CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB or ‘the School’) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of its applicants, students and candidates, volunteers, contractors, and employees. This privacy statement governs the School’s collection, use, and disclosure of personal information.
Who is CPAWSB?
CPAWSB delivers CPA education to students—people enrolled in CPA preparatory courses and the Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance—and candidates—people enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program—in Western Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Privacy Principles
CPAWSB’s management and protection of personal information is governed by the following privacy legislation (as applicable):
- BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA);
- Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA);
- and because provincial or territorial legislation does not exist in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
All employees, service providers, contractors, and volunteers working on behalf of CPAWSB are responsible for ensuring compliance with CPAWSB’s legal obligations regarding privacy and personal information including securing and protecting personal information in the custody and control of the School.
Personal Information
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual and includes an individual's name, identification number(s), status, home address, birth date, e-mail address, preferred language, gender, phone number, and billing information or credit card number.
Applicants, students, and candidates provide personal information to the School in several ways, including applying to the School or enrolling in a CPA education program, course, or module.
CPAWSB’s website, online services, and some email messages use “cookies” and other similar technologies, such as web beacons, pixel or gif tags, and action tags. Those technologies collect information that assists CPAWSB to improve communications and user experience, provide general statistics regarding use of CPAWSB websites, and confirm that email messages have been delivered and opened.
Non-Personal Information
CPAWSB collects information that is not personal information (non-personal information) for analysis and research. Non-personal information is not about identifiable individuals and/or includes information that has been aggregated and/or anonymized in such a way that it is no longer attributable to specific individuals.
If non-personal information is combined with personal information such that the information can be attributable to an individual, then that information will be considered personal information.
Collecting Personal Information
When CPAWSB collects personal information, it will:
- Limit the collection to the extent that is reasonable for meeting the purposes for which the information is collected;
- Be open and transparent about the information that is being collected and the purpose for the collection;
- Only request and collect personal information from third parties with the subject’s consent (for example, transcripts from prospective students and candidates), except where CPAWSB is legally authorized or required by law to do so without consent;
- Collect, use, or disclose personal information without an individual’s knowledge or consent as permitted by law, or where the individual’s consent is implied.
Protecting Personal Information
CPAWSB employs reasonable safeguards—including administrative, technical, and physical measures—to protect personal information from unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, disposal, or similar risks.
CPAWSB’s online portals use SSL encryption to protect the data stream. When information is entered into one of CPAWSB’s portals, the personal information is retained in a secure database from which personal information can only be accessed by those authorized with special access rights to CPAWSB systems. Authorized users are required to keep the information confidential.
Personal information stored in CPAWSB systems is stored within Canadian data centres.
Using Personal Information
CPAWSB’s use of personal information will be limited to the purposes for which the information was collected. CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information to perform its duties and functions as a School for the training and education of CPA students and candidates, and to facilitate regulatory, compliance, and support purposes including, but not limited to:
- Assessing transcripts and applications for enrollment;
- Administering CPA education programs;
- Corresponding with prospective and current students and candidates;
- Evaluating accommodation and appeal requests; and
- Investigating plagiarism and other forms of misconduct.
Retaining Personal Information
CPAWSB retains personal information as permitted by law, and as may be required to properly deliver and provide CPA education services.
Disclosing Personal Information
To CPA Canada and/or Provincial CPA Bodies
To facilitate program administration, regulation, and/or support, CPAWSB may disclose personal information to CPA Canada and/or provincial CPA bodies, for the purposes of, but not limited to:
- Administering modules and courses and providing students and candidates with access to learning material;
- Supporting students and candidates;
- Enabling provincial CPA bodies to meet regulatory requirements;
- Evaluating and administering medical accommodation requests;
- Investigating suspected violations of academic integrity or professional misconduct policies; and
- As required by law.
Consent for CPAWSB to disclose personal information to CPA Canada or the relevant provincial CPA body can be withdrawn by contacting CPAWSB’s Privacy Officer by mail at CPAWSB – Privacy Officer, Suite 800, 555 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 4N6 or email at privacy@cpawsb.ca; however, a person who withdraws this consent will be unable to continue pursuing CPA studies.
To Employers
CPA PEP candidates can provide their consent for CPAWSB to disclose their academic status and progress to their employers. Candidates can change this selection and update employment information at any time via My CPA portal.
To Suppliers and Service Providers
Trusted third parties who assist CPAWSB in operating its information systems and conducting its business may have access to personal information for the proper administration, management, and maintenance of its information and technology systems and conducting its business.
CPAWSB requires its suppliers and service providers to agree to use personal information only for the purposes for which it is provided to them, and to protect the privacy of personal information in a manner that is consistent with this privacy statement.
Others
In limited circumstances, CPAWSB may disclose personal information without consent as permitted by law, including to comply with a subpoena, warrant or court or arbitral order, or litigation disclosure obligations.
Your Consent
By using CPAWSB’s portals or otherwise providing CPAWSB with personal information, you accept the terms of this Privacy Statement, and consent to CPAWSB collecting, using, retaining, and disclosing any information gathered in accordance with this Privacy Statement, and as permitted by law. CPAWSB will ask for consent if information previously collected for one purpose will be used for another purpose.
Accuracy and Access to Personal Information
You have the right to request access to the personal information in CPAWSB’s custody and control and the right to seek correction if that personal information is incorrect. Submit requests in writing to the CPAWSB privacy officer by emailing privacy@cpawsb.ca.
You can help CPAWSB maintain the accuracy and completeness of your personal information by updating your information in CPAWSB’s portals regularly.
Updated May 2018