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) http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/index.html. 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 Advanced Education and Skills Development, 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 http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/registrar/index.cfm?index.

The University of Guelph is required to disclose personal information such as characteristics and educational outcomes to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development under s. 15 of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development 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 Advanced Education and Skills Development Act, authorizing the collection and use of personal information from colleges and universities by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, which were set out in Schedule 5 of the Childcare Modernization Act, 2014, 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 Advanced Education and Skills Development website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-advanced-education-and-skills-development (English) or https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/ministere-de-lenseignement-superieur-et-de-la-formation-professionnelle (French) or by writing to the Director, Postsecondary Finance and Information Management Branch, Postsecondary Education Division, 7th Floor, Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M7A 1L2.

An update on Institutional and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development Act Notice of Disclosure Activities is posted at https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-advanced-education-and-skills-development

Frequently Asked Questions related to the Ministry’s enrolment and OEN data activities are also posted at: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/publications/NoticeOfCollection.pdf

Authority to Disclose Personal Information to Statistics Canada

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development 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 Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development Act authority to disclose personal information in accordance with s. 42(1) (e) of FIPPA

For further information, please see the Statistics Canada's web site at http://www.statcan.ca and Chapter XIV Statistics Canada.

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:

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, his/her complete, legal name. Any requests to change a name, by means of alteration, deletion, substitution or addition, must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation.

The University undertakes to protect the privacy of each student and the confidentiality of his or her 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://uoguelph.civicweb.net/document/68892/ORSInfoReleasePolicy060610.pdf?handle=FF982F8A9AEA4076BE4F3D88147172B8.