TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP AND SITE USE
1.0. Membership Services
These terms and conditions form the basis of a contract (“Contract”) through which the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals ("ISSSP", "we" or "us") will deliver membership services (the "Services") to you as a member of ISSSP. “You” refers to you individually and/or as an organizational member.
ISSSP is a global professional body with the goal of furthering the Six Sigma and Process Improvement career. Its activities are carried on by the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals, a non-profit organization, operating under the business name ISSSP. Professionals gain individual membership into ISSSP as a Training/Consulting Professional, Associate, or Student, while organizational memberships into ISSSP are achieved as Professional, Corporate, or Nonprofit/Government/ISD/University. Regardless, all memberships are provided through assessment of their level of practical professional experience.
Please read this Contract carefully before applying to become an ISSSP individual or organizational member. In consideration of us accepting your application to become an ISSSP individual or organizational member and allowing you to access the site, you agree to be bound by this Contract.
1.1. Membership benefits
Membership in ISSSP will provide you with one of the individual or organizational levels of membership as stated above. (i.e. Training/Consulting Professional, Associate, Student, Professional, Corporate, Nonprofit/Government/ISD/University
An ISSSP member will receive a benefits based on the level chosen such as:
- Access to the members’ area of the ISSSP website, [isssp.org](the "Site");
- Access to the ISSSP resources that are currently available;
- Access to future ISSSP resources that might be added;
- Access to ISSSP webinars;
- Access to the ISSSP discussion forum; and
- Ability to add resources to the ISSSP site, such as webinars, white papers, blogs, etc.
Membership packages will vary according to the level of individual or corporate membership, which means your access to the items listed above may be limited.
We reserve the right to change the benefits that apply to ISSSP membership at any time without prior notice.
Any external providers of a benefit included within your membership package will have absolute discretion in relation to the provision of services, and membership of the ISSSP does not guarantee that the external provider will accept an application from an ISSSP member for the provision of services. We reserve the right to change our external providers without prior notice. Services supplied by an external provider will be subject to the external provider’s own terms, conditions and or contract, and we do not accept any liability for loss or damage suffered as a result of a fault, error or omission in the provision of these services.
2.0. The Individual and/or Corporate Member Contract
To become an ISSSP individual member, follow the instructions on the membership pages of the Site isssp.org/membership. This application is an online process where you will have the ability to save your progress.
If you require the form in alternative formats, please contact membership@isssp.org.
When you submit your online application to ISSSP, you are making an offer to subscribe to ISSSP which, if accepted, will result in a legally binding contract. If you choose to apply using a different method, such as by phone, mail, or email, all the information within this Contract will apply and you agree to be bound by its contents.
Upon membership renewal, your renewal payment is confirmation of the continued acceptance of this Contract.
As an ISSSP individual or organizational member you warrant and represent to us that the following are and will be true each time that you access or use the Site and/or Services:
- you have the requisite power and authority to enter into this Contract on behalf of yourself and to legally bind any organization on whose behalf you are requesting membership/submitting an application;
- that you will perform your obligations under this Contract;
- there are no circumstances which would prevent this Contract from forming legally binding obligations upon you;
- your performance pursuant to this Contract does not and will not conflict with or breach any agreement, restrictions, or law to which you are subject;
- all the information which you submit to ISSSP (including your application) is complete, reliable, accurate, and not misleading in any way; and
- that upon request you will provide us promptly with all information that we may reasonably require from time to time in connection with Services we provide, and your access to or usage of the Site, including supporting documents that may be required for the application or renewal process.
- individual members agree to have their information published on the ISSSP site, unless you choose to make your profile private; you may contact us to learn how to do this, if you need assistance;
- organizational and sponsor members agree to give ISSSP the right to use your organization's logo and other pictures that might be available on your website, LinkedIn page, or other social media to create a profile page for your organization; you also agree to have your organization's information made public on the ISSSP site.
- organizational and sponsor members that do not create their own profile, agree that an ISSSP team member will create a page for you; ISSSP will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions that might be included on the organization's page.
3.0. Application Approval
We reserve the right to approve or not to approve your application for membership in ISSSP within our sole discretion.
