Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to Lantern College Counseling LLC (“Lantern,” “we,” or “us”).  This document describes the information practices for Lantern and the websites operated by Lantern or its affiliates, including but not limited to Lantern College Counseling and How to Write a Standout Computer Science College Application (podia.com) (the “Lantern Sites”), including what type of information is gathered and tracked, how the information is used, and with whom the information is shared.  As described below, this statement applies to your interactions with the Lantern Sites as well as other interactions with Lantern, such as when you agree to Lantern’s Terms of Use (“TOU”) or provide information to Lantern.  BY USING THE LANTERN SITES OR LANTERN SERVICES, YOU INDICATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THE LANTERN SITES OR SERVICES.  Please carefully read this Privacy Policy as it may have changed since your last visit to the Lantern Sites.  Continued use of the Lantern Sites and Services indicates your understanding and acceptance of any changes made to this Privacy Policy and posted to the Lantern Sites.  This Privacy Policy does not cover the privacy practices of any third-party websites to which the Lantern Sites may link.  For capitalized terms not defined herein, please see the definitions provided in the TOU.

Information Collected by Lantern: This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected by or submitted to Lantern (or carefully selected third parties acting on our behalf), including both personally identifiable information (“PII”) and non-personally identifiable information (“Non-PII”). PII refers to information that identifies you directly, such as your name, business affiliation, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, and credit card information. We collect PII only when you voluntarily provide it to us. Non-PII refers to information that does not identify you personally, which we use to track your use of the Lantern Sites. For instance, we may collect information about what type of Web browser you use, and what pages of the Lantern Sites you visit to understand how the Lantern Sites are being used. You do not need to provide personally identifiable information to simply browse the Lantern Sites, and you have the right to request that the Lantern Sites delete your personally identifiable information. You are solely responsible for the accuracy, quality, and legality of information collected from you by or on behalf of Lantern.

Lantern may collect your PII when:

  • you submit questions or comments to Lantern;

  • you purchase or use Services;

  • you request information or materials;

  • you register for Courses, live Q&A’s, or other events;

  • you participate in surveys or provide Feedback; or

  • you submit any such information to Lantern.

 

      The types of PII collected may include (but are not limited to):

  • your first and last name;

  • your home, billing, or other physical address (including street name, city/town, state/province, country, postal code);

  • your e-mail address;

  • your telephone number;

  • any other identifier that permits Lantern to make physical or online contact with you; and

  • your credit card account information or other payment information.

 

The types of Non-PII collected may include (but are not limited to):

  • IP address

  • Device identifiers

  • Web browser information

  • Page view statistics

  • Browsing history

  • Usage information and click tracking

  • Transaction information (e.g., transaction amount, date and time such transaction occurred)

  • Cookies and other tracking technologies (see below for more information)

  • Log data (e.g., access times, hardware and software information)

 

How Lantern Uses Your Information: Lantern collects and uses your information, including your PII, to operate and improve the Lantern Sites and deliver the Services or carry out the transactions you have requested. These uses may include providing you with more effective customer service; making the Lantern Sites or Services easier to use by eliminating the need for you to repeatedly enter the same information; performing research and analysis aimed at improving our Services, and technologies; and displaying content and advertising that are customized to your interests and preferences.

We also use your personal information to communicate with you. We may send certain Course or Consulting Services communications such as welcome letters, information updates, billing information, information on technical service issues, and security announcements. We may also contact you to inform you of other Services available from Lantern and its affiliates.

Sharing of Your Personal Information: Lantern will not sell, rent, or lease your information, including your PII, to others. Lantern shares personal information with companies working on our behalf. Lantern also utilizes third parties to collect information on our behalf, any information you share with these third parties is subject to their privacy policies. A list of third parties used by Lantern includes (but is not limited to): Podia Labs, Inc., Stripe, Inc., Wave Financial Inc., Google, and College Planner Pro. Except as described in this statement, we will not disclose your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes unless you have provided consent.

