Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 19, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how SHPE MAES UTEP ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, stores, and protects information through the SHPE MAES UTEP mobile application (the "App").

Information We Collect

When you create and use an account, we may collect:

• Full name
• Personal email address
• Username and unique account identifier
• Email-verification status
• Chapter membership status and account role
• Membership approval information, including when an account was approved and the account identifier of the approving officer
• Game scores and leaderboard initials or username

We do not store your readable password in our member database. Password authentication, verification emails, password resets, and authentication sessions are handled by Firebase Authentication, a service provided by Google.

The App may also store saved-event selections and event-reminder identifiers locally on your device. These local preferences are not stored in your SHPE MAES member profile in Cloud Firestore.

How We Collect Information

Information is collected when you:

• Create an account, verify your email, sign in, or request a password reset
• Are confirmed as a member by a chapter officer
• Play the in-app game or submit a leaderboard score
• Save an event or schedule a local reminder
• Contact us for support

How We Use Information

We use information to:

• Create, authenticate, and recover accounts
• Reserve unique usernames and distinguish users
• Confirm chapter membership and provide member-only features
• Display and operate the game leaderboard
• Provide saved-event and reminder functionality
• Protect accounts, prevent unauthorized access, and troubleshoot the App
• Respond to account, privacy, and support requests

We do not use personal information for third-party advertising or cross-app tracking.

Third-Party Services

We use Firebase and Google Cloud services for authentication and database functionality. These providers may process account and technical information necessary to operate, secure, and prevent abuse of their services, such as email addresses, passwords, IP addresses, user-agent information, and authentication tokens.

Information may be processed or stored in the United States or other locations where Google and its service providers operate. Google generally acts as a service provider or data processor for Firebase customer data. For more information, see Firebase Privacy and Security.

Password and Account Security

Passwords are submitted to Firebase Authentication and are not stored as readable text in our Cloud Firestore member records. Users should choose a unique password, protect access to their email and device, and notify us if they believe their account has been compromised.

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, but no internet or electronic-storage system can guarantee absolute security.

Notifications and Device Storage

If you enable notifications, the App may schedule event reminders on your device. Saved-event choices and reminder identifiers may be stored locally on that device. You can disable notifications through device settings. Removing the App may remove locally stored preferences and scheduled reminders.

Data Sharing

We do not sell or rent personal information. Information may be disclosed:

• To service providers such as Firebase and Google Cloud when necessary to operate and secure the App
• To authorized chapter officers when needed to verify membership and administer member features
• When required by law, legal process, or to protect users, the organization, or others

Chapter officers should access member information only for legitimate chapter administration.

Data Retention and Deletion

Account and membership information is retained while the account remains active or while reasonably necessary to provide App functionality. Game and leaderboard information may be retained to operate current or historical leaderboards.

If an account is deleted, we will delete or de-identify associated personal information unless retention is required by law or reasonably necessary for security, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or enforcement. Data may remain temporarily in service-provider backups before removal under the provider's retention practices.

Your Choices and Rights

You may:

• Review your account information in the App
• Request correction of account information
• Disable notifications through device settings
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Contact us with questions about your information

You may initiate permanent deletion of your account and associated data from the Account section of the App. For deletion assistance, contact us using the email below.

Children's Privacy

The App is intended for SHPE MAES UTEP members and participants and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Contact us if you believe such information has been provided.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the App changes. We will update the effective date and publish the revised policy on this page. Material changes may also be communicated through the App or another appropriate method.

Contact Us

For questions, corrections, privacy requests, or account-deletion assistance, contact:

Email: shpemaesutep@gmail.com