startGBC is an operating name that belongs to George Brown College and all team members and working practices under the startGBC brand adhere to the standard policies set by George Brown College, all policies can be viewed on the George Brown College website policy page.
This document describes how we collect use and disclose the personal information of students, prospective students, and alumni. We adhere to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and all applicable laws.
General Collection Notice:
George Brown College (the “College”) collects personal information under the authority of the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The College collects personal information for the purposes of administering its statutory objects and powers, programs, and activities, and to carry out other services and functions. The College will secure personal information securely and use it for such purposes as set out in the George Brown Notice of Collection. If you have any questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information at the College, please visit the Privacy Policy page. You may also contact the Privacy Office via email at privacy@georgebrown.ca.
WHO ARE WE?
George Brown College is a publicly-funded college located in Toronto, Ontario. In this document, we refer to ourselves using “we,” “our” or “GBC.”
WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
The personal information we collect, store, use and/or disclose includes the following:
- name, address, and contact details (including postal address, e-mail address, and telephone number);
- date of birth;
- bank account and credit card details;
- educational history, test scores, and similar information collected in applications for study;
- information about accommodation needs, whether they are health-related or related to other personal characteristics protected by human rights legislation;
- financial information, including financial information about family members; and
- information about transactions and dealings with us, for example;
- payments made to GBC and by GBC;
- communications with us about attending GBC;
- courses and programs taken, academic performance and awards; and
- activities undertaken as a GBC alumnus (e.g., events attended, donations made).
We use video surveillance on our campuses. We also monitor our IT systems (including our communication and online learning systems). This involves collecting and using information about system use.
We may collect other categories of personal information but the personal information collected and the purposes for which it will be retained, used, and/or disclosed will be described to you at the time at or before the time at which collection occurs.
HOW DO WE COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION?
We collect personal information directly, indirectly, and via website technology.
Directly
We collect personal information when individuals communicate with us, apply directly to us, or fill out our forms.
We also create records of our dealings with individuals that include personal information. For example, we create and maintain a student record for every GBC student.
Indirectly
We collect personal information from a number of third-party sources where individuals have provided appropriate consent to us or the third party. There may also be limited instances where we collect personal information without consent where required or permitted by law.
The Ontario College Application Service receives and provides us with applications for our programs. We also work with international recruiting agents who provide us with information about prospective international students.
We conduct academic integrity, student conduct, and other investigations that require us to collect documentation and gather information from witnesses.
Via website technology
Like many organizations, we automatically collect information about visitors to our websites. We describe this in greater detail in the “website technology” section of this document and also in our Cookie Policy.
WHY DO WE COLLECT AND USE PERSONAL INFORMATION?
We collect personal information for the following primary purposes:
- to communicate (including recruiting, promoting, and fundraising);
- to audit and assess our programs and services;
- to enroll students in programs of study; and
- to deliver academic and administrative services.
These purposes apply in the following instances:
- we communicate and market to potential students, current students, and alumni, including by engaging in online marketing;
- we process student applications, leading to program enrolment;
- we deliver educational services, recording academic performance in a formal student record that we retain as a record of students’ accomplishments; and
- we engage with our alumni, both to measure our results and build a relationship with alumni that supports our mandate.
- We use data about the use of our online learning and other IT systems to support IT troubleshooting, maintenance, and data security, tailor the delivery of IT services, and support learning and teaching. Teachers may use data about access to course materials, for example, to follow up with students who have fallen behind. We may also use online proctoring technology that collects video images and other data from the test-taking process to maintain academic integrity.
HOW DO WE USE E-MAIL AND OTHER ELECTRONIC ADDRESSES?
We comply with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation. For more information, see our Anti-Spam Commitment.
WHO HAS ACCESS TO OUR RECORDS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Our employees and contractors have access to personal information to the extent that they have a “need to know” the information to perform their job duties. They are required to handle the information in accordance with our Guidelines on Secure Handling of Confidential Information.
We also use service providers to securely process and store personal information on our behalf.
In addition, we disclose personal information to the following organizations for fundraising and alumni engagement purposes and to support the development of public policy.
George Brown College Foundation
The George Brown College Foundation is an incorporated registered charity that helps the College raise money to support student success through scholarships and bursaries as well as through larger initiatives.
The College provides the Foundation with personal information, as listed above or provided for an articulated purpose, about graduates to enable fundraising. Individuals may opt-out by contacting the Freedom of Information & Privacy Officer (contact information below).
Alumni affinity marketing partners
We have entered arrangements to provide our alumni with special offers on various financial services products such as home and car insurance. Products and service offerings can vary from time to time.
Our partnership with The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife), for the purposes of offering health, life, and financial services products to our alumni requires a level of data sharing to support our outreach to alumni. Data is shared with Manulife to ensure that alumni are not cross-promoted products through their affiliation with other post-secondary partner institutions. Data that is shared includes first name, last name, email, and mailing address.
Our partnership with Economical Mutual Insurance Company (Economical), for the purposes of offering alumni home and auto insurance to our alumni, requires data sharing to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in program execution. To facilitate this partnership, we provide Economical with data to support our segmentation analysis efforts.
For both partnerships, communication is sent to alumni through the Alumni and Digital Engagement team at George Brown College.
To opt-out of alumni marketing, you may contact our Alumni and Digital Engagement department at alumni@georgebrown.ca or by phone at 416.415.5000 x 2535.
