Professor Policy

1. Introduction

ProfMatch respects the rights and privacy of professors. This Professor Policy explains how we collect, use, and manage professor information, as well as the rights professors have regarding their data on our platform.

2. Sources of Professor Information

2.1 Public Sources Only

All professor information on ProfMatch is collected from publicly available sources, including:

• University Official Websites: Faculty directories, department pages, research group pages
• Academic Databases: Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ORCID, university research portals
• Academic Publications: Published papers, conference proceedings, research articles

2.2 Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information about professors:

• ✅ Name
• ✅ University and Department
• ✅ Academic Title (Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, etc.)
• ✅ Research Fields and Interests
• ✅ Selected Publications (titles and links to public sources)

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect or display:

• ❌ Personal contact information (email addresses, phone numbers)
• ❌ Home addresses or personal addresses
• ❌ Photos or images (unless publicly available and with proper attribution)
• ❌ Private social media accounts
• ❌ Any information not publicly available

3. How Professor Information is Used

3.1 Academic Matching

Professor information is used to help students discover research opportunities by matching students' academic interests with professors' research fields.

3.2 No Direct Contact

Important: ProfMatch does not provide direct contact information or facilitate direct communication between students and professors through the platform.

Students are expected to find and use official university contact channels to reach out to professors.

3.3 No Endorsement

The inclusion of a professor's information on ProfMatch does not constitute an endorsement by the professor or their institution. Professors have not necessarily approved or authorized their inclusion on the platform.

4. Professor Rights

4.1 Right to Opt-Out

Professors have the absolute right to request removal of their information from ProfMatch at any time, for any reason.

To request removal, please contact us at: [email protected]

We will process opt-out requests within 7 business days and confirm removal via email.

4.2 Right to Correction

If you are a professor and notice inaccurate or outdated information about yourself on ProfMatch, you have the right to request corrections.

To request corrections, please contact us at: [email protected]

Please provide:

• Your name and university affiliation
• The specific information that needs correction
• The correct information (with source, if possible)

4.3 Right to Update

Professors can request updates to their research interests, publications, or other professional information.

To request updates, please contact us at: [email protected]

5. Data Accuracy and Updates

5.1 Regular Updates

We strive to keep professor information accurate and up-to-date by:

• Periodically reviewing and updating professor profiles
• Removing professors who are no longer active in research
• Updating research interests based on recent publications

5.2 Reporting Inaccuracies

Students and other users can report inaccurate professor information through the app:

Profile → Legal & Support → Report Inaccurate Information

6. Compliance with Academic Norms

6.1 Respect for Academic Freedom

ProfMatch respects academic freedom and does not make judgments about professors' research quality, methodologies, or findings.

6.2 No Rankings or Ratings

ProfMatch does not rank or rate professors. The platform is designed solely for academic matching based on research interests.

6.3 Ethical Use

We encourage students to use professor information ethically and professionally:

• ✅ Use information to identify potential research mentors
• ✅ Respect professors' time and expertise
• ✅ Follow proper academic etiquette when reaching out
• ❌ Do not spam or harass professors
• ❌ Do not use information for commercial purposes

7. Legal Basis

7.1 Legitimate Interest

Our processing of publicly available professor information is based on legitimate interest in:

• Facilitating academic connections and research opportunities
• Supporting students in their academic and career development
• Promoting transparency in academic research

7.2 Fair Use

Our use of professor information constitutes fair use under applicable copyright and data protection laws, as:

• Information is publicly available
• Use is non-commercial and educational
• We provide proper attribution to sources
• We respect opt-out requests

8. Contact Information

For professor-related inquiries, please use the following contacts:

• Opt-Out Requests: [email protected]
• Corrections: [email protected]
• Updates: [email protected]
• General Inquiries: [email protected]

Response Time: We aim to respond to all professor inquiries within 3-5 business days.

9. Changes to Professor Policy

We may update this Professor Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated through:

• Email notifications to professors who have contacted us
• Updates on our website

The updated policy will take effect 30 days after publication.