Introduction

Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

Personal information is collected under the authority of the University of Guelph Act (1964), and in accordance with Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90f31/. This information is used by University officials in order to carry out their authorized academic and administrative responsibilities and also to establish a relationship for alumni and development purposes. Certain personal information is disclosed to external agencies, including the Ontario Universities Application Centre, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and Statistics Canada, for statistical and planning purposes, and is disclosed to other individuals or organizations in accordance with the Office of Registrarial Services Departmental Policy on the Release of Student Information. For details on the use and disclosure of this information call the Office of Registrarial Services at the University at (519) 824-4120 or see https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/index/.

Disclosure of Personal Information to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities

The University of Guelph is required to disclose personal information such as characteristics and educational outcomes to the Minister of Colleges and Universities under s. 15 of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.19, as amended. The Ministry collects this data for purposes including but not limited to planning, allocating and administering public funding to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational and training institutions.

Amendments made to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, authorizing the collection and use of personal information from colleges and universities by the Minister which were set out in Schedule 5 of the Childcare Modernization Act, 2014, S.O. 2014, Chapter 11, came into force on March 31, 2015.

The amendments strengthen the ability of the Minister to directly or indirectly collect and use personal information about students as required to conduct research and analysis, including longitudinal studies, and statistical activities conducted by or on behalf of the Ministry for purposes that relate to post-secondary education and training, including,

  1. understanding the transition of students from secondary school to post-secondary education and training,
  2. understanding student participation and progress, mobility and learning and employment outcomes,
  3. understanding linkages among universities, colleges, secondary schools and other educational and training institutions prescribed by regulation,
  4. understanding trends in post-secondary education or training program choices made by students,
  5. understanding sources and patterns of student financial resources, including financial assistance and supports provided by government and post-secondary educational and training institutions,
  6. planning to enhance the affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education and training and the quality and effectiveness of the post-secondary sector,
  7. identifying conditions or barriers that inhibit student participation, progress, completion and transition to employment or future post-secondary educational or training opportunities, and
  8. developing key performance indicators.

Information that the University is required to provide includes but is not limited to: first, middle and last name, Ontario Educational Number, citizenship, date of birth, gender, first three digits of a student’s postal code, mother tongue, degree program and major(s) in which the student is enrolled, year of study and whether the student has transferred from another institution.

Further information on the collection and use of student-level enrolment-related data can be obtained from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-colleges-universities/ (English) or https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/ministere-des-colleges-et-universites/ (French) or by writing to the: Director, Postsecondary Finance and Information Management Branch, Postsecondary Education Division, 16th Floor, 315 Front St. W., Toronto, ON M7A 0B8.

Authority to Disclose Personal Information to Statistics Canada

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities discloses student-level enrolment-related data it collects from the colleges and universities as required by Statistics Canada in accordance with Section 13 of the Federal Statistics Act. This gives the Ministry authority to disclose personal information in accordance with s. 42(1) (e) of FIPPA

Notification of Disclosure of Personal Information to Statistics Canada

For further information, please see the Statistics Canada's website at http://www.statcan.ca/ and in the Chapter on General Information.

Address for University Communication

Depending on the nature and timing of the communication, the University may use one of these addresses to communicate with students. Students are, therefore, responsible for checking all of the following on a regular basis:

Email Address

The University issued email address is considered an official means of communication with the student and will be used for correspondence from the University. Students are responsible for monitoring their University-issued email account regularly. See the Chapter on Statement of Students' Academic Responsibilities for more information.

Home Address

Students are responsible for maintaining their current home and mailing addresses with the University. Address changes can be made on WebAdvisor.

Name Changes

The University of Guelph is committed to the integrity of its student records, therefore, each student is required to provide either on application for admission or on personal data forms required for registration, the student's complete, legal name. Any requests to change a name, by means of alteration, deletion, substitution or addition, must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation.

Student Confidentiality and Release of Student Information Policy Excerpt

The University undertakes to protect the privacy of each student and the confidentiality of the student's record. To this end the University shall refuse to disclose personal information to any person other than the individual to whom the information relates where disclosure would constitute an unjustified invasion of the personal privacy of that person or of any other individual. All members of the University community must respect the confidential nature of the student information which they acquire in the course of their work.

Complete policy at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/information-policy/.