Re: Onboarding

[Kevin Halgren <kevin.halgren () WASHBURN EDU>]

We do the same thing.  The fundamental challenge is in validating identity so you can ensure you are getting the 
information to the right person.  The typical means to validate identity are government issued documents like driver’s 
license or equivalent, birth certificate, social security card, passport, and the like.  None of those are particularly 
web-friendly.

For commercial services, they often use credit card and cell phone number, and while that may provide some 
accountability it does not really represent proof of identity, which is why online identities are commonly forged.

If you can find some web-friendly solution to identity validation then you can address the issue, but I can’t think of 
anything good.  I’m hoping someone has better ideas because I’d love to hear them as well.

Kevin


From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of John 
Kaftan
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 8:13 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: [SECURITY] Onboarding

Forgive me if this has been brought up recently.  I have been offline for a while.

How are you getting your students logged in and setup with a username and password initially?  We are sending people a 
mailer telling them their initial password and a url to connect to.  Then they log in with their SSN and this password 
for the first time.  Once they do that they get their username and are prompted to setup a new password.

It works but it is clunky as students have to wait for us to send them that mailing before they can get in.  In the era 
of “instamatically” I am wondering if we can do better.

What is your organization doing?  I have seen SSN and birthday suffice for initial setup.

Also, do folks get logins after they are admitted or after they register for a class.  Oh one more, do non-credit 
(continuing ed) students get a login?

Thanks


John Kaftan
Dean of Information Technology
Cayuga Community College
315.294.8520
It’s all about the students.