Penn State and Verificient Technologies partner to develop new standards for Identify Authentication/Verification for Online Learning

NEW YORK, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Penn State and Verificient Technologies announce an agreement to develop the first of its kind, identity authentication and verification tool that advances a new standard for addressing the risks of academic integrity for online higher educational programs. Penn State's World Campus along with Verificient's patented technology and experience in providing over 1.7 million assessments globally, will raise the bar to meet federal compliance standards for distance learners.

Unique to this initiative is the ability to verify whether a registered student who logs into an online course, performs individual assignments and takes the assessments is indeed the same student that the University admitted to the academic program on registration day. This identity authentication and verification process is automated, scalable, and within the Canvas Learning Management System by Instructure.

"The online education ecosystem continues to see a rise in sophisticated threats that can negatively impact academic integrity, question the value of our graduate credentials, and derail the student aid process. The Penn State World Campus has always been a leader in the advancing online higher education, and we wanted to once again lead the industry against these threats. Verificient's patented technology and close collaboration demonstrates the new power of partnership Penn State is promoting through its Ed Tech Network," said Jeff Smith, Assistant Vice President for Penn State World Campus Operations & Ed Tech Network.

Development work is actively underway to implement within the World Campus in the 2017/18 academic year. 

"It's been a pleasure to work with the Penn State leadership team to address the perils of academic integrity for their highly recognized online programs.  As higher education becomes accessible across the world, so does the risk of student impersonation and academic fraud. Penn State's commitment to upholding academic integrity will become the model for other online programs to soon follow," explained Tim Dutta, CEO of Verificient Technologies.

About The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State was founded in 1855 as an agricultural college. In 1863, Penn State became Pennsylvania's single land-grant institution. Penn State's mission has broadened to include teaching, research, and public services in a wide variety of disciplines.

Penn State is administratively centered at the University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania. There are 24 campuses across the state, including The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey and two separately accredited law schools, one in Carlisle and the other at University Park. The University serves approximately 100,000 students, with 18,000 faculty and staff. It offers 160 degree programs, and its distance education program – Penn State World Campus – has consistently been ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Visit www.psu.edu

About Verificient Technologies, Inc.

Verificient Technologies specializes in continuous identity verification through the use of machine learning, computer vision, and biometrics. Verificient delivers its solutions for the higher education, recruitment and remote workforce management markets, ensuring the integrity of students, quality of job candidates, and conduct of remote workforce. Visit www.verificient.com and www.proctortrack.com

SOURCE Verificient Technologies

Related Links

http://www.verificient.com