This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) is designed to assist you in understanding how we use the information you provide in connection with your use of the www.beautyschools.org website or application (including mobile applications) (the “Website”) and to assist you in making informed decisions when using the Website. For purposes of this Privacy Policy, the terms AACS “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to American Association of Cosmetology Schools and all of its affiliates, and “you” or “your” refers to you, as a user of this Website”.

Your Consent. By using the Website, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. Please review the entire policy to learn about what type of information is gathered, how such information is used, and what information may be disclosed to third parties. If you do not consent to our practices, you can choose not to use the Website or not to submit any personal information to AACS.

Privacy Policy Changes. We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time without giving you prior notice. Your use of the Website following any such modification constitutes your agreement to follow and be bound by such things as modified. For this reason, we encourage you to review the Privacy Policy and other terms whenever you use the Website.

 

NOTE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS

Your California Privacy Rights. California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits California residents who have provided personally identifiable information to us or our third-party advertisers and marketing partners, if any, to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personally identifiable information to third parties for direct marketing purposes. Requests should be submitted via email to info@beautyschools.org and should include CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS in the subject line. We will need your first and last name, mailing address, and email address in order to process your request. Within thirty days of receiving such a request, we will provide a list of the categories of personal information disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes during the immediately preceding calendar year, if any, along with the names and addresses of these third parties, if any. Please be aware that not all information sharing is covered by the requirements of Section 1798.83 and only information on covered sharing will be included in our response. This request may be made no more than once per the calendar year.

 

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION

Personal Information

AACS collects personal information when you inquire about our services or projects in which we are the exclusive sales and marketing firm, when you fill out registration forms or attend any of our events, promotions, or other programs at which time we collect information about you.

Personal information that we collect may include contact information, payment information, and mailing address. (collectively “Personal Information”).

We may receive Personal Information about you from third parties. We may associate this information with the other Personal Information we have collected about you. The collection, use, and disclosure of information to third parties is governed by the privacy policies listed on the website where the information was submitted by the user. Third parties may send their own cookies and pixel tags to you and may collect information and use it in a way inconsistent with this Privacy Policy. Please carefully review these third-party privacy policies to understand how your information may be collected, used and disclosed by these third parties.

When you access and use the Website from your mobile devices, we receive data from the mobile device you use to access the Website. This may include your location data, IP address and device type. You may manage how your mobile device and mobile browser share location information with us, as well as how your mobile browser handles cookies and related technologies by adjusting your mobile device privacy and security settings. Please refer to instructions provided by your mobile service provider or the manufacturer of your device to learn how to adjust your settings.

Aggregate Information

Non-personally identifying information or “Aggregate Information” is information that, without the aid of additional information, cannot be directly associated with a specific person. Like most website operators, we collect Aggregate Information about your activities online, including referring / exit pages and URLs, computer settings, number of clicks, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed, and other such information through the use of cookies, pixel tags, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, click-through URLs, domain name tracking, and analytics. If you have voluntarily disclosed Personal Information to us, some or all of the Aggregate Information may be linked to your Personal Information.

Cookies. A cookie is a small data file stored on your hard drive that your browser provides to us when you visit certain web pages. We use both session ID cookies and persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, the data is temporarily stored on your computer, but once you close your browser the cookie terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on your hard drive for an extended period of time. This allows us to track your activities while using the Website and help improve the functionality, navigation, and performance of the Website. If you do not want to store cookies on your computer, you can set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. However, some parts of the Website may not function properly if you choose not to accept cookies. If you are concerned that you have created a cookie in a previous visit, you can delete cookies that are already stored on your hard drive by accessing your computer’s cookie file.

Pixel Tags. Pixel tags (a.k.a. clear gifs) are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, which allow us to monitor the use of our Website and to deliver banner advertisements to you about our products and services as you browse the Internet. Pixel tags generally work in conjunction with cookies, registering when a particular computer visits a particular page. You cannot decline pixel tags; however, if you turn off cookies the pixel tag will simply detect an anonymous visit. In addition, we use pixel tags in our HTML-based emails to let us know which emails have been opened by the recipients. This allows us to gauge the effectiveness of certain communications and the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.

Third-Party Cookies. We may engage third-party service providers, including Google, to serve ads to you about our products and services as you browse the Internet. These third-party providers may use their own cookies tags to track your online activities and purchases in order to deliver targeted advertising based on your interests. You can learn more about Google’s advertising cookies and opt-out options by visiting http://www.google.com/policies/technologies/types/.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address. Our servers also automatically identify your computer or mobile device by its Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer by your Internet Service Provider. Your IP address does not identify you by name, however, it may reveal your geographic area and your Internet Service Provider. We may match your IP address to your Personal Information.

Computer Profiles. We may also collect and accumulate computer profile data which will help us understand and analyze the experience of our visitors. For example, we may collect data relating to the type of browser used, operating system software, screen resolution, color capability, browser plug-ins, language settings, cookie preferences, search engine keywords and JavaScript enablement.

Click-Through URLS. We may send you e-mail messages with a “click-through URL” linked to the content of our Website. When you click onto one of these URLs, you will pass through our server before arriving at the destination webpage. We may track this click-through data to help us determine subscriber interest in the subject matter and measure the effectiveness of our subscriber communications. You can avoid being tracked simply by not clicking on any links or images in the e-mail.

Domain Name Tracking. When you use the Website, we automatically record the name of the domain from which you accessed the Website. Additionally, if you reach the Website by means of a link from another site, our computers will note the fact that you came to us from that linked site. We may also record the domain name and URL for the next website you go to after leaving the Website.

