Skyfactor Benchworks > Privacy

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 08-27-2015
SKYFACTOR: Online Privacy Notice

We at Skyfactor (“Skyfactor”) respect your concerns about privacy and value the relationship we have with you. This Online Privacy Notice applies to personal information we collect on this website and related applications such as Skyfactor Mapworks and Skyfactor Benchworks that link to this Online Privacy Notice (collectively, the “Site”).

This Online Privacy Notice describes the types of personal information we collect on the Site, how we may use the information, with whom we may share it and the choices available to you regarding our use of the information. If you are under the age of 18, we recommend that you review this Online Privacy Notice with your guardian before submitting any information. We also describe the measures we take to safeguard the information and tell you how to contact us about our privacy practices

Click on one of the links below to jump to the listed section:

Information We Collect

We may obtain certain personal information (such as name and other contact details) when you or your instructor/university administrator choose to provide them through our Site. The types of personal information we may collect include:

  • contact information, such as your name, postal address, e-mail address and telephone number
  • registration information such as username, password, participant/student ID
  • personal information in content you provide on our Site
  • educational information, such as your school, course information, grades, and questions or responses submitted by you in connection with your use of the Site;
  • information communicated to you via e-mail or text through our Site by your school’s authorized administrators, instructors and other school officials if your schools opts to enable such communication;
  • information concerning your interests and product preferences;

In addition, when you visit our Site, we may collect certain information by automated means, such as cookies and web beacons. The information we collect in this manner includes IP address, browser characteristics, device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, information on actions taken on our site, and dates and times of website visits.

A “cookie” is a text file that websites send to a visitor’s computer or other Internet-connected device to uniquely identify the visitor’s browser or to store information or settings in the browser. On this Site, we use two kinds of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies exist only for as long as your browser remains open. Once you close your browser, they are deleted. Persistent cookies, in contrast, last beyond each visit to the Site and remain on your hard drive after you close your browser. The cookies used on the Site include those that are strictly necessary cookies for access and navigation, and cookies that track usage (performance cookies) and remember your choices (functionality cookies).

We may use the information we obtain from your use of our cookies for the following purposes:

  • to recognize your computer when you visit the Site
  • to track you as you navigate the Site, and to enable the use of e-commerce capabilities
  • to improve the Site’s usability
  • to analyze use of the Site
  • to manage the Site

We also may use “web beacons” on our Site. A web beacon, also known as a pixel tag or clear GIF, may be used to transmit information collected through cookies to our service providers’ servers, such as the server of Google Adwords. These web beacons enable our service providers to compile anonymous information about your browsing activity on the Site. For more information, see the section on “Online Tracking” below.

Your browser may tell you how to be notified when you receive certain types of cookies or how to restrict or disable certain types of cookies. Please note, however, that without cookies you may not be able to use all of the features of our Site.

How We Use The Information We Collect

We may use the information we obtain through the Site to:

  • create and manage your account;
  • offer and provide products, services and information to you, including newsletters;
  • permit you to participate in blogs, forums, and discussion groups;
  • communicate with you about, and administer your participation in, special events, programs, surveys, contests, sweepstakes, and other offers or promotions, to the extent permitted by law;
  • display content on our Site, such as stories, product reviews and photos;
  • respond to and communicate with you about your requests, questions and comments;
  • process claims we receive in connection with our products and services;
  • operate, evaluate and improve our business (including developing new products and services; managing our communications; determining the effectiveness of our sales, marketing and advertising; analyzing and enhancing our products, services and Site; and performing accounting, auditing, billing, reconciliation and collection activities);
  • perform data analyses and other processing (including market and consumer research, trend analysis, anonymization (which may include encryption and tokenization of personal information);
  • protect against, identify and prevent fraud and other criminal activity, claims and other liabilities; and
  • comply with and enforce applicable legal requirements, relevant industry standards and our policies.

In addition, we use information collected online through cookies and other automated means for purposes such as (i) recognizing your computer when you visit the Site, (ii) tracking you as you navigate the Site, and enabling the use of e-commerce capabilities, (iii) improving the Site’s usability, (iv) analyzing use of the Site, (v) managing the Site, and (vi) personalizing the Site. We also use this information to help diagnose technical and service problems, administer our Site, identify users of our Site, and gather demographic information about our users.

We may use de-identified data for product development, research, or other purposes. De-identified data will have all personal identifiers removed and we will make no attempt to re-identify any de-identified data.

We also may use the information we obtain about you in other ways for which we provide specific notice at the time of collection.

Online Tracking

We may use third-party web analytics services on our Site, such as Google Analytics. These service providers help us analyze how users use our Site. The information collected for this purpose (including your IP address and other information collected by automated means) will be disclosed to or collected directly by these service providers. These service providers may retain and use anonymised, aggregated data collected from users of our Site in connection with their own businesses, including in order to improve their products and services. To learn more about opting out of data collection through Google Analytics, click the link below:

Google Analytics

This Site is not designed to respond to “do not track” signals received from browsers.

Information We Share

Related Companies: We may share the information you provide with companies that are related to Skyfactor through common ownership (“related companies”). Related companies are required to maintain such personal information in compliance with this Online Privacy Notice.

