Policy Concerning Access to Records
The University sends statements of account and all other correspondence directly to students. You retain full control over who has access to your records or accounts; however, officers and members of the University staff also have access to relevant parts of your records for recognized and legitimate use. The University does not send progress reports or any other information to your parents and/or sponsors unless you specifically request it in writing.
Personal information is protected in the Province of Quebec by the Act Respecting Access to Documents Held by Public Bodies and the Protection of Personal Information (the “Access Act”). The Access Act provides that McGill University can only release personal information contained in your file with your authorization or if specifically authorized by law.
For the purpose of consent and acknowledgement at the time of application, personal information includes, but is not limited to: name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, citizenship, McGill ID, program, student status, and academic record information.
Registered students may oppose the release of certain personal information by completing an Opposition Form.
After having reviewed the information relating to access to personal information at the time of application, you will be asked to agree that the University may collect, use, disclose, or otherwise manage your personal information as described below, as necessary and as the case may be.
At the time of application, you will be asked to consent to the release of personal information contained in your admissions or student records file to the following persons or bodies, as necessary to each body, in the exercise of their mission:
- student associations recognized by McGill University for the categories of student to which you belong (limited to your contact and program information);
- schools or colleges that you have attended;
- a professional body or corporation, where relevant;
- the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration and/or the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec; Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada; and/or the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur;
- Universities Canada, the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada, and the BCI (Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire, previously known as CREPUQ), or the member institutions of these organizations, for the purpose of admissions operations and the production of statistics;
- libraries of other Quebec universities with which McGill has established reciprocal borrowing agreements;
- the appropriate authorities involved with external or internal funding of your fees (financial records may also be disclosed to such authorities);
- students and alumni of the University who have volunteered to speak with students for the purpose of facilitating their integration into the University;
- other universities and colleges, at the discretion of the University, if any information connected to your application is determined to be false and misleading, concealed or withheld, or contains evidence of academic dishonesty or inappropriate conduct;
- regulatory authorities, law enforcement or other persons, as authorized or required by law; and
- McGill Network and Communications Services for the purpose of listing your McGill email address in an online email directory.
In addition to the above, if you are a candidate for admission to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, you will be asked to authorize the University to request letters of reference on your behalf from referees you have identified, with the understanding that each referee would be provided with information indicating that you have applied to be admitted to McGill University, including your name, the McGill program you have applied to, the academic term when you wish to begin your studies at McGill, and your statement describing how the referee knows you.
In addition to the above, if you are a candidate for admission to the Faculty of Law, you will be asked to consent to the release of personal information to the Committee for Law Admissions Statistics Services and Innovations (CLASSI) and the Native Law Centre Summer Program at the Native Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan.
In addition to the above, if you are a candidate for admission to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences or to the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences in undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate studies, you will be asked to consent to the release of personal information to other schools of medicine; to Employment and Social Development Canada; to the Ministère du Travail, de L'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale of Quebec; to a McGill professor, researcher or graduate student, strictly for research or teaching purposes; and to a University teaching/affiliated hospital or health centre to which you apply/or join for residency or rotations.
In addition to the above, if you are a candidate for admission to the Schulich School of Music, you will be asked to consent to the use of your name and images in public recognition of academic achievement and in the advertising and audio and video recording of student ensemble concerts for distribution using different media and formats.
At the time of application, you will be asked to authorize the University to:
- collect and maintain your personal information for the purpose of administering your University admissions and student record files;
- obtain copies of your transcripts from the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur; the Ontario Universities' Application Centre; and/or the British Columbia Ministry of Education;
- make inquiries to and obtain personal information from the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and/or the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec to verify the validity of your immigration or health insurance status;
- validate with the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur information regarding your citizenship and previous institution attended, if necessary and as required in order to manage the admissions process and to determine your tuition fees;
- verify any information or statement provided as part of your application; and
- contact you through the McGill Alumni Association and University offices that maintain contact with McGill students, alumni, and friends for the purpose of providing University updates and opportunities for direct support to the University, including fundraising and making available special offers such groups may benefit from.
At the time of application, you will be asked to acknowledge that:
- an admission granted based on incomplete, incorrect, or false information contained in your application or supporting documents may be revoked at the sole discretion of the University. The University reserves the right to revoke admission at any time; and
- if admitted to McGill University, you will be bound by the statutes, rules, regulations, and policies in place from time to time at McGill University and at the faculty or faculties in which you will be registered, including those policies contained in the University calendars and related fee documents. You will undertake to observe all such statutes, rules, regulations, and policies. Your obligations would commence with your registration and terminate in accordance with the University's statutes, regulations, and policies.