Award Advisor™ Terms of Use

Effective: [09/02/2025]

1. Acceptance of Terms

By using this App, you agree to the Terms of Use.

Please read these Terms of Use carefully. These Terms of Use ("Terms") apply to the Award Advisor mobile software application to which the Terms are attached (the "App"). The App is provided by Vermont Student Assistance Corporation ("VSAC," "we," or "us"). If you download, access, and/or use the App, you expressly agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to abide by the Terms, you must not use this App and must delete it. You agree that installation or use of the App signifies that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. Description of the App

VSAC maintains and provides the App for students, parents, financial aid professionals, education lenders, and others interested in learning about access to education and associated costs, and for those interested in applying for funding from VSAC or other nonprofit lenders. Specifically, the App permits users to upload multiple financial award letters. The App then uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to compare financial aid packages. The App also displays information and links to help you learn more about various non-profit lenders, including VSAC and other nonprofit lenders. Any award information displayed in or calculated by the App is provided as an estimate only. VSAC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of this information on the App.

You may download or access the App whether or not you have an Award Advisor account, but you must create an Award Advisor account to enable its full functionality.

3. Rights and Ownership

License. VSAC grants you a personal, non-commercial, limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, freely revocable license to access and use the App and the right to view, download, or print content available on the App for your own personal reasons. The content you view, download, or print may be subject to other licenses and by using the App you agree to abide by those licenses. VSAC may limit your ability to view, download, or print content at its sole discretion. This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these Terms and may be terminated by VSAC at any time.

Ownership. The App contains the intellectual property of VSAC and other third parties and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and other intellectual property laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of its contents, in whole or in part, without the express written prior consent of VSAC, may result in civil and criminal penalties, and may be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under law. The publication or dissemination of any materials provided through the App, other than as permitted in these Terms, and without the express, written prior consent of VSAC, is prohibited.

4. Conditions on the Use of the App

This App is available only to individuals who are authorized to use it or otherwise permitted under applicable law. You agree to abide by these Terms when using the App. You agree to abide by all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations in your use of this App. You agree to provide only true, accurate, and complete information in your use of the App. You agree to be solely responsible for your actions and the contents of your transmissions through the App. You agree that you are solely responsible for any material that you upload or transmit through the App. You are also solely responsible for any damages resulting from each transmission.

You agree that you will not:

• Use any data or information disclosed to you within the App for any purpose inconsistent with the purpose of this App;
• Impersonate any person or entity;
• Falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
• Forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any material transmitted on or through the App;
• Violate the intellectual property or other rights of VSAC, including (i) copying or distributing our App or any information contained in the App without the consent of VSAC except as otherwise permitted under these Terms, and (ii) using VSAC, AWARD ADVISOR, or our logos for any purpose except as permitted under these Terms;
• Violate the intellectual property or privacy rights of others, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, or proprietary rights;
• Alter, remove, or obscure any copyright or trademark notices or other proprietary notices on and in any part of any screen shots or reports printed from the App;
• Defame or disparage us, our trademarks or service marks, or any aspect of this App;
• Infiltrate or otherwise seek to gain unauthorized access to, or compromise the integrity of, the App;
• Directly or indirectly, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decipher, translate, modify, copy, create derivative works of, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the App or any software or programs used in connection with this App;
• Use any automated procedure to access or gather information or data from the App by means of what is commonly called a "bot" or otherwise;
• Upload, submit, or otherwise transmit any material on or through the App that contains any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, cancel bots, time bombs, spyware, or similar computer programming routines that could damage the App or interfere with its proper functioning;
• Interfere with or disrupt the App, servers, or networks connected to the App, including but not limited to, by placing an unreasonable load on, attempting to overload, flood, spam, mailbomb, or crash the App, or participating in a denial of service attack;
• Breach or attempt to breach the security of software, networks, servers, data, computers, or other hardware relating to the App (or that of any third party that is hosting or interfacing with any part of the App);
• Monitor the App availability, performance, or functionality for any competitive purpose; and/or
• Duplicate, copy, or otherwise exploit the App or its contents for commercial purposes.

5. Login and Passwords

To use the App, you need to create an Award Advisor account in your real name. You agree to use a strong password and keep it confidential. You further agree you are not already restricted by VSAC from using the App. Creating an account with false information is a violation of these Terms.

