McMaster University Statement on the Collection of Personal Information and the Protection of Privacy
McMaster University collects and retains personal information of students, alumni and other parties, including but not limited to faculty, staff, visiting academics and private citizens using services provided by McMaster University, under the authority of the McMaster University Act, 1976. This information is used for the academic, administrative, employment-related, safety and security, financial and statistical purposes of the University, including for the administration of admissions, registration, awards and scholarships, convocation, alumni relations and other fundamental activities related to being a member of the University community, a user of services provided by McMaster or an attendee of, or applicant to, a public post-secondary institution in the Province of Ontario. The information will be used, among other things, to admit, register and graduate students, record academic achievement, issue library cards and, where applicable, local transit passes, to provide access to information systems and to operate academic, financial, athletic, recreational, residence, alumni and other University programs. Additionally, this information may be shared with other institutions of higher education in order to administer collaborative programs. Information on admissions, registration and academic achievement may also be disclosed and used for statistical and research purposes by the University, other post-secondary educational institutions and the federal and provincial governments. The names of alumni, their Faculty and program, award information, degree(s) awarded and date of graduation is considered public information and may be published by McMaster University. In addition, student photographs posted by the University in the form of individual pictures or class pictures may be publicly displayed. Aside from the foregoing, the information you provide and any other information placed in a student record, or in a personnel record, will be protected and used in compliance with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSO 1990) and will be disclosed only in accordance with this Act. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information please contact the University Registrar, University Hall, Room 209, Student Records, Gilmour Hall, Room 108, or the University Secretary, Gilmour Hall, Room 210, McMaster University.
McMaster University may also collect personal information from other relevant sources including, without limitation, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre, secondary schools, colleges, universities and other institutions previously attended, including third-party services and test score providers where the items collected form a part of the application or admission process to a university program.
Furthermore, McMaster is required to disclose personal information such as Ontario Education Numbers, student characteristics and educational outcomes to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (the “MAESD”; formerly known as the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities). The Ministry collects this data for purposes such as planning, allocating and administering public funding to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational and training institutions and 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. Any information collected by McMaster for the purposes of self-identification as a member of a specific group (i.e. First Generation, First Nations, etc.) may be subject to disclosure to the MAESD by McMaster and collected by the MAESD pursuant to its statutory authority. Further information on how the MAESD uses personal information is available on the ministry’s website (http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/).
In addition to collecting personal information for the purposes noted above, McMaster University collects specific and limited personal information on behalf of the McMaster Student Union, the McMaster Association of Part-time Students and/or the McMaster Graduate Students Association. These constituent student groups use personal information for the purpose of membership, administration, elections, annual general meetings, health plans and other related matters only. Please contact the relevant Student Union or Association office if you have questions about this collection, use and disclosure of your personal information and their respective privacy policies.
September 2015
Notification of Disclosure of Personal Information to Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the national statistical agency. As such, Statistics Canada carries out hundreds of surveys each year on a wide range of matters, including education. In order to carry out such studies, Statistics Canada asks all colleges and universities to provide data on students and graduates. Institutions collect and provide to Statistics Canada student identification information (student’s name, student ID number), student contact information (address and telephone number), student demographic characteristics, enrolment information, previous education and labour force activity.
The Federal Statistics Act provides the legal authority for Statistics Canada to obtain access to personal information held by educational institutions. The information may be used only for statistical purposes, and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act prevent the information being released in any way that would identify a student. Students who do not wish to have their information used are able to ask Statistics Canada to remove their identification and contact information from the national database. For further information, please see Statistics Canada’s web site at: http://www.statcan.ca or write to the Postsecondary Section, Centre for Education Statistics, 17th Floor, R.H. Coats Building, Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa, K1A 0T6.
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