The Visiting International Faculty Program of The Center for International Education, Inc. (VIF) and its subsidiaries are committed to respecting the privacy of users of this Web site. This privacy statement explains how VIF and its subsidiaries collect and use personal information provided to us through this site. The privacy statement does not apply to information we collect through other means. By using this site, you indicate your acceptance of this privacy statement and expressly consent to the use and disclosure or your personal information in accordance with this statement. This site complies with the following privacy statement.
Collection and use of Personal Information
VIF uses this site to offer a variety of services in support of our mission of transforming lives through international exchange. We collect personal information from website users in order to offer these services. The type of personal information we collect varies depending upon the reason for collection. It is important, however, for you to understand that you control what personal information, if any, you share with us. For example, you may choose to visit our website without providing us any personal information, and we will not collect any personal information about you. On the other hand, if you decide you want to apply to become an exchange teacher, you will need to submit detailed information about your qualifications and eligibility in order for us to consider your application. The data submitted through our online application is stored and processed in the U.S., and we may share this information with host school districts or other entities affiliated with our program as necessary to carry out your request.
Website Visitors
When you visit this website, VIF collects the following information: your Internet service provider's address, the name of the Web page directing you, your clicks and your activity on our site. This tracking data helps us understand how to make our site user friendly but does not include information that may be personally identifiable such as your name or email address. We do not use cookie technology for this data.
Email Lists and Surveys
If you supply VIF with your email address, you may receive mailings or information about VIF and the services provided by VIF and its subsidiaries. We use email and electronic newsletters to inform you about program services and events. We may also contact you to survey your satisfaction with our services. To delete your name from the VIF's email mailing list, you may opt-out. We appreciate your patience as it may take six weeks from the date of receipt to process your request.
Request and Registrations for Information
If you choose to register for an information session or to contact us to comment about our program or request additional information, we will collect your name, email address, phone number or any other information you may have provided in order to respond to your questions or provide you the information you have requested. We may reply by email with information about the session for which you have registered or other important information about our program. We may also file your comments to improve the Web site and program, or we may review and discard the information. Your personal information is shared with third parties only with your permission.
Referral Program
The referral program allows eligible participants such as current VIF teachers or alumni to provide VIF with the names and emails of teachers who may be interested in applying to VIF to become an exchange teacher in our program. If you are referred to us as someone who may be interested in applying to VIF, VIF will automatically send you a one-time email introducing you to VIF and inviting you to visit our webpage and learn more about applying to our program. We use the data collected through the referral only for the purpose of sending you this one-time email and tracking the success of our referral program.
Program Application and Participation
As a sponsor of cultural exchange visas, VIF is required to carefully evaluate applicants to its program. If you choose to apply to VIF to become an exchange teacher, you will be required to submit the detailed personal information requested by the online application. Your decision to apply is voluntary, but the requested information is required for VIF to consider your application. The information required by the application becomes part of our database and includes your name, address, date of birth, place of birth, gender, country of residence, country of citizenship or legal permanent residence, email address, educational credentials, teaching and employment history, information about your family members, level of proficiency with English, driving experience, answers to essay questions and other information relating to your teaching qualifications and eligibility for visa sponsorship in our program. The online application also requests certain identifying information regarding your family members such as name, relationship, date of birth, place of birth, gender, country of citizenship, and country of legal residence as this information is necessary to evaluate the eligibility of your dependents for visa sponsorship. You should also be aware that the VIF application process may collect or require information in addition to the information collected by the online application form.
VIF uses the information collected through the online application process to evaluate the applications submitted. VIF may share the information with others who perform or assist VIF in performing functions or activities of the exchange teaching program or providing related services. For example, we share information with our participating school districts to allow them to decide whether to offer exchange teaching assignments to our recommended applicants. You should be aware that information provided to public school districts is subject to public records laws which vary by state. Also, we share information with our Local Advisors who contact new exchange teachers to assist them in their arrival to a new community. We may share information with subsidiaries or third parties who have arrangements to offer services such as banking, car rentals, car sales, car insurance, health insurance, driving training, language training, teacher training or other services that may be of benefit to program participants. Additionally, in order to issue a certificate of visa eligibility for successful applicants who accept an exchange teaching assignment, VIF must share information submitted through the online application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services through its computerized Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
VIF maintains the information submitted through the online application for at least three years following the end of program participation in accordance with visa regulations and may use the information to contact former participants, to carry out its functions as a visa sponsor and to offer support or other services to program participants. VIF will only share the information with outside parties in ways that are described in this privacy statement. Please note that active program participants are not able to opt-out of receiving VIF email communications because, as a visa sponsor, VIF is required to maintain certain communications with its participants.
VIF Educator Community
VIF uses the Educator Community and the information collected through it to offer a variety of services to its participating teachers. The information provided to VIF through the Educator Community may be shared with other Community visitors or participants. As a VIF teacher, you may share information about yourself with others who have access to the Educator Community through features such as the Teacher Directory, Classified Ads, Message Boards and Lesson Plans. Current program participants are required to submit information to VIF through the Educator Community, such as travel dates, event registration, and a new U.S. address within ten days of any move, in order to comply with program rules for visa sponsorship.
Circumstances in Which We May Disclose Information
VIF may disclose personal information submitted through this website in other specific circumstances such as when you have consented to the disclosure. Examples may include paper or electronic agreements or requests by you authorizing the disclosure. We may also disclose information to companies or individuals employed to perform services or functions on our behalf. Examples may include consultants, credential evaluators, business or recruiting partners, web server hosts, credit card processors, accountants and attorneys. We may disclose or transfer information to a third party who acquires all or a substantial portion of our business. Finally, we may disclose information to a governmental entity when we are legally required to do so or when we believe in good faith that the disclosure conforms to legal requirements or legal process; is consistent with our duties and obligations as an exchange program sponsor to uphold the purpose and intent of the exchange visitor program regulations; or will protect the rights or property of our company or subsidiaries, prevent a crime or protect the personal safety of others.
Security
VIF collects and secures the information submitted through our online application and other data on our secure servers using SSL encryption technology whenever receiving and transferring your personal information on our site. We use unique usernames and passwords to help prevent unauthorized access to the VIF Educator Community pages, and we limit the access of visitors to the VIF Educator Community. We also limit the access to our database of authorized representatives of participating host school districts, governmental agencies, and other entities which have access to information submitted to us as described in this privacy statement. We cannot guarantee, however, that other parties will not gain access to this database, and we are not responsible for the actions of other parties.
Our Policies Regarding Children
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through this website. If you are under age 18, please do not submit any information through this website.
Links To Other Websites
This site contains links to other websites that may be of interest to our teachers or other site visitors. VIF is not responsible for these sites. If you choose to use these other sites, we suggest that you carefully review their individual privacy policies.
A Privacy Promise
We want you to feel confident about sharing your personal information with us to apply to become an exchange teacher or to request other services from us. We will not rent or sell your personal information to any other party. We will let you know if we are going to use your personal information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection, and you will have a choice as to whether or not we may use your information in this different manner. If you ever want to stop receiving notices or other communications from us, you may opt-out. We appreciate your patience as it may take up to six weeks to process your request from the date of receipt. If you are a current exchange teacher we will limit our communications to those relating to your participation and visa sponsorship.
Privacy Statement Updates
Efforts to bring new services, ideas, and partners to benefit our teachers and staff may make it necessary to amend our privacy statement. If this occurs, we will post the new policy on our Web site. Once posted, the new policy will go into effect immediately, replacing any previously stated policy.
