Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions govern the agreement between the Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University (“WMU”) and “You,” a registrant of WMU’s PBL for Higher Ed Conference (the “Conference”), and Your participation in the Conference. Read these Terms and Conditions carefully. By registering for the Conference, You agree to comply with and be legally bound by these Terms and Conditions (the “Agreement”). For purposes of this Agreement, “WMU” shall be understood to include WMU’s trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents.

The Conference is hosted and operated by WMU and facilitated in part by WMU’s contracted content provider, the Buck Institute for Education d/b/a PBLWorks (“PBLWorks”). The Conference and associated Events will take place in Kalamazoo, Michigan and be subject to the applicable Michigan and federal laws and statutes. Only registered participants will be admitted to the Conference and associated Events. Registration grants entry to the Conference and Events only. You are solely responsible for all associated costs (e.g., travel, lodging, etc.). WMU accepts no liability for those expenses.

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Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation by Registrant.  If You wish to cancel Your Conference Registration, You must notify WMU as early as possible by writing to wmux-teachlearn@wmich.edu, stating that You wish to cancel Your Registration.

• If Your cancellation is received by WMU on or before June 15, 2025, You will be eligible to receive a 50% refund of Your Registration fees.
• No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after June 15.
• Refunds will be processed in the original payment form, when possible.
• WMU does not issue credits toward future services, products, or events.

Cancellation, Postponement, or Modification by WMU.  WMU reserves the right to postpone and/or cancel all or part of the Conference for any reason. If the Conference is canceled for reasons other than force majeure (defined below), You will be entitled to a refund of Your registration fees. In the event of postponement, You will be automatically registered for the rescheduled Conference. WMU will not provide refunds for postponements. WMU further reserves the right to modify, in its sole discretion, any aspect of the Conference, including but not limited to the name, theme, content, speakers, program, schedule, or venue. You shall not be entitled to any refund or other recourse for such modification.

Termination by WMU.  WMU may terminate Your Conference registration, participation and/or access at any time if You violate these Terms.  You will not be eligible for a refund of Your registration fees.

Liability.  In the case of cancellation, postponement, or significant change to the Conference, WMU’s total liability to You is limited to the amount of registration fees You paid. WMU will make reasonable efforts to communicate Conference changes in a timely manner. WMU is not liable for Your travel, accommodation, or other Conference-related costs You may incur due to changes.

Force Majeure.  WMU will not be liable to You or deemed in default under this Agreement if any part of the Conference is prevented, delayed, interrupted, or cancelled due to force majeure events (e.g., natural disasters, war, governmental action, labor dispute, fire, pandemic, epidemic, or any other unexpected or disruptive event sufficient to excuse performance of Agreement as a matter of law). WMU will use best efforts to notify You of such events and to resume performance if and when practicable. In no event shall WMU be liable to You for any consequential damages arising from or incidental to force majeure events.

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Substitution Policies

Participant Substitution. To nominate someone to attend the Conference in Your stead, You may submit a “Participant Substitution Request” to WMU by emailing wmux-teachlearn@wmich.edu.

• Emailed Participant Substitution Request must be received by WMU on or before July 31, 2025. WMU has sole discretion whether to grant a Participant Substitution Request.
• After this date, substitutions may only be made day-of, on-site at the Conference, subject to Conference staff’s sole discretion.  Day-of / On-site Substitute Registrants must present to Conference Staff:
  • The original Registrant’s Conference Registration confirmation email.
  • A document signed by original Registrant transferring their Registration to Substitute Registrant
  • The Substitute Registrant’s Valid Photo ID (government-issued document containing a photograph and used for identification, such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card)
  • Proof that the Substitute Registrant has met all workshop prerequisites and/or completed assigned pre-work

Workshop Substitutions. To change which Conference Workshops You are registered for, You must submit a Workshop Substitution Request by emailing wmux-teachlearn@wmich.edu. Availability of Workshop Substitutions depends on workshop size and other factors. WMU has sole discretion whether to grant a Workshop Substitution Request.

• Emailed Workshop Substitution Request must be received by WMU on or before July 31, 2025.
• After July 31, 2025, substitutions may only be made day-of, on-site at the Conference, subject to WMU’s sole discretion.

No Re-Sale.  Conference Registrations may not be resold or transferred without prior written authorization by WMU Conference Staff. Unauthorized resale or transfer will result in invalidation of Your registration and denial of entry to Conference.

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Conference Rules and Regulations

These Rules and Regulations apply to all Conference participants (attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors). You also agree to comply with the rules of all venues where the Conference is held.

Conduct and safety.  WMU is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment to all Conference participants, including staff and vendors. WMU will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or bullying in any form at the Conference. WMU reserves the right to remove (without refund) any individual who disrupts or interferes with the experience of other Participants or engages in inappropriate or unprofessional behavior. If You witness or are subjected to unsafe or unacceptable behavior, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment, or bullying, report it to on-site Conference staff, or to WMU at wmux-teachlearn@wmich.edu.

