Use of Information:

Unless specifically stated otherwise, all information hosted on the ED website at http://www.ed.gov is in the public domain, and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without ED's permission. While Think College makes every effort to keep all data at this site accurate and up-to-date, the content provided does not supersede official documents published by the Department of Education and GPO.

This statement does not pertain to information at web sites other than www.ed.gov, whether funded by ED or not. Material obtained or derived from external web sites cannot be used as a substitute for official U.S. Department of Education program information, data, directives, and analyses. Users agree that all access and use of information on externally linked pages are at the user's own risk.

Linking Policy:

Think College includes many external links to other educational sites of possible interest to learners of all ages, educators, and parent. The U.S. Department of Education has established this policy to clarify the guidelines by which an external website may be linked to the Think College website. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes that helping students reach their educational goals beyond high school requires the collaborative energy of its partners, stakeholders, and other supportive parties. It is therefore appropriate for the Think College website to use the Internet to link to external web sites as a public service to our customers. Although the Department tries to identify and link only with relevant sites, it does not endorse or approve any material on those sites.

The Think College website's mission is to help students of all ages and their parents (or legal guardian) plan and prepare for education beyond high school. Its purposes include disseminating information and serving as a clearinghouse for resources. Consideration for linking will be extended to all parties supporting these goals and the mission of the Department to Ensure Equal Access to Education and Promote Educational Excellence Throughout the Nation.

The primary criteria for linking are the relevance and usefulness of the site to the Think College initiative. External web site design must also be technically sound, user-friendly, and not duplicative of the overall Think College document collection. The Department cannot endorse or appear to endorse any enterprise, product, or service. As a result, ED's Office of General Counsel reserves the right to deny or remove links if it is determined that a group's web site is primarily commercial in nature (i.e., advertising a product, charging a usage fee, soliciting user information, etc.), or if there is any indication of misleading or unsubstantiated claims. The sponsor's record with consumer protection groups may be grounds for denial of linking to the Think College website. The Think College website may not directly link to order forms or other forms of direct solicitation.

All external links must be clearly identified as Non-U.S. Department of Education web sites. The Think College website will contain the following disclaimer, appearing prominently in the first frame containing external links, and elsewhere throughout the website.

Disclaimer:

Non-U.S. Department of Education web sites are linked as a public service only. These web sites are provided as a tool to help visitors explore the wide range of options and information available, and to help them make informed choices about how to prepare for and pursue postsecondary education opportunities. As such, the organization, services, advice, or products are not endorsed or guaranteed in any way by the U.S. Department of Education and are entirely the responsibility of the webmaster of the site visited.