Terms of Service

Last updated: June 16, 2026

1. What UniConnect is (and is not)

UniConnect (“the Platform,” “we,” “us”) is an online venue that connects members of a university community with each other. We do not sell any product, do not provide any service being transacted, do not provide transportation, and are not a party to any sale, trade, or ride arranged through the Platform.

Every listing is created by a user. Every ride is offered or requested by a user. When you buy an item or book a seat, your agreement is with the other user — not with UniConnect. We provide the venue, messaging, and payment plumbing; the transaction itself is yours.

2. No liability for user transactions

Because UniConnect is only a connector, to the maximum extent permitted by law we are not liable for: the condition, quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any listing; the conduct of any buyer, seller, driver, or passenger; whether a ride occurs, is on time, or is safe; or any loss, damage, injury, or dispute arising from a transaction or interaction between users.

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied. You use UniConnect at your own risk, and you agree to exercise the same judgment you would with any private sale or carpool. Ratings, verification, and reporting tools exist to help you make informed choices — they are not a guarantee.

3. Who may register

• Registration is limited to currently enrolled students and current professors/staff of a supported university (currently Alfred University), verified through a university email address or university single sign-on.
• You must be at least 17 years old and able to form a binding contract.
• Using another person's account, credentials, or university email to register or sign in is strictly prohibited. One person, one account — your account is yours alone and may not be shared, sold, or transferred.
• If you leave the university (graduate, withdraw, or are no longer employed), your eligibility ends and your account may be deactivated.

4. Keep personal contact information private

UniConnect is designed so you never have to share personal details with strangers. For everyone's safety, the following are prohibited anywhere on the Platform (listings, ride posts, messages, profiles, reviews):

• Disclosing your or another person's full last name (the Platform displays first name and last initial only);
• Sharing phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles (Snapchat, Instagram, Discord, WhatsApp, etc.), or any other off-platform contact method;
• Soliciting anyone else's personal or contact information.

All communication must happen through UniConnect's in-app messaging. The Platform automatically blocks content that appears to contain contact information, and attempting to evade those filters is itself a violation of these Terms.

5. Payments, buyer protection, and refunds

• Payments on UniConnect are processed by Stripe. UniConnect never sees or stores your card number.
• Marketplace sales carry a platform fee deducted from the seller's proceeds; rideshare bookings carry a flat per-seat platform fee shown at checkout. Listing is always free.
• Buyer protection (escrow). When you buy a marketplace item, your payment is held by UniConnect — the seller is not paid yet. Funds are released to the seller when you confirm receipt in your Purchase history, or automatically 7 days after payment if you take no action.
• Disputes.If an item never arrives, arrives damaged, or isn't as described, open a dispute from the order in Purchase history — while the payment is held, or within 7 days of its release. Filing a dispute freezes the payment. You can attach photo or PDF evidence.
• Who decides. The UniConnect team reviews disputes manually, normally within 5 business days, and resolves each one by either refunding the buyer in full or releasing the payment to the seller. That decision is final within the Platform; nothing here limits your statutory rights or your rights with your card issuer.
• Ride bookings are refunded automatically if a ride overbooks; other ride issues are handled case-by-case via reports.
• Drivers and sellers receiving payouts must complete Stripe's onboarding, and payouts are subject to Stripe's own terms. Escrow released before a seller finishes onboarding is paid out once onboarding completes.

6. Drivers

• To offer rides you must hold a valid driver's license, be legally permitted to drive the vehicle you use, and carry the insurance your state requires.
• By posting a ride as a driver you represent that all of the above are true. UniConnect does not verify licenses or insurance and does not employ, contract, or supervise drivers.
• Passengers ride at their own discretion. UniConnect is not a transportation carrier or broker.

7. Prohibited items and conduct

The Platform may not be used to list, sell, trade, or give away: weapons or firearms; drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or any drug paraphernalia; anything living (animals or plants); stolen or counterfeit goods; or anything illegal for the seller or the buyer under applicable law or university policy. The full list, along with behavior rules, is in our Community Guidelines, which are part of these Terms. Listings are screened automatically and reviewed on report.

8. Enforcement — suspension and bans

We reserve the right to restrict, suspend, or permanently ban any account that violates these Terms, the Community Guidelines, or the law — with or without prior notice, at our sole discretion. This includes removing content, cancelling listings or rides, and withholding Platform access.

A ban extends to the person, not just the account: any future or additional accounts created by a banned user may be terminated on discovery, including accounts made with different emails or credentials. Circumventing a suspension or ban is itself a violation.

9. Your content

You own what you post, and you're responsible for it. By posting, you grant UniConnect a non-exclusive license to display that content on the Platform so the service can function. Don't post content you don't have the right to share.

10. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless UniConnect and its operators from claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of the Platform, your transactions with other users, your content, or your violation of these Terms.

11. Changes, termination, and governing law

• We may update these Terms; material changes will be posted here with a new “last updated” date. Continued use after changes means acceptance.
• You may stop using UniConnect at any time; we may discontinue the service or your access as described in Section 8.
• These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.
• If any provision is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.

See also: Privacy Policy · Community Guidelines