4.0 Membership
Membership Term duration is one calendar year. Active membership is defined as the membership period in which members are in Good Standing (as defined below). Expiration Date is defined as the date on which ISSSP membership is valid through. It is the member’s responsibility to notify ISSSP of any changes to your credentials, which would make you ineligible for the original membership level. ISSSP has the right to charge you for the difference, if we find that you are not eligible for the lower payment.
If your individual or organizational membership application is accepted, but we subsequently discover that any of the information provided by you was misleading or false, we reserve the right to revoke your membership.
Members, who do not make their annual payment, will have limited access to the site. You may renew your membership within 30 days of nonpayment before you must reapply for membership.
Member Status refers to a member’s standing in their ISSSP membership term and varies based on the status of payment during the membership purchase. Member status is within the sole discretion of ISSSP:
- In Good Standing: Member has completed their initial or renewal membership purchase and has not reached their expiration date. In addition, Member meets the requirements for the membership level chosen and maintains a good standing within the Six Sigma and/or business community.
- Payment Pending: An individual’s member payment has not processed, or has not been completed. These individuals are not active members in good standing, and their membership term has not yet started.
- Membership Status Pending: A Member has completed their initial or renewal membership purchase and has not reached their expiration date, but their membership is under review to the ensure the applicant meets the requirements for the membership level chose and maintains a good standing within the Six Sigma and/or business community.
- Past Due: If the expiration date has passed and a member has not renewed, a member’s standing will show ‘Past Due’ up to 60 days past the expiration date.
- Terminated: We may terminate your membership within our sole discretion. If we terminate your individual or organizational membership, you may appeal our decision to terminate by contacting membership@isssp.org. We will review your appeal and promptly notify you of our decision. If terminated through no fault of your own, you may request a pro-rata refund of membership fees based on date of termination.
- Cancelled: Member elected to terminate their membership by contacting ISSSP (no refunds will be provided).
Only one person may use the email address and password associated with a membership account. Failing to abide by this condition is grounds for immediate termination of the membership without refund.
4.1 Membership Levels
Membership levels are granted by ISSSP only. We reserve the right to downgrade or upgrade a membership level at the time of application or at any time following application if to what we determine is the appropriate membership level.
Members may upgrade their membership at the time of their renewal or within 30 days prior to automatic renewal. In addition, membership may be upgraded at any time by contacting ISSSP at 833-ISSSP-4U, via the contact form, or by email at membership@isssp.org. Membership will be upgraded for the remainder of the membership term, at the prorated cost of the upgrade difference.
5.0. Processing and Payment
ISSSP Accepts payment via all major credit cards, check drawn on U.S. Bank, or Automated Clearing House payment. We reserve the right to reject any order or purchase at any time.
5.1. Pricing
When you purchase a membership, you agree to pay the price that is stated at the time of your order. You agree that you are eligible for the membership selected. Additional fees may be required, if you are found to be ineligible for the membership level you have selected.
Discount eligibility, if available, is determined at the time of the order. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.
All prices are in United States Dollars, unless otherwise stated.
ISSSP reserves the right to change membership dues prices and fees at any time.
5.2 Billing and Auto-Renewal Billing
Membership is billed at the initiation of the membership process. Once we charge or debit your payment method, your membership is considered active for one calendar year from your join date. We will automatically bill your account each year, unless you opt out of the auto-renewal billing process. You will be responsible for notifyingISSSP of any changes, which might make you ineligible for your current membership level (i.e. no longer a student, increased experience, etc.).
ISSSP auto-renewal billing is for annual membership dues. Members will receive notification via the email we have on file at least 30 days in advance of membership expiration that their membership is scheduled for auto-renewal. On the annual renewal date, ISSSP will charge the membership renewal fee at the current membership level to the credit card provided. Members will receive an email receipt to the email we have on file for you confirming payment. Member hereby authorizes ISSSP on an automatic basis annually to renew the ISSSP membership that member has selected and charge the applicable membership fee to the credit card placed on file.
Should a credit card be declined, the member will be notified by email or phone by an ISSSP representative. In the event of a declined card, auto renewal will be deactivated, and the member will need to renew online or by phone, at which time they will be re-enrolled in auto-renewal billing.