Analytics. We may use one or more third-party analytics programs including, but not limited to, Google Analytics to help analyze how users utilize the Website. Google Analytics does not store any Personal Information. Google Analytics uses a cookie containing an anonymous identifier to distinguish users and to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the Website (including IP address) is transmitted to Google. This information is used to create statistical reports on user activity for AACS. In addition to reporting website usage statistics, Google Analytics can also be used, together with some of the advertising cookies described above, to help show more relevant ads on Google properties (like Google Search) and across the web. For more information about Google Analytics, including opt-out options visit https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245.

 

USE OF INFORMATION

Our primary purpose for collecting Personal Information and Aggregate Information (collectively “User Information”) is to provide you with the products and services you request. We may also use your User Information for the following purposes:

  • To communicate with individuals in written, electronic, and verbal form
  • To provide information on products or services
  • To improve and optimize our services and Website
  • To send newsletters, marketing materials, and promotional offers
  • To customize the advertising and content you see
  • To verify information
  • For any other purpose disclosed at the point of collection

We may also use the information we collect on our Website as necessary to comply with legal requirements, to enforce our Terms of Use, to prevent fraud, to co-operate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities, and to stop other prohibited, illegal, or harmful activities.

 

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Third Parties. AACS may share your User Information with third-party companies such as developers and partner companies for marketing purposes.
Affiliated Companies. We may share User Information with our parent company, subsidiaries and other companies owned by or controlled by AACS, who may use the User Information for the purposes described above.

Service Providers. We may disclose your User Information to third-party service providers hired to perform internal business functions on our behalf including, but not limited to, providing marketing assistance, sending direct mail or email, website or database hosting companies, e-mail service providers, analytics companies, and payment processing companies. Unless otherwise stated, these companies do not have any right to use the User Information we provide to them beyond what is necessary for them to assist us.

Legal Disclaimer Concerning Subpoenas and Other Matters. We reserve the right to release account and User Information about you when we believe, in our sole discretion, that such release is appropriate to (1) comply with the law, legal process, or law enforcement requests; (2) protect and defend our rights, property, safety, or other interests, including those of our parent company, subsidiaries, customers, shareholders, or others; (3) protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our Website and to enforce or apply our Terms of Use and other agreements; and/or (4) protect the personal safety or property of our users or the public.

Business Transitions. We reserve the right to transfer all User Information in our possession in the event AACS goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets. Similarly, your User Information may be passed on to a successor-in-interest in the event of a reorganization, reconstruction, liquidation, bankruptcy, or administration. Users will not be notified of any such change of ownership or control of their User Information.

 

E-MAIL OPT-OUT

If you no longer wish to receive our promotional e-mail communications, you may opt-out of receiving these communications by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the promotional emails or by emailing us at info@beautyschools.org If you choose to opt-out of receiving promotional e-mail, we may still send you administrative emails regarding AACS including, for example, administrative and transactional confirmations, notices of updates to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and other non-marketing emails.

 

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

The Website is intended for adult use only and is not directed towards children, minors, or anyone under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 13, you are not authorized to provide us with any personally identifying information. If the parent or guardian of a child under 13 believes that the child has provided us with any personal data, the parent or guardian of that child should contact our us at the email address below and ask to have this personal information deleted from our files. We appreciate your cooperation with this federally mandated requirement.

LINKS TO PARTNER WEBSITES

The Website may contain links to or may redirect users to other websites owned by AACS (“Partner Websites”). Partner Websites may send their own cookies to you, and may collect information and use it in a way inconsistent with this Privacy Policy. Please carefully review the privacy policies on any Partner Websites to understand how your information may be collected, used, and disclosed by these Partner Websites. We may share User Information with Partner Websites pursuant to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

 

LINKS TO THIRD PARTY SITES

The Website may contain advertisements and links to sites other than our own (“Third-Party Websites”). The links to Third-Party Websites may be to advertisers, content providers or partners who may use our logo and/or style as a result of a co-branding agreement. This Privacy Policy does not cover the collection, use or disclosure of the information collected by these Third Party-Websites. Third-Party Websites may not follow the same privacy policies as AACS. We have no responsibility for Third-Party Websites and provide links to Third-Party Websites solely for your convenience. Third-Party Websites may send their own cookies and pixel tags to you, and may collect information and use it in a way inconsistent with this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies or statements of these Third-Party Websites to learn more about how they collect, use, and disclose information.

 

LOCATION, INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER, AND CHOICE OF LAW.

By accessing and/or using the Website, you acknowledge and agree that AACS operates the Website from its offices located in the United States. If you use the Website from the European Economic Area or other regions of the world with laws governing data collection and use that differ from laws of the United States, then you understand and consent to the transfer of your User Information to the United States for the uses identified above, in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the laws of the United States. You acknowledge and agree that the privacy and data security laws in place in the United States may be different from the privacy and data security laws in force in the country in which you reside. By voluntarily providing User Information, you hereby agree that you are consenting to our collection, use, transfer, processing, storage, and disclosure of such User information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and that such collection, use, storage, and disclosure shall be governed by the laws of the United States.

 

SECURITY

No transmission of data over the Internet is guaranteed to be completely secure and we cannot guarantee that your submissions to the Website, any content residing on our servers, or any transmissions from our server will be completely secure. It may be possible for third parties to intercept or access transmissions or private communications unlawfully. Any such transmission is done at your own risk.

 

ACCESSING AND UPDATING PERSONAL INFORMATION

If you would like to review, edit, or delete any of the information we have collected from you, or if you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@beautyschools.org. In some cases, we may not be able to delete your personal information and will retain and use your information as long as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and/or enforce our agreements.