B 27 - Student Identity Verification

EICC verifies that a student who registers for a credit-bearing online or distance education course or program is the same student that participates and completes the course for academic credit. All methods of identity verification used by EICC are designed to protect student privacy.

The college uses unique usernames, secure passwords, and a multi-factor authentication (MFA) process for student identity verification beginning with the admissions process. Students create their own passwords and are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their password in accordance with the college Technology Usage Policy. Students use their unique username, password, and MFA combination to access EICC Connect, the college intranet, as well as the EICC LMS, college email, student planning, and registration modules, and all academic records.

Students receive a handout or email containing instructions for first accessing their student account upon admission to the college. From there, they are guided through the steps for establishing a secure password, implementing MFA and accessing the LMS and other electronic resources.

The EICC selected Learning Management System (LMS) is Canvas. All EICC courses, regardless of the mode of delivery, are provisioned with a Canvas course shell. Instructors must use the EICC LMS. The EICC Department of eLearning and Instructional Technology provides technical and pedagogical support for Canvas use.

Students and instructors are required to use the secure EICC login combination of a username, secure password, and MFA to access Canvas. This serves as verification of the identity of the student completing online coursework.

EICC students incur no additional charges associated with identity verification. However, any additional charges related to any specific course, such as eTextbook charges or special fees, are noted on the section schedule page, which the student accesses before registration.

Proctoring

Instructors of distance education courses may require proctored exams. Proctoring requirements will be stated in the course syllabus and noted in the course schedule at the time of student registration. Proctoring for distance education courses is available through the following options:

• Students may sit, by appointment, for proctored exams at an EICC testing center. Testing centers require students to provide a photo ID to prove their identity when signing in for a proctored exam. There is no cost for EICC students to take proctored exams at an EICC Testing Centers.
• All of Iowa’s Community Colleges have entered into reciprocity agreements that allows students enrolled at any of Iowa’s Community College to utilize the proctor/testing center at any of the other community colleges for no charge. All students must provide a photo ID before beginning a proctored exam.
• Exams may be proctored online using the Honorlock on-demand proctoring service available through the EICC LMS. By default, the Honorlock settings include student ID verification. Students taking exams that utilize Honorlock proctoring must prove their identity by showing a government or EICC issued photo ID. Honorlock is FERPA compliant and utilizes encryption protocols to protect student privacy.

Honorlock records the exam session allowing students to test at their convenience. Honorlock is completely on-demand so students can log in to take their exam any time of the day. Exam incidents will be reported back to EICC faculty.

Confidentiality of Student Records

EICC includes statements regarding the confidentiality of student records in the student handbook, which is shared with all enrolled students. The protection of identification data is explicitly included in the Confidentiality of Student Records section, a portion of which is excerpted here:

The College collects and maintains records on each student to facilitate the instruction, guidance, and educational progress of the student. The records contain information about students and their education and may include, but are not limited to, the following types of information: identification data, attendance data, record of achievement, educational and vocational plans, honors and activities, discipline data, objective advisor or teacher ratings and observations, and external agency reports.

Board Policy Reference SP 513

Revised 8/2024