Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Inc.
Scholar Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy
Effective Date: Ocotber 9, 2025
Introduction
These Terms & Conditions constitute a binding legal agreement (“Agreement”) between you (“Scholar,” “you,” or “your”) and Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Inc. (“Carrick Institute,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).
By creating an account, checking the box next to ‘I have read and agree to the Terms of Use", checking the box next to "I agree to the Terms of Use", enrolling in a program, or otherwise participating in Carrick Institute educational offerings, you confirm that you are at least 21 years of age, have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by this Agreement, including the integrated Privacy Policy (Section 15).
For general website visitors who do not enroll, the separate Website Use Terms, Conditions, and Privacy Policy applies.
1. Definitions
Scholar: Any individual enrolled in or accessing Carrick Institute programs, accounts, or services.
Program: Any course, subscription, event, membership, or educational service offered by Carrick Institute, whether in person or online.
Materials: All content provided by Carrick Institute, including recordings, presentations, slides, text, templates, graphics, videos, audio files, handouts, assessments, and other intellectual property.
Platforms: Carrick Institute websites, learning-management systems, payment processors, discussion forums, communities, and messaging tools, whether hosted by us or a third party. Platforms include mobile applications, associated notifications, and any digital tools or services we make available to Scholars.
2. Eligibility & Account Creation
Our Programs are designed for professional adults. You must be at least 18 years old to browse Carrick Institute websites and at least 21 years old to create an account or enroll in any Program.
You agree to provide accurate and complete information and to keep your credentials secure. Your account is personal and may not be shared or transferred. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Any unauthorized access or sharing may result in immediate suspension or termination without refund and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
3. Enrollment & Payment Terms
Enrollment is confirmed upon payment in full or activation of an approved payment plan. If any installment is missed or declined, we may suspend or terminate access until the account is current. Payments already made are non-refundable, and you remain responsible for the full balance. You authorize Carrick Institute and its payment processors to charge your designated method as scheduled and agree to keep billing details current.
FlexAccess (Course Access Extension Program)
If your access to a Program has expired, you may have the option to renew access through our FlexAccess program, a month-to-month course access extension service. FlexAccess allows continued viewing of previously purchased course materials for an additional fee per course, per month.
FlexAccess renewals:
Are billed at the current published rate on a recurring monthly basis.
Begin immediately upon payment and continue until canceled by you or discontinued by Carrick Institute.
Do not confer ownership of the course content or Materials.
Remain subject to the same Terms of Use, EULA, and Acceptable Use provisions as the original enrollment.
Carrick Institute reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue FlexAccess at any time without liability. No refunds or credits apply to partially used periods or cancellations initiated by the Scholar.
4. Refund Policy
All tuition, subscription fees, memberships, downloads, and payment-plan installments are non-refundable, except where prohibited by law or explicitly stated otherwise in a specific Program’s published policy.
At our sole discretion, we may consider a transfer or credit to a future offering upon written request; such accommodations are not guaranteed.
5. Access & Acceptable Use
You agree to use our Platforms and Programs lawfully, respectfully, and in a manner that upholds academic integrity and community standards.
Prohibited conduct includes, without limitation, harassment, defamation, impersonation, infringement, data harvesting, reverse engineering, bypassing security controls, scraping, or misuse of Carrick Institute’s name or marks without consent.
Violations may result in removal, suspension, termination, or legal action.
Access to Programs through FlexAccess remains governed by these Terms and does not grant any additional rights, downloads, or redistribution privileges beyond those of the original enrollment.
6. Communities & Moderation
Participation in Carrick Institute communities—forums, chats, social spaces, or in-person events—is a privilege. We may monitor, moderate, edit, or remove content and restrict participation for conduct that violates these Terms, disrupts learning, or harms others or the Institute’s reputation. User-generated content reflects only the author’s views; we disclaim liability for such content.
7. Intellectual Property & Prohibited Sharing
All Materials are protected by intellectual-property law and are the exclusive property of Carrick Institute or its licensors.
We grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to access and use Materials solely for your own professional education and reference, consistent with the Carrick Institute End User License Agreement (EULA).
You may teach and apply concepts in your own words using your own materials, but you may not copy, record, distribute, sell, or publicly share Carrick Institute content or credentials without written authorization.
8. Hands-On Participation, Assumption of Risk, & Professional Responsibility
Certain Programs involve practical or interactive activities for educational purposes only. You accept full responsibility for your voluntary participation and agree to operate within your professional competence and licensure.
You release and indemnify Carrick Institute, its officers, employees, and instructors from all claims arising from your participation. Instructor substitutions or schedule changes due to circumstances beyond our control do not entitle you to a refund.
9. Schedule & Program Changes (Force Majeure)
We are not liable for delays, substitutions, or cancellations caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including illness, natural disasters, government actions, or platform outages.
We may modify delivery format (e.g., in-person to online), substitute instructors, or reschedule events. Such changes do not create refund obligations.
Faculty Availability & Third-Party Rights. Certain Programs depend on independent contractors, guest faculty, or licensors who create or deliver specific course content. If a contractor or licensor declines, delays, or otherwise fails to teach, participate, or continue granting Carrick Institute rights to offer a Program or related Materials, such actions are beyond our reasonable control and shall not constitute a breach by Carrick Institute. In such cases, Carrick Institute may, at its discretion, substitute another qualified instructor, modify the Program format, or discontinue the affected Program entirely without incurring liability or refund obligations. Any claims arising from a contractor’s refusal, cancellation, or withdrawal shall rest solely with that individual or entity.
