Verification of Student Identity in Distance Education

In compliance with the provisions of the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, Public Law 110-315, concerning the verification of student identity in distance learning, OSUIT has established and will periodically evaluate its process to confirm that a person who has accepted admission to OSUIT is the person who is completing the enrollment form, that a student taking an examination is the student who registered to take the examination and that the student who is registered for an online course is the same student who participates in, completes, and receives credit for the course.

This process applies to all credit-bearing distance education courses or programs offered by OSUIT, beginning with the application for admission and continuing through to a student’s graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from study. The purpose of this process is to ensure that OSUIT operates in compliance with the provisions of the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) concerning the verification of student identity in distance education.

The HEOA requires that institutions offering distance education courses or programs have processes in place to ensure that the student registering for a course is the same student who participates in the course or receives course credit. The Act requires that institutions use one of the following three methods:

• A secure login and pass code

• Proctored examinations

• New or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification

Compliance

Secure Login and Password

Each student at OSUIT is provided with a username and password to access the Single-Sign on system at OSUIT. After logging into the system, students have secure access to email, along with University systems such as OSUIT's learning management system. By providing a username and password to the Single-Sign On system, OSUIT provides security measures, via authentication, to ensure that accounts are managed more security across the University. Students are responsible for providing their complete and true identity information in any identification verification process. It is against university policy for a user to give someone his or her password or to allow others to use his or her account.

OSUIT uses Canvas as its learning management system. The Canvas system integrates with the University authentication services to ensure appropriate and secure student access to courses and other Student Information Systems. All users of the University’s learning management system are responsible for maintaining the security of their Single-Sign On username and password, or any other access credentials as required. Attempting to discover another user's password or attempts to gain unauthorized access to another person's files or email is prohibited.

Personally identifiable information collected by the University may be used, at the discretion of the institution, as the basis for identity verification. For instance, a student requesting that their learning management system password be reset may be asked to provide two or more pieces of information for comparison with data on file, or to come to the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE) in person with a photo ID or verification.

Responsibilities

All users of the University’s learning management system are responsible for maintaining the security of usernames, passwords, and other access credentials as required. An account is given to an individual for exclusive use by that individual. Attempting to discover another user's password or attempts to gain unauthorized access to another person's files or mail is prohibited.

Access credentials may not be shared or given to anyone other than the user to whom they were assigned to for any reason. Users are responsible for all uses of their account. Users are responsible for all activity on their accounts. Users are responsible for changing passwords periodically to maintain security. Users are held responsible for knowledge of the information contained within the most recent University Catalog. Failure to read University guidelines, requirements and regulations will not exempt users from responsibility.

As technology and personal accountability are not absolute in determining a student’s identity, faculty members are encouraged to use technologies and to design courses that use assignments and evaluations that support academic integrity. OSUIT provides for Respondus LockDown Browser for faculty to make use of for assessment purposes to verify student identity. Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within online courses. Students are unable to print, copy, or access other websites and applications.

Faculty teaching courses through distance education methods hold primary responsibility for ensuring that their individual courses comply with student verification processes. Faculty are responsible for informing the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost of any new technologies being used to verify student identity, so that published information on student privacy can be maintained appropriately, and so that the university can coordinate resources and services efficiently. Because technology and personal accountability may not verify identity absolutely or ensure academic integrity completely, faculty are encouraged, when feasible and pedagogically sound, to design courses that employ assignments and evaluations unique to the course and that support academic integrity. Deans of college-level units are responsible for ensuring that faculty are aware of these processes and comply with its provisions.

At this time, there are no additional student fees associated with student verification. If any fees associated with the verification of student identity will be charged to students, they will be so indicated in the online catalog or on the “Tuition and Fees” website. OSUIT complies fully with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g. This act protects the privacy of student information in distance education by requiring, with certain limited exceptions, that the student's consent must be obtained before disclosing any personally identifiable information in the student's education records. The Office of Academic Affairs and Provost is responsible for ensuring compliance for these processes and that deans of college-level units are informed of any changes to such processes in a timely fashion. The Office of Academic Affairs is also responsible for ensuring that university-level processes remain in compliance (registrar, admissions, library, etc.).