Student Privacy

Southeastern Technical College utilizes (1) secure logins/pass codes and (2) proctored events to verify the identity of students enrolled in distance education courses.  

Students are responsible for providing their complete and true identity information in any identification verification process.  Students are instructed not to share their login credentials with anyone and to change passwords periodically to maintain security. 

Additionally, Southeastern Technical College protects the privacy of all students through strict adherence to the rules of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).   FERPA information is located on the College's website and in the Catalog and Handbook.

Secure Logins/Pass Code

Students are admitted, registered, and enrolled in an Oracle database called Banner that includes all student institutional history, as well as some biographical information. This data is encrypted and students do not have direct access to the Oracle database or its host server from outside the school network.   Students in the Banner system are provided a web portal (BannerWeb) to access most of their own student information such as grades, awards, bills, etc.   This information is protected at the physical level by encryption and at the user level by a user id and pin number combination login.   A student's user ID is comprised of a non-associative, sequentially generated number and the pin is a completely randomized number.  Students are responsible for providing their complete and true identity information in any identification verification process. Students should never give someone his or her ID or pass code/pin or allow others to use his or her account. Students are responsible for guarding and changing pass codes periodically to maintain security.

At the time of enrollment into a course, students are automatically enrolled in Blackboard and a secure login is created.   Students enrolled in distance education courses must use their secure login to access courses in Blackboard.   The secure login information identifies students to the system on each course visit.   Students use Blackboard to submit assignments, assessments, access course materials, and view grades.   When students log into Blackboard for the first time, they must change their pass code to maintain privacy.   From the time of the first student logon to Blackboard, STC faculty and staff do not have access to students' Blackboard pass codes. Reliability, privacy, safety, and security for Blackboard courses are provided by the Georgia Virtual Technical Connection (GVTC) blackboard server.

Student Email is a secure logon environment.   The identity of all students is verified through the use of a secure and unique nine digit student identification number.   This identification number is utilized as part of the student's username when accessing the student email.   Additionally, STC utilizes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates to establish an encrypted link between the web server and the client's browser.   This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and web browser remain private and integral.   SSL is an industry standard and is used by millions of websites in the protection of online transactions with users.

Proctored Events to Verify Identity

In addition to using secure logons/pass codes, Southeastern Technical College also requires that every online student complete a proctored event as a means of verifying identity.   Students must present photo identification, such as a STC Student ID, driver's license, passport, etc.   All Off-Campus Proctored Event Registration Forms and On-Campus Proctored Event Registration Forms must be completed in the presence of the proctor.   Proctors are to check the information and signature against the identification presented to ensure that the student who is present for the proctored event is the correct student to be completing the event for the scheduled course.   Completed proctored event registration forms and all proctored event materials are kept in a secure location by the instructor of the course.

All information in Banner, Blackboard, Email, and Proctored Events, including student identification numbers, is protected in compliance with the Family Educational Records and Privacy Act (FERPA) and is not shared.