School of Nursing - The Chang School - Ryerson University

APPENDIX D
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
[FIPPA]
FIPPA is a provincial statute which was previously applied to government agencies and colleges but as of
June 10, 2006 is applied to universities.
There are two principles to FIPPA regarding the collection or use of personal information. First,
Transparency, which means access to information. Second, Privacy, which assures that personal
information and privacy must be protected.
This act is applied to records that include an individual’s personal information that is requested of the
individual by the University or held by the University. It applies to all recording means such as printed,
electronic, film, email, blackberry messages. It does not include archival records, research and teaching
materials. For research materials there must be disclosure of the subject and amount of research.
FIPPA requires that individuals must be notified of the University’s legal authority to collect information,
the purpose of the information collection, and a contact person who can answer questions about the
collection. In the case of the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing it is the Placement Manager.
Samples of forms requiring a FIPPA disclosure include health records, placement applications, collection
of student phone numbers and emails. If you are collecting preceptor information you don’t need to use
FIPPA if a business address and contact information is collected. The use of home address or number
would require a FIPPA statement. The statement that must be added to a form is as follows,
Protection of Privacy
The information on this form is collected under the authority of the Ryerson University Act and is
needed to process your application for____________. The information will be used in connection
with_________. If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of this
information by the University please contact the Central Placement Manager at (416) 979-5000,
extension 6573.
Under this statute, any personal information collected must be kept for one year in order to comply with
the access to information under the transparency principle. There is a process for access of information
which is administered by Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing designated contact person, the Placement
Manager.
For further or detailed information about procedures, a binder with information about FIPPA is available in
the Placement Office.
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