Privacy and Confidentiality

Northwestern Polytechnic is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information. All personal information that is collected by NWP, whether through this website (www.NWpolytech.ca) or by other means, is collected and managed on the authority of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the institution's Information Security and Records and Information Management Policies, and other policies that may be specific to the function.

Automatically Collected Information

NWP web servers automatically collect and store the following information from its websites:

• The Internet Protocol (IP) Address and domain name used for the computer accessing the website.
• The type of browser and operating system;
• The date and time of the visit;
• The web pages or services accessed; and
• Popular search phrases.

Information collected automatically is maintained in a secure environment. As per the Information Security Policy, the institution will not use individually identifiable data for other purposes, unless required to do so as part of an internal investigation or other law enforcement purpose.

Summary use reports will be created and used to improve usability on our sites and to help support the online needs of visitors by assessing system performance, and improving web services and website management.

Personal Information Provided Voluntarily in Email and Web Forms

Some personal information, including but not limited to name and email address, may be provided voluntarily by users of NWP websites to request services. Personal information provided voluntarily by email or by filling out a web form will be used only for the purpose for which it was provided and uses directly consistent with that purpose, in conformance with applicable policies and legislation governing the handling of personal information.

Links to Third Party Sites

NWP websites contain some links to other sites. While NWP endeavours to link to other sites that have similar high standards and respect for privacy, we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of other sites.

More Information

Questions or concerns regarding the management of NWP websites and the information collection and use practices connected with them should be directed to:

Questions or concerns regarding privacy protection may be directed to our Information and Privacy Office, at 780-539-2068.

Notification of disclosure of personal information to Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada is the national statistical agency. As such, Statistics Canada carries out hundreds of surveys each year on a wide range of matters, including education.

It is essential to be able to follow students across time and institutions to understand, for example, the factors affecting enrolment demand at postsecondary institutions. The increased emphasis on accountability for public investment means that it is also important to understand ‘outcomes’. In order to conduct such studies, Statistics Canada asks all colleges and universities to provide data on students and graduates. Institutions collect and provide to Statistics Canada student identification information (student’s name, student ID number, Social Insurance Number), student contact information (address and telephone number), student demographic characteristics, and enrolment information.

The federal Statistics Act provides the legal authority for Statistics Canada to obtain access to personal information held by educational institutions. The information may be used for statistical purposes only, and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act prevent the information from being released in any way that would identify a student.

Students may contact Statistics Canada via e-mail if they have any questions: Statcan.PSIS-SIEP.statcan@canada.ca