The University routinely makes large amounts of its institutional information publicly available on the University’s website. Under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), you have the right to request access to your own personal information if the desired information is not available on the University’s website.

Your right to make an information request

How to submit a request for information

Step 1

Complete our Access Request Form

Step 2

Be as specific as possible in describing the records you need. The more specific your request, the more quickly and accurately we can respond to it.

Be sure to check the personal information banks before filling out the Access Request Form to request personal information.

Step 3

If you are being represented by a third party, complete our Authorization for Representation Form.

Step 4

Send the Access Request Form and Authorization for Representation Form (if applicable) to our office.  You can email your forms to [email protected], send them by letter mail (see address below) or bring them directly to our office.

Step 5 

Pay the $5 application fee through our eStore. For more information on how to pay electronically, please consult our eStore AIPO FAQ.

You can also send cash, a cheque or money order (payable to the University of Ottawa) to our office.

Access to Information and Privacy Office
Tabaret Hall
550 Cumberland Street, Room M407
Ottawa, ON
K1N 6N5

Access request timeline

We will make every reasonable effort to respond to your request within 30 calendar days of receipt of your request and application fee, as prescribed by FIPPA. However, the Chief Privacy Officer may extend this deadline in accordance with FIPPA.

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How the University handles access to information requests

To learn more about how the University handles access information requests, see the University’s Procedure 20-5 – Handling Access to Information Requests.
Procedure 20-5 – Handling Access to Information Requests

Payment of fees

You can pay your fees in the following ways:

  • Cash (exact amount required)
  • Certified cheque or money order made payable to the University of Ottawa
  • Online through our eStore — see the eStore AIPO FAQ.

If you’re paying your application fees online, submit your Access Request Form to [email protected] before making a payment. For all other fees, wait until we’ve issued an interim or final decision to you before making a payment.

If you have any questions or require additional assistance, contact our office by email at [email protected] or by phone at 613-562-5800 ext. 1851.

Your right to file an appeal

If you are not satisfied with the University’s decision with regard to your request for access to information or for a correction of your personal information (for example, you are denied access to records or the fees charged are incorrect), you may appeal the decision of the Chief Privacy Officer by filing an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

You must file an appeal with the Commissioner no later than 30 calendar days after receiving notice of the decision you wish to appeal.

Information and Privacy Commissioner / Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400 
Toronto, Ontario 
M4W 1A8
Telephone: 1 (800) 387-0073 
Fax: (416) 325-9195  

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Retention of your personal information

The University may no longer have a copy of the personal information you are seeking because it may have been disposed of in accordance with the University’s records and retention schedule.
Learn more about Record Classification and Retention Schedule