The Department of Education's Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has completed its work, providing greater clarity regarding the student authentication language in the HEOA.  

Online Learning Authentication

While there appears to be little evidence that online students are more likely to cheat than on campus students, there is strong support for the idea that cheating is a problem in higher education.

Cheating can include plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, misrepresentation, or misbehavior. But, only one--misrepresentation--is addressed through the legislation.

Academic integrity

There is an industry-wide push to "get our house in order," through efforts such as the development of resources for online students, and training and support for faculty members teaching online. 

The legislation language indicates that an institution must verify students' identity through: (1) secure login and pass code, or (2) proctored exams, or (3) identification technologies. Regardless of which of these an institution pursues, there are some guidelines that may help with decision-making.

In all likelihood, most institutions are in compliance through the use of secure login credentials.

Nevertheless, this may be an opportune time to review policies and procedures, including communications with faculty members and students about them. It may also be appropriate to review the security of systems used for course delivery and instruction.

If an institution is using proctored testing, the new legislation requires that students be notified at the time of registration of the expenses they may incur. Course descriptions and other registration information may need to be updated.

Authentication technologies

Many authentication technologies are now on the market. They include hardware with a fingerprint scanner, a camera and a microphone; typing biometrics coupled with proctors watching through a webcam; biometrics of mouse movements; voice recognition coupled with video communications; and, challenge questions based on personal information.

The legislation requires that institutions using these technologies have processes in place that protect student privacy.  Some verification systems require the collection of protected data.  The systems' utility will have to be balanced against the potential liability incurred if the protected data are lost.  

There is a growing concern that the deployment of authentication technologies - which tend to be focused on verification during testing events - may preclude faculty members from using other, more holistic, approaches to assessment such as discussion participation, group projects, case studies, and written assignments.   

Courseware Management System (CMS)

The way in which a campus uses the courseware management system (CMS) may be an issue. If students access the CMS for hybrid or blended courses, the technology should be able to be applied to just the students in fully online courses, to keep expenses in check.

Review what your campus already has in place before deploying new, and potentially expensive, technologies.  You may already be compliant with the law.

REFERENCE: 
Sloan Consortium

Author:  Lori McNabb
Assistant Director, Student and Faculty Services
University of Texas System TeleCampus