Online Student Identity Verification Protocol

Student Identity Verification

Online classes at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) are offered through the college-supported online learning management system (LMS). Students are required to log in using their college-assigned credentials. TC3 maintains a secure process for managing user accounts and passwords.

To obtain an account and password, students must be registered in the student information system (SIS). Course registration automatically creates an enrollment record in SIS. Our admission and registration processes collect essential and confidential student information, including social security numbers, demographics, residence details, birthdates, and, in most cases, financial data, much of which is provided by the Federal government through the financial aid process.

Course data from SIS is electronically transferred and updated in the LMS, ensuring students have access only to the courses they are enrolled in. Authentication to the LMS is made with the student’s myTC3 username and password. For security, this username and password are either mailed to the student's home address or given in person after class registration. Students must verify their identity when requesting password resets at the help desk. Alternatively, they can reset their password online by answering a series of challenge questions they set up during their initial account access.

Protection of Student Privacy

All processes related to verifying student identity for online course access are automated, protected by campus database security, privacy policies, and procedures, and comply with FERPA regulations. The College’s Computer and Information Security Policy, along with the Information Security Protocol, outlines rules regarding student privacy and the strategies used by the Campus Technology Department to protect institutional information.

Charges Associated with Identity Verification

There are no charges to students associated with identity verification.

Responsibility for Identity Verification

Campus Technology is responsible for the consistent application of automated processes related to student identity verification for online courses. The department regularly reviews and adopts best practices to ensure proper identity verification.