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Client Rights and Responsibilities

As a client of the Women's Center for Entrepreneurship, you have certain rights and responsibilities.

As a WCE client you have the right to expect:

  1. Consulting assistance offered at no charge. Because the WCE program is supported by funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, MUW and the WCE, consulting is provided at no charge to you. A nominal cost may be incurred for certain workshops by clients to help offset the workshop overhead.
  2. Confidentiality of Information provided. All WCE representatives agree to abide by the Mississippi University for Women and the Small Business Administration Standards of Professional Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy. Information you provide will be held in strictest confidence and will not be released to any parties outside of the WCE network. Information on you will not be sold or provided to other organizations. Specific information on you and the nature of your business with the WCE will not be released without your consent. No information you provide will be used to the commercial advantage of any WCE staff or to the advantage of a third party.

    3. Exceptions:

    • Information about the WCE service delivery is reported in aggregate to its funders and the general public. Specific information about you will not be released without your consent.
    • The WCE will collect and report in aggregate to its funders and the general public information on you such as demographic statistics: size, location, age and industry of your business; the general nature of your business with the WCE; and impact statistics such as financing obtained, sales increased or jobs created.
    • If you were referred to the WCE, the WCE will notify the referrer that you have sought assistance from the WCE. The WCE, however, will not disclose in detail the nature of the assistance received.
  3. Unbiased Recommendations. WCE personnel will not knowingly recommend the purchase of goods or services from any individual or firm with which any WCE personnel has a financial, family, or personal interest.
  4. Non-Disclosure of trade secrets. Sensitive trade secrets pertaining to unique facts of your business will not be used to benefit another client of the WCE or any WCE personnel. You understand that sensitive trade secret information is information which is not obvious, which is unknown, or which is unique and pertains to new inventions, secret manufacturing and processing procedures or formulas, or any new innovative process. You understandthat it is your responsibility to inform the WCE of any such sensitive trade secrets both verbally and in writing.
  5. Assistance, Guidance, Recommendations and Education. The WCE program is an education-based entrepreneurship center. The WCE will work with you on your specific issues to help build your management skills and knowledge. It is your responsibility to accept and implement recommendations. The WCE will not:
  • negotiate on your behalf
  • write your business plan
  • act as an employee of your business

As a WCE client you are responsible for:

  1. Participating in Surveys. Because this program cares about the quality of services provided, and because it is primarily funded with public support, the WCE undertakes a number of initiatives to ensure quality and impact of services provided to you. Your feedback is critical to the long-term success of this program.
  2. Informing Legislators about the service. Consulting services are provided at no charge to you because of financial support of the Small Business Administration.
  3. Accepting responsibility and waiving all claims. In recognition that you are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your business and that all decisions regarding implementing plans and operating your business are solely your responsibility, you hereby waive any claims of damages against the host university, the WCE and its staff, the U.S. Small Business Administration, based on any advice or information provided by the WCE.

 

This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.