Terms of Service

Last Updated: March 11, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern the use of the Groupimize platform ("Service") provided by Groupimize LLC ("Groupimize," "we," "our," or "us"). By accessing or using the Service through Canvas LTI integration, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are using the Service on behalf of an institution, you represent that you have the authority to bind that institution to these Terms.

2. Description of Service

Groupimize is a Canvas LTI-integrated instructional tool that assists higher education instructors with (1) algorithmic student group formation based on instructor-defined survey criteria, and (2) structured peer review of group collaboration. The Service is accessed exclusively through the Canvas Learning Management System and supports teaching and learning activities within institutional courses.

3. User Accounts and Access

The Service does not maintain separate user accounts. Authentication is handled entirely through Canvas LTI. Users are identified by their Canvas User ID and role (student or instructor) as provided by their institution's Canvas instance. No separate login credentials, email addresses, or passwords are collected or stored by Groupimize.

4. Permitted Use

The Service is intended solely for educational use within higher education courses. You agree to:

• Use the Service only for its intended educational purposes
• Provide honest and good-faith responses to surveys and peer reviews
• Not attempt to access data belonging to other users, courses, or institutions
• Not attempt to circumvent access controls, rate limits, or security measures
• Not use the Service to harass, discriminate against, or harm other users
• Not reverse-engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to extract the source code of the Service

5. Instructor Responsibilities

Instructors who deploy Groupimize within their courses are responsible for:

• Informing students that Groupimize will be used in the course
• Ensuring that survey questions assigned are appropriate for the educational context
• Reviewing and approving group formations before finalizing
• Finalizing courses at the end of the term to trigger deletion of survey data
• Using peer review and KPA data only for legitimate educational assessment purposes

6. Data Ownership

The institution retains full ownership of all data, inputs, outputs, and metadata generated through use of the Service. Groupimize processes data solely on behalf of the institution for the educational purposes described herein. This ownership is retained regardless of any corporate event, including acquisition, merger, or bankruptcy of Groupimize LLC.

7. Data Collection and Use

The collection, use, storage, and deletion of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, available at https://groupimize.com/privacy. In summary, we collect only the minimum data necessary to provide the Service (Canvas User ID, student name, course ID, role, survey responses, and peer review submissions). We do not use institutional data for any purpose other than providing the educational services described in Section 2. We do not sell, share, or disclose data to third parties except as necessary to provide infrastructure services (Amazon Web Services) or as required by law.

8. Data Retention and Deletion

Upon course finalization by the instructor, or automatically 30 days after the course or semester ends, student names, all individual survey responses, and demographic data are permanently deleted from our systems. Retained data (peer review scores, peer review comments, and KPA metrics, identified only by pseudonymous Canvas User IDs) supports longitudinal assessment of student soft skill development. Users may request complete deletion of their personal data at any time by contacting support@groupimize.com, and such requests will be fulfilled within 30 days.

9. FERPA Compliance

Groupimize operates as a "school official" with "legitimate educational interests" under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). We access only those education records necessary to provide the Service, use such records solely for authorized educational purposes, and do not re-disclose education records except as permitted by FERPA or required by law. Groupimize is under the direct control of the institution with respect to the use and maintenance of education records.

10. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in the Service, including but not limited to the software, algorithms, user interface, and documentation, are owned by Groupimize LLC. These Terms do not grant you any rights to our intellectual property except the limited right to use the Service as described herein. Content submitted by users (survey responses, peer review comments) remains the property of the submitting user and their institution.

11. Service Availability and Support

Groupimize strives to maintain high availability of the Service. However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Planned maintenance will be performed during off-peak hours (typically after 10:00 PM EST) with minimal downtime. Support requests may be directed to support@groupimize.com. We aim to respond to support inquiries within 2 business days and to resolve critical issues as promptly as possible.

12. Service Modifications

We may update or modify the Service from time to time to improve functionality, security, or compliance. Material changes that could impact the institution's security posture or data handling will be communicated to institutional administrators with at least 30 days advance notice. All updates are applied server-side without requiring action from the institution.

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by Institution

Institutions may terminate their use of the Service at any time by providing written notice to support@groupimize.com. Upon termination, institutional data will be available for export for 90 days, after which all data will be permanently deleted.

13.2 Termination by Groupimize

Groupimize may terminate or suspend access to the Service for violation of these Terms. We will provide the institution with notice and an opportunity to cure any violation before termination, except in cases of security threats or legal obligations requiring immediate action.

13.3 Service Discontinuation

In the event of service discontinuation, bankruptcy, or closing of business, Groupimize will provide 90 days notice to institutional administrators, during which time institutions may export their data. After the notice period, all data will be permanently deleted.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GROUPIMIZE LLC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY THE INSTITUTION TO GROUPIMIZE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000). NOTHING IN THESE TERMS SHALL LIMIT LIABILITY FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR BREACHES OF DATA PROTECTION OBLIGATIONS.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. GROUPIMIZE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE. The group formation algorithm provides recommendations based on instructor-defined criteria; instructors retain full discretion to review and modify group assignments.

16. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Groupimize LLC from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from your use of the Service in violation of these Terms, your violation of any applicable law or regulation, or your infringement of any third-party rights.

17. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of law principles. However, if you are a public educational institution legally required to apply the laws of your own state or jurisdiction, then the laws of that state or jurisdiction shall apply. Any dispute arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, unless the institution is a public entity required by law to resolve disputes in its own jurisdiction.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to institutional administrators with at least 30 days advance notice. The "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms indicates the most recent revision. Continued use of the Service after changes are communicated constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any institutional service agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Groupimize LLC regarding the use of the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

21. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact us:

Groupimize LLC
Email: support@groupimize.com
Address: 68 Harrison Ave, Ste 605 #424374, Boston, MA 02111
Website: https://groupimize.com