Local-first, with clear handoffs

Privacy

Most semester-planning work stays in your browser. Information leaves your device only when you submit a contact form or choose an outside service.

Effective August 2, 2026 · reviewed August 2, 2026 · responsible role: Future of STEM site team

1. 01No Future of STEM accountThe public tools do not require a Future of STEM login, password, or student profile. Optional outside services may require their own account or sign-in; that does not create a Future of STEM account.
2. 02Original semester files stay in browser memorySyllabi, schedule images, and extracted source text are held only in the current browser session. They disappear when you refresh, close the tab, clear the workspace, or the browser releases that memory. Future of STEM does not upload those originals to its own server or database.
3. 03Semester details can stay in this browserThe Command Center stores a versioned structured semester model and harmless preferences in localStorage until you use Clear Semester Data or clear browser storage. It does not persist original files, full extracted text, or raw AI responses.
4. 04Grade Planner work stays in session memoryThe Grade Planner does not automatically save or sync your course. Pasted and entered grades stay in the current tab memory until you refresh, close the tab, or choose Finish and clear. On a shared device, someone may see the work while the tab remains open. Downloaded JSON backups and Excel workbooks remain in your device downloads or chosen folder after you finish and clear; remove those files with your device file manager when you no longer need them.
5. 05External AI handoff is your choiceOpening Gemini, Duck.ai, or another service does not upload anything automatically. If you choose to submit a packet or text, that information leaves your device and the provider receives it under its own privacy and retention terms. Future of STEM does not run a hosted AI model for this workflow.
6. 06Calendar transfers are deliberatePDF, ICS, JSON, and ZIP exports are generated in your browser. ICS stays as a downloaded file until you import it. When the optional Google Calendar connection is configured and you authorize it, only approved calendar records are sent; the short-lived access token is not written to localStorage, and the created calendar ID is stored locally for retry-safe updates.
7. 07Question and chapter forms use email servicesSubmitting a form sends the fields you enter, including your reply address, through a Vercel-hosted endpoint and Resend to the Future of STEM mailbox. Future of STEM has not yet published a fixed mailbox deletion schedule, so do not submit sensitive personal, medical, financial, or disciplinary information.
8. 08Contact forms use short-lived rate limitingThe contact endpoint converts the connection address into a one-way, instance-specific rate-limit key and keeps only that key and a request count in memory for up to about ten minutes on that server instance. The raw address is not retained in that counter, and the counter is not added to the semester workspace.
9. 09Vercel processes standard hosting dataVercel may process standard request information needed to serve and protect the site, such as IP address, browser details, timestamps, and error logs. Future of STEM does not claim or control Vercel's retention schedule.
10. 10Analytics are not currently enabledFuture of STEM has not enabled Vercel Web Analytics or Speed Insights in this build. This notice must be updated before either service is enabled.
11. 11Verify important decisionsAI-extracted dates and Future of STEM guidance can be wrong. Confirm deadlines, policies, degree requirements, and academic decisions in your school's official systems before acting.