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The OUAC is a central bureau that processes applications for admission to Ontario’s universities. The OUAC provides a cost-effective and efficient service achieved through innovative technology, systems, data management, and policies and procedures.
The OUAC serves Ontario’s universities and provides data processing services for some institutions outside of Ontario.
Background
The OUAC was founded in 1971 by the Committee of Presidents of the Universities of Ontario (now called the Council of Ontario Universities or the COU) and the Ontario Universities’ Council on Admissions.
The OUAC’s activities are monitored by the OUAC Budget and Advisory Committee. This Committee is appointed by, and reports to, COU and is responsible for overseeing the OUAC’s operations.
Departments and Staff
The OUAC employs approximately 85 full-time employees, a quarter of whom are bilingual (English/French) and approximately 10 part-time casual staff during its peak processing cycle.
The OUAC is organized into the following departments:
- Application Systems
- Applicant Services and Undergraduate Processing
- Communications and Events
- Data and Policy Analysis
- eTranscripts
- Finance
- Graduate and Professional Programs
- Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS)
- Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS)
- Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS)
- Teacher Education Application Service (TEAS)
- Operational and Strategic Support
- Systems Infrastructure and Facilities
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
The Ontario universities and the OUAC developed a system whereby academic transcripts are exchanged electronically using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and the SPEEDE/ExPRESS standard. Known as the Ontario Universities’ Electronic Transcript System (OUETS), this system has been used since November 1996.
Transcript requests are made online as part of the application.
The Non-secondary (105) and TEAS departments also have online application amendment programs that include electronic transcript requests.
External system partners include:
- Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs)
- 3 institutions from British Columbia (Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Vancouver Island University), which send transcripts electronically to the OUAC
- Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), which receives Ontario university transcripts requested via the OUAC.
- The Qualifications Evaluation Council of Ontario (QECO)
Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) has established standards for vendors who process credit card payments to ensure that credit card transactions are confidential and secure.
The OUAC became compliant in 2011. Its status is reviewed annually.
Privacy
Since June 10, 2006, Ontario universities have been subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), a statute that sets out rules for the protection of personal information and access to information in the custody, or under the control of, Ontario’s universities.
The OUAC collects, uses, discloses and otherwise manages the information of Ontario’s universities, including information about identifiable individuals.
Various legal documents have been developed in response to FIPPA and other applicable privacy legislation, as a framework for the treatment of university information by the OUAC in its role as processor, and the related obligations of the universities.
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