Scholar Launch Terms of Service

Last updated: Oct 9, 2026

1. Acceptance of These Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Scholar Launch website at scholarlaunch.org (the "Site") and all programs, webinars, events, and related services offered by Literati, LLC, doing business as Scholar Launch, (hereafter, "Scholar Launch," "we," "us," or "our").

By using the Site, registering for an event, submitting an application, or enrolling in a program, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site or our services.

In these Terms, "you" means the student and, where the student is under 18, the parent or legal guardian who enrolls the student or accepts these Terms on the student's behalf.

2. Eligibility and Parent or Guardian Consent

Our programs serve middle school, high school, and college students. Students under 18 may use our services only with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

A parent or guardian who enrolls a student, pays tuition, or accepts these Terms for a student confirms that they have the authority to do so and agrees to these Terms on the student's behalf. Parents and guardians are responsible for the student's use of our services, including payment obligations.

You agree to provide accurate and complete information in any application, registration, or form, and to keep it up to date.

3. Our Services

Scholar Launch provides academic research mentorship. Our services include:

  • One on one and small group research programs led by Faculty Advisors, with support from Teaching Assistants

  • Competition-focused programs, such as Science Fair Elite and the Distinguished Humanities and Social Sciences Research Program

  • Free webinars, podcasts, and educational content

  • In-person programs and events, where offered

Most programs are delivered online. Program details such as length, number of sessions, deliverables, and schedule are described on each program page and in your enrollment materials. If those materials conflict with these Terms, the enrollment materials control for that program.

We may update, reschedule, or discontinue a program, event, or feature. If we cancel a program you have paid for, Section 5 explains your options.

4. Enrollment, Tuition, and Payment

Submitting an application does not guarantee admission. Enrollment is confirmed only after we accept the student and receive your payment, as stated in your enrollment materials.

  • Tuition: Current tuition is listed on our Tuition and Financial Aid page and in your enrollment materials. Prices may change, but changes will not affect a program you have already paid for.

  • Additional services: Some services, such as extra Teaching Assistant sessions, are available for an additional fee. We will tell you the fee before you purchase them.

  • Financial aid: Need-based aid is available for some programs and is decided based on need and availability. We may ask for supporting documents. Aid offered for one program or term does not carry over to another.

  • Late or missed payments: We may pause or end services if payment is not received when due.

5. Cancellations, Withdrawals, and Refunds

Scholar Launch issues refunds only in extraordinary circumstances.

To request a refund, send a written request to team@scholarlaunch.org explaining the reasons for your request and identifying the section of these Terms that entitles you to a refund. We will review your request and notify you of our decision on your eligibility for a refund.

  • If we cancel: If Scholar Launch cancels a program before it starts, you may choose a full refund or a transfer to another program or cohort.

  • Mentor changes: If a Faculty Advisor or Teaching Assistant becomes unavailable, we will assign a qualified replacement. A mentor change alone does not qualify for a refund.

Refund requests based on admissions, competition, or publication outcomes are not accepted. See Section 7.

6. Academic Integrity and Student Conduct

Our mentors guide and give feedback. They do not write papers, essays, or competition entries for students. All submitted work must be the student's own.

Students agree to:

  • Not plagiarize, fabricate data, or submit work created by someone else as their own

  • Follow the rules of any competition, journal, or institution they submit to, including rules on outside help and AI tools

  • Disclose use of AI tools when their mentor, a competition, or a publication requires it

  • Treat mentors, staff, and other students with respect, online and in person

  • Not record sessions or share program materials without permission

We may suspend or end a student's participation, without refund, for serious or repeated violations of this section.

7. No Guarantee of Outcomes

Research outcomes depend on the student's effort and on decisions made by people outside Scholar Launch. We do not guarantee:

  • Letters of recommendation. Letters are written at each Faculty Advisor's discretion and must be earned through active participation and quality work.

  • Publication. Journals make their own decisions. Choosing where and whether to publish is the student's decision.

  • Competition results, including ISEF, Regeneron STS, the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, or the HIR Academic Writing Contest.

  • College admission to any school.

Past student results shared on our Site describe individual outcomes and are not a promise of future results.

8. Intellectual Property

Student work. Students own the research papers, projects, and other original work they create in our programs.

By enrolling, you give Scholar Launch permission to share the student's project title, abstract, and results on our Site and in marketing, [identified only by first name or initial unless you give written consent]. You can withdraw this permission at any time by emailing us. We will stop new uses, but we cannot recall materials already published.

Our materials. The Site, curricula, slides, recordings, templates, and other materials we provide belong to Scholar Launch or our licensors. You may use them for your own learning during and after the program. You may not copy, sell, share, or publish them without our written permission.

9. Communications

When you apply, enroll, or register for an event, we will send messages about your program or registration, such as confirmations, schedules, and reminders.

We may also send newsletters, event invitations, and program updates by email or messaging apps. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in each email. You will still receive messages needed for an active enrollment.

10. Third-Party Platforms and Links

We use outside services such as video conferencing, payment processing, and email tools to deliver our programs. Your use of those services may also be subject to their own terms.

Our Site may link to other websites, including journals, competitions, and affiliated programs such as the Leadership Innovation Lab. We are not responsible for the content or practices of sites we do not operate.

11. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect personal information, including information about students under 18. By using our services, you agree to that policy.

12. Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, and Indemnification

Disclaimer. The Site and our services are provided "as is" and "as available." To the extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Content on the Site and in webinars is for general educational purposes and is not individual admissions advice.

Limitation of liability. To the extent permitted by law, Scholar Launch and its staff, Faculty Advisors, and Teaching Assistants will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Site or our services. Our total liability for any claim will not exceed the amount you paid us for the program or service the claim relates to.

Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold Scholar Launch harmless from claims arising from your violation of these Terms, including academic integrity violations or misuse of our materials.

13. Changes to These Terms and Contact Us

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will change the "Last updated" date above. For changes that materially affect enrolled students, we will notify you by email. Continuing to use our services after an update means you accept the revised Terms.

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

Scholar Launch 50 Mitchell Drive, Suite 104 New Haven, CT 06511 team@scholarlaunch.org 1.203.684.2567