Terms of Use

Please read these Terms of Service (these "Terms") carefully before accessing or using the OpenStax RAISE website, or other products, services, and pages offered by or through OpenStax RAISE.

OpenStax RAISE("OpenStax-RAISE", “RAISE”, or the "Service") includes the services, products, and pages offered through the URLs raiselearning.org and/or raise.rice.edu (collectively referred to as the "Site"). RAISE, and does not include participation in OpenStax Research which can be opted into or out of separately from the use of this site. Details on participating in OpenStax Research can be found in the Research Assent. RAISE is provided by William Marsh Rice University, its staff, independent contractors, and representatives (collectively referred to as "OpenStax," "we," "our," or "us"). As a person who accesses or registers to use the Service, you are a "User" (or "you") as such term is used in the Agreements ( defined below). A "Class" is an individual offering of a course through the Service. A Class is administered and overseen by "Class Educator(s)," which refers to the educator(s) administering the Class through the Service, including but not limited to, instructor(s), teaching assistant(s), and grader(s).

1. About the Agreements

Your access and use of the Service constitute your acceptance of, and agreement to be bound by, these Terms of Service, the Privacy Notice, any policies and procedures incorporated by reference, and any additional terms and conditions you have agreed to (collectively referred to as the "Agreements"). If you do not agree and accept to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreements, you must discontinue using or accessing the Service.

Capitalized terms that are not defined in these Terms of Service have the meaning given them in our Privacy Notice.

2. Eligibility

You may use the Service only in compliance with these Terms and all applicable local, state, national, and international laws, rules, and regulations.

To use the Service, you must provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself when you complete our registration forms, and you must agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. Any use or access by anyone under the age of 13 is prohibited.

By using OpenStax RAISE, you represent and warrant that you are eligible to use the Service as described in this section.

3. Modifications to the Agreements

We may modify the Agreements from time to time, for example to reflect changes to the Service or relevant laws. If we make material changes to the Agreements, we will, as applicable, notify you, your school, or school district of our intended changes and ask you or them to agree to modifications. If you, your school, or school district do not agree to the modifications, you must discontinue your use of the Service.

4. Privacy

Please read the Privacy Notice. The Privacy Notice explains our policies and procedures with regard to data we collect when you use or access the Service. By using the Service, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of such data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. The Privacy Notice. will be treated as part of these Terms.

5. Account and Password

You understand and agree that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your user account ("User Account") and password, and you understand and agree that you are responsible for all activities that occur under your User Account through the use of your password. You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your User Account.

You agree that you will create, use, and access only one User Account. You agree that you will not access the Service using multiple User Accounts. You agree not to let anyone else use your User Account, or to use another's User Account.

6. Use of the Service is Voluntary

By registering for the Service, you acknowledge your understanding and agreement that your use of the Service is optional and voluntary. Class Educators understand and agree that they may be required to provide other accommodations (such as paper assignments) to Users who do not agree to the terms of the Agreements. OpenStax is not responsible for arranging for other accommodations.

7. User Rules

As used in the Agreements, "Content" refers to any content, information, or materials submitted, posted, uploaded, or otherwise appearing (collectively, "submitted") on or through the Service, including but not limited to text, images or graphics, audio, video, code, documents, and other materials.

By submitting Content to the Service, you warrant, represent, and agree that you have the necessary rights, licenses, and/or permissions to submit that Content to the Service and to authorize OpenStax and its users to display or otherwise use and distribute your Content. You warrant, represent, and agree that your submission of Content will not infringe or violate the rights of any third party. You understand and agree that you, and not OpenStax, are solely responsible for your Content and the consequences of posting or publishing that Content.

You warrant, represent, and agree that you have not and will not submit Content to the Service that includes other parties' private or personally identifiable information without their express authorization.

You further warrant, represent, and agree that you have not and will not submit any Content that is unlawful, offensive, threatening, libelous, defamatory, pornographic, obscene, or otherwise objectionable, in our sole discretion. While we prohibit such conduct and Content on the Service, you understand and agree that OpenStax cannot be responsible for the Content posted on the Service and you nonetheless may be exposed to such materials.

Additionally, you agree (a) not to use the Service in any manner intended to interfere with or disrupt the Site or servers or networks connected to any Site servers, or to damage the operation of other users' computer or property; (b) that you may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, other accounts, computer systems, or networks connected to any Site server; and (c) that any unauthorized attempt to access, scrape, or download in bulk any materials or information stored on the website, its servers, or associated computers is strictly prohibited.

