DRAFT — pending legal review, not legal advice.
This document is a starting template. It has not been reviewed by a licensed attorney and does not constitute legal advice. Do not rely on it for a signed agreement without qualified counsel review.
Last updated: 2026-09-20
These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) govern access to and use of the Vanguard SIM platform, the ten business simulations hosted at vanguardsim.com, and all related services (collectively, the “Service”), provided by Vanguard SIM (“Vanguard SIM,” “we,” “us”). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
Vanguard SIM provides online, LLM-assisted business simulations for use in accredited higher-education courses. Access is granted to institutions and their enrolled students for the duration of a course offering. The Service includes: hosted simulation environments, real-time scoring and analytics, an instructor dashboard, LTI 1.3 grade passback, and support materials.
To create an account you must be (a) at least eighteen (18) years of age and enrolled in a course at an accredited institution that has adopted the Service, or (b) an authorized IT administrator or instructor acting on behalf of such an institution. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized access.
You agree not to: (a) share account credentials with any other person; (b) attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service, to other users’ data, or to any underlying infrastructure; (c) reverse engineer, decompile, or scrape the Service except as expressly permitted by law; (d) upload malicious code, spam, defamatory content, or content that infringes any third party right; (e) use the Service to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any person; (f) use the Service to violate any applicable law or the academic-integrity policy of your institution; or (g) resell, sublicense, or make the Service available to any third party. Vanguard SIM may suspend or terminate access for any violation.
Platform and content. Vanguard SIM owns all right, title, and interest in and to the Service, including the simulation engine, simulation designs, scenarios, rubrics, analytics logic, source code, and all trademarks and branding. No ownership is transferred by these Terms. Users are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for the duration of their enrollment or subscription.
Student contributions. As between Vanguard SIM and the enrolling institution, the institution retains custody of and rights to student work product submitted within its course offering (submissions, response text, team artifacts). Vanguard SIM processes that content as a service provider on the institution’s behalf (see the Privacy Policy and Data Processing Agreement). Vanguard SIM may use de-identified, aggregated data to improve the Service.
Feedback. If you provide suggestions or feedback, you grant Vanguard SIM a perpetual, royalty-free license to use it without obligation.
Institutional licenses are invoiced under separate order forms. Individual seat pricing, where offered, is billed in advance and is non-refundable except as required by law. Fees exclude taxes, which are the payer’s responsibility.
Either party may terminate an institutional order for material breach on thirty (30) days’ written notice if the breach is not cured within that period. Vanguard SIM may suspend or terminate a user account immediately for a violation of Section 3 (Acceptable Use). Upon termination, the user’s right to access the Service ceases. Data retention and deletion after termination are governed by the Privacy Policy and Data Processing Agreement.
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, VANGUARD SIM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR TRADE USAGE. VANGUARD SIM DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, OR THAT AI-GENERATED OUTPUTS WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR SUITABLE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. AI OUTPUTS ARE PROBABILISTIC AND MUST BE INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATED BY THE USER OR INSTRUCTOR.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, VANGUARD SIM SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. VANGUARD SIM’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE USER TO VANGUARD SIM IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS ABOVE, IN WHICH CASE THEY APPLY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Vanguard SIM and its officers, employees, and contractors from any claim, demand, or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of your breach of these Terms or your misuse of the Service, except to the extent caused by Vanguard SIM’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Marion County, Indiana, for any action not subject to the arbitration provision below.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, before a single arbitrator seated in Marion County, Indiana. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Class-action waiver. You and Vanguard SIM agree that any dispute will be brought in an individual capacity only, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding. The arbitrator has no authority to consolidate more than one person’s claims or to preside over any class or representative proceeding.
Exceptions. Either party may bring an individual action in small-claims court, and either party may seek injunctive relief in court to protect intellectual property. Nothing in this section prevents an institution from negotiating separate dispute-resolution terms in a signed order form.
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be announced with at least thirty (30) days’ notice through the Service or by email. Continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Questions about these Terms should be sent to legal@vanguardsim.com.