If you request something from the Lantern Sites (for example, a product or service, a callback, or specific marketing materials), we will use the information you provide to fulfill your request or inquiry. To help us do this, we may share information with others, such as Lantern’s business partners, financial institutions, shipping companies, and postal or government authorities involved in fulfillment. As part of a transaction, we may also contact you as part of our customer satisfaction surveys or for market research purposes.

We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as handling the processing and delivery of mailings, providing customer support, hosting websites, processing transactions, or performing statistical analysis of our Services. Such companies will be permitted to obtain only the personal information they need to deliver the service. They are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information and are prohibited from using it for any other purpose.

We may access or disclose your information, including your PII, if we believe such action is necessary to: (a) comply with the law or legal process served on the Lantern Sites or Lantern; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of the Lantern Sites or Lantern (including the enforcement of our agreements); or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of Lantern’s Services or members of the public.

Your Choices: Lantern provides a number of ways for you to “opt-out” of receiving additional information from us or having us provide your personal information to our partners. We may offer you these choices at the time you give us your personal information.

If you do not wish to continue receiving certain marketing materials (e.g., e-mail messages), you can opt-out of receiving these materials by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in the materials. This option does not apply to communications primarily for the purpose of administering orders, contracts, support, Service updates, or other administrative and transactional notices.

How to Update Your Information: To update your Account Information, please email us at legal@lanterncollege.com.

Safeguarding Your Personal Information: In order to protect your information, including your PII, from improper disclosure, Lantern uses commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a secure operating environment to protect any information we collect. We use the most accurate and current information you provide in order to process your request. Once received, we limit access to your information to only those personnel with a legitimate business need to review them. Browsers offer varying degrees of security, particularly in regard to encryption. Even the same version of a browser can come with different levels of encryption. All acceptable browsers do provide detailed information on security levels in “Properties” or “Document Information” from the browser's menu bar. See your browser's “Help” tab or documentation for more information. Finally, we take care to dispose of your information properly so that third parties will not be able to access it. This includes destroying, erasing, or making unreadable the information. While we are committed to protecting your privacy, please be aware that no transaction over the Internet can be completely secure.

Enforcement of this Privacy Policy: Lantern regularly reviews its compliance with this Privacy Policy. Please feel free to direct any questions or concerns regarding this statement or Lantern Site treatment of PII by contacting us at the link or address indicated below.

Cookies and Browser Information: Lantern may use cookies for a variety of purposes. Cookies are small text files that a website sends to a Web browser, which are stored on the site visitor’s computer. Cookies are commonly used to track Web activity and provide an enhanced experience when using the internet. Lantern may use cookies to collect information.  We use cookies to help us better understand website usage in the aggregate so that we know what areas of the Lantern Sites users prefer. If you simply want to browse, you do not have to accept cookies from the Lantern Sites. Most browsers are defaulted to accept and maintain cookies. If you do not want websites to be able to use cookies, you can alter the configuration of your browser to not accept cookies.  Unless you have adjusted your browser settings so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our Lantern Sites. Should you decide, however, that you would like to create an Account or register for a Course with Lantern and you have modified your browser settings not to accept cookies, you will need to re-set your browser to accept the cookies that we send it. Otherwise, you may not be able to register.

With or without cookies, our websites keep track of usage data, such as the source address from which a page request originates (i.e., your IP address, domain name), date and time of the page request, the referring website (if any), and other parameters in the URL (e.g., search criteria). We use this data to better understand website usage in the aggregate so that we know what areas of our Lantern Sites users prefer (e.g., based on the number of visits to those areas). This information is stored in log files and is used for aggregated and statistical reporting. It is not attributed to you as an individual.

Links to Other Sites: The Lantern Sites may provide links to third-party websites, such as those of our business partners, payment processors, and online advertisers. You should review their privacy policies to learn more about what, why, and how they collect and use personally identifiable information.

