Terms of Service for Foundry Writing & Pre-College Services
Welcome to Foundry Writing & Pre-College Services (“Foundry,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By using our services, you agree to these Terms of Service (“Terms”), our Privacy Policy, and any additional terms applicable to specific services. Please read these Terms carefully.
1. Scope of Services
Foundry provides tutoring, mentoring, and consulting services in writing, college admissions, and pre-college preparation (the “Services”). Our Services are designed to guide students in their academic and personal growth, helping them strengthen their writing, personal branding, and college application strategies.
2. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using our Services, you accept and agree to these Terms. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must agree to these Terms on your behalf and shall be considered the contracting party responsible for all obligations under these Terms, including payment. If you disagree with any part of these Terms, you should refrain from using our Services.
3. Academic Integrity and Use of AI Tools
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to write for you in any academic context, including college applications, is considered academic misconduct by many institutions.
Foundry’s mission is to teach students how to write, which has long-term cognitive benefits beyond producing a finished piece.
Permitted AI use: Students may use AI tools for brainstorming, gathering research, finding synonyms, seeking isolated translation help, or clarifying questions.
Prohibited AI use: Any use of AI that replaces a student’s own authorship is prohibited. Students should understand that AI-generated writing is typically easy for experienced professionals and admissions officers to detect.
Detection: Foundry may, at its discretion, screen student work using the best available AI-detection tools, including but not limited to Pangram, and may consider detection results together with our professional judgment and knowledge of a student’s writing when assessing authorship.
Consequences: Students found using AI to write on their behalf may be dropped from our program, and prepaid sessions may be forfeited in accordance with Section 12.
Student Representation: Students represent that all work submitted to Foundry and to any institution reflects their own authorship. Students remain solely responsible for compliance with the academic integrity policies of any institution to which they apply or in which they are enrolled.
4. User Responsibilities and Conduct
Accurate Information: Students and families agree to provide accurate and up-to-date information needed for scheduling and instruction, and to update it as necessary.
Compliance: You agree to comply with all applicable laws and refrain from using our Services for unlawful purposes.
Respect and Engagement: Foundry maintains a supportive and respectful environment. Disruptive, disrespectful, or dishonest behavior may result in termination of services in accordance with Section 12.
5. Exclusivity of Writing Coaching
Students may not retain multiple ongoing writing coaches for the same essay. Conflicting feedback disrupts the learning process and undermines results.
Students may:
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Work with a separate counselor for strategy or overall planning.
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Work with other coaches on entirely separate essays.
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Seek one-time, isolated feedback from others.
Students who maintain simultaneous coaches on the same essay may be dropped from our program in accordance with Section 12.
6. Payment and Refund Policy
Fees: Service fees are outlined in our service agreements or communicated during consultations. All fees are payable in full before service delivery unless otherwise agreed upon.
Payment Processing: Payments are processed through secure third-party providers, and you agree to their terms of service as applicable.
Refunds: All payments are final. At Foundry’s sole discretion, unused sessions may be converted to credit toward future services.
Session Credit: Any credit issued for unused sessions is valid for ninety (90) days from the date of issuance, after which it expires and is forfeited without refund. Use of credit is subject to instructor and scheduling availability as determined solely by Foundry, and issuance of credit does not guarantee that sessions can be scheduled at any particular time, frequency, or with any particular instructor. Credit has no cash value, is non-transferable, and may not be redeemed for a refund. Foundry may, at its discretion and in writing, extend a credit’s validity period; no extension is implied by past practice.
7. Cancellation and Rescheduling
Client-Initiated Cancellations: Cancellations must be requested at least 24 hours before the scheduled session, measured by the time zone in which the session is scheduled to occur. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before a session may be subject to a late cancellation fee or forfeiture of the session.
Rescheduling: Sessions may be rescheduled at no charge with at least 24 hours’ notice, subject to availability.
Foundry-Initiated Cancellations: Foundry reserves the right to cancel or reschedule sessions as needed. In such cases, we will make every effort to provide alternative arrangements, including rescheduling or issuing credit for the affected session.
8. Service Limitations and Guarantees
Educational Guidance: Foundry offers guidance and support; however, acceptance to specific schools or outcomes cannot be guaranteed. All guidance is advisory in nature, and no statement by Foundry or its instructors shall be construed as a promise or guarantee of any admissions result.
No Academic Misconduct: Our Services are intended to foster skills and self-expression. We do not write applications or assignments for students. Students represent that all work submitted to Foundry and to any institution reflects their own authorship. Students remain solely responsible for compliance with the academic integrity policies of any institution to which they apply or in which they are enrolled.
9. Confidentiality and Privacy
Personal Information: Your information is used in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will not share your information without your consent.
Confidentiality of Sessions: We treat all student information and sessions as confidential. However, legal obligations may require us to disclose certain information.
10. Intellectual Property Rights
Foundry Materials: Materials provided during tutoring sessions, including but not limited to handouts, feedback, and proprietary methodologies, are the property of Foundry and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used outside the context of our Services without written permission.
Student Work: Students retain ownership of their own writing and creative work.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Foundry Writing & Pre-College Services, its owners, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages arising from or related to the use of our Services, including loss of opportunity, income, reputation, or academic standing, college application outcomes (such as rejection or deferral), accusations of plagiarism or academic misconduct, emotional distress, or any other similar claims, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Foundry’s total aggregate liability for any claim arising from the Services exceed the total fees paid by the client to Foundry in the six (6) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law. All guidance and support provided are for informational purposes only, and users assume responsibility for actions taken based on our Services.
12. Termination
Either party may terminate the service agreement with reasonable notice. In the event of termination, all outstanding fees will become immediately due. If Foundry terminates services without cause, any unused prepaid sessions will be converted to credit under Section 4 or, at Foundry’s discretion, refunded on a pro rata basis. If Foundry terminates services for cause — including academic misconduct, dishonesty, or violation of these Terms — prepaid sessions may be forfeited.
13. Dispute Resolution
Before initiating any legal proceeding, the parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute informally by providing written notice describing the dispute and allowing thirty (30) days for resolution. Any legal action arising from these Terms or the Services shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in King County, Washington, and each party consents to the jurisdiction of such courts. In any action to enforce these Terms, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
14. Changes to Terms
Foundry reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes, and continued use of the Services after such notice constitutes acceptance of any updates. We recommend reviewing these Terms regularly.
15. Severability; Entire Agreement
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any written service agreements, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede any prior oral or written statements. Sections 4, 8, 9, and 11 survive termination of the Services. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and any translation of these Terms, the English version controls.
16. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Washington State, USA.
17. Contact Information
For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact us at team [at] foundrywriting [dot] com