Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Who we are

The Columbia University Africa Alumni Community (CU-AAC) is a volunteer-run alumni network. This website, cu-aac.org, exists to help members find and connect with one another. This policy explains what information we collect through the site, how we use it, and the choices you have. CU-AAC is an independent alumni community and is not operated by Columbia University.

Information we collect

Membership application. When you apply to join, we ask for your name, email address, Columbia school and class year, current location, country of origin, professional details (job title, company, industry, area of expertise), and a few short answers about your interests and what you hope to contribute. Some fields are optional, including your Columbia email, LinkedIn profile, and personal or business website.

Member profile. Once approved, you can add or edit profile details, including a photo, phone number, a short bio, and any businesses you own. You decide how much to share.

Account and sign-in. Sign-in is handled by Clerk, our authentication provider. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from your Google account. We never see your Google password.

Messages you send us. If you use the contact form or reply to an email from us, we keep that correspondence.

Usage data. Like most websites, we collect technical information such as pages visited, browser type, and approximate location derived from your IP address. See “Analytics” below.

How we use it

• To review membership applications and manage the community.
• To publish your profile in the members directory, which is visible only to signed-in members.
• To send transactional email: application updates, account invitations, and notices about the community and its programs.
• To let members share opportunities with one another through the members-only “Looking For” board.
• To keep the site secure and understand how it is used so we can improve it.

We do not sell your information, and we do not use it for advertising.

Who can see your information

Your profile is visible to other signed-in members. Nothing from your profile appears on the public pages of the site. Community administrators can see application and profile details in order to manage membership. Contact details are shared with other members only where you have chosen to include them in your profile.

Service providers

We rely on a small number of providers to run the site. Each processes data only as needed to provide its service to us:

• Vercel hosts the website and stores uploaded files such as profile photos.
• Clerk provides account creation, sign-in, and session management.
• Neon hosts the database that holds applications and member profiles.
• Resend delivers email on our behalf.
• Google, if you choose to sign in with your Google account.
• Vimeo hosts videos embedded on some member pages; Vimeo may set its own cookies when a video loads.

These providers are based in the United States, and your information is stored and processed there.

Analytics

We use Vercel Analytics and Vercel Speed Insights, which are privacy-focused and do not use cookies or track you across sites. We also use Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors use the site through aggregated heatmaps and session replays. Clarity is configured to mask text and form input, and we do not use it to identify individual members. You can learn more in the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Cookies

We use cookies that are necessary to keep you signed in and to protect the site against abuse. Analytics cookies are described above. You can block cookies in your browser, but you will not be able to sign in without the necessary ones.

Retention

We keep your application and profile for as long as you are a member. If your membership ends or you ask us to remove your profile, we delete it from the directory and keep a minimal record of the removal for administrative purposes. Applications that are not approved are retained so we can respond to follow-up questions, and are deleted on request.

Your choices

• You can edit your profile, including your photo and contact details, at any time from your profile page.
• You can ask us to correct, export, or delete your information by emailing us at the address below.
• You can revoke Google's access to your account at any time from your Google account settings.

Security

The site is served over HTTPS, passwords are never stored by us, and access to member data is limited to community administrators. No system is perfectly secure, so please contact us right away if you believe your account has been accessed without permission.

Children

The site is intended for Columbia alumni and is not directed to anyone under 18.

Changes to this policy

If we make material changes, we will update the date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify members by email.

Contact

Questions or requests about your information can be sent to info@cu-aa.org or through the contact page.