Privacy Policy

The/La Collaborative’s Inquiry Learning (the “Service” or the “Application”) is the registered brand name for a platform owned by McMaster University. The/La Collaborative (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”)

This page explains how your information and Personal Data will be collected, used, stored and protected in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy and any applicable legislation. By using the Service, you consent to the terms and conditions as set out in this Policy.

Information we collect

We will automatically record information about your activity on the Application. This may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, operating system, geolocation information, locale preferences, identification numbers associated with your computers and mobile devices, your mobile carrier, date and time stamps associated with transactions, system configuration information, metadata, and other electronic interactions with the Company and the Application.

While using the Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information (“Personal Data”). Personal Data may include, but is not limited to:

  • your name,
  • e-mail address,
  • institution/school board
  • professional rank, and
  • areas of research and teaching

How we use your information and Personal Data

We may use the Data for internal program evaluation, quality assurance and quality improvement without additional REB approval, per Article 2.5 in the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS). If we decide to use the Data for research purposes, as defined in the TCPS Article 2.1, then we must seek REB approval for secondary use of data for research purposes through their institutional REB (if the Recipient’s institution is subject to TCPS requirements).

We anticipate that for most studies (e.g., those using data collected in the past, duly de-identified) the research ethics committee might waive the need for your specific individual consent. In all cases, the information will be coded so that researchers using the data bank, which may contain your information and/or Personal Data, will not have access to any identifying information. Your email address will never be provided to third parties. We may use your e-mail address to inform you about updates of the Service, research projects you may be entitled to participate through the Service, or any other similar activity. We will limit the volume of these communications to the lowest possible level.

In order to facilitate their interactions on the Application, Users are able, where they deem appropriate, to upload information including personal identifying information. Users should only upload information to the extent that such information enhances their experience of using the Application. Any personal information gathered will be handled within the boundaries of FIPPA.

How we store and protect your data

We will store your information in electronic format on industry-standard servers that we have selected. Except where required to do so by law, we will not store your personal information in any physical or paper-based format.

The servers we select to store information engage security software and generally accepted standards to protect personal information. The software used by these servers is intended to prevent unauthorized access or improper use.

However, no security system is perfect and there is always a risk of unauthorized parties accessing your personal information. Therefore, we make no guarantees or representations as to the technical or legal compliance of the servers we use. We cannot guarantee the complete protection and security of your personal information.

Our servers may be located outside of Canada, and thus are potentially subject to the privacy and security laws in force in other countries. If you have concerns about your personal information being stored electronically in foreign jurisdictions, please contact us before proceeding to use the Application.

In the event the personal information of a User is disclosed as the result of any breach of security of the Application or its servers, regardless of who is at fault, we will take steps to advise all known affected Users within a reasonable timeframe of learning of the breach.

Data will be deleted if a user is deleted, or at the request of the user.

If you experience a privacy breach, please alert us immediately at info@yourcollaborative.org.

Disclosure to Other Third Parties

Your information and/or Personal Data may also be disclosed to the following third parties in an aggregated and de-identified form:

  • Government and Regulatory Authorities and or other provincial or federal government agencies.
  • Law enforcement or other third parties pursuant to valid legal process such as a subpoena, litigation or court order or issues of public importance, where disclosure is necessary or appropriate.
  • Research partners with whom McMaster has an MOU. Research partners will gain access to aggregated and de-identified data for program development, at which point the data will be subject to their policies.
  • Others, in the event of a reorganization, merger, or sale we may transfer any and all personal information we collect to the relevant third party.

To provide an enhanced experience to Users, including to track conversions and analytics, we may engage services and features controlled by third-parties. We cannot control or dictate how any third-party application you use in conjunction with the Application, now or at any point in the future, will treat any personal information you transmit through their servers when using the Application. We advise you to contact these parties directly to review their privacy policies.

Without limitation, the Company uses or may use the following third-party applications and services in conjunction with the Application:

Google Analytics

  • By using any of these third-party applications to interact with the Application, we will not be given access to your login credentials, username, password, payment information, or any information you may provide directly to these applications

Cookies

To facilitate the collection of information and to enhance the experience of Users of the Application, we use cookies which may be stored on Users’ computers and/or devices so that we can recognize Users when they return. You may set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie or to not accept certain cookies. However, changing such settings may result in you not being able to use the Application, either in its entirety or certain features.

Using cookies, you may have the option to allow us to save your user ID and login password for future logins to the Application.

Cookies that are stored on your computer and/or device after visiting the Application may be recognized for advertising purposes and to show you targeted advertisements after you visit the Application.

For more information on the cookies we use or to opt-out, please contact us at info@yourcollaborative.org.

Who we share your information with

We will share de-identified data for approved research purposes. Aggregated de-identified data about usage of the Service can be shared for statistical purposes with authorized third parties under specific data transfer or data reporting agreements. In all cases, the information will be fully de-identified to prevent any access to personal information and/or identification of individual users. Under no circumstances will your email address be provided to anyone.

Users from outside of Canada

If you are using the Service from a location outside of Canada, you consent to all your information and/or Personal Data you provide to us will be maintained within Canada. By providing us with any Personal Information through the Service, you consent to transfer of such Personal Information to Canada.  

Your rights to access and control your information and Personal Data

At any point in time, you may request complete erasure of your information and/or Personal Data. After deleting your information, and/or Personal Data some of that data may still be stored as part of previously generated aggregated statistics. At any point in time, and without providing a reason, you may request to obtain a copy, in an intelligible electronic format, of the data stored in your Service record. Any request to obtain or delete your data should be directed to info@yourcollaborative.org.

You understand and agree that you assume all responsibility and risk for your use of the Service, the internet generally, and the documents you post or access and for your conduct. Upon your request, we will take reasonable steps to correct, amend or delete your information and/or Personal Data that is found to be inaccurate, incomplete or processed in a manner non-compliant with this Privacy Policy except where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to your privacy, where the rights of persons other than you would be violated or where doing so is otherwise consistent with applicable law.

Changes to this privacy policy

This Privacy Policy is effective as of October 1, 2021 and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.

We reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. McMaster University is committed to assessing, reviewing and updating this Privacy Policy on a case by case basis to meet any changes in regulatory requirements in applicable jurisdictions. Your continued use of the Service after we post any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy.

Opt out

You can stop all collection of your information and/or Personal Data via the Service by uninstalling the Service. You may use the standard uninstall processes as may be available as part of your mobile device or via the mobile application marketplace or network. You can also request to opt-out via email, at info@yourcollaborative.org.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at: info@yourcollaborative.org.