Legal, privacy
and community safety.

01 · TERMS OF USE

Agreement and eligibility

These Terms govern access to the Minuteman Board beta. By creating an account or using the service, you agree to these Terms and the Privacy Notice. You must be at least 18 years old, use an email address you are authorized to access, and provide accurate account information.

Marketplace role

Minuteman Board provides technology that lets users post, discuss, and arrange tasks. It is not a party to agreements between users and does not employ, supervise, direct, insure, screen, or guarantee users. Users decide whether, how, where, and on what terms a task is performed.

User responsibilities

• Assess tasks, locations, people, skills, equipment, and risks independently.
• Communicate honestly and perform accepted commitments lawfully and safely.
• Protect login credentials and promptly report suspected misuse.
• Obtain any licenses, permits, insurance, or approvals required for a task.
• Respect applicable university rules, property rules, and local, state, and federal law.

No warranties

The beta is provided “as is” and “as available.” To the maximum extent permitted by law, the operator disclaims implied warranties and does not guarantee user identity beyond email control, task quality, payment, safety, availability, accuracy, or uninterrupted service.

Limitation and suspension

To the extent permitted by law, the operator is not responsible for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from user interactions or tasks. Accounts or content may be restricted or removed to protect users, enforce these rules, or comply with law. Nothing here limits rights that cannot legally be waived.

02 · PRIVACY NOTICE

Information we handle

The beta collects account information such as UMass email address, first name, optional profile fields, verification and Terms-acceptance timestamps, task posts, requests, messages, reports, task status, session identifiers, and basic security or diagnostic information generated when the service is used.

How information is used

• Verify eligibility, authenticate users, and secure accounts.
• Display profiles and tasks and deliver requested marketplace functions.
• Provide private task conversations and assignment records.
• Prevent abuse, investigate reports, enforce rules, and improve reliability.
• Comply with lawful requests and protect users or the service.

Visibility and disclosure

Task posts and limited profile information are visible to eligible users. Messages are limited to relevant task participants and may be reviewed when reported or when reasonably necessary for safety, support, or legal compliance. The operator does not continuously monitor private messages; moderator access to report-linked threads is logged. Information is not sold. It may be disclosed to infrastructure and email providers that support the service, in a business transfer, with consent, or when required by law.

Cookies, retention, and security

A secure session cookie keeps users signed in. Records are retained while needed to operate the beta, resolve disputes, address abuse, and meet legal obligations. Reasonable safeguards are used, but no internet service can guarantee absolute security. Do not post sensitive personal, financial, medical, or government-identification information.

Your choices

Users can edit optional profile information and sign out. For access, correction, deletion, or privacy questions during the private beta, submit an in-app report labeled “Privacy request.” A dedicated privacy contact will be added before public launch.

03 · SAFETY GUIDELINES

Use judgment before meeting

• Keep early communication on the platform and avoid sharing unnecessary personal information.
• Meet in a public or campus location when possible and tell someone where you are going.
• Do not enter a residence, vehicle, isolated location, or hazardous area if uncomfortable.
• Confirm the task, reward, schedule, transportation, materials, and cancellation expectations in writing.
• Stop immediately if conditions differ materially from the post or feel unsafe.
• For emergencies, contact 911 or campus emergency services; an in-app report is not an emergency channel.

Verification confirms access to an email inbox, not identity, background, qualifications, insurance, or trustworthiness.

Message reports may include the related conversation so the operator can understand context. Reports and feedback are reviewed as capacity permits and are not emergency or real-time support channels.

04 · PROHIBITED TASKS

Tasks that cannot be posted or accepted

• Illegal activity, controlled substances, marijuana, alcohol purchasing or delivery, tobacco or vaping products, weapons, stolen goods, or fake identification.
• Academic cheating, impersonation, taking an exam, or completing graded work for another person.
• Sexual services, exploitation, harassment, discrimination, threats, stalking, or invasions of privacy.
• Unauthorized access to buildings, accounts, devices, records, or restricted areas.
• Dangerous stunts, violence, self-harm, hazing, or work requiring unprovided protective equipment.
• Professional medical, legal, financial, childcare, security, or other regulated services without required qualifications and approvals.
• Transporting people for payment, handling highly sensitive data, or any task the operator determines creates unreasonable risk.

Listings may be removed and accounts suspended. Serious conduct may be reported to appropriate authorities.

05 · PAYMENTS & TAXES

Users arrange rewards directly

The beta does not currently process, hold, guarantee, refund, or arbitrate payments. Users are responsible for agreeing on compensation and maintaining their own records. A posted reward is an agreement between users, not a promise by Minuteman Board.

Dispute policy

If a user believes an agreed reward was not paid, a payment was improper, or a task was materially misrepresented, they may submit an in-app report with the task and conversation details. Minuteman Board may review available platform records, warn or suspend an account, remove listings, or restrict future use when it reasonably determines that a user acted dishonestly or violated these Terms.

Minuteman Board is not a payment processor, collection agency, court, or arbitrator. It cannot withdraw funds, reverse a transfer, issue a refund, collect a debt, compel payment, determine legal liability, or guarantee that either user receives the expected reward or service. Users remain responsible for resolving payment disputes directly or through the payment service or lawful remedies available to them.

Users are responsible for determining and meeting applicable tax, licensing, insurance, and reporting obligations. Marketplace or gig income may be taxable even when paid in cash, goods, or another form.

Advertising

Any future paid placement or sponsored content will be labeled clearly as an advertisement or sponsorship. Sponsors will not control organic ratings or user reports.

06 · CONTACT & CHANGES

Questions and policy updates

During the private beta, submit questions, safety concerns, appeals, or privacy requests through the in-app reporting function and identify the request type. A dedicated support and legal email will be published before public launch. Material policy changes will be dated and, when appropriate, presented for renewed acceptance.