errors or omissions in the service's operation; or (h) damage to users' computers, mobile devices, or other equipment or technology, including security breaches, viruses, bugs, tampering, fraud, errors, omissions, interruptions, defects, delays in operation or transmission, computer line or network failures, or other technical malfunctions. These damages may also include lost profits, loss of goodwill, loss of data, work stoppage, accuracy of results, or computer failure or malfunction, even if such damages were foreseeable or if the ConnectEngi parties were advised of the possibility of such damages. This applies whether the damages arise from contract, negligence, strict liability, tort, negligence, acts of God, telecommunications failure, or theft or destruction of the service. In no event will the ConnectEngi parties be liable to you or anyone else for loss, damage, or injury, including death or personal injury. Some jurisdictions may not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. The total liability of the ConnectEngi parties to you for all damages, losses, or causes of action will not exceed one hundred United States dollars ($100.00).
In the event that you suffer damages, losses, or injuries resulting from ConnectEngi's acts or omissions, you acknowledge that the damages caused to you are not irreparable or sufficient to entitle you to an injunction preventing the exploitation of any website, service, property, product, or other content owned or controlled by the ConnectEngi parties. You agree that you have no rights to enjoin or restrain the development, production, distribution, advertising, exhibition, or exploitation of any website, property, product, service, or other content owned or controlled by the ConnectEngi parties.
By accessing the service, you understand that you may be waiving rights with respect to current or future claims that are currently unknown or unsuspected. In accordance with this waiver, you acknowledge that you have read and understand, and hereby expressly waive, the benefits of section 1542 of the Civil Code of California, and any similar law of any state or territory, which states: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in their favor at the time of executing the release, and that, if known by them, would have materially affected their settlement with the debtor."
ConnectEngi is not responsible for the actions, content, information, or data of third parties. You release ConnectEngi, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from any claims and damages, known or unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with any claim you have against such third parties.
Indemnification:
Unless prohibited by law, you and any third party for whom you operate an account or activity on the Service agree to defend, indemnify, and hold the ConnectEngi Parties harmless from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees and costs. This applies to any of the following circumstances, including your direct activities on the Service or those conducted on your behalf: (i) your Content or your access to or use of the Service; (ii) your breach or alleged breach of these Terms of Service; (iii) your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property, publicity, confidentiality, property, or privacy rights; (iv) your violation of any laws, rules, regulations, codes, statutes, ordinances, or orders of any governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, including regulatory, administrative, and legislative authorities; or (v) any misrepresentation made by you. You will fully cooperate with ConnectEngi in the defense of any claim. ConnectEngi reserves the right to assume exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, and you will not settle any claim without the prior written consent of ConnectEngi.
Dispute Resolution:
You agree that any disputes between you and ConnectEngi arising from or relating to these Terms of Service, the ConnectEngi Service, or any other ConnectEngi products or services (collectively referred to as "Disputes") will be governed by the arbitration procedure described below.
Governing Law:
The Terms of Service and the resolution of any Disputes will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
Informal Dispute Resolution:
Before filing a claim against ConnectEngi, you agree to make an effort to resolve the Dispute informally by contacting us. We will attempt to resolve the Dispute through informal communication, primarily via email. If a dispute is not resolved within 15 days after submission, either you or ConnectEngi may initiate a formal proceeding.
Agreement to Arbitrate:
You and ConnectEngi agree to resolve any Disputes through final and binding arbitration, with exceptions as outlined below.
Opt-out of Agreement to Arbitrate:
You have the option to decline this agreement to arbitrate by contacting us within 30 days of accepting these Terms of Service and stating that you decline this arbitration agreement.
Arbitration Procedures:
The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules and Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes. The arbitration will be held in the United States county where you reside or work, San Francisco, California, or any other mutually agreed location.
Arbitration Fees:
The payment of arbitration fees will follow the rules of the AAA. ConnectEngi will cover all arbitration fees for claims less than $75,000. ConnectEngi will not seek its attorneys' fees and costs in arbitration unless the arbitrator determines that your claim is frivolous.
Exceptions to Agreement to Arbitrate:
Without engaging in arbitration or the informal dispute resolution process mentioned above, either you or ConnectEngi may: (1) assert claims in small claims court, if they qualify, in San Francisco, California, or any United States county where you reside or work, seeking an amount within the jurisdictional limit of such small claims court; or (2) bring a lawsuit solely for injunctive relief, infringement, or material breach of intellectual property rights (such as trademark, trade secret, copyright, or patent rights) to stop unauthorized use or abuse of the ConnectEngi products or ConnectEngi Service.
No Class Actions:
You can only resolve disputes with ConnectEngi individually, and you are prohibited from bringing a claim as a plaintiff or a class member in any class, consolidated, or representative action. Our agreement does not allow for class arbitrations, class actions, private attorney general actions, or consolidation with other arbitrations.
Judicial Forum for Disputes:
If the agreement to arbitrate is found not to apply to you or your claim, you and ConnectEngi agree that any judicial proceeding, except for small claims actions, will take place in the federal or state courts of San Francisco County, California. Both parties consent to the jurisdiction and venue of those courts. We both waive our right to a jury trial.
Limitation on Claims:
Regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising from or related to your use of the ConnectEngi products or ConnectEngi Service must be filed within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arose. Otherwise, the claim or cause of action will be permanently barred.
Governing Law & Venue:
These Terms of Service are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of law principles.
If any provision of these Terms of Service is deemed unlawful, void, or unenforceable by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be considered separate from the rest of the Terms of Service and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. ConnectEngi's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms will not be interpreted as a waiver of that provision or right. No waiver of any of these Terms will be deemed as a continuing or further waiver of that term or condition, or any other term or condition.
Entire Agreement:
If you are using the Service on behalf of a legal entity, you confirm that you have the authority to enter into an agreement on behalf of that entity. These Terms of Service constitute the entire agreement between you and ConnectEngi and govern your use of the Service, unless you have a separate signed agreement with ConnectEngi that explicitly supersedes these Terms of Service.
You may not transfer the Terms of Service or assign any rights or delegate any obligations, either in whole or in part, without obtaining prior written consent from ConnectEngi. Any attempt to assign or delegate without proper written consent from ConnectEngi will be considered null and void. ConnectEngi may assign these Terms of Service or any rights under them without requiring your consent.