FR 4.8 Distance and Correspondence Education

An institution that offers distance or correspondence education documents each of the following:

4.8.1  demonstrates that the student who registers in a distance or correspondence education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the credit by verifying the identity of a student who participates in class or coursework by using, at the option of the institution, methods such as (a) a secure login and pass code, (b) proctored examinations, or (c) new or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification.

 

Compliance                     ___ Non-Compliance

 

Narrative:  

 

Savannah State University is in compliance with this standard.  The institution's enrollment process ensures that each student (the term "student" refers to all students, users, and customers, including Distance Learning students) who registers for distance education courses is the same student who participates in and completes the course and receives the credit by verifying the identity of the student participating in the class or coursework.  

 

From the beginning of the student's experience at Savannah State University, the SSU Office of  Admissions ensures that, during the admissions and initial registration processes, all applicants are required to provide identifying information on the application found on the password protected Georgia Futures website:

 

https://www.gafutures.org/

 

From the Georgia Futures website, after securely logging in, only registered users or prospective students can navigate to the specific Savannah State University application. See the following screenshot:

 

 

 

 

Once a student has been admitted, the student is provided with a unique identification number that begins with the numerical sequence 915. This number is generated by the student's application and generated through the University System of Georgia's Banner Enrollment system. The unique 915 identification number is issued to each student, including Distance Learning students, and the student then uses that number to receive an SSU identification card. Here is the link and screenshot from the Savannah State University Auxiliary Services page regarding the issuance of identification cards:

  https://www.savannahstate.edu/fiscal-affairs/id-cards.shtml

 

Students are required to adhere to the terms and conditions of the identification card outlined in the "Cardholder Agreement Form." Please see the link and following screen shot:

 

http://www.savannahstate.edu/fiscal-affairs/documents/CardholderAgreementrevisionMay2014_001.pdf

Savannah State University's Student Handbook states that students must abide by the tenets of academic integrity. Students are required to be honest and forthright in the completion of assignments, tests, products, and work required to earn the respective certificate and/or degree. The student handbook can be accessed via the following link; a screenshot can be read here:

 

( http://www.savannahstate.edu/student-affairs/docs/SSU_Student_Handbook.pdf )

 

 

The SSU Online Policy Manual describes the "Mandatory First Day of Online Learning Course," which explains the level of interaction to take place between the instructor and the class. That information can be accessed via the following link and applicable information read in the following screenshot:

 

 

 

(https://www.savannahstate.edu/coba/bbaonline/documents/OnlineLearningPolicyfinalspring2014.pdf )

 

 

When students attempt to access online platforms at SSU, the student must supply personal and pertinent information.

 

To retrieve the student's username and password, students visit the SSU website via the following link and can fill the fields indicated in the following screenshot:

 

( https://simba.savannahstate.edu/students/eLearning.aspx )

 

In addition, via the SSU website, to access the student's account, the student's key personal information is required as can be seen via the following link and as indicated in the following screenshot:

 

(https://simba.savannahstate.edu/students/myid.aspx )

 

 

Therefore, from the time of application for admission to SSU through the time of  enrollment in SSU distance education courses, students must provide their unique identification and personal information, and must participate in classes at a level that ensures the student who has registered for the course is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the credit.

 

4.8.2

 

The institution has a written procedure for protecting the privacy of students enrolled in distance and correspondence education courses or programs.

 

Compliance                     ___ Non-Compliance

 

Narrative:  

 

Savannah State University has a written procedure for protecting the privacy of students enrolled in all courses, including distance education courses. Savannah State University's Division of Information and Technology Services (ITS) ensures that the primary method used by the institution to verify identities includes a secure log-in and password for all SSU students. From the time of initial enrollment at SSU, student's registered in all courses, including all online classes use the same unique username and password. The student's username is generated through the Savannah State University Active Directory system managed by ITS. The username is usually the student's email address. The following documents can be accessed from the SSU ITS page:

 

http://www.savannahstate.edu/faculty-staff/computer-services/index.shtml

 

Specifically 10.1, the SSU IT "Appropriate Use Policy," outlines the manner in which all SSU students, faculty, and staff must engage with technology related to SSU. Please see more at the following link and applicable information located in the following screenshot:

 

https://www.savannahstate.edu/faculty-staff/computer-services/docs/policies-2017/10_1%20Appropriate%20Use%20Policy.pdf

 

4.8.3  

 

The institution has a written procedure distributed at the time of registration or enrollment that notifies students of any projected additional student charges associated with verification of student identity.

 

Compliance                     ___ Non-Compliance

 

Narrative:  

 

Savannah State University has a written procedure for notifying students of projected additional student charges associated with verification of student identity for students enrolled in distance education courses. Students enrolled in distance education courses at Savannah State University could incur additional charges to take proctored examinations. Therefore, the following statement is published in the 2016-2017 University Catalog in the section entitled, Online Education under "Proctoring and Associated Fees":

 

 

 

 

 

Students can also learn about additional costs for proctored examinations on the SSU web page which can be found at the following link and read here in the following applicable screenshot:

 

Testing Services: https://www.savannahstate.edu/academic-affairs/proctoring.shtml

 

 

Conclusion

Savannah State University employs a number of measures to ensure that students who are admitted and enrolled in online courses at the university are indeed the students who take and complete the coursework in their programs of choice.  Beginning with the time of a student's initial application process to SSU, identifying information is collected from the student and a unique Identification number is issued. Face-to-face sessions, synchronous activities requiring real-time participation of students, and proctoring of examinations are means by which the university ensures the identification and participation of students enrolled in online and other distance education courses and programs.

Savannah State University also protects the privacy of students in distance education courses and programs, and informs students at the time of registration of additional fees associated with enrolling in online and other distance education courses and programs.

Supporting Documentation and Evidence:

·          University Catalog 2016-2017

·          Savannah State University Admission Application

·          Savannah State University Auxiliaryervices Web Page – ID Cards

·          Savannah State University IDCardholder Agreement

·          Savannah State University Student Handbook - Academic Integrity

·          Savannah State University Online Policy Manual

·          Savannah State University - e-Learning Account Information

·          Savannah State University - Student ID Look-Up

·          Savannah State University - Information Technology Services Web Page

·          Savannah State University - Information Technology Appropriate Use Policy

·          Savannah State University – Testing Center Proctoring Services

·          Georgia Futures