You understand, acknowledge, and agree that you are solely responsible for protecting your account and for all activity under any account you may create with our App. This responsibility includes any misuse of your password by you or anyone else and any damages caused because of that misuse.

You agree to diligently monitor your account and notify VSAC immediately, in writing, in the event you become aware of any unauthorized use of your password or account. We may rely on the use of your username and password as identifying and authenticating you as the user.

You agree to exit the App by logging off from your account after you have finished your session. If you close your account (or if your account is otherwise closed), the information in your account may be deleted or otherwise lost.

6. User Submissions and Uploads

If you upload or submit information, you warrant that you own or control rights to the material. You agree that you are solely liable for damages caused by such submissions. You warrant that the material you submit does not violate these Terms and will not cause injury to another person or entity.

VSAC uses the information submitted in the App and gathered from your financial award letters to help connect you to VSAC or other nonprofit lenders that may be able to offer loans or other education funding resources. To facilitate these connections, the information you provide in the App is shared with other nonprofit lenders. You authorize us to share such information and acknowledge that we may be paid for facilitating such connection.

You also grant VSAC a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, copy, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, adapt, publicly display, publicly perform, or distribute information gathered from your award letters for any purpose in an anonymous and deidentified manner.

VSAC reserves the right, but not the duty, to monitor data provided and uploaded. VSAC may delete or revise information submitted, and we have no obligation to store, maintain, or provide you a copy of any content or information that you submit.

7. Privacy Policy

Please read the Award Advisor Privacy Policy carefully for information relating to our collection, use, storage and disclosure of your personal information. The Award Advisor Privacy Policy, which is available at https://AwardAdvisor.org/privacy-policy is incorporated by this reference into, and made a part of, these Terms.

8. Links to Third-Party Websites and Apps and Advertising

The App may include links to third-party websites or apps you can access to learn more about and apply for student aid. VSAC does not control these other websites or apps and is not responsible for the products or services offered via third parties, their availability, content, or security. VSAC's inclusion of a connection, hyperlink, or reference to a third-party website on our App does not imply any endorsement of that site or any materials or information provided on it.

VSAC provides no warranty as to the accuracy, availability, completeness, or legality of any information found on these third-party sites and apps. VSAC provides no warranty that these sites are virus free and will not otherwise harm your device, computer, network, or system. VSAC is not liable for these third parties' actions or their failure to act. These websites and apps likely have their own privacy policies and terms of use that you may be bound by. You agree to be responsible to review those documents. Your use of those sites and apps is at your own risk.

9. Termination and Changes in the App

You may terminate your relationship with VSAC by notifying VSAC in writing using the information in the "Notice and Contacting VSAC" section below.

VSAC may, at its sole discretion, suspend, or terminate your use of the App on any grounds, without notice, and without liability to you or any third party. If your use of the App is terminated, you will still remain liable for any obligations you have incurred in connection with using the App. For example, we may limit your use of the App and suspend, restrict, or terminate your account if you breach these Terms or are misusing the App.

VSAC may also modify, suspend, or discontinue this App or certain services or materials provided through the App, temporarily or permanently, for any reason, at its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.

10. Modifications to the Terms

VSAC may modify the Terms from time to time. If required by applicable law or we make material changes to the Terms, we will provide you notice through our App, or by other means, to provide you the opportunity to review the changes before they become effective. We agree that changes cannot be retroactive. If you object to any of these changes, you may discontinue your use of the App. Your continued use of the App after we publish or send a notice about our changes to these Terms means that you are consenting to the updated Terms as of their effective date.

You may not alter, supplement, or amend these Terms unless VSAC agrees in a written agreement signed by both you and VSAC. Your attempts to alter, supplement, or amend the Terms using another method are invalid.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless VSAC and its affiliates, subsidiaries, agents and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against all claims, liabilities, and expenses arising from:

1. Your use of the App;
2. Failure to comply with the Terms;
3. Negligence, actions, or omissions;
4. Violation or alleged violation of any law; or
5. Violation or alleged violation of the rights of a third party.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

You agree that all access to and use of this App and its contents is at your own risk. VSAC makes no representation or warranty about the App, data in the App, or information provided by third-party providers such as any service or products provided through the App, including but not limited to any representation that the App or data will be uninterrupted or error-free. This App is provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, VSAC disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, rising by law, custom, prior oral or written statements, including, but not limited to any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, implied warranty of title, accuracy of data, or non-infringement. VSAC disclaims any warranty that the App will be secure, uninterrupted, not delayed or suspended, unchanged or error free or that we will correct any defects that are found.

