Terms of Service | Seed Academy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Seed Academy ("Seed Academy," "we," "us," or "our"). Seed Academy is an AI and vibe coding education program operated by Seed Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Custer, South Dakota, under the Black Hills Consortium. Our mission is to provide accessible AI education and workforce development for rural communities through our four educational tracks: AI Foundations, Vibe Coding, AI Agent Development, and Remote Work Readiness. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, educational programs, and services. By using our website or enrolling in our programs, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing this website, enrolling in educational programs, registering for events, applying for scholarships, or otherwise using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations. If you are enrolling a minor (under 18 years of age), a parent or legal guardian must accept these Terms on their behalf. If you are accessing our services on behalf of an organization (such as a school district or employer), you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms. We may update these Terms at any time, and your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

3. Educational Programs

Seed Academy offers four educational tracks: AI Foundations (8 weeks, $1,500), Vibe Coding (12 weeks, $3,500), AI Agent Development (16 weeks, $5,500), and Remote Work Readiness (4 weeks, $799). Enrollment is subject to application review and acceptance. Tuition, fees, and payment schedules are specified during the enrollment process and are subject to change for future cohorts. Seed Academy does not guarantee employment outcomes, specific salary increases, or job placement upon program completion. While we strive to maintain strong placement rates and provide career support, outcomes depend on individual effort, skill development, market conditions, and other factors beyond our control. Published placement rates and salary increase statistics are based on historical data and are not guarantees of individual results.

4. Tuition and Payments

Tuition payments are processed through secure third-party payment processors, including Stripe. By making a payment, you represent that the payment method used is authorized by you. Tuition is due according to the payment schedule established during enrollment. Refund policies are as follows: full refund if withdrawal occurs within 7 days of enrollment and before the first class session, 50% refund if withdrawal occurs before the end of the second week of instruction, and no refund after the second week of instruction. Scholarship recipients who withdraw before program completion may be required to return a prorated portion of scholarship funds. Payment plans are available and subject to separate payment plan agreements. A per-student charitable contribution of $40 ($25 to Seed Foundation, $15 to Black Hills Consortium) is included in tuition and supports rural education and economic development.

5. Student Conduct

Students are expected to adhere to the Seed Academy code of conduct, which requires respectful and professional behavior toward instructors, staff, and fellow students, academic honesty and integrity in all coursework and assessments, responsible use of AI tools and platforms provided during instruction, compliance with campus policies at Grow Campus and Hot Springs facilities, and adherence to attendance requirements specified for each track. Violation of the code of conduct may result in a warning, suspension, or removal from the program. Students removed for code of conduct violations are not eligible for tuition refunds. Academic dishonesty, including submitting AI-generated work as original work in assessments designed to test individual skill, may result in immediate dismissal.

6. AI Consulting Program

Graduates may participate in the Seed Academy AI Consulting program, which connects graduates with local businesses seeking AI implementation services. Consulting engagements are arranged through Seed Academy but are independent contractor relationships between the graduate and the client. Seed Academy is not a party to consulting contracts and does not guarantee consulting income, client availability, or project outcomes. Consulting rates ($1,500-$5,000/month) are suggested ranges and may vary based on client needs, project scope, and market conditions. Graduates participating in the consulting program must maintain professional standards and may be removed from the program for client complaints or unprofessional conduct.

7. Intellectual Property

All educational content, including curriculum materials, lecture recordings, code examples, project templates, and documentation, is the property of Seed Foundation and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Educational materials are licensed for personal, non-commercial use by enrolled students only and may not be redistributed, resold, shared, or published without written authorization. Students retain ownership of original projects, code, and creative works produced during the program. The Seed Academy name, logo, and program names are trademarks of Seed Foundation. You may not use our trademarks without prior written permission.

8. User Content

By submitting content to our website or platforms, including testimonials, project showcases, blog posts, or community forum contributions, you grant Seed Academy a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content in connection with our educational mission, marketing, and recruitment efforts. You retain ownership of your original content. You are responsible for ensuring that any content you submit does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties. Student projects may be showcased on our website and at events such as THE CULT convention with the student's prior consent.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website and services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. Seed Academy disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. Educational content is provided for learning purposes and may not reflect the most current developments in rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence and software development. We do not guarantee specific outcomes from participation in any of our programs, including employment, salary increases, consulting income, or career advancement.

10. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Seed Academy, Seed Foundation, Black Hills Consortium, or their respective directors, officers, employees, instructors, volunteers, or agents be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our website or services, participation in our programs, or reliance on any information provided through our platforms. This includes but is not limited to damages for loss of profits, data, goodwill, career opportunities, or other intangible losses. Our total liability for all claims shall not exceed the amount of tuition you paid to Seed Academy in the twelve months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Seed Academy, Seed Foundation, Black Hills Consortium, and their respective officers, directors, employees, instructors, volunteers, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms, your use of our services, your participation in our programs, your consulting activities conducted through our program, or your submission of content to our platforms.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Dakota, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Custer County, South Dakota. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Seed Academy regarding the use of our website and services.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Seed Academy

A Program of Seed Foundation (501(c)(3))

Black Hills Consortium

Custer, South Dakota

Email: legal@blackhillsconsortium.org