Legal Basis for Identity Verification
The United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Public Law 110-315 requires our accreditation agency (the MSCHE) to confirm that Penn Highlands Community College has processes in place through which we establish that the student who registers in a distance education or correspondence education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the academic credit.
Penn Highlands meets this requirement as per the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 34 Section 602.17 Paragraph (g) in that we verify the identity of a student who participates in class or coursework by using a secure login and pass code that grants unique access to the college’s Learning Management System. Additionally, the College makes clear in writing that we use processes that protect student privacy and notify students of any projected additional student charges associated with the verification of student identity at the time of registration or enrollment.
Penn Highland’s Procedures Related to Identity Verification
Penn Highland’s Acceptable Use Policy explicitly references 34 CFR 602.17(g) and goes on to state, in part, that faculty, staff and students must: “…Access only files and data that are your own, that are publicly available, or to which you have been given authorized access…” and “…Individuals or groups who act in a manner contrary to existing policy and accepted standards for computer use are subject to the sanctions and disciplinary measures normally applied to misconduct or law-breaking…”
Identity Verification
[accordion_text group=”1″]Questions regarding this document should be directed to the IT Help Desk.