Personal Information - What is it?

Under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and Protection of Privacy Act (POPA), personal information means recorded information about an identifiable individual, including but not limited to:

  • the individual’s name, home or business address, home or business telephone number, home or business email address, or other contact information, except where the individual has provided the information on behalf of the individual’s employer or principal in the individual’s capacity as an employee or agent, 
  • the individual’s race, national or ethnic origin, colour or religious or political beliefs or associations,
  • the individual’s age, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or family status,
  • an identifying number, symbol or other particular assigned to the individual,
  • the individual’s fingerprints, other biometric information, blood type, genetic information or inheritable characteristics,
  • information about the individual’s health and health care history, including information about the individual’s physical or mental health,
  • information about the individual’s educational, financial, employment or criminal history, including criminal records where a pardon has been given,
  • anyone else’s opinions about the individual, and
  • the individual’s personal views or opinions, except if they are about someone else. 

University Context

Here are some examples of the types of personal information which you may see and have access to if you are an employee of the University:

  • Grades
  • Campus Computing ID (CCID)
  • Student ID number, employee number, social insurance number, or health care number
  • Date of birth
  • An employee’s application for employment, reference checks, salary, employee evaluation records, or personnel file
  • Photos, videos or audio recordings which capture an individual’s image or voice
  • Specific classes a student is taking
  • Financial status
  • Membership in a club
  • The fact that an individual is using certain services, such as Accessibility and Accommodations (Academic Success Centre) or the Office of the Student Ombuds 
  • Discipline record
  • Any interactions with University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS)
  • Survey results which do not include individuals’ names, but include other information about individuals such as Faculty and Department, age, postal code, opinions, etc. If enough indirect identifiers about an individual are put together, then it can become reasonably likely that an individual could be identified from such information.