Any award information displayed in or calculated by this App is provided as an estimate only. VSAC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of this information on the App. The information provided through the App is provided solely for informational or educational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, tax planning, or other advice. You agree that you are responsible for your own financial research and financial decisions, and that VSAC is not responsible or liable for any decisions or actions you take or authorize third parties to take on your behalf based on information you receive as a user of the App.

VSAC makes no representations that the materials contained within this App are appropriate for locations outside the United States.

13. Limitation of Liability

Your use of the App is at your own risk. In no event will VSAC or its associates be liable to you for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages (including damages for lost profits, goodwill, or any other intangible loss) of any nature arising out of or relating to these Terms, your access or use of, or your inability to access or use, the App, or any materials or content in the App, whether or not any VSAC or any affiliates, agents, or licensors have been informed of the possibility of damage. This limitation includes any loss, cost, or expense caused by any viruses, bugs, human action or inaction or any computer system, phone line, hardware, software or program malfunctions, any other errors, or failures or delays in computer transmissions or network connections. You further agree that VSAC shall not be liable for damages, losses, costs, or expenses due to your reliance upon the accuracy, completeness, or existence of any data or advertising on the App, or any transaction you have had with a third party via the App.

You agree the aggregate liability for VSAC and its affiliates to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms, your access to or use of, or your inability to access or use, the App, any portion of the App or any materials or content in the App, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to U.S. $100.

The limitations of liability in this section are part of the basis of the bargain between you and VSAC and shall apply to all claims of liability (e.g., warranty, tort, negligence, contract and law) even if VSAC or its affiliates has been told of the possibility of any such damage, and even if these remedies fail their essential purpose.

14. Choice of Law and Venue

The Terms shall be governed solely and exclusively by the law of the State of Vermont, excluding its conflicts of laws principles. You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to the App or the Terms shall be filed exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Chittenden County, Vermont, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

15. Notice and Contacting VSAC

We may send you notices, statements, or any other type of communication by regular mail or email, text message, by posting it on our App, or by any other reasonable methods such as by push notifications. You agree to keep your contact information up to date.

You may contact us by mail at:

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
10 East Allen Street
PO Box 2000
Winooski, VT 05404

You may contact us by phone at 1-800-642-3177 or 1-802-655-9602 or by email at support@awardadvisor.org. You may find more detailed contact information here.

16. Additional Terms

Children Under the Age of 13. This App is not intended for children under the age of 13. We are committed to comply with the requirements of all federal and state laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, as amended from time to time ("COPPA"). VSAC will not knowingly register or otherwise collect Personal Information (as defined in COPPA) from persons who identify themselves as being under the age of 13 during the registration process, without the prior consent of such child's parent or guardian. By accepting these Terms and using the App, you are affirming that you are 13 years of age or older.

No Waiver. The failure of VSAC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Headings. Headings contained in the Terms are for reference and convenience purposes only. They do not limit or change the meaning or interpretation of the language in the Terms.

Severability. If any provision of the Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such provision shall be deemed amended to achieve as closely as possible the intended effect of the original provision, and such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other part or provision of these Terms. If the court cannot do that, you and we agree to ask the court to remove the unenforceable part and still enforce the rest of these Terms.

No Third Party Rights. The Terms do not confer any third party rights to any person who is not a party.

Time Limits. You agree that, regardless of any statute, regulation, or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the use of this App or the Terms must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred.

No Agency. Nothing contained in the Terms shall be deemed to constitute either party as the agent or representative of the other party. VSAC and you are not joint venturers or partners for any purpose.

Successors and Assigns. The Terms benefit and bind VSAC, its successors, and its assigns. The Terms also benefit and bind you and your heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and personal representatives, and all persons you represent and their respective successors, assigns, and related persons.

Assignment. You and any persons you represent may not assign the Terms or your rights and obligations under it without the express prior written consent of VSAC. We may withhold this consent in our sole discretion. VSAC may assign the Terms and our rights and obligations under it without your consent or the consent of any persons you represent.

Competence. You represent that you are capable of entering into this legally binding agreement with VSAC.

Entire Agreement. The Terms constitutes the entire agreement between you and VSAC and supersedes all prior agreements for the App between you and VSAC.

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