Student exchange partner institutions
We share personal information, for the purpose of facilitating international exchange opportunities, with the following institutions:
- Manchester Metropolitan University;
- Edinburgh Napier University;
- IADT Dublin;
- Politecnico di Milano; and
- KEA – Copenhagen School of Design and Technology.
THE PERSONAL INFORMATION SHARED WITH EXCHANGE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
- Biographical and contact information (including name, date of birth, postal address, e-mail address, and telephone number);
- Where needed for registration purposes, financial information including transactional data and limited bank account and credit card details;
- Educational history, awards, academic recognitions, transcripts, test scores, and similar information collected in applications for study; and
- Where appropriate, information about accommodation needs, whether they are health-related or related to other personal characteristics protected by human rights legislation.
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada asks all Canadian colleges and universities to provide data on students and graduates. We, therefore, collect and provide Statistics Canada student personal information, including student names, student ID numbers, Social Insurance Numbers, student contact information (addresses and telephone numbers), student demographic characteristics, enrolment information, previous education, and labour force activity.
The Statistics Act provides the legal authority for Statistics Canada to obtain access to this information. It may be used only for statistical purposes, and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act prevent the information from being released in any way that would identify a student.
Students who do not wish to have their information used may ask Statistics Canada to remove their identification and contact information from the national database. Further information on the use of this information can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s website at statcan.gc.ca or by writing:
Post-Secondary Section
Centre for Education Statistics
17th Floor, R.H. Coats Building
Tunney’s Pasture
Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6
Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities
We periodically disclose personal information such as Ontario Education Numbers, student characteristics, and educational outcomes to the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities under section 15 of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act. The Ministry collects personal information for purposes such as planning, allocating, and administering public funding to colleges, universities, and other post-secondary educational and training institutions and conducting 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. Further information on how the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities uses this personal information is available on the Ministry’s website.
Further information on the collection and use of student-level enrolment-related data can be obtained from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website at tcu.gov.on.ca or by writing:
Director, Post-Secondary Finance and Information Management Branch
Post-Secondary Education Division
7th Floor, Mowat Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2
WHAT IS OUR SOURCE OF AUTHORITY FOR HANDLING PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Our mandate is established by section 2 of the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002:
“to offer a comprehensive program of career-oriented, post-secondary education and training to assist individuals in finding and keeping employment, to meet the needs of employers and the changing work environment, and to support the economic and social development of their local and diverse communities.”
Ontario law gives us the authority to collect, use and disclose personal information as needed to meet this mandate and for “consistent purposes.” This is the primary basis for our handling of personal information, though we may ask you for your consent and we also regularly rely on the various other permitted purposes for using and disclosing personal information that is set out in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. These include an allowance for using and disclosing personal information in our alumni records for fundraising purposes provided we meet certain requirements.
You may see a copy of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act here.
HOW DO WE USE WEBSITE TECHNOLOGY?
Like many organizations, we log visits to our websites. Our logs include data about visitors’ operating systems, web browser types, and information about how users entered our site (e.g., search terms and links) and what users do on the Website. We use this data to understand how our website is accessed and used and to plan for future enhancements to our website. We log this information by IP address and, if you subscribe to one of our web-based accounts, by your account.
We also use cookie technology. For more information see your Cookie Policy.
HOW DO WE SECURE AND RETAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION
We employ reasonable security measures to protect personal information from loss, theft, and unauthorized access use, and disclosure. Employees and contractors who access personal information in working for us must follow our Guidelines on Secure Handling of Confidential Information.
We create and maintain an official student record in accordance with our Office of the Registrar Policies. We retain this record permanently in a student information system in Canada.
DO I HAVE RIGHTS UNDER THE GDPR?
Individuals who are in European Union have rights arising out of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation or “GDPR.”
For a list of rights that may apply under that legislation, click here.
WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT DATA PROTECTION AT GEORGE BROWN?
For more information please contact our privacy office at privacy@georgebrown.ca or 416-415-5000 ext. 4646. You may also contact our privacy office for questions about the application of the privacy policy to your situation.
COOKIE POLICY
Cookies are small text files that are stored on the browser or hard drive of your computer or mobile device when you visit a webpage or application. A “session cookie” stores temporary information that is deleted when you close your web browser or turn off your computer or device. A “persistent cookie” enables the site to recognize when you return to it and remains stored on your computer until you delete it. Cookies work to make your experience browsing our site as smooth as possible by remembering your preferences the next time you visit the site.
The College websites may use the following types of cookies as described here:
- Essential cookies allow you to be able to experience the full functionality of our site. For example, these cookies make it easier to access College services on our websites.
- Performance cookies tell us how you use our site and help us to improve it. For example, these cookies count the number of visitors to our website and see how visitors move around when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our site works, for example, by ensuring that users find what they are looking for easily.
- Customizer cookies allow our site to remember your preferences, helping to customize your experience on our site.
- Advertising cookies are used to deliver advertising content that is relevant to you. These cookies are placed on our site by us or our third-party service providers to track the effectiveness of our ad campaigns.
All of our cookies are kept for relatively short time duration and cookie data is either stored in an anonymized state or in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please note that, within your browser, you can choose whether you wish to accept cookies or not. Different browsers make different controls available to you. Generally, your browser will offer you the choice to accept, refuse or delete cookies at all times, or those from providers that website owners use i.e. third-party cookies or those from specific websites. Each browser’s website should contain instructions on how you can do this
GUIDELINES ON SECURE HANDLING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
COOKIE POLICY
OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS