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Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern the use of the ACES Research Center website, resources, research consultation services, project support, trainings, and related programs and services. By accessing the website or using ACES Research Center services, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms.

About the ACES Research Center

The ACES Research Center is an initiative of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) designed to strengthen research capacity, support researcher development, advance scholarship, and increase the impact of research within counselor education and supervision and the broader counseling profession.

The Research Center provides resources, consultation, project support, education, training, and other research-related opportunities consistent with its mission. Services, resources, eligibility requirements, fees, and availability may change as the Research Center evolves.

Research Consultation Services

The ACES Research Center provides research consultation services to support members at various stages of the research and scholarly process. Consultation services may include support related to:

  • Qualitative methodology, analysis planning, and dissemination;
  • Quantitative methodology, analysis planning, and dissemination;
  • Scholarly writing, manuscript development, and presentation proposal development;
  • Grant writing and development and grant evaluation planning; and
  • Other research-related areas offered by the Research Center.

Consultants provide guidance, feedback, education, and recommendations based on their professional expertise and the information and materials provided by the member. Research consultations are intended to support members in strengthening their research and scholarly work; they do not transfer responsibility for the research or scholarly product to the consultant or Research Center.

Consultation services do not guarantee publication, grant funding, successful completion of a research project, acceptance of a manuscript or presentation, dissertation or thesis approval, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, or any other academic or professional outcome.

Members remain responsible for decisions regarding their research and scholarly activities and for ensuring compliance with all applicable institutional requirements, ethical and professional standards, laws, and regulations.

Project Support

In addition to individual consultation services, the ACES Research Center may provide customized support for research, evaluation, grant, scholarly, and other projects requiring more extensive or ongoing assistance. Project support may include research design and planning, data analysis, program or grant evaluation, editing of scholarly or technical writing, resource development, dissemination, and other research-related activities.

Requests for project support will be considered based on the nature and scope of the project, alignment with the mission and priorities of ACES, available expertise, and Research Center capacity. Depending on the project, support may be provided by Research Center consultants, affiliates, or other qualified professionals.

Projects will require a separate project proposal agreement. Such agreements may specify the scope of work, roles and responsibilities, deliverables, timeline, fees, research ethics and integrity considerations, data access and management expectations, intellectual property considerations, authorship or acknowledgment expectations when applicable, and other terms specific to the project.

Those requesting project support retain responsibility for institutional approvals, research ethics, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and decisions related to the use and dissemination of project findings. Project support does not guarantee particular research, evaluation, publication, funding, or other outcomes.

Materials Submitted for Services

Members or project partners may be asked to provide manuscripts, proposals, research plans, instruments, de-identified datasets, analysis plans, grant materials, presentations, or other documents necessary to provide requested services.

Users retain ownership of materials they submit unless otherwise established through a separate written agreement. By submitting materials to the Research Center, users authorize the Research Center and individuals assigned to provide the requested service to access and review those materials for purposes related to that service. If applicable, members or project partners will be asked to seek IRB approval of the ACES Research Center support, and this will be outlined in the agreement.

Users are responsible for ensuring that they own, control, or otherwise have appropriate authorization to share submitted materials.

Members and project partners should not submit personally identifiable participant information, protected health information, confidential institutional records, or other sensitive or restricted information or data.

Research Ethics and Compliance

Users remain responsible for ensuring that their research and scholarly activities comply with applicable ethical, professional, institutional, regulatory, and legal requirements.

Research Center services do not replace review, oversight, or approval by an IRB, dissertation or thesis committee, academic institution, funding agency, regulatory body, or other entity responsible for oversight of a research or scholarly activity.

Guidance or recommendations provided by the Research Center or its consultants should not be interpreted as institutional, regulatory, legal, or ethical approval of a project.

Confidentiality and Privacy

The Research Center recognizes that users may share unpublished research, scholarly work, research ideas, grant proposals, project materials, and other nonpublic information while receiving services. The Research Center and individuals providing services will handle such materials in accordance with applicable ACES policies, procedures, and project-specific agreements.

Research Center services do not create an attorney-client, healthcare provider-patient, therapist-client, or other legally privileged relationship.

Personal information collected through the website and Research Center services will be handled in accordance with the applicable ACES Privacy Policy.

