Consent for 'enquiries'
The Data Protection Act aims to protect individuals from having their personal data, collected for the purpose of managing an enquiry to the University, being abused or used for any other purpose - unless consent is given by the individual.
Departmental web pages often feature an 'enquiries' e-mail addresses or a web form for completion by the enquirer. A 'consent' statement about the use of the personal data that the enquirer provides is advisable. A sample text is:
"The information that you supply via this web form will be entered into a filing system and will only be accessed by authorised persons of the University of Glasgow or its agents. The information will be retained by the University and will be used for the purpose of (a) processing your enquiry, and (b) for statistical and audit purposes. By supplying such information you consent to the University storing the information for the stated purpose. The information is processed by the University in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998."
If the enquirer's data is to be retained upon completion of the processing of the enquiry and later used for marketing and other similar purposes, the sample text is:
"The information that you supply via this web form will be entered into a filing system and will only be accessed by authorised persons of the University of Glasgow or its agents. The information will be retained by the University and will be used for the purpose of (a) processing your enquiry, and (b) for statistical and audit purposes. The information may also be retained by the University, unless otherwise requested in writing to the University, and used in the future to inform you about other appropriate services and events that may be organised by, or in conjunction with, the University. By supplying such information you consent to the University storing the information for the stated purposes. The information is processed by the University in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. "