Privacy Policy
Rate My Instructor, Inc. ("Rate My Instructor," "RMP," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy while providing a secure platform for nursing education feedback.
What This Privacy Policy Covers
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you use our website, apps, and related services (collectively, the "Services").
1When This Policy Applies
• Applies to anyone who visits or uses the Services, whether on desktop or mobile.
• Applies to both visitors (browsing) and signed-in users (e.g., posting reviews).
• Some features may have additional notices; those control if they conflict with this Policy.
2Who May Use the Services / Governing Law
• The Services are intended for users 17 years and older.
• We operate from the United States, and your data may be processed in the United States and Canada (and other countries where our providers operate). By using the Services, you consent to cross-border transfers as permitted by law.
3Information We Collect
3.1 Information You Provide
• Account & verification: email address (school domain), hashed email, school affiliation, and basic account settings.
• Reviews & flags: star ratings and short comments you submit, and reports/appeals you file.
• Support: content of messages you send to us.
• Public display: Reviews are shown anonymously. We do not display your name, email, or other identifiers with your public reviews.
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
• Device/usage: IP address, device and browser type, pages viewed, timestamps, referral URLs, and general location (derived from IP).
• Cookies and similar tech: to remember preferences, measure traffic, prevent abuse, and (if enabled) support analytics. See §7 "Your Choices."
3.3 Information from Service Providers
• Authentication & security vendors may provide signals that help us verify sign-in and protect accounts.
• Moderation vendors (e.g., Perspective/OpenAI) return risk scores (e.g., toxicity) for content you submit.
• Analytics vendors provide aggregated usage metrics.
4How We Use Information
• Provide the Services: enable login, directory search, posting reviews, and viewing content.
• Anonymity & safety: verify school email privately while showing reviews anonymously; enforce a 2-review minimum before displaying averages.
• Moderation & integrity: pre-screen reviews with AI, route items for human review, investigate abuse, enforce one review per instructor per rotation type.
• Improve and secure: debug, analyze performance, prevent fraud, and develop new features.
• Communicate with you: service announcements, policy updates, and responses to your requests.
• Legal & compliance: comply with laws, defend legal claims, and maintain records.
We may aggregate or de-identify data for analytics; aggregated/de-identified data is not subject to this Policy.
5Legal Bases (EEA/UK where applicable)
If GDPR/UK GDPR applies, we process data based on: contract (to provide the Services), legitimate interests (security, improvement, moderation), consent (where required, e.g., non-essential cookies), and legal obligations.
6How We Share Information
🔒 We do not sell your personal information.
We share:
• Service providers/"processors": hosting, authentication, databases, analytics, email, moderation, and security.
• Moderation & safety: with vendors that score content; with institutions or authorities when legally required or to protect rights, safety, and integrity.
• Business transfers: in mergers, acquisitions, or similar transactions.
• With your direction or consent.
• Public content: Approved reviews are visible to all without any personal identifiers.
7Your Choices & Controls
• Email settings: you can opt out of non-transactional emails (e.g., newsletters) via links in those emails.
• Cookies/analytics: control cookies via your browser settings; some features may rely on cookies. If we use analytics, we prefer privacy-friendly tools; where required, we'll request consent.
• Do Not Track: we currently don't respond to DNT signals; we will reassess if standards change.
• Access/Correction/Deletion: see §11–§12 (regional rights) or contact us at support@ratemyinstructor.io.
8Data Retention
We keep personal data for as long as needed to provide the Services and for legitimate purposes such as security, moderation records, and legal compliance. Public reviews may remain published; if a review violates our rules, it may be removed through moderation.
9Children and Students
The Services are not for children under 17. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under applicable age thresholds. If you believe a child has provided data, contact us at support@ratemyinstructor.io.
10Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards (e.g., encryption in transit, access controls). No system is 100% secure; please use strong, unique passwords and protect your account.
11U.S. State Privacy Notices (including California)
If you are a resident of California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah (and other states with privacy laws), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of targeted advertising or "sharing."
Categories we collect:
identifiers (email domain, hashed email, IP), account data, device/usage data, and user-generated content (reviews/flags).
Purposes & sharing:
see §§4–6 above. We share with service providers for business purposes; we do not sell personal information. If our use of cookies/ads were deemed a "sale" or "sharing," you may opt out via email to us.
Exercising rights:
submit requests at support@ratemyinstructor.io. We'll verify your identity and respond within statutory timeframes. You won't be discriminated against for exercising your rights. Authorized agents may submit requests with proof of authority.
12Canada Privacy (PIPEDA and Provincial Laws)
If you are in Canada, you may request access to, or correction of, your personal information and may withdraw consent where processing is based on consent. To exercise rights or file a complaint, contact support@ratemyinstructor.io. You may also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or your provincial commissioner.
13International Transfers
We may transfer information across borders (e.g., to the U.S.). Where required, we use appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses).
14Community Guidelines & Prohibited Content
Reviews must remain professional and must not include personal identifiers (names), patient information (PHI), defamation, harassment, or discriminatory content. We use AI and human moderation and may remove or restrict content, and suspend accounts that violate our Terms or this Policy.
15Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on the Services (and, where required, notified to you). The "Effective date" above shows the latest version.