Privacy Policy
Stepping Stones College Educational Advisors
Effective Date: January 2024
Stepping Stones College Educational Advisors (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, participate in our programs, or engage with our advising services.
We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the information contained herein.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal and non-personal information in various ways:
A. Personal Information Provided Directly by You
When you fill out forms, register for services, or communicate with us, you may provide:
Full name
Email address
Phone number
Home or mailing address (optional)
Student academic information (e.g., GPA, transcript details, coursework)
Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT/AP/IB)
College application materials (essays, activities list, résumé, etc.)
Parent/guardian contact information
Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
Any other information voluntarily submitted to support the advising process
B. Information Automatically Collected
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:
IP address
Browser type and version
Device type
Website usage data (pages visited, time spent, etc.)
Cookies and tracking technologies
Referral sources
C. Information Received From Third Parties
We may receive information from:
Schools or counselors (with your permission)
Testing agencies
Educational platforms
Payment processors
Authorized partners
2. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to provide exceptional college advising services, including:
Delivering personalized college advising and planning
Creating academic plans, college lists, and application strategies
Scheduling appointments and consultations
Managing your account and delivering program updates
Communicating important deadlines and reminders
Processing payments and invoicing
Improving our website, services, and customer experience
Complying with legal and regulatory requirements
We never sell personal information to third parties.
3. Sharing Your Information
We may share your information in limited circumstances:
A. With Your Consent
We may share information with:
Teachers or counselors assisting in the college application process
Recommenders
Programs or institutions you request us to contact on your behalf
B. Service Providers
We may share information with trusted companies that help us operate, including:
Payment processors
Scheduling platforms
Cloud storage services
Data management tools
Email communication systems
These providers are obligated to protect your data and may only use it to perform services for us.
C. Legal Requirements
We may disclose information when required to:
Comply with legal obligations
Protect our rights or property
Respond to lawful government requests
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies to:
Improve website performance
Personalize user experience
Analyze website traffic
Store user preferences
You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though doing so may limit certain website features.
5. Data Security
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:
Encrypted connections (SSL)
Secure payment processing
Limited access to internal systems
Regular monitoring and updates
While we strive to protect your personal data, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to:
Provide services
Comply with legal obligations
Resolve disputes
Maintain business records
You may request deletion of your information at any time (see Section 10).
7. Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)
Our services are directed toward students and families. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.
If we learn that information was collected without proper authorization, we will promptly delete it.
8. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have rights such as:
A. Access & Correction
You may request:
A copy of the information we hold
Corrections to inaccurate data
B. Deletion
You may request the deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
C. Opt-Out
You may opt out of:
Emails
Text messages
Marketing communications
Essential service communications may still be sent.
9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
For California residents:
You have the right to:
Know what personal data is collected
Request deletion of personal data
Opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal data (we do not sell data)
Request correction of inaccurate information
Limit use of sensitive data
You may submit a request via the contact information below.
10. How to Request Access, Updates, or Deletion
To request access, correction, or deletion of your data, contact us at:
Stepping Stones College Educational Advisors
📧 Email: rfernando@steppingstonesadvisors.com
📞 Phone: (714) 400-2497 📠 (855) 641-6935
🌐 Website: www.steppingstonesadvisors.com
We may need to verify your identity before completing your request.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website or services may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes take effect when posted. We encourage you to review this page regularly.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:
Stepping Stones College Educational Advisors
📧 rfernando@steppingstonesadvisors.com
📞 (714) 400-2497 📠 (855) 641-6935
📍 8605 Santa Monica Blvd #968092, West Hollywood, CA 90069-4109