Our Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
The safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance to Studentize. We are committed to creating a safe environment for all our users, particularly minors and underage students, by implementing effective safeguarding measures. This policy outlines the steps we take to ensure that interactions between students and Studentize Advisors are conducted in a safe, respectful, and secure manner.
1. Verification of Studentize Advisors
University Email Verification: All Studentize Advisors (university students) must register using their official university email addresses (e.g., @university.edu). This helps us verify their identity and ensure they are legitimate university students.
Background Checks: Where applicable, we may conduct additional background checks on Studentize Advisors to ensure they meet our safety standards.
2. Recording of Sessions
Session Recording: All mentoring sessions conducted through our platform will be recorded. This measure serves as a deterrent against inappropriate behavior and provides a record that can be reviewed if concerns arise.
Parental Consent: For students under the age of 18, we require parental or guardian consent for session recordings. Parents will be informed of the recording feature and its purpose.
3. Communication Channels
Platform-Only Communication: We require that all communications between students and Studentize Advisors occur through our platform. This ensures that conversations are monitored and recorded for safety purposes.
Prohibited Sharing of Personal Information: Advisors are strictly prohibited from requesting or sharing personal contact information (e.g., phone numbers, personal emails, social media handles) with students outside of the platform.
4. Reporting Concerns
Clear Reporting Process: We have established a clear and confidential process for students and advisors to report any safeguarding concerns. Reports can be made through the platform or via email to a designated safeguarding officer.
Immediate Action: All reports will be taken seriously, and immediate action will be taken to investigate and resolve any issues. Advisors found to have breached our safeguarding policy will face immediate suspension and possible termination from the platform.
5. Regular Training and Updates
Advisor Training: All Studentize Advisors will undergo mandatory safeguarding training before being allowed to mentor students. This training will cover appropriate conduct, recognizing signs of distress in students, and the correct procedures for reporting concerns.
Policy Updates: Our safeguarding policy will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect best practices and changes in legislation. Advisors and staff will be informed of any updates and required to complete additional training if necessary.
6. Age Verification
Age Verification Process: We implement an age verification process during student sign-up to ensure accurate representation of the student's age. This allows us to apply appropriate safeguarding measures for underage users.
7. Data Protection
Confidentiality: All personal data collected through the platform, including session recordings, will be stored securely and used solely for safeguarding and quality assurance purposes. Access to this data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
Data Retention: Session recordings and personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary and in compliance with data protection regulations. After this period, the data will be securely deleted. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.
Studentize is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. By adhering to these safeguarding guidelines, we aim to protect our users from harm and provide a positive and productive mentoring experience. We continuously strive to improve our policies and practices to ensure the highest standards of safety and well-being.
For any questions or further information, please contact our team at:
[email protected].