Integrated Quality Assurance Management System (iQAMS)

This UCJ Integrated Quality Assurance Management System (iQAMS) User Portal Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between The University Council of Jamaica (“UCJ”) and registered users of the UCJ iQAMS effective on the date the site registration is completed with the following terms and conditions:

Purpose

The UCJ iQAMS facilitates easy and secure electronic transfer of an application form along with supporting documents from UCJ customers (higher education institutions) to authorised users that are selected to conduct quality assurance reviews as members of UCJ evaluation teams. The Hyland OnBase software platform on which iQAMS is built allows UCJ evaluation team members’ to access and view submitted applications and to contribute to aspects of case management by way of submitting reports. The UCJ has sole discretion to decide which types of content/documents can be uploaded or viewed by evaluation team members on the iQAMS  Portal.

Acceptance of Terms of Use

The UCJ iQAMS User Portal is offered to you conditioned upon your acceptance of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein.  By using the portal you agree to these terms and conditions.  The UCJ may modify, suspend, discontinue or restrict the use of any portion of the iQAMS Portal, including the availability of any portion of the content at any time, without notice or liability.

Description of Service

The UCJ’s iQAMS Portal provides authorized users with access to a completed application form for the following services: Programme Accreditation, Institutional Accreditation, Registration, or Recognition of Transnational Qualifications. The information, documents, and communications on the portal are provided as a convenient resource to users and may be used by evaluation team members (assessors) for informational purposes only to support the review process.

Service Availability

The UCJ will use its best efforts to provide 24-hour daily availability of the iQAMS Portal. However, the UCJ makes no representation or warranty that 24 hour service will be available. The user agrees and acknowledges that the User Portal will, at times, be unavailable due to regularly scheduled maintenance, service upgrades, or other mechanical or electronic failures.  The UCJ shall not be responsible for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to the iQAMS Portal. Efforts will be made by the Information Technology Unit to address technical issues as they arise, including by way of consultation with the software development company, Hyland Software Inc., and its authorised partners.

The UCJ is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone or fiber network or Internet access medium, computer on-line systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software.  Additionally, the UCJ is not responsible for the failure of any submission to be received by the UCJ on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including any damage to your computer or peripherals related to accessing content from the iQAMS Portal.

User Password and Security

Using the portal and its related services requires the use of a user name and password.  The confidentiality of the user name, password and account itself are the responsibility of the user. Any activities that occur under a user’s account(s) are their responsibility.  You agree to notify the UCJ immediately of any unauthorized use of accounts or any other breach of security.  The use of another person’s username and password is expressly prohibited.

You acknowledge that the use of your assigned username and password is an adequate form of security.  You are solely responsible for (1) authorizing, monitoring, controlling access to and maintaining strict confidentiality of your user name and password, (2) not allowing another person to use your username or password, (3) any changes or damage that may be incurred as a result of your neglect to maintain the strict confidentiality of your username and password, and (4) promptly informing the UCJ in writing of any need to deactivate a username due to security concerns or otherwise.

The UCJ is not liable for any harm related to the misuse or theft of usernames or passwords, disclosure of usernames or passwords, or your authorization to allow another person or entity to access and use the UCJ iQAMS Portal using your username or password. You shall immediately notify the UCJ of any unauthorized use of your username or password and any breach of confidentiality. Until the UCJ receives this notification from you, you will be held liable for any harm ensuing from the use of your username on the UCJ’s iQAMS Portal.

The UCJ will use its best efforts to make the iQAMS Portal secure from unauthorized access. The iQAMS Portal will require industry standard encryption on all communications between your device and the iQAMS Portal server.  iQAMS is hosted in highly secure data centres, with encrypted in-transit connections, built-in redundancy and data replication.  However, no completely secure system for electronic data transfer has yet been devised.  THE UCJ MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE EFFICACY OF THE SECURITY OF THE  UCJ iQAMS PORTAL AND SHALL NEVER BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMED, ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY BREACH OR ALLEGED BREACH OF SECURITY OF THE iQAMS PORTAL BEYOND WHAT IS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS.

Termination of Logon Account

You agree to notify the UCJ immediately when your account is to be terminated. The UCJ will make every effort to terminate access immediately.  However, you cannot be assured that access has been terminated until you receive confirmation of the termination from the UCJ.

Accuracy of Content and Liability Disclaimer

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall the UCJ, or its suppliers, be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential damages, or any other damages whatsoever, including without limitation, damages for loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in any way connected with your use or the performance of the portal, with the delay or inability to use the portal or related services, whether based in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise, even if the UCJ or its suppliers has been advised of the possibility of damages.

Icons, Logos, and Other Proprietary Material

The trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively the “Trademarks”) displayed on the portal are registered and common law trademarks of this organization.  Nothing contained on the portal should be construed as granting, by implication, or otherwise, any license or right to use any of the Trademarks displayed on the portal without the written permission of the UCJ or its associated suppliers. Your use of any of the Trademarks displayed on the portal or displayed on any content on the portal is strictly prohibited.

Changes to Terms and Conditions of Use

The UCJ reserves the right to modify the terms, conditions, and notices under which the portal is offered.  Your continued use of the UCJ’s iQAMS Portal after the posting of any amended terms and conditions shall constitute your agreement to be bound by any such changes.

Confidentiality, Information Protection, and Protection of Data
Notwithstanding any existing legal or contractual obligations regarding confidentiality between you and the UCJ, you undertake to treat all knowledge relating to business secrets, which come into your possession, as confidential.  You shall assure that any protected data, which comes into your possession through the use of the portal, is not transmitted to any unauthorized person.  

In partial consideration of the opportunity to access the resources of the portal concerning your account, you agree to maintain the strict confidentiality of access of the portal and its data and to indemnify and hold harmless the UCJ and its officers, and employees from and against any and all claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, judgments, costs, and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and liabilities of every kind that may arise from your use of the portal or because of violation of these terms and conditions of use.

UCJ Customer Data

You agree to handle the institution’s data confidentially and the UCJ will handle data submitted by you with confidentiality. This includes information relating to your profile and your report.

You are advised that the UCJ has the right to generate aggregate/anonymous data, including aggregate/anonymous data submitted by higher education institutions. This may be used for business purposes during or after the term of the UCJ’s engagement with the institution (including, without limitation, the right to develop and improve UCJ’s services and to create and distribute reports and other materials). For clarity, the UCJ will only disclose aggregate/anonymous data externally in a de-identified (anonymous) form that does not identify its customers or authorized users, and is stripped of all persistent identifiers (such as device identifiers, IP addresses, and cookie IDs).

No Unlawful or Prohibited Use

You are prohibited from using the UCJ iQAMS portal to damage, disable, or overburden or impair the system or interfere with any other party’s use of the portal.  Hacking, password mining, or any other means to gain unauthorized access to the portal, portal accounts, computers, or network is prohibited. Posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libellous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane material or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law, is also prohibited.  The UCJ will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing this entity to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information and materials.  

Term and Termination

This Agreement and the services contemplated by it may be terminated by either the UCJ or  Evaluation Team Members with or without notice at any time.  The UCJ may at any time terminate in whole or in part the UCJ’s iQAMS Portal without notice or liability.

Acceptance

By submitting an Evaluation Team Member Profile and other information surrounding the evaluation being conducted, you hereby acknowledge that you have read the Terms and Conditions portion of this document and that you agree to these terms and conditions.