ISSSP reserves the right to change annual membership dues. Members will receive notification of changes through the ISSSP website and in the annual email notification.
Members can log in to their member profile here to review enrollment status and to make any changes to their membership profile, including cancellation of auto-renewal billing.
Members can cancel auto-renewal billing at any time prior to the member’s renewal date by contacting ISSSP at 833-ISSSP-4U, via the contact form in the member profile, or by email at membership@isssp.org. Following cancellation of auto-renewal members will have access to ISSSP benefits through the end of the current membership year if that year has been paid in full.
5.3 Unpaid Charges
If a credit card expires or a payment method is otherwise invalid, the member may be notified by email or phone by an ISSSP representative. In the event of a declined card, the transaction will be cancelled.
6.0 Cancellation and Refund Policy
We will provide a refund within 10 days of purchase, if your account and/or the resources have not been accessed during that time. After 10 days, membership can be cancelled, but all membership dues will be forfeited no refund will be issued, because of the valuable nature of the ISSSP resource material. You will continue to have access to your account for the full year, unless you want your account deleted. Cancellations by ISSSP: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your membership for any reason, with or without notice and without further obligation. You will not be entitled to a refund in these circumstances. We reserve the right to issue refunds or credits at our sole discretion.
7.0 Compliance with CAN-SPAM Act
Whether a ISSSP member or not, you agree to abide by the CAN-SPAM Act (15 U.S.C. §§7701-13) when utilizing the Site and contacting other users by email. User may not use the Site to bombard individuals or groups with uninvited commercial email, sexually explicit commercial email or engage in other activities in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act, such as, but not limited to: (a) harvesting email addresses from the Site; (b) falsifying or using misleading header information; or (c) using deceptive subject lines. You may not promote your or other’s products or services through uninvited commercial emails or any other means without the express written consent of ISSSP.
ISSSP will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages of any kind resulting from your failure to adhere to the CAN-SPAM Act or any other applicable laws.
8.0 Links to Non-ISSSP Websites
The Site may contain links to non-ISSSP websites, which in turn may contain material that has been produced by third parties not affiliated with us. We have no control over those other websites and accept no responsibility or liability for information or content provided on such websites. ISSSP is not responsible for damages allegedly caused by information or materials contained on non-ISSSP websites.
9.0 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER ISSSP ITS LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS, PARTNERS, AFFILIATES NOR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS SHALL BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF DAMAGES IN ANY MANNER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONTRACT, OR YOUR USE OF THE SITE, REGARDLESS IF CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF ISSSP OR OTHERS AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, THE BASIS OF THE CLAIM, OR WHETHER OR NOT ISSSP HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES BEYOND THE MONETARY AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE SERVICES.
IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE ANY DISPUTE WITH ONE OR MORE THIRD PARTIES AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THE SITE OR THE SERVICES, OR ARE IN ANY WAY DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF ANY THIRD PARTY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, YOU HEREBY RELEASE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE OR OTHERWISE MAKE A CLAIM, DEMAND OR FILE ANY LEGAL ACTION OR INSTITUTE ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST US, OUR AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, REPRESENTATIVES AND SUPPLIERS FROM, FOR ANY CLAIMS, ACTIONS, DEMANDS OR DAMAGES (WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL), OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR NOT, DISCLOSED OR UNDISCLOSED.
10.0 Modification of Terms and Conditions
ISSSP reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions of the Contract by posting the modified terms and conditions on this Site. It is your responsibility to periodically review the Site, and this Contract for revisions. Revisions to terms and conditions on this Site become effective immediately upon posting (the “Effective Date”). If any revisions are not acceptable to you, you must stop using the Services. Your use of the Services after the Effective Date shall constitute your acceptance of such changes. If we make any new products or services available, they will be considered a part of the Services and your use of them will be governed by the terms and conditions of this Contract. You must also comply with any additional terms which apply to third-party content, material, information, software or other services.
Members may withdraw from the Contract without penalty if they do not accept any proposed modification and are entitled upon request to a pro-rata refund of membership fees based on the date of notification of ISSSP at membership@isssp.org of withdrawal from the Contract.
