Privacy Policy HIPs Pathfinder App
Privacy Policy HIPs Pathfinder App
Last updated: January 2026
Overview
The HIPs Pathfinder app is a privacy-first educational tool designed to help students and educators explore High-Impact Practices (HIPs) in higher education. The app was developed as part of an unfunded doctoral research project and a student-facing resource. Protecting user privacy is a core design principle of this project.
This policy explains what information is collected, how it is used, and how it is protected.
Information We Do Not Collect
The app does not collect, store, or process any personally identifiable information (PII), including but not limited to:
Names
Email addresses
Phone numbers
Student IDs
IP addresses
Device identifiers
Location data
Cookies or tracking identifiers
Analytics or behavioral tracking data
Individual assessment responses are never stored.
Information We Do Collect (Aggregate Only)
To understand general usage patterns of the tool, the app records aggregate, non-identifiable data only, including:
University selection (from a predefined Southern California list or “Other Southern California University”)
User role (student or educator)
Completion status (completed / not completed)
Repeat visit indicator (first-time or returning use, self-reported)
Submission date (day-level only; no timestamps)
Instrument version (e.g., v1.0)
This data cannot be linked to an individual user.
Purpose of Data Collection
Aggregate data is collected solely to:
Assess overall participation and adoption of the tool
Understand usage patterns across institutions and roles
Support descriptive reporting for academic research and tool improvement
The data is not used to evaluate individuals, predict outcomes, or make decisions about users.
Assessment Content and Results
Assessment questions are grounded in established educational and behavioral research frameworks (e.g., Reasoned Action, student engagement literature). Results are generated in real time and exist only during the user’s session.
No individual responses are saved
Results are not transmitted or stored
Users may optionally copy their results for personal reference
Educator Mode
When “Educator” mode is selected, no assessment is administered. Educators are provided with informational content, research context, and sample outputs only. Educators are not assessed, and no educator-specific data is collected beyond aggregate role selection.
Data Security
The app uses role-restricted access controls and database-level safeguards to ensure:
Aggregate data can be viewed only by a single authorized administrator
No data can be edited or deleted after submission
Anonymous submission is permitted only under strict validation rules
No third-party analytics, advertising tools, or tracking services are used.
Research Context
This tool is part of an academic research project examining tool usage and engagement, not individual learning outcomes. Data collection is designed to be minimal-risk and compliant with Institutional Review Board (IRB) standards for research involving human participants.
Changes to This Policy
If the scope of data collection changes in future versions, this policy will be updated accordingly and users will be notified through the app interface.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy or the Top 3 HIPs Pathfinder app, you may contact:
Feels Like Fun® Publishing
Email: branding@feelslikefun.com
Website: https://www.feelslikefun.com