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Verifying Student Identity

Policy for Verifying Student Identity

The United States Department of Education (ED) requires that all institutions offering distance education courses certify that the student registering for a course is the same student who participates in the course or receives course credit.The ED requires that one or more of the following mechanisms be employed:

  1. A secure login and pass code;
  2. Proctored examinations; or
  3. Copy of a government issued photo ID; Passport, Driver’s license, military ID collected at the time of enrollment
  4. New or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification.

All methods of verifying student identity in distance learning protect the privacy of student information. There are no fees associated with the verification of student identity. Personally identifiable information collected by Post University may be used, at the discretion of the University, as the basis for identity verification.

​In compliance with these federal requirements, Post University has adopted the following policy.

  1. All students will be issued a unique e‐mail account with a secure logon and pass code upon being admitted to an online program. This username and password will remain in effect throughout the student’s tenure at Post University. All e‐mail communication between Post University and the student will be through this e‐mail account.
  2. All electronic courses at Post University will be offered through a learning management system (LMS), which students will access with their secure unique logon and pass code. All users of the LMS are responsible to comply with Post University’s Policy Governing Information Technologies (IT) Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Support. This policy is located within the catalog on the public website. Students are held responsible for knowledge of the information contained within this policy. Failure to read the guidelines, requirements, and regulations will not exempt students from responsibility.
  3. Unauthorized use of an ID belonging to another user, unauthorized reading, use of, or deletion of private files or email belonging to another user, sharing user IDs and pass codes with other users or any other person and any attempt to circumvent system protection and security features is prohibited.
  4. Users are responsible for maintaining the security of usernames, pass codes, and any other access credentials assigned. Access credentials may not be shared or given to anyone other than the user to whom they were assigned to for any reason.
  5. Instructors will emphasize the academic integrity policy in their syllabi and use normal pedagogical practices (reviewing student writing samples, conferencing with students in person or through Internet technology, etc.) to verify student identity.
  6. Instructors may, at their discretion, require proctored examinations or use other technologies that are effective in verifying students’ identities.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action, including loss of computing privileges and  other sanctions deemed necessary.  Any student found to have permitted another person to represent them for any portion of an online course will be subject to dismissal from the course and may not be permitted to take any other online courses at or through Post University.

The Information Technology Department is responsible for issuing student email and LMS login and pass code information. The Office of the Provost is responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of this policy and that Deans and Program Directors are informed of any changes in a timely fashion. Deans and Program Directors are responsible for ensuring that faculty are aware of this policy and comply with its provisions. Deans and Program Directors are also responsible for ensuring that academic awards and degree programs within their units comply with the provisions of this policy.

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