11.0 Third Parties and Assignability
A person or entity who is not party to these terms and agreement shall not have any rights by, through or under this Contract. This Contract, and your rights, obligations, claims or causes of actions arising thereunder may not be assigned or transferred to any third-party without our express written consent.
12.0 Privacy Policy
Our Privacy Policy is part of and subject to these Terms & Conditions and is available here.
13.0 Ownership and Use of ISSSP Intellectual Property
“ISSSP Intellectual Property” refers to all text, graphics, images, trademarks, logos, button icons, programs, software and other data, content, information and materials, tangible and intangible, and all intellectual property rights in and to the same which are owned by ISSSP or licensed to ISSSP by third parties. This includes but is not limited to ISSSP Content and Trademarks.
ISSSP Intellectual Property is owned by ISSSP or licensed to us by our third-party partners. You have no rights in or to such ISSSP Intellectual Property and you agree you will not copy, retransmit, reproduce, publish, create derivative works based upon or otherwise transmit any ISSSP Intellectual Property except as specifically permitted under this Contract or other agreements between ISSSP and you.
13.1 ISSSP Content
“ISSSP Content” refers to all copyrighted content owned by ISSSP or other copyrighted content owned by third-party partners of ISSSP.
As a courtesy to our customers and members, we have posted to the Site certain ISSSP Content. Unless specifically stated otherwise on the Site, or we give you written permission, you shall not use and/or access, download and/or copy any ISSSP Content.
13.2 ISSSP Trademarks
“ISSSP Trademark(s) or Mark(s)” refers to all trademarks and service marks owned by ISSSP as defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1127 and/or common law.
The ISSSP Trademarks appearing on this Site may not be used in any advertising or publicity or otherwise to indicate ISSSP’s sponsorship of or affiliation with any of your products or services without ISSSP’s prior express written permission or as granted by specific terms and conditions of other documents defining a relationship between ISSSP and you. You are prohibited from using ISSSP Marks or any names, marks or other materials in a manner that is likely to cause confusion or dilute or damage the reputation or image of ISSSP. You agree you will not alter any ISSSP Mark in any manner to make it appear that ISSSP is endorsing, sponsoring, authorizing or affiliated with you, your company, or any third party, except as expressly permitted in writing by ISSSP.
14.0 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue, Attorney’s Fees and Expenses
Use of this Site and this Contract shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, USA, notwithstanding any conflict-of-law provisions to the contrary. Additionally, Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995, UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods and the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) will not apply to this Agreement. Exclusive venue for any dispute, claim or lawsuit shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction in Travis County, Texas.
If any court of competent jurisdiction decides that any of the provisions of this Contract are invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable to any extent, the terms and conditions will, to that extent only, be severed from the remaining terms, which will continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by the law.
If any proceeding or action shall be brought to recover any amount under this Contract, or for or on account of any breach hereof, or to enforce or interpret any of the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Contract, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party, as part of the prevailing party’s costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, the amount of which shall be fixed by the court and shall be made a part of any award or judgment rendered.
15.0 Information Collection and Use:
ISSSP collects registration, circulation qualification, and other information (including e-mail addresses) that you provide to us. This is done to help us provide our customers with the best customer service and valuable information regarding relevant products and services from ISSSP.
16.0 Information Sharing and Disclosure:
Data may be used to update and improve our publications; as well as inform you of important industry news, events, services, and/or products. Occasionally, we may release the data that you provide to third parties that wish to market products/services that may be of interest to you. We do not sell your information. Subscribers may expect to receive no more than four special offers or promotions concerning products or services in their industry by email per month by any third party.
We have procedures in place to safeguard and help prevent unauthorized access, data security, and correct use of the information we collect on-line. We will not sell, share, or rent any financial information collected from you, except as necessary to fulfill your order.
17.0 Agreement to Terms & Conditions
Your use of the ISSSP website through browsing, registering for membership, contacting us, submitting ideas for webinars, or otherwise providing information is your agreement to all Terms & Conditions and the Privacy Policy. You agree to accept emails and/or phone calls regarding questions, services, or other marketing information, when you provide that information through the ISSSP website.
18.0 Questions, Comments and Concerns
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about your subscription please contact ISSSP at membership@isssp.org.
