Distance Students
Verification of Student Identity
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires institutions that offer distance education courses or programs to have processes in place to ensure that the student registering for the course is the same student who submits work, participates, and/or receives course credit. At Wentworth Institute of Technology, all students registering for a course utilize their WIT ID, which corresponds with the specific username of each student. Each student is given a temporary password to login for one-time use, and upon successful login, is immediately required to change the password. Students can change the password thereafter at any time, but are required to change the password every 180 days. The logins utilize Microsoft Active Directory to authenticate the user. The password must be a minimum of eight characters using an alpha numeric combination.
While no one method can ensure students taking an online course are completing the coursework themselves, WIT learning and teaching practices help to promote academic honesty. Every WIT student must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct, (as published in the Student Handbook), the Wentworth Creed, and all published Wentworth policies and procedures about his/her character. In addition, online faculty work closely with instructional designers to develop and implement a variety of assessment tools/methods in their courses. Where appropriate, these include research and writing assignments, discussion board participation, independent and group projects, and quizzes.
Notice of New Student Complaint Procedures for Online (Distance) Students
Wentworth Institute of Technology adheres to the Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education established by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC). To that end, Wentworth has in place effective procedures through which to ensure that the student who enrolls in an online (distance) education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the academic credit.
Online Student Complaint Procedures
If you have any questions, please contact: Brian Burns, Director of Compliance and Risk Management at complianceandrisk@wit.edu.
Online (Distance) Education & State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), in its capacity as the SARA portal entity for Massachusetts, reviews and evaluates student complaints regarding distance learning programs offered by Massachusetts-based institutions that are members of SARA in accordance with 610 CMR 12.07. Complaints that should be