10. Termination & Suspension
We may suspend or terminate your access—without refund—for violations of these Terms, unsafe behavior, off-platform misconduct that harms our community or reputation, or non-payment.
If termination occurs for your breach or delinquency, you remain responsible for outstanding balances and agree to reimburse Carrick Institute for reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, and collection expenses.
11. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
Programs and Materials are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Program at issue. We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages, or for actions you take based on educational content.
Educational Purposes Only: Carrick Institute programs are for educational purposes and do not constitute medical, legal, or therapeutic advice.
12. Governing Law, Dispute Resolution, Class/Jury Waivers, & Attorney’s Fees
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Florida, USA.
The parties will first attempt in good faith to resolve disputes through informal discussion and, if unresolved within 30 days, non-binding mediation.
If mediation fails, exclusive jurisdiction and venue lie in the state or federal courts located in Brevard County, Florida.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, both parties waive any right to class or representative actions and to a jury trial.
The prevailing party in any proceeding is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, and related expenses.
13. Third-Party Tools & Technical Requirements
We may rely on third-party providers—including payment processors, LMS hosts, streaming or analytics services—to operate our Programs. Your use of those tools is subject to their terms and privacy policies.
Carrick Institute is not responsible for their performance or security. You are responsible for maintaining compatible devices, software, and internet access.
14. Miscellaneous
If any provision is held invalid, the remainder remains enforceable. Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.
We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations without restriction, including through merger or reorganization.
We may update these Terms periodically; the Effective Date reflects the latest version, and continued use constitutes acceptance.
All legal notices must be sent to:
Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Inc.
Attn: Legal
8910 Astronaut Blvd, Suite 102
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA
Email: [email protected]
15. Integrated Privacy Policy (GDPR / CCPA)
15.1 Data Controller
Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Inc. (Florida, USA) is the data controller.
Contact: [email protected]
15.2 Information We Collect & Use
We collect information you provide—name, email, contact details, payment metadata—plus limited technical and usage data.
We use this information to deliver and improve services, administer accounts, process payments, support learners, and communicate updates or marketing where permitted.
15.3 Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)
Processing is based on consent, performance of a contract, legitimate interests in operating and improving services, and compliance with legal obligations.
15.4 Your Rights (GDPR / CCPA)
You may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, or portability of your data, or object to processing.
California residents have additional disclosure and deletion rights.
Requests: [email protected]
Deletion may end access to purchased content; no refunds apply after deletion.
15.5 Consent & Withdrawal
You may withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior lawful processing.
Unsubscribe links are provided in marketing emails.
15.6 Disclosure, Service Providers, and Third Parties
We do not sell personal data. However, to operate our programs and deliver services, we may share or provide access to personal information with trusted third parties who assist us in business operations (“Service Providers”).
These include, but are not limited to, marketing and advertising agencies, accounting firms, administrative subcontractors, payment processors, learning management system (Thinkific), CRM and communication platforms, cloud storage providers (e.g., Google), social media platforms used for advertising, information technology support providers, and debt collection agencies.
Each Service Provider is bound by a written confidentiality and/or data-processing agreement requiring that they use the information solely to perform contracted services for Carrick Institute, maintain appropriate data-protection and security measures, and comply with all applicable privacy and data protection laws.
Participation in Carrick Institute programs constitutes acknowledgment that such administrative sharing is necessary to provide educational services and that opting out of these necessary disclosures is not compatible with enrollment.
Separately, certain optional features may involve explicit consent-based data sharing, such as inclusion in a provider directory, event participation listings, or collaborative research projects. In these cases, we will obtain your affirmative opt-in prior to sharing your information, and you may withdraw consent at any time.
15.7 Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes collected and meet legal or accounting requirements.
15.8 Payment Processing
Payments are processed by PCI-compliant third parties (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). Carrick Institute does not store full card numbers.
15.9 Third-Party Services
Third-party providers act under confidentiality and process data only as needed to perform contracted services. When you follow external links, their policies apply.
15.10 Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards (TLS/SSL, encryption, access controls). No method is 100% secure, but we adhere to PCI-DSS and industry standards.
15.11 Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize experiences, measure performance, and analyze usage. You can manage cookies via browser settings; disabling them may affect functionality. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals.
15.12 Age of Use
Our services are intended for adults 21+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 21. If you believe someone under 21 has provided data, contact us for deletion.
15.13 Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Policy; material changes will be posted on our site or emailed to active Scholars. Continued use constitutes acceptance.
15.14 Questions & Contact
Data Protection Officer
Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Inc.
8910 Astronaut Blvd, Suite 102
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA
Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (321) 868-6464
15.15 Communications & SMS/Text Messaging Consent
By providing your phone number, you consent to receive transactional, informational, and promotional SMS/MMS messages from Carrick Institute and its providers. Message frequency varies; standard rates apply.
You may opt out at any time by replying “STOP” or contacting [email protected]. Opting out may limit delivery of time-sensitive updates.
16. Acknowledgment
By checking the box, creating an account, or continuing to access your Scholar account, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms & Conditions, including the integrated Privacy Policy and all related policies incorporated by reference.