Service Animals.  No animals will be permitted at the Conference, except registered Service Animals. Consistent with the law, WMU is committed to allowing individuals with disabilities to use Service Animals to facilitate their full-participation and equal access to the Conference. You agree to comply with WMU’s Animals on Campus Policy and relevant law.

Personal Property.  You are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for Your Conference-related travel, lodging, and attendance. You are solely responsible for Your personal belongings while attending the Conference. WMU disclaims and assumes no liability for any injury, loss, or damages You may incur, including lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Conference Materials.  Conference materials are provided for informational purposes only, with no guarantees of accuracy or completeness. Conference materials and content are the Intellectual Property of WMU and/or PBLWorks, each of whom is and shall remain the owner of all Intellectual Property it owns or controls as of the Conference Date or develops or acquires thereafter. WMU’s website and related Conference materials may include information from third-parties and/or links to third-party services. WMU is not responsible for external sites' content or privacy practices.

Disclaimer.  The views expressed by any Conference attendee, speaker, exhibitor, or sponsor are their own views and not necessarily those of WMU. Attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors are solely responsible for the content of all their presentations, marketing material, and advertising.

Nondiscrimination policy.  You agree to comply with WMU’s Non-Discrimination Policy, which prohibits discrimination or harassment which violates the law.

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Additional Terms

Independent Contractors. The relationship between You and WMU is solely that of independent contractors, and not partners, joint venturers, employees, agents or otherwise. You have no authority to legally bind WMU in any manner, and You will not represent or imply that You have such authority.

No Third-Party Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as creating or giving rise to any rights in third parties or persons other than the named Parties to this Agreement.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Michigan without regard for principles of choice of law. Any claims, demands, or actions arising under this Agreement and/or asserted against WMU shall be brought in Michigan’s Court of Claims or a court with subject matter jurisdiction sitting in the state of Michigan. The Parties expressly waive any objections to the same on any grounds, including but not limited to venue and forum non conveniens.

Reservation of Rights.  WMU retains all rights, immunities, and defenses provided under the Michigan and U.S. Constitutions and applicable federal and state law with regard to any claim, demand, or action arising out of this Agreement.  This Agreement does not and is not intended to impair, divest, delegate, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, or other legal right, privilege, power, obligation, duty or immunity.

Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is the Parties sole and entire agreement regarding the subject matter herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

Waiver. The failure of a Party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that Party’s right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of this Agreement.

Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, it shall be modified to reflect the Parties' intent. The remaining provisions and the application of such provisions to other persons will not be affected, but will be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Survivability. Provisions of this Agreement which by their nature should apply beyond their terms will remain in force after any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

Liability Waiver & Release.  In consideration for being allowed to register for and/or participate in the Conference, You waive and agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless WMU, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from liability for any claim, expense, loss, damage, injury, including loss of life, illness, disability, death, damage, property damage, theft, or harm of any kind (each, a “Loss”). You assume all risks, and agree not to sue WMU for any Loss You suffer or sustain arising from or related to the Conference, unless said Loss is caused by the sole, gross negligence of WMU. This Liability Waiver & Release is binding upon You and Your heirs and assigns.

Limitation of Liability.  WMU will not be liable, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability or by statute or otherwise, for any claim related to or arising under this Agreement for consequential, incidental, consequential, indirect, or special damages. In no event will WMU’s aggregate liability to You for any and all claims related to or arising under this Agreement exceed the total amount of the registration fees You paid.

Changes to These Terms WMU reserves the right to revise these Terms and Conditions at any time in its sole discretion and without prior notice. Your continued use of WMU services or participation in the Conference constitutes acceptance of the current version.

Your Personal Information.  WMU uses the personal data You provide during registration to administer Your participation in the Conference.   By submitting Your email address during the Conference registration process, You agree that WMU and PBLWorks may email You Conference-related information, including information about the Conference’s content, logistics, payment, updates, and additional information. WMU is committed to data privacy and protecting Your personal information. WMU’s Confidential Information Policy is hereby incorporated into the Agreement.

• External Service Providers. WMU may disclose Your personal data to third party service providers engaged to assist in conducting the Conference.  Information You provide when registering for or participating in a Conference-related event managed or sponsored by parties other than (or in addition to) WMU may be shared with those parties, and their treatment of such information is subject to their privacy policies.  Except as described herein, WMU will not disclose Your personal data to any other third party without Your consent, except where required to do so by law.

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Photos, etc. 

Consent to Use of Images of You.  By registering for and attending the Conference, You consent to the use of Your image, likeness, and voice by WMU and PBLWorks for promotional and archival purposes across various media formats. You acknowledge and agree that WMU may edit and use photos and footage it captures at the Conference for marketing and promotional activities and any other lawful business purpose.

Images Captured by Conference Attendees.  WMU disclaims all liability for the capture of Your image in any multimedia format by other Conference attendees. WMU will restrict the use of multimedia (e.g., photography, video, audio, online streaming, and all future mediums) by attendees at the Conference. You are permitted to use hand-held cameras and/or smart phones to take photographs and capture digital images for personal, non-commercial use, provided the photography is not disruptive. Photographs may not be published, sold, reproduced, transmitted, distributed or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever.

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