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Compliant Privacy Policy and SMS Terms & Conditions

University of Houston, Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) research labs privacy policies and SMS terms and Conditions.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 03/20/2025

This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use, and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.

We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

University of Houston, Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) research labs maintains strict privacy policies, ensuring that personal information and mobile information of our users and members is not sold, shared, rented, released, or traded to third parties for marketing/promotional purposes.

SMS Opt-Out: If you are receiving text messages from us and wish to stop receiving them, simply respond with either “STOP” to the number from which you received the message. Once we receive your message, you will no longer receive further text messages from us.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using Our Service, We may ask You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

  • First and last name, phone number, email
  • Our research team collects personally identifiable information (PII) through MessageDesk in the following ways:
  • Survey Links: We send participants a Qualtrics survey link via MessageDesk, where they may voluntarily provide their name, phone number, and/or email as part of the study.
  • Direct Participant Communication: When participants respond to messages, their phone number is automatically recorded within MessageDesk. If they provide additional identifying details (such as confirming their name or email), this information may be stored for research-related communication.

Use of Your Personal Data

HHP research labs may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

  • To provide study related information to you and maintain research related communication with you.

Retention of Your Personal Data

HHP research labs will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use Your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

Security of Your Personal Data

  • We protect participant data by storing it in password-protected databases accessible only to authorized research staff. However, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update Our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let You know via email and/or a prominent notice on Our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “Last updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us:

SMS Terms and Conditions

  1. University of Houston, Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) research labs
  2. Types of messages you may receive include:
    1. Survey Links & Reminders: Invitations to complete study-related Qualtrics surveys and follow-up reminders.
    2. Study Updates: Important notifications about the research, such as progress updates or next steps.
    3. Participation Confirmation & Follow-Ups: Messages confirming participation, answering questions, or providing additional instructions.
  3. You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Simply text "STOP" to the number provided. Upon sending "STOP," we will confirm your unsubscribe status via SMS. Following this confirmation, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. To rejoin, sign up as you did initially, and we will resume sending SMS messages to you.
  4. If you experience issues with the messaging program, reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance, or reach out directly to chplab@cougarnet.uh.edu.
  5. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
  6. As always, message and data rates may apply for messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency varies. For questions about your text plan or data plan, contact your wireless provider.