Last updated on March 5, 2021
(Original on UW Academic and Student Affairs letterhead)
February 1, 2019
UW Privacy Steering Committee
Ann Nagel, University Privacy Officer and Associate Vice Provost, Academic and Student Affairs, Chair
David M. Anderson,,, Executive Director, Health Science Administration; Interim Associate Vice Provost, Compliance and Risk Services; and Clinical Professor, Comparative Medicine
Julie L. Brown, Associate Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Budget Officer, University Advancement
Ryan Calo, Lane Powell and D. Wayne Gittinger Endowed Professorship and Associate Professor of Law, School of Law; Adjunct Associate Professor, Information School; and Faculty Co-Director, Tech Policy Lab
Rachel Gatlin, Director, Human Resources Information Systems, Human Resources
Joe Giffels, Associate Vice Provost for Research Administration and Integrity, Office of Research
Erin Guthrie, Director of Institutional Data and Analysis, Office of Planning and Budgeting
Erik Hofer, Associate Vice President for Academic Services and Deputy Chief Information Officer, UW Information Technology
Jason Johnson, Senior Associate Dean and Associate Vice Provost, Undergraduate Academic Affairs; and Affiliate Assistant Professor, College of Education
Jennifer Lehner, Institutional Analyst, Graduate School
Shelley Kostrinsky, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Personnel, Academic Personnel
Stephen Majeski, Associate Dean for Research Administration and Infrastructure, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor, Political Science
Jim Mathis, Chief Compliance Officer, UW Medicine; and Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs, School of Medicine
Jan Whittington, Associate Professor, Urban Design and Planning, College of Built Environments; Director, Urban Infrastructure Lab; Associate Director, Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity; and Affiliate Faculty, Tech Policy Lab
Lizabeth Wilson, Vice Provost for Digital Initiatives and Dean, University Libraries
Dear Colleagues,
The University’s expansive efforts in teaching, research and service often involve the use of personal data, in both identifiable and de-identified formats. And while many UW units and governance groups examine how we use data to advance our mission, their efforts have not always evaluated the privacy implications associated with the use of personal data. In addition, these efforts have not always been coordinated to efficiently and consistently guide the UW in making decisions across all areas of privacy.
On behalf of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, I am asking for your assistance in addressing these challenges by serving on the UW Privacy Steering Committee, chaired by Ann Nagel, associate vice provost of privacy. The committee will advise the Privacy Office, which Ann leads, and university leadership on our approach to protecting individuals’ privacy and to ensuring consistent reporting on privacy activities, risks and policies across the University.
The Provost is counting on this committee to help uphold the UW values and guide strategic decisions about the purpose and use of personal data. The privacy principles, developed by the UW Privacy Office and endorsed by this committee, should encompass and expand UW values to help ensure the collection and use of personal data reflects our humanitarian, ethical, and legal obligations.
The scope of the Privacy Steering Committee, inclusive of the UW’s academic, research, and business needs at all UW locations, includes:
- Assessing privacy related risks and generating ideas for managing risks.
- Advising on initiatives that are most essential to improve the UW’s culture of privacy and governance of personal data.
- Vetting UW privacy or privacy related policies, standards, guidelines, and best practices, prior to final approval.
- Evaluating incident and data breach trends to identify systemic issues that the UW may need to address.
- Refining a privacy strategy that balances and reflects: the risk, harm and privacy rights associated with personal data; ethical considerations; legal obligations; and opportunities afforded by evolving technology and data analysis.
In order for the UW to fulfill our mission, we need individuals to trust us with their personal data, and we need to assure them that we are handling their information appropriately. Thank you for your help and advice to ensure we do just that.
Best Regards,
Phil Reid
Vice Provost, Academic and Student Affairs
Professor of Chemistry