Number: FDCR.A.10.050

An institution offering distance education or correspondence education, as such terms may be defined in federal regulations shall have processes through which the institution establishes that the student who registers in the distance education or correspondence education courses or programs is the same student who participates in and completes and receives the academic credit.

Institutional Practices. In verifying the identity of students who participate in class or coursework the institution may make use of a one or more methods, at the option of the institution, which may include but need not be limited to: (1) secure login and pass code; (2) proctored examinations; and (3) new or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying the identity of students. Such method(s) must have reasonable and appropriate safeguards to protect student privacy. Institutions must notify students at the time of registration or enrollment of any projected additional student charges associated with the verification of student identity such as separate fees charged by proctoring services, etc.

HLC Review. HLC will review an institution’s student identity verification protocols when an institution requests permission to add programs in distance delivery as well as during a comprehensive evaluation. HLC will also require that institutions submit information about student identity verification protocols on HLC’s Institutional Update.

Policy History

Last Revised: June 2019
First Adopted: February 2009
Revision History: Adopted February 2009; revised February 201; revised and renumbered June 2012; revised June 2019, effective September 1, 2019
Notes: Former policy number: 4.0(d). In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”