Questions or Concerns: If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should first contact legal@lanterncollege.com. Lantern is currently receiving mail at: PO Box 775, Acton, MA 01720

 

Changes to the Lantern Privacy Policy:  Lantern reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we do make changes, the revised Privacy Policy will be posted on this site.

NOTICE TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS:  THE LANTERN SITES ARE INTENDED FOR ADULTS. WE DO NOT KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION TO LANTERN. IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WHO HAS PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND WE WILL REMOVE THE INFORMATION.

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS

This section of the Privacy Policy applies only to individuals who reside in California. The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) provides additional rights to know, delete and opt out, and requires businesses collecting or disclosing Personal Information to provide notices and means to exercise rights.

California Notice of Collection

In the past 12 months, we or our service providers have collected the following categories of information enumerated in the CCPA in connection with the Sites:

  • First and last name, home, billing, or other physical address (including street name, city/town, state/province, postal code, and country of origin), e-mail address, and telephone number, to the extent you are interacting with our Sites;

  • Information, products, and Services considered, accepted, rejected and other use data;

  • Any other identifier that permits Lantern to make physical or online contact with you;

  • Internet activity, including history of visiting and interacting with our Sites, browser type, browser language and other information collected automatically; and

  • Any other information you have chosen to provide to us through the Sites.

For more information on information we collect, including the sources we receive information from, review the sections above titled “Lantern may collect your Personal Information when,” "The types of Personal Information collected may include (but are not limited to)” and “Cookies and Browser Information.” We collect and use these categories of Personal Information for the business purposes described in the “How does Lantern use your information” section, including to provide, manage and improve our Sites. Lantern does not generally sell information as the term “sell” is traditionally understood. However, to the extent “sale” under the CCPA would be interpreted to include any of the activities described in the “Sharing of Your Personal Information” section, we will comply with applicable law as to such activity.

Right to Know and Delete

If you are a California resident, you have the right to delete Personal Information we have collected about you and you have the right to know certain information about our data practices in the preceding 12 months. In particular, you have the right to request the following:

  • Categories of Personal Information we have collected about you;

  • Categories of sources from which the Personal Information was collected;

  • Categories of Personal Information about you we disclosed for a business purpose or sold;

  • Categories of third parties to whom the Personal Information was sold or disclosed for a business purpose;

  • Business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling the Personal Information; and

  • Specific pieces of Personal Information we have collected about you.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a request to us at legal@lanterncollege.com. In the request, please specify which right you are seeking to exercise and the scope of the request. We will confirm receipt of your request within ten (10) days. We may require specific information from you to help us verify your identity and process your request. Please note that, in many instances, Lantern does not collect types of Personal Information that enable us to identify you. As such, if we do not have information that permits us to verify your identity, we may deny your requests to know or delete. A request for access can be made by you only twice within a twelve (12) month period.

Right to Opt Out

Under the CCPA, you have the right to opt out of the sale of your Personal Information to third parties at any time. Lantern does not “sell” your Personal Information as it is currently defined under the CCPA. You may contact us by emailing us at legal@lanterncollege.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Authorized Agent

You can designate an authorized agent to submit requests on your behalf. However, we will require written proof of the agent’s permission to do so and verify your identity directly.

Right to Non-Discrimination

You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by us for the exercise of any of your rights.

California Do-Not-Track Notice

We may collect information about your online activity while using our Services and after you leave our Properties. Lantern Services do not support Do Not Track signals, and therefore we do not respond to such signals.

