These Terms of Service explain how Personal Prof's writing and communications coaching services work and what you can expect when you book or purchase a service.
By booking a consultation, purchasing a coaching package, or otherwise engaging Personal Prof for services, you agree to these Terms.
1. What Personal Prof provides
Personal Prof provides individualized writing, editing, academic communications, presentation, and related coaching for university, college, and university-bound students.
The goal of Personal Prof is to help you become a more confident, capable, and independent writer and communicator.
Services may include:
- reviewing drafts before a coaching session;
- providing written feedback and edits using Microsoft Word Track Changes or similar tools;
- discussing writing, editing, organization, argumentation, style, clarity, and mechanics;
- providing guidance on presentations and other academic communications;
- discussing effective and responsible uses of AI tools;
- helping you evaluate, fact-check, edit, and proofread AI-generated material; and
- providing individualized instruction based on your particular writing and communication needs.
Personal Prof does not complete assignments, write papers or presentations on a student's behalf, or provide services intended to misrepresent another person's work as the student's own.
2. Personal Prof is coaching, not an essay-writing service
Your work remains your work.
Personal Prof is designed to provide the kind of individualized instruction and editorial guidance that helps you develop your own skills. While your writing may be edited and marked up as part of a coaching session, you remain responsible for deciding what changes to make and for the final version of anything you submit.
Personal Prof does not guarantee a particular grade, academic outcome, admission decision, or other result.
3. Academic integrity and AI
Students are responsible for understanding and following the academic-integrity and AI-use policies that apply to their courses, programs, and institutions.
Personal Prof will not knowingly assist a student in violating those policies.
When AI tools are discussed or incorporated into coaching, the focus is on responsible and critical use. This may include evaluating AI output, checking claims and sources, identifying inaccuracies or fabricated information, editing AI-generated material, improving prompts, and understanding when and how AI use should be disclosed.
Because institutional policies differ, students are responsible for determining what uses of AI are permitted for their particular assignment.
4. How coaching works
Personal Prof's primary service is an individualized coaching relationship rather than a single editing transaction.
Depending on the package you purchase, your service may include:
An initial consultation
A 30–60 minute consultation at the beginning of a semester or academic year to discuss your courses, assignments, writing goals, and areas you'd like to develop.
Assignment coaching sessions
Before each session, you provide your draft. Personal Prof reviews your draft in advance and prepares feedback for the session.
The coaching session then takes place online, typically through Google Meet, and lasts approximately 60 minutes.
Following the session, you receive a marked-up version of your assignment containing the feedback and edits discussed during the session.
The exact number of consultations and coaching sessions included depends on the package purchased.
5. Submission of materials
Students must provide their draft at least 48 hours before their scheduled coaching session. This time allows Personal Prof to review the material and prepare individualized feedback in advance.
If materials are not provided at least 48 hours before the session, Personal Prof may ask the student to reschedule the session or may proceed without a full pre-session review.
If a session proceeds without sufficient time for a full pre-review, students should understand that the scope, depth, and specificity of the feedback provided may be more limited than they would be when the full review period is available.
A late submission of materials does not automatically entitle the student to a rescheduled or additional session.
6. Student responsibilities
To make the coaching relationship useful, students are responsible for:
- providing drafts in a timely manner;
- providing accurate information about institutional policies;
- attending scheduled sessions;
- actively participating in coaching conversations;
- making their own decisions about revisions; and
- submitting only work that complies with the requirements and academic-integrity policies of their institution.
Personal Prof can provide guidance, but cannot take responsibility for information that a student fails to disclose or for institutional requirements that a student does not communicate.
7. Coaching packages
Semester Coaching Package
A Semester Coaching Package is valid from the date of purchase through the end of the applicable 12-week academic semester. The package includes three 60-minute coaching sessions. All three sessions must be completed before the beginning of the standard examination period for that semester.
Unused sessions expire at the end of the applicable semester and do not ordinarily carry forward to a subsequent term. In exceptional circumstances, students may contact Personal Prof to discuss a possible accommodation or carry-over.