Third Party LMS. If you are using our products or services as integrated with a third party’s learning management system, depending on the level of integration, we may receive your information through such third party and/or provide your information to such third party. We will maintain any information we receive through such third party in accordance with this Online Privacy Policy. However we are not responsible for the actions of such third party as it pertains to information that is shared with or by such third party which shall be governed by such third party’s own privacy policies. Other Third Party Service Providers. We share personal information with third parties who perform services on our behalf, as reasonably necessary to perform such services. For example, we may retain third party service providers to manage our customer databases, distribute e-mail offerings, or provide customer or technical support. Such third party service providers will be required to maintain any such personal information in compliance with this Online Privacy Notice.

Blogs, forums, discussion groups. Our Site may feature blogs, forums and discussion groups. Please be aware that some or all of the information you provide (including personal information) in connection with these activities may be made publicly available.

School Administrators. We may share your information with authorized administrators, instructors and other school officials in connection with the provision of our services. If you have any questions about their use of your personal information, you should contact your school directly.

Other. We also may disclose information about you (i) if we are required to do so by law, regulation or legal process (such as a court order or subpoena), (ii) in response to requests by government agencies, such as law enforcement authorities, or (iii) when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity. We reserve the right to transfer any information we have about you in the event we sell or transfer all or a portion of our business or assets (including in the event of a reorganization, dissolution or liquidation).

Links To Other Websites;

Our Site may contain links to other websites for your convenience and information. These may include, for example, some of the blogs and forums you may access through this Site. These websites may be operated by companies not affiliated with us. We strongly suggest you review such third party’s privacy policies. We are not responsible for the content of any websites that are not affiliated with Skyfactor, any use of those websites or the privacy practices applicable thereto.

Children’s Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 on our Site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen on our Site, we will delete the information from our records.

How We Protect Personal Information

We maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information you provide against accidental, unlawful or unauthorized destruction, loss, alteration, access, disclosure or use.

Your Choices

We will not share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
If you are a student utilizing our products or services because you are required to do so by your educational institution, we will not use your personal information to market to you unless you affirmatively agree to allow us to do so. Even if you so agree, you may subsequently opt out per below.

We give you the option of requesting that we not use your information for marketing purposes, or share your information with related companies for their own marketing purposes. Click here to request that your email address not be used for marketing purposes, or shared with related companies for their own marketing purposes.

Please be aware that we are able to process an opt-out request only for a specific e-mail address. So, if you have more than one e-mail address or if you have changed your e-mail address, your opt-out request may not be processed properly. If you believe you have opted out, but continue to receive e-mails from us, please contact us by one of the means listed under “How to Contact Us” below, and we will endeavor to resolve the issue.

Please note that the foregoing opt-out covers marketing e-mails only and you may continue to receive transactional e-mail as it pertains to your purchase of products or services from us and support issues related thereto. Furthermore, the foregoing opt-out does not cover any e-mails or texts initiated by your authorized school administrators.

Notice to California Residents

California’s “Shine the Light” law, Civil Code section 1798.83, requires certain businesses to respond to requests from California customers asking about the business’ practices related to disclosing personal information to third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes. In the alternative, such businesses may have in place a policy not to disclose personal information of customers to third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes if the customer has opted out of such information-sharing. We have such a policy in place. As discussed above in the section entitled “Your Choices”, if you wish to opt-out of our sharing of your information with third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes, please follow the appropriate opt-out link in that section.

Access and Correction

Subject to applicable law, you may (i) have the right to access certain personal information we maintain about you and obtain a copy of that information, (ii) update or correct inaccuracies in that information, (iii) object to our use of your personal information, and (iv) delete your personal information from our database. To exercise these rights, please contact us as indicated in the How To Contact Us section of this Online Privacy Notice. To help protect your privacy and maintain security, we may take steps to verify your identity before granting you access to the information. If you are resident in the EU, a charge may be applicable before we provide a copy to you of any of your personal information that we maintain.

Data Transfers

We may transfer the personal information we collect about you to countries other than the country in which the information originally was collected. Those countries may not have the same data protection laws as the country in which you initially provided the information. When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described in this Online Privacy Notice and in accordance with applicable law. Where your personal information is collected in the EEA and we then transfer it outside the EEA, we will ensure that an adequate level of protection is in place to protect your personal information. As of the Effective Date, information submitted to us is held using servers in the United States.

BY AGREEING TO THIS ONLINE PRIVACY NOTICE AND SUBMITTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO THE TRANSFER, STORAGE AND PROCESSING OF YOUR INFORMATION IN THE MANNER SPECIFIED IN THIS ONLINE PRIVACY NOTICE.

Anonymous Registration

If you do not want your university to provide us with personal information, your university may be able to register you under an alias. You will need to create an alias and create and open an e-mail account under that alias with a third-party email service. Your university will provideus with your e-mail account and we will e-mail to such account a link to access Mapworks or Benchworks. You will be required to accept our Online Privacy Policy and complete your survey under your alias. PLEASE DISCUSS WITH YOUR UNIVERSITY AS THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE COOPERATION OF YOUR UNIVERSITY. Do NOT provide Skyfactor with any information that would enable us to link your alias to your real personal information.

Updates To Our Online Privacy Notice

Changes to this Online Privacy Notice will become effective when those changes are posted to the Site. Your continued use of the Site subsequent to any change to this Online Privacy Notice constitutes your acceptance of the change. Please review this statement periodically to ensure you are aware of any changes or updates to this Online Privacy Notice. We indicate the effective date of this Online Privacy Notice (and any updates) at the top of the Notice.

How To Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Online Privacy Notice, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by:

E-mailing us at skyfactormarketing@macmillan.com; or

Calling us at 417-429-0081 or

Writing to us at 3058 E Elm St, Springfield, MO 65802.