Legal
Terms of Use
Effective July 14, 2026. These Terms govern access to and use of the RUET Alumni Association, USA website, accounts, content, and online services.
Acceptance and eligibility
These Terms of Use form an agreement between you and RUETIAN USA and apply to the website and related online services (the “Services”). By accessing the Services, creating an account, or submitting a registration or payment proof, you agree to these Terms and the Privacy Policy. You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter this agreement. If you use the Services for another person or organization, you represent that you have authority to do so.
Accounts and account security
You must provide accurate, current information and keep eligible account information updated. You are responsible for safeguarding your password and session, for activity performed through your account, and for promptly reporting suspected unauthorized access. You may not share an account, impersonate another person, create deceptive identities, or attempt to obtain elevated permissions. RUETIAN USA may require email verification, identity or alumni verification, or additional information before providing account, member, chapter, payment, or event functions.
Acceptable use
You may use the Services only for lawful RUETIAN USA community, membership, event, learning, and organizational purposes. You may not interfere with operation or security; probe or bypass access controls; scrape or harvest information without written permission; upload malware or unlawful, infringing, deceptive, harassing, or harmful material; misuse contact or communication tools; submit false payment proof; reverse engineer restricted portions; or use another person’s data without authority. Automated access requires prior written approval.
Content and intellectual property
The Services and their organization, design, text, graphics, logos, software, and original content are owned by RUETIAN USA or used with permission and are protected by applicable law. RUET and third-party names, marks, and materials remain the property of their respective owners. You receive a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access the Services for their intended personal or authorized organizational use. No other license is granted.
User submissions
You retain ownership of material you lawfully submit. You represent that you have the rights and permissions needed to submit it and that it does not violate law or another person’s rights. You grant RUETIAN USA a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, format, display, and distribute the submission only as reasonably necessary to operate, administer, archive, and promote the Services and RUETIAN USA activities. Private payment proof and account records are not licensed for promotional use. We may remove or restrict material that violates these Terms or organizational policy.
Electronic communications
You agree that RUETIAN USA may send required account, security, membership, payment, registration, waitlist, and service communications. Optional announcements and newsletters are controlled through available preferences and unsubscribe mechanisms. You are responsible for maintaining a working email address. Electronic notices satisfy any requirement that a communication be in writing to the extent permitted by law.
Membership and events
Membership is governed additionally by the Membership Terms, which are incorporated into these Terms. Event descriptions, eligibility, capacity, schedules, locations, speakers, access links, and benefits may change. Registration does not guarantee admission if requirements are not met, capacity changes, payment is not approved, or an event is modified or cancelled. Virtual access may be restricted to confirmed registrants and may not be shared. RUETIAN USA may establish reasonable event and community conduct rules.
Payments, cancellations, and no-refund rule
Zelle is the only website-supported payment method for paid membership and events. The website calculates an order total, but you separately authorize the transfer through your financial institution. A submitted transaction ID or proof does not confirm payment or activate a membership or paid registration; authorized RUETIAN USA personnel must approve it. Membership dues and paid event fees are final and non-refundable, except where a refund is required by applicable law or expressly authorized in writing by RUETIAN USA. Cancellation, nonattendance, account deletion, suspension, benefit nonuse, payment-proof rejection, or a mistaken transfer does not create an automatic refund. Contact info@ruetianusa.org promptly about a duplicate or incorrect transfer.
Zelle disclosure
Zelle is a third-party payment network offered through participating financial institutions. RUETIAN USA is not Zelle or Early Warning Services, LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Zelle does not offer purchase protection for authorized payments, and a payment generally cannot be cancelled after it is sent to an enrolled recipient. Before sending, verify the displayed RUETIAN USA recipient and exact amount. Your financial institution’s and Zelle’s terms, fees, limits, error-resolution rights, and privacy practices apply independently.
Suspension and termination
RUETIAN USA may investigate suspected misuse and may limit, suspend, or terminate access, membership privileges, content, registrations, or administrative permissions for violations of these Terms, nonpayment, safety or security concerns, legal requirements, or conduct harmful to the organization or community. Where practical, we may provide notice or an opportunity to respond, but immediate action may be taken when reasonably necessary. Account deletion and termination do not eliminate provisions or records that by their nature should survive.
Third-party services and links
The Services may use or link to independent providers and websites, including Google, Zelle, financial institutions, email providers, meeting platforms, and external resources. RUETIAN USA does not control and is not responsible for their content, availability, security, terms, or practices. A link or integration does not imply endorsement. Your use of a third-party service is governed by its own agreement.
Disclaimers
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Services are provided “as is” and “as available.” RUETIAN USA disclaims implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, and uninterrupted or error-free operation. We do not guarantee employment, professional, immigration, financial, tax, legal, educational, networking, or other outcomes; uninterrupted access; the accuracy of member or third-party submissions; or that every defect or security risk will be eliminated. Nothing in the Services is professional advice.
Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, RUETIAN USA and its officers, committee members, chapter leaders, volunteers, agents, and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, lost profits, lost data, loss of goodwill, or business interruption arising from the Services. Their total aggregate liability for a claim will not exceed the greater of 100 U.S. dollars or the amount you paid through the Services during the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim. These limits do not apply where liability cannot lawfully be limited.
Indemnification
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless RUETIAN USA and its officers, committee members, chapter leaders, volunteers, and agents from third-party claims, damages, judgments, costs, and reasonable legal fees arising from your unlawful use of the Services, your material breach of these Terms, or content you submit, except to the extent caused by the indemnified party’s own unlawful conduct.
Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by applicable United States federal law and, to the extent state law applies, the law of the state in which RUETIAN USA is legally organized, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Before filing a claim, you and RUETIAN USA agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve it by written notice and informal discussion for at least 30 days, unless urgent injunctive relief is reasonably necessary. Any court proceeding must be brought in a court with lawful subject-matter and personal jurisdiction. Nothing here waives a right that cannot lawfully be waived.
Changes and general terms
We may update these Terms for changes in the Services, organizational rules, or law. The posted version will identify its effective date, and material changes will receive additional notice where required. If a provision is unenforceable, it will be limited to the minimum extent necessary and the remainder will continue. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign this agreement without written consent; RUETIAN USA may assign it in connection with an organizational restructuring or lawful transfer. These Terms, the Privacy Policy, Membership Terms when applicable, and posted transaction terms form the complete online-services agreement.
Contact
Questions about these Terms may be sent to info@ruetianusa.org with “Terms Question” in the subject line. Do not send passwords, banking credentials, or unnecessary sensitive information by email.