Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure of Your Personal Information Provided as Part of Your University-specific Application
The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (“OUAC”, “we” or “us”) is a division of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). We process applications for admission to Ontario university programs on behalf of the Ontario universities.
We are committed to respecting your privacy. This notice supplements our Privacy Statement and applies when you prepare, complete and submit a university-specific application to an Ontario university. Please read our Privacy Statement.
By applying through the OUAC, you authorize us to collect your personal information directly from you and from other organizations, as necessary, to complete and process your application. You also agree that we will disclose to the university you apply to (the “Chosen University”) the personal information you provide to us and other personal information we collect in connection with your application. The Chosen University collects your personal information through the OUAC in accordance with their enabling legislation for the purposes of recruitment, admission and registration. The university may use and disclose your personal information for other purposes in accordance with their own admission and personal information policies and practices. The notices of collection of personal information for each Ontario university can be found on their websites. Please review the policy of your Chosen University for further information.
Collection of Personal Information
- We collect the personal information you provide in your application, or in reference to your application, as set out in our Privacy Statement, to process your application to your Chosen University, including, if applicable:
- Academic transcripts.
- Your Ontario Education Number (OEN), when it is provided on your transcript; we keep it as a personal identifier for your OUAC Account.
- We may collect information about your status as an Indigenous person of Canada, if you choose to provide it.
- We may collect information about your status as a first-generation (parents/guardians did not attend a university or college) applicant, if you choose to provide it.
- We may collect information about your gender identity, if you choose to provide it. You may select the “Prefer not to answer” response option if you choose not to provide your gender identity.
- We may collect your diversity-based personal information, if you choose to provide it. You may select the “Prefer not to answer” response option available for each question if you choose not to provide your diversity-based personal information. No program, service or benefit will be withheld should you choose not to provide your diversity-based personal information.
- We collect information about the OUAC voucher, if you choose to pay for your application using an OUAC voucher purchased by your Chosen University.
Use of Personal Information
- We use your personal information to compile and process your application, as set out in our Privacy Statement.
- If you order academic transcripts in support of your application, we will use your personal information to process your transcript request.
- We and/or your Chosen University may use your personal information, including but not limited to, your date of birth or OEN, for identification and document matching.
- If you choose to pay for your application using an OUAC voucher purchased by your Chosen University, we may combine the voucher information with your personal, academic, application choice, offer and confirmation information if collected as part of your application to create data and aggregated data and reports. The Chosen University that purchased the OUAC voucher that paid for your application may use the data and aggregated data and reports, in accordance with their own personal information policies and practices, for admission, enrollment and other academic policy development and research purposes.
- We may combine information about your status as an Indigenous person of Canada, your status as a first-generation applicant, your gender identity and/or your diversity-based personal information with your personal, academic, application choice, offer and confirmation information if collected as part of your application to create data and aggregated data and reports. Your Chosen University may use the data and aggregated data and reports, in accordance with their own personal information policies and practices.
Disclosure of Personal Information
- We disclose your personal information, including the personal information in your application, to your Chosen University. This information may include personal, academic, university/program choice data, offers and responses to offers, as set out in our Privacy Statement.
- If you order academic transcripts in support of your application, we disclose your personal information to the institutions where you ordered your transcripts from to process your transcript request.
- If you start but do not submit an application, we may disclose your personal information to your Chosen University. Your Chosen University may use this information to contact you about your unsubmitted application. We will destroy all personal information related to an unsubmitted application, as set out in our Privacy Statement, at the end of the annual application cycle.
- We and/or your Chosen University may notify universities and colleges across Canada and/or regulatory authorities and law enforcement, at our absolute discretion, if you withhold information or submit any information with your application that is determined to be false, misleading or written by a third party, or if it contains evidence of academic dishonesty or inappropriate or unethical conduct.
Applicant’s Declaration
You consent to the personal information practices set out in the OUAC Privacy Statement and the Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure of Your Personal Information Provided as Part of Your University-specific Application.
You certify the following:
I certify that the personal information and documents submitted, or to be submitted, in this application, are true, complete and correct, including my declarations of citizenship and immigration status in Canada. I certify that any applicable autobiographic and personal submissions are true, accurate and authored solely and entirely by me and that all information requested in this application has been disclosed.
I understand that it is my responsibility to keep the OUAC and the university where I have applied or registered informed of any changes to the information in my application, and I agree to update my application immediately after any such change occurs.
You also agree that you must:
- Provide the required personal information requested in this application, along with your application fee. The university will not consider an incomplete application. The university may require additional personal information and/or submissions to complete your application.
- Keep your OUAC username, password and application reference number confidential and secure. You must notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorized access to, use or disclosure of this information.
Note: We and the university reserve the right to verify any information provided as part of your application. If you withhold information or submit any information that is determined to be false, misleading or written by a third party, we and/or the university may, at our absolute discretion, invalidate the application, resulting in its immediate rejection or in the revocation of an offer of admission or registration at a university.
More Information
- Review our Privacy Statement.
- Contact the OUAC Privacy Officer:
Phone: 519-823-1940
Email: privacyofficer@ouac.on.ca