Fees and Payment

Some Research Center resources and services may be provided at no cost, such as the member one-time free 30-minute consultation and some research trainings. Most of the services require payment. Any applicable fees will be communicated before a user confirms or purchases a service.

Fees for customized project support may vary based on the scope, complexity, anticipated timeline, and personnel required for the project and may be established through a separate project agreement.

The Research Center reserves the right to modify fees and service structures. Changes in pricing will not alter the price of a service or project that has already been purchased or formally agreed upon unless otherwise provided in the applicable agreement.

Scheduling, Cancellations, and No-Shows

Users are responsible for attending scheduled consultations, meetings, trainings, and other services at the designated time and for providing requested materials within established timelines.

Cancellation and rescheduling requirements may vary by service and will be communicated through the applicable scheduling or registration process. The Research Center may establish reasonable policies regarding late cancellations, missed appointments, refunds, and rescheduling. Consultees are required to cancel a consultation appointment 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund. ACES will issue the refund within 7 days of the cancellation. Refunds will not be issued in the event of a no-show.

The Research Center reserves the right to cancel or reschedule services due to consultant availability, emergencies, technology disruptions, or other circumstances. When possible, reasonable efforts will be made to provide an alternative appointment or arrangement.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, website content, educational materials, training resources, templates, graphics, publications, and other materials created and distributed by ACES or the ACES Research Center remain the intellectual property of their respective owners.

Research Center materials may be used for authorized personal, educational, scholarly, or professional purposes consistent with any permissions accompanying those materials. Users may not reproduce, sell, substantially modify, publicly distribute, or commercially exploit Research Center materials without appropriate authorization.

Participation in a consultation or other Research Center service does not transfer ownership of a user’s preexisting research, scholarship, data, or other intellectual property to ACES or the Research Center.

Intellectual property created through customized project support may be addressed separately in the applicable project agreement proposal.

Appropriate Use of Services

Users agree to use the ACES Research Center website, resources, and services in a lawful, ethical, and professional manner.

Research Center services may not be used to:

  • Engage in unlawful, fraudulent, or deceptive activities;
  • Facilitate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other forms of research or scholarly misconduct;
  • Misrepresent authorship, ownership, credentials, or contributions;
  • Violate the privacy, confidentiality, or rights of research participants or other individuals;
  • Submit materials or data that the user does not have authorization to share;
  • Interfere with the operation or security of Research Center systems or services;
  • Harass or engage in inappropriate conduct toward Research Center personnel, consultants, affiliates, or other users; or
  • Use Research Center materials or services in a manner inconsistent with applicable laws, professional standards, ACES policies, or these Terms.

ACES and the Research Center reserve the right to limit, suspend, or discontinue access to services when these Terms or other applicable policies are violated.

Educational and Professional Nature of Services

Research Center services and resources are provided for research, educational, scholarly, and professional development purposes. They do not constitute legal, financial, medical, mental health, or other professional advice outside the scope of the research-related services being provided.

Users remain responsible for evaluating recommendations and determining whether and how information obtained through Research Center services is incorporated into their research, scholarship, programs, or professional activities.

Disclaimer of Outcomes

The ACES Research Center is committed to providing high-quality research support, resources, and programming. However, research and scholarly outcomes are influenced by numerous factors beyond the control of the Research Center.

ACES and the Research Center therefore do not guarantee publication, funding, acceptance of scholarly work, successful completion of academic requirements, institutional or regulatory approval, specific research findings, successful implementation of recommendations, or any other particular outcome resulting from the use of Research Center services.

Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, ACES, the ACES Research Center, and individuals providing services on their behalf are not responsible for losses or damages resulting from reliance on Research Center recommendations, decisions made by users regarding their research or scholarly activities, interruptions or unavailability of services, or academic, publication, funding, research, evaluation, or other professional outcomes.

Changes to Services or These Terms

The Research Center may modify, suspend, expand, or discontinue services, resources, programs, eligibility requirements, or other offerings as its operations and priorities evolve.

ACES may also update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in Research Center services, organizational policies, technology, or applicable requirements. Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Continued use of the Research Center website or services following an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Contact Us

Questions regarding these Terms of Service or the ACES Research Center may be directed to:

ACES Research Center
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Email: centeroperations@acesresearch.org
Website: www.acesresearch.org