8. Using Content in the Service

The content in the Service may be protected by United States copyright law, the equivalent laws of other countries, and international treaties. You agree to respect the intellectual property rights of the authors of works appearing in the Service. You may only use such works subject to the terms and conditions of their respective licenses, if any, and applicable law. You may only copy, modify, distribute and otherwise use the works in the Service in accordance with a license to do so or as may otherwise be permitted under applicable law.

9. No Other Enrollment

Registering for or completing a Class hosted on OpenStax RAISE by an external institution does not, in and of itself, confer any special standing upon you with any institution. You will not be an applicant for admission to, or enrolled in, any degree program offered by an institution as a result of registering for or completing a course provided by that institution through OpenStax RAISE.

10. Links to Other Sites

The Service may include links to sites maintained or controlled by others. You agree that these sites are not under our control and that we are not responsible for and do not routinely screen, approve, review or endorse the contents of or use of any of the products or services that may be offered at these sites. You further agree that we are not responsible for the collection and use of your information by such websites. If you decide to access linked third party web sites, you understand and agree that you do so at your own risk. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the terms, practices, and privacy policies of each website you visit and use.

11. Fees

OpenStax may from time to time charge fees for you to access a Class hosted by the Service. Our fees, if any, are available on the Site. Unless otherwise stated, our fees are quoted in U.S. dollars. You are responsible for paying all fees and applicable taxes with a payment mechanism supported by the Service. Fees may vary based on your Class and other factors. OpenStax reserves the right to change any fees at any time at its sole discretion. OpenStax is under no obligation to provide you access to a Class or the Content in the Service after the Class end date shown in the Service.

12. Disclaimers of Warranty, Limitations of Liability, Fine Print

This entire section shall survive the termination of the Agreements.

OpenStax reserves the right at any time and from time to time, in our sole discretion, to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service with or without notice. We may refuse service, close accounts of users, and change our requirements at any time. We shall not have any responsibility or liability to you or to any third party in the event of any such modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.

You understand and agree that you, and not OpenStax, are solely responsible and liable for your use of the Service, for your use of the Content in the Service, for any Content you submit, for all activities that occur under your account, and/or for any consequences thereof, including the use of your Content by other Users and third parties. In addition, any use of, or reliance on, Content made available on or through the Service, or obtained by you through the Service, is entirely at your own risk.

We do not undertake any obligation to review or monitor any Content submitted by Users and shall not have any responsibility or liability in connection therewith. However, we may remove Content if we deem it appropriate to do so, in our sole discretion, including but not limited to, to comply with law or legal process, to respond to third party complaints, to enforce these Terms, or to protect OpenStax RAISE, OpenStax, or our affiliates.

THE SERVICE AND ANY INFORMATION, CONTENT, OR SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE SERVICE ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION THAT THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS OR ACHIEVE THE INTENDED PURPOSES. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT DEFECTS ON THE SITE OR IN INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE SERVICE WILL BE CORRECTED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL OPERATE IN AN UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE MANNER OR THAT THE SITE IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY (INCLUDING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR PROPERTY) OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OR USE OF THE CONTENT. YOUR USE OF THE SITE, AND THE CONTENT AND SERVICES OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICE, IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY, WHETHER IN TORT ( INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, SHALL WE BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION, ERRORS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERRUPTION IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, WITH THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, ACCESS OR USE OF THE SERVICE, YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE OR ACCESS ANY RELATED INFORMATION OR SERVICES, OR YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE SERVICE.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BY USING AND ACCESSING THE SERVICE, YOU AGREE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND LIABLE FOR ANY AND ALL DEMANDS, CLAIMS, ACTIONS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, COSTS AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COURT COSTS, SUFFERED BY OPENSTAX DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR ACCESS OR USE OF THE SERVICE, YOUR SUBMISSION OF ANY CONTENT TO THE SERVICE, OR YOUR VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENTS.

Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Agreements shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

If any provision of the Agreements is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties agree that provision will be removed or edited as little as necessary, and the other provisions of the Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.

The Agreements shall be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the United States and the State of Texas, without giving effect to its conflicts or choice of law principles. In the event a dispute arises related to the Agreements or your access or use of the Service, you agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts located in Harris County, Texas.

The Agreements and our Privacy Notice (which are incorporated herein by reference), and any additional terms and conditions you have agreed to make up the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings. The headers and sidebar text used in the Agreements are provided only to make the Agreements easier to read and understand and will not affect the way the Agreements are interpreted.