GDPR Privacy Notice

EU General Data Protection Regulation Privacy Notice for Oakland University – Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

This Privacy Notice applies to Oakland University’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) and is intended to comply with the European Union’s (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). This Privacy Notice applies to personal data that Oakland University collects or processes about an individual (“Data Subject”) while the Data Subject is located in the EU, regardless of whether the Data Subject is a citizen or permanent resident of an EU country.  “Personal Data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable Data Subject.

Lawful Basis or Bases for Collecting and Processing Personal Data

Oakland University is an institution of higher education that offers courses to undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students, conducts academic and sponsored research, and participates in various community engagement activities. The OIRA collects, processes and uses Personal Data to conduct research on factors associated with student success and student engagement on behalf of Oakland University, as well as to complete state and federal reporting requirements. 

Oakland University’s and the OIRA’s lawful basis or bases for collecting and processing personal data include one or more of the following: 

• Processing is necessary for the legitimate interests pursued by Oakland University or third parties in providing or conducting research on factors associated with student success and student engagement.
• Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the Data Subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the Data Subject prior to entering into a contract.
• Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which Oakland University is subject.
• The Data Subject has given consent for the processing of his or her Personal Data for one or more specific purposes. In the case of a Data Subject who is under 16 years of age, consent must be given or authorized by the Data Subject’s parent or legal guardian.
• Processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the Data Subject or of another person.
• Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

Types of Personal Data Collected/Processed and Purpose

The OIRA collects the following categories of Personal Data in order to provide the academic units and university administration with information to evaluate the effectiveness of student success initiatives and factors associated with student engagement: 

• Name
• Contact information including, without limitation, email address, physical address, phone number, and other location data
• Unique personal identifiers and biographical information (e.g. date of birth)
• Details of your education and/or employment qualifications, including but not limited to course grades, grade point average, academic major, and degree awarded
• Information related to residency status including visa type
• Financial information gathered for the purposes of administering fees and charges, loans, grants, scholarships, etc.

The Personal Data that the OIRA collects may be shared with: academic units and university administration for the purpose of understanding factors associated with student success and student engagement. 

If you have specific questions regarding the collection and use of your Personal Data, please contact the Director of Office of Institutional Research and Assessment at [email protected]. 

If a Data Subject refuses to provide Personal Data that Oakland University requires in connection with one of Oakland University’s lawful basis or bases for collecting such Personal Data, such refusal may make it impossible for Oakland University to provide education, employment, research or other requested services.

Where Oakland University gets Personal and Sensitive Personal Data

Oakland University receives personal and sensitive Personal Data from multiple sources. Most often, Oakland University gets this data directly from the Data Subject or under the direction of the Data Subject who has provided it to a third party. In addition to data collected from the Data Subject, OIRA collects data from state and federal reporting organizations that monitor educational outcomes of students at other institutions (e.g., Center for Educational Performance and Information, National Student Clearinghouse). 

Individual Rights of the Data Subject under the GDPR

In addition to the right to receive the information provided in this Privacy Notice, Data Subjects covered by this Privacy Notice have the right to:    

• Request from Oakland University access to and rectification or erasure of Personal Data or restriction of processing concerning the Data Subject, the right to object to processing and the right to portability of Personal Data;
• Where processing is based upon consent, to withdraw consent at any time, without affecting Oakland University’s right to process Personal Data based upon consent before its withdrawal;
• The right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority appointed by an EU member state for the purpose of receiving complaints;
• Additional notice of the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling;
• If the Personal Data is going to be further processed for a purpose other than that for which it was collected, then notice of the purpose and basis or bases for the further processing;
• If Personal Data is collected for Oakland University’s legitimate interests or for a task carried out in the public interest, then the Data Subject has the right to object, on the grounds of his or her particular situation, to the processing of Personal Data concerning him or her (including profiling);
• Where Personal Data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the right to object at any time to processing Personal Data concerning him or her for such marketing; and
• Not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her or similarly significantly affects him or her; provided, however, that this right does not apply if the decision is (a) necessary for entering into, or performance of, a contract between the Data Subject and Oakland University; or (b) is based upon the Data Subject’s consent.

Note: ExercE of these rights guarantees access to a process but does not guarantee any particular outcome.

Any Data Subject who wishes to exercise any of the above-mentioned rights may do so by filling such request with the Director of Office of Institutional Research and Assessment at [email protected].   

Cookies

Cookies are files that many websites transfer to users’ web browsers to enable the site to deliver personalized services or to provide persistent authentication. The information contained in a cookie typically includes information collected automatically by the web server and/or information provided voluntarily by the user. Oakland University’s website uses persistent cookies in conjunction with a third party technology partner to analyze search engine usage and web traffic patterns. This information is used in the aggregate to monitor and enhance our web pages. It is not used to track the usage patterns of individual users.

Security of Personal Data subject to the EU GDPR

All Personal Data and sensitive Personal Data collected or processed by Oakland University under the scope of the GDPR must comply with the security controls and systems and process requirements and standards set forth in Oakland University’s Administrative Policies and Procedures as they are amended from time-to-time, including without limitation:

• Policy No. 830, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/830/
• Policy No. 850, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/850/
• Policy No. 860, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/860/
• Policy No. 870, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/870/
• Policy No. 880, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/880/
• Policy No. 890, https://www.oakland.edu/policies/information-technology/890/

Oakland University will not share your Personal Data with third parties except:

• as necessary to meet one of its lawful purposes, including  but not limited to, its legitimate interest, contract compliance, pursuant to consent provided by the Data Subject, or as required by law;
• as necessary to protect Oakland University’s interests;
• with service providers acting on Oakland University’s behalf who have agreed to protect the confidentiality of the Personal Data.

Data Retention

Oakland University maintains records for the time periods specified in its Records Retention and Disposal Policy, Administrative Policy 481, located at https://www.oakland.edu/policies/generalgovernance/481/.