Ontario University Graduate Survey Privacy and Disclosure Statement

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has contracted CCI Research Inc. and Forum Research Inc. (the contractors) to conduct the annual Ontario University Graduate Survey of labour market outcomes (the survey). The purpose of this survey is to compile and publish aggregate information about employment status, job characteristics and continued schooling in a way that does not identify any individual. This information is used for research and to help current and future students make informed decisions about their postsecondary options and career choices. Participation in the survey is voluntary.

Every university has provided the names, student numbers, contact information, university program information, gender and language of communication of its graduates to the contractors for the purpose of conducting the survey.

The ministry requires the contractors to protect privacy by:

  • Using the personal information for the sole purpose of conducting the survey.
  • Providing only depersonalized (name, student number, and contact information removed) survey responses and summary reports at the aggregated level to the universities and the ministry.
  • Assigning a unique survey number to each graduate and using it only to:
    • Determine if his or her response has been received;
    • Compile survey data based on graduate characteristics; and
    • Manage incentives and prizes.
  • Protecting personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including:
    • Storing it in a physically secure location separate from other records; and,
    • Applying administrative, technical and physical safeguards that protect against unauthorized access, use, modification and disclosure of personal information.
  • Securely destroying all personal information and survey data 18 months after the depersonalized survey responses and summary reports have been transmitted to and reviewed by the universities and the ministry.

The ministry will use the results of the survey to:

  • Publish aggregate information about labour market outcomes;
  • Evaluate postsecondary funding, programs and policy; for policy analysis and for statistical activities relating to postsecondary education; and
  • Support other research projects consistent with these objectives carried out by third parties.

The most recent survey results can be found at www.ontario.ca/universityoutcomes.