Notice to International Residents: The Lantern Sites are primarily operated and managed on servers located and operated within the United States. In order to participate in Courses or Consulting Services offered by Lantern, you may be sending your PII outside of the country where you reside or are located, including to the United States. Accordingly, if you reside or are located outside of the United States, your PII may be transferred outside of the country where you reside or are located, including to countries that may not or do not provide the same level of protection for your PII. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of PII when it is transferred.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR USERS IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA AND UNITED KINGDOM:

Lantern is headquartered in the United States and has operations and service providers in the United States and throughout the world. As such, we and our service providers may transfer your Personal Information to, or access it in, jurisdictions that may not provide levels of data protection equivalent to those in your country of residence. By using our Services, or otherwise interacting with us, regardless of where you live or where you provide information to us, you consent to our use and our service providers’ use of your Personal Information worldwide and to the transfer of your Personal Information to countries outside of your country of residence, including the United States. In certain circumstances, courts, regulatory agencies, law enforcement agencies, or security authorities in those other countries may be entitled to access your Personal Information.

Lantern is aware of the July 16, 2020 ruling by the European Court of Justice invalidating the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework. Accordingly, Lantern will take adequate measures designed to protect the transfer of Personal Information of individuals in the European Economic Area (EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) (“EEA”), such as relying on the European Commission-approved Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCCs”) as a legal mechanism for such transfer, or other adequate transfer mechanism as required under relevant data protection laws, as well as additional safeguards, where appropriate. A copy of these clauses may be obtained by contacting us at the email address listed below.

For transfers to or from the United Kingdom (“UK”), we make use of the SCCs, as adapted for the UK. For individuals located in the EEA or the UK, the term “Personal Information,” as used in this Privacy Policy, is equivalent to “personal data” under applicable European and UK data protection legislation.

If you are located in the EEA, the UK, or Switzerland, you have certain rights and protections under applicable law regarding the processing of your Personal Information, as defined by the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), and this section applies to you.

Legal Basis for Processing

When we process your Personal Information, we will do so in reliance on the following lawful bases:

  • To perform our responsibilities under our contract with you (e.g., providing the services you requested).

  • When we have a legitimate interest in processing your Personal Information to operate our business or protect our interests (e.g., to provide, maintain, and improve our Services, conduct data analytics, and communicate with you).

  • To comply with our legal obligations (e.g., to maintain a record of your consents and track those who have opted out of non-administrative communications).

  • When we have your consent to do so (e.g., when you opt in to receive non-administrative communications from us). When consent is the legal basis for our processing your Personal Information, you may withdraw such consent at any time.

Data Retention

We store Personal Information associated with your account for as long as your account remains active. In  some cases we retain Personal Information for longer, if doing so is   reasonably necessary to comply with our legal, regulatory, or other compliance obligations. We store other data for as long as necessary to carry out the purposes for which we originally collected it and for other legitimate business purposes, including to meet our legal, regulatory, or other compliance obligations.

Your Rights

For users in the European Union, according to the GDPR, you have the following statutory rights:

  • Information. At the point where Personal Information is collected from the data subject, as defined by the GDPR, or obtained from another source, there is a requirement to inform the data subject about Lantern’s use of that Personal Information and the rights of data subjects over it. Compliance with this right is provided within this Privacy Policy.

  • Access. You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not Personal Information concerning you is being processed, and, where that is the case, all necessary information to make the process transparent. You also have the right to obtain a copy of your Personal Information being processed.

  • Rectification. You have the right to require rectification of inaccurate data about you.

  • Erasure. You have the right to ask for the deletion of your data in certain circumstances.

  • Restrict processing. You have the right to restrict processing of data under certain specified circumstances.

  • Data portability. You have the right to request for the receipt or the transfer to another organization, in a machine-readable form, of your Personal Information.

  • Object to processing. You have the right to ask us to stop using all or some of your Personal Information under certain specified circumstances.

  • Right to withdraw consent. When you have given your explicit consent for the processing of your data, you can withdraw it at any time without justification. The withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

If would like to exercise your rights, please let us know by sending an email to legal@lanterncollege.com

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority or to the Data Protection Authority where the alleged infringement took place.

This Privacy Policy was last amended October 27,2023.