Can personal notes made during an interview with a student/staff member be withheld from a FOIP request?
No, any information about the student or staff member is that person’s personal information and, therefore, accessible under the Act. [Section 1(1)(n)(viii) and 6(1)] This would not apply if the notes contained the interviewed person’s opinions about a third party. [Section 1(1)(n)(ix)] This right to access is not unencumbered and there may be occasions when information could be withheld if it would be harmful to someone’s health or safety, harmful to law enforcement, or could be construed as advice to another official in the Institute. Because this could be a complex decision, the advice of the FOIP Coordinator should always be sought.
Related Questions
- Can a student, in a FOIP request, gain access to evaluation forms completed by Employers who accept students on placement?
- Can a student, in a FOIP request, gain access to a closed letter of which he or she is the subject of the information?
- Can I withhold personal notes made during an interview with a student/staff member?
