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Terms of Service for Individuals

Last Updated: June 9, 2025

By accessing or using the VersatilePhD website (“Website”), you agree to these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Website. For questions, contact us at accounts@versatilephd.com

  1. Who We Are

“We,” “us,” “our,” “VPhD,” and “The Versatile PhD” refer to The Versatile PhD, LLC, a California company. “You,” “your,” “member,” and “user” refer to individual users of the Website.

  1. Code of Conduct

You must follow our Code of Conduct and respect the privacy, safety, and intellectual property of all members.

  1. Use of the Website

Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old.

License: You are granted a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Website for lawful purposes.

Prohibited Actions: Do not disrupt, interfere with, or misuse the Website or its content. Do not violate laws or these Terms.

  1. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content: You retain copyright to your original posts, but grant VPhD a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to store, display, and archive your contributions on the Website.

VPhD Content: All other Website content is owned by VPhD or its licensors and protected by law. Do not copy, redistribute, or create derivative works without permission.

Webinars & Premium Content: Contributions to Webinars or invited Premium Content may be used by VPhD for revenue generation, with personal identifiers removed as appropriate.

  1. Privacy

Your use of the Website is also governed by our Privacy Policy.

  1. Account Management

Profile Control: You control what information you share in your profile and posts.

Removal: VPhD may remove your content or suspend your access at its discretion for violations of these Terms or the Code of Conduct.

  1. Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability

No Guarantees: The Website is provided “as is.” VPhD makes no warranties regarding accuracy, availability, or outcomes.

Limitation: VPhD is not liable for indirect, special, or consequential damages. If liability is found, it is limited to the greater of $1 or the amount you paid for Website access.

  1. Dispute Resolution

Disputes will be resolved in small claims court or by binding arbitration in Los Angeles County, California. Each party covers its own costs unless otherwise determined.

  1. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time by posting a new version on the Website. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

  1. International Users

The Website is operated from the United States and intended for U.S. users. By using the Website, you consent to U.S. laws and data practices.

Contact:

The Versatile PhD, LLC

171 Pier Avenue #129, Santa Monica, CA 90405-5363

accounts@versatilephd.com

www.versatilephd.com

Thank you for being part of the VersatilePhD community!

Code of Conduct

Last Updated: June 9, 2025

Welcome to VersatilePhD! By accessing or using the VersatilePhD website (“Website”), you agree to uphold the following Code of Conduct. Our community thrives on mutual respect, confidentiality, and support. Please help us maintain a positive and welcoming environment for all.

  1. Confidentiality & Privacy

Respect Member Privacy: Do not disclose the identity, membership, or personal information of any member without their explicit consent.

Keep Content Within the Community: Do not share forum posts, private messages, or member information outside VersatilePhD, including on social media or with non-members, without permission.

No Data Harvesting: Do not collect or use other members’ information for any purpose, including commercial, research, or solicitation, without their express consent.

  1. Respectful & Supportive Communication

Be Collegial: Engage with others in a helpful, constructive, and supportive manner. Disagreement is natural, but always address ideas, not individuals.

Zero Tolerance for Harassment: Harassment, bullying, intimidation, discrimination, hate speech, or defamation of any kind will not be tolerated, whether directed at members or non-members.

Maintain a Positive Tone: Avoid flaming, trolling, persistent negativity, or disruptive behavior.

  1. Honesty & Integrity

Be Truthful: Share accurate information to the best of your knowledge. Do not knowingly spread false or misleading information.

Authentic Registration: Register with your real name and accurate information. You may choose a display name for public interactions, but your registration details must be truthful.

  1. Relevance & Appropriate Content

Stay On Topic: Share content relevant to nonacademic and alternative careers for PhDs and ABDs, including personal experiences, questions, reflections, and supportive responses.

No Spam or Irrelevant Content: Do not post spam, advertisements, virus warnings, faculty job postings, or unrelated material.

No Unapproved Commercial Promotion: Commercial advertisements or solicitations are prohibited unless you have received prior written permission from VersatilePhD.

  1. Intellectual Property & Copyright

Respect Copyright: Only post content you own or have permission to share. When referencing external material, provide a link rather than posting full text unless you have explicit permission.

Protect Community Content: Do not reproduce, publish, or share content from VersatilePhD (including forum discussions and member posts) outside the platform without the author’s and VersatilePhD’s written consent.

Respect VersatilePhD’s Brand: Do not use the VersatilePhD name, logo, or related trademarks without express written permission.

  1. Reporting & Enforcement

See Something, Say Something: If you witness or experience any violation of this Code of Conduct, please report it to legal@versatilephd.com.

Consequences: Violations may result in content removal, warnings, suspension, or termination of your account at our discretion.

  1. Updates to This Code

VersatilePhD may update this Code of Conduct from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via the Website or by email. Continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of the updated Code.

Thank you for helping us foster a safe, supportive, and vibrant community for all members!

Questions or concerns? Contact us at accounts@versatilephd.com.

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 9, 2025

Welcome to Versatile PhD! By accessing or using the versatilephd.com website or any services offered on or through the website (collectively, the “Website”), you agree to this Privacy Policy, which is part of our Terms of Service for Individuals. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use or subscribe to our website. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at accounts@versatilephd.com.

  1. Notice to Visitors Outside the United States

Versatile PhD is based in the United States, and our services are primarily directed to the U.S. market. Privacy laws vary by country; by accessing our website and providing personal information, you consent to the collection, transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the United States as described in this policy. If you do not consent, please do not use the Website.

  1. Information We Collect
  3. Personal Information

We collect personal information you provide during registration or through other communications, such as your name, email address, academic discipline, and any other information you choose to share.  Certain features that collect more detailed information will provide an opt-in clause and not required.

  1. Non-Personal Information

We automatically collect certain non-personal information, such as IP addresses, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and usage data, via analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).

  1. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and web beacons to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and facilitate login and personalization. You can manage cookie preferences in your browser settings.

  1. How We Use Your Information
  • To provide and improve our services
  • To communicate with you (including responding to inquiries and sending administrative messages)
  • To personalize your experience
  • To enforce our Terms of Service and policies
  • To comply with legal obligations
  1. How We Share Your Information
  • With service providers: We may share information with trusted third parties who assist us in operating the Website and providing services (e.g., payment processors, analytics providers).
  • For legal reasons: We may disclose information to comply with the law, enforce our policies, or protect our or others’ rights, property, or safety.
  • Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business, your information may be transferred to the new owner.
  • Aggregated/Anonymized data: We may share non-personal, aggregated data for analytics, research, or marketing purposes.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

  1. Access by Search Engines

Members-only pages are protected by login, and we use “no-index” and “no-archive” tags to prevent search engines from crawling or indexing these areas.

  1. Your Rights and Choices
  • Profile management: You may review and update your personal information at any time via your profile.
  • Account deletion: You may delete your account at any time through your profile settings.
  • Communications: You can manage your notification preferences and opt out of non-essential communications.
  • Access and correction: To obtain a copy of your information or request corrections, email us at accounts@versatilephd.com.

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). If you are in the European Economic Area, you may have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  1. Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security and are not responsible for unauthorized access beyond our reasonable control.

  1. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites. Please review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

  1. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. If we make significant changes, we may notify users via the Website or email. Please review this policy periodically.

  1. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

Email: accounts@versatilephd.com

Mail: Versatile PhD, LLC, 171 Pier Avenue, #129, Santa Monica, CA 90405