Academic-Year Coaching Package
An Academic-Year Coaching Package covers the fall and winter academic terms and includes six 60-minute coaching sessions: three sessions for the fall term and three sessions for the winter term. Fall sessions must be completed before the beginning of the fall examination period, and winter sessions must be completed before the beginning of the winter examination period.
Sessions cannot ordinarily be transferred between terms, and packages cannot be paused.
Students who wish to join Personal Prof partway through a semester should contact me to discuss whether a package or individual coaching sessions are the most appropriate option. Availability for late-semester coaching is not guaranteed.
8. Scheduling and cancellations
Coaching sessions are reserved specifically for the student and may involve substantial preparation in advance.
Students who need to reschedule should provide at least 24 hours' notice whenever possible. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice and missed appointments will normally count as a used coaching session and will not be refunded.
In exceptional circumstances, including emergencies, Personal Prof may waive this policy at its discretion. Students should contact me as soon as possible if an unexpected circumstance prevents them from attending.
If Personal Prof needs to cancel or reschedule a session, the session will not be considered used and another appointment will be arranged.
9. Additional sessions
Students enrolled in a coaching package may be eligible for a discounted rate on additional individual coaching sessions. The applicable rate will be communicated at the time of booking.
10. Payment
Personal Prof currently accepts payment by Interac e-Transfer only.
Payment instructions will be provided after your service or package has been confirmed.
A coaching package is considered active once payment has been received and confirmed.
Personal Prof does not currently accept credit cards or other forms of electronic payment.
11. Refunds
Because Personal Prof services involve individualized preparation and advance review of student materials, refunds for coaching packages are considered on a case-by-case basis.
If a student withdraws from a package because of significant personal, family, health, or academic circumstances, Personal Prof will consider requests for a partial refund or other accommodation in good faith.
Where a refund is appropriate, the amount will take into account services already provided, preparation already completed, and remaining unused services. There is no automatic entitlement to a pro-rated refund based solely on the number of unused sessions.
Packages are not ordinarily refundable because a student chooses not to use their remaining sessions.
12. Student materials
Students retain ownership of their own writing and academic materials.
By providing materials to Personal Prof, you give Personal Prof permission to use those materials solely for the purpose of providing the agreed coaching and editing services.
Personal Prof will not publish, share, sell, or use your academic work for promotional purposes without your explicit permission.
Student materials are ordinarily deleted within 30 days of the student's final coaching session, in accordance with the Personal Prof Privacy Policy.
13. Confidentiality
Personal Prof treats student communications and academic materials as confidential.
Information may be disclosed where required by law or where necessary to provide the services through third-party platforms described in the Personal Prof Privacy Policy.
Personal Prof will not discuss a student's work or circumstances publicly in a way that identifies the student without their permission.
14. Students under 18
Personal Prof primarily works with post-secondary students and older high-school students preparing for university.
Students under 18 may use Personal Prof with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian where appropriate.
For students under 18, Personal Prof may require a parent or legal guardian to participate in the initial consultation, agree to the service terms, and/or make payment.
15. University affiliations and conflicts of interest
Personal Prof is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any university or college.
Personal Prof services must not be used to obtain or provide unauthorized assistance with coursework for which I am responsible as an instructor, marker, or evaluator.
Personal Prof is entitled to rely on the information provided by a student when determining whether a conflict of interest exists. If Personal Prof subsequently becomes aware that a student has provided materially inaccurate or misleading information about their institution or student status, Personal Prof reserves the right to discontinue the service.
16. No guarantee of academic outcomes
Personal Prof provides instruction, feedback, and coaching based on the materials and information provided by the student.
While the goal is to help students become stronger writers and communicators, Personal Prof cannot guarantee:
- a particular grade;
- acceptance into a program;
- admission to a university or college;
- a scholarship or award;
- a particular instructor's assessment; or
- any other academic or professional outcome.
17. Changes to services
Personal Prof may modify its services, pricing, scheduling procedures, or package structure from time to time.
Changes will not alter the services already purchased unless otherwise agreed with the student.
18. Questions
If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact: