SIAST - Privacy Statement

SIAST is committed to protecting the privacy and the personal information of applicants, current students, past students, and any members of the public who share information with SIAST students or employees as part of the delivery of SIAST programs or services.

SIAST is a "local authority" pursuant to The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LAFOIP). Accordingly, SIAST has a responsibility in many instances to provide access to records that are in its possession and control. SIAST also has a duty to protect the personal information that it acquires in the course of delivering its programs and services. SIAST strives to ensure that both SIAST and any third parties working with SIAST comply with not only LAFOIP, but also with any other legislation that may apply to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information of any kind.

Access to Information

To learn more about the types of records which may be accessed and to see how to make an Access to Information Request, please refer to SIAST's Freedom of Information Statement.

Protecting Your Personal Information

What is Personal Information?
According to LAFOIP, "personal information" is "personal information about an identifiable individual that is recorded in any form".  Many specific types of information are included within the definition including, but not limited to: an individual's name (where it appears with any other personal information relating to the individual, or where the name itself reveals information about the individual); any identifying number or symbol assigned to an individual; and information relating to an individual's educational history.

When does SIAST Collect Personal Information?
SIAST collects personal information in a variety of circumstances, including, but not limited to:

• Completion, by prospective students, of an application for admission to SIAST programs or courses;
• Completion of a student registration form following admission to a program or course;
• Collection of academic information as a student progresses through a program or course;
• Collection of financial information when a student pays fees and tuition;
• Collection of financial information and customer profile information when a student chooses to utilize SIAST's website to make any purchase or to pay fees or tuition, or for a similar circumstance; and
• Provision of health services to any student or to any member of the public.

What Personal Information does SIAST Collect?
SIAST collects a variety of personal information at different stages of its dealings with a prospective or enrolled student.  Information collected will vary, depending upon an individual's use of various programs and benefits.  This information may include (but is not limited to): 

• Full name and mailing information;
• Social Insurance Number;
• Citizenship status;
• Marital Status;
• Birth date;
• Health Services Number;
• Personal health information;
• Emergency Contact information;
• E-mail address and account information; and
• Student ID number.

How does SIAST use Personal Information?
SIAST uses the personal information for a variety of purposes, including: 

• To facilitate delivery of all SIAST programs and services to both students and, in some cases, to members of the public;
• To deliver all facets of SIAST's educational programming;
• To ensure the maintenance of academic integrity at SIAST and to protect the quality and standards associated with SIAST designations;
• For administrative and statistical purposes;
• To process payment of tuition and other fees, including student association fees;
• To assist student associations to administer programs and benefits to their members (including the student health and dental insurance plan, where applicable);
• To collect debts owing to SIAST;
• To administer development and alumni operations;
• To determine eligibility for alumni benefits;
• To facilitate on-line payment of tuition, fees and purchasing from campus bookstores;   
• To make computing resources, electronic communication services, computer network and other information technology infrastructure available to students, faculty and staff, and to ensure the performance, security, integrity and proper use of that technology.
• To comply with LAFOIP and all applicable laws.

Consent
SIAST will collect your personal information with your consent, though in some cases that consent may be reasonably implied.  Browser, IP address and website usage information may be collected in the course of an individual's use of the SIAST website.  Specific consent will be inferred where an individual uses a website to provide specific personal information.   

Information Technology and Electronic Communication Services
SIAST relies upon all applicable policies, as amended from time to time, including: Information Technology Security #G-4.2; Electronic Communication Services Policy #O-3.9; Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources Policy #O-3.10; and Data Management Policy #O-3.3.  Use of SIAST's computing resources, electronic communication services, computer network and/or information technology signifies acceptance of all applicable policies as amended from time to time. 

SIAST Information Technology Services has the right to examine files, data and email to, among other things: diagnose and correct system hardware and software problems and to address any violations of any applicable SIAST policy. 

E-mail addresses and communications initiated from or delivered to any SIAST e-mail account or electronic communication server are the property of SIAST, and users of such services should be aware that they do not have a complete right of privacy to their electronic communication records. SIAST does not routinely monitor individual use of electronic communication tools and services, but it may do so to the extent permitted by law and as necessary to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the systems.  SIAST reserves the right to inspect and disclose the contents of any e-mail sent or received using SIAST electronic communication accounts, and the content any individual posts on any SIAST discussion boards, when legal circumstances reasonably prompt such inspection and disclosure, or when SIAST conducts an investigation into possible misuse or misconduct by any user of these services.

Disclosure
SIAST will rarely disclose your personal information to any third party without your consent. You may provide your consent by completing and signing the SIAST Consent to Release Information form. SIAST may disclose your personal information without your express consent in limited circumstances, including:  

• To third parties with whom we partner to provide various products and services that are reasonably contemplated by your use of SIAST programs and services or by your decision to make any online purchases;   
• To comply with any applicable laws or any lawful investigation, or whenever SIAST is legally compelled to do so.  In such cases, SIAST may or may not notify you of this release, at SIAST's own discretion and based upon the nature and conditions surrounding the release of the information;
• To investigate and report suspected academic dishonesty, illegal or fraudulent conduct or misuse of any of SIAST's programs, services, or technology;
• To protect the mental or physical health or safety of any individual; and
• To collect a debt owing to SIAST.

Access
As noted above, individuals may request access to their personal information which is retained by SIAST by completing an access request according to the procedure outlined in our Freedom of Information Statement.

SIAST's Policy #A-2.3 - Confidentiality of Personal Information and Records of Applicants and Students addresses situations where transcripts and information pertaining to student enrolment will be released and the steps to be taken to seek access to such information.

Retention
SIAST retains your information for as long as needed to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and for as long as needed to comply with the most current Administrative Records Management System issued by the Saskatchewan Archives Board.  Specific retention periods will also apply to final examination instruments and student record information.   

Alumni may always revoke consent for SIAST to maintain information for the purposes of delivering alumni development and operations.

Protection
SIAST takes a number of physical and technological measures to safeguard your Personal Information.  Please refer to various SIAST policies listed below.   

Other SIAST Policies Respecting Access to and Protection of Personal Information
Additional SIAST policies are listed below.  They may change from time to time.  Polices can all be found online at: http:/goSIAST.com/about-siast/about-us/policies.aspx

• Confidentiality of Personal Information and Records of Applicants and Students #A-2.3
• Record Retention and Disposal Policy #O-5.3
• Information Technology Security #G-4.2
• Video Surveillance Policy #O-1.4
• External Application and Data Hosting Policy #O-3.1
• Data Management Policy #O-3.3
• Electronic Communication Services Policy #O-3.9
• Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources Policy #O-3.10

Links to FAQ's relating to a number of the policies are provided in the electronic version of the relevant policy.

SIAST Privacy Head

Questions about this privacy statement or concerns about your privacy or about access to information may be directed, in writing, to SIAST's Privacy Head at the following address:

Sylvia J. Dycer - Privacy Head
SIAST Administrative Offices 
400 - 119 4^th Ave. S
Saskatoon SK S7K 5X2
Fax: (306) 933-7323
e-mail: privacyhead@siast.sk.ca

Additional Resources

Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner 
503 - 1801 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4B4  Telephone:  (306) 787-8350
Toll Free Telephone (within Saskatchewan): 1-877-748-2298
Facsimile:  (306) 798-1603
e-mail:  webmaster@oipc.sk.ca
Website: http://www.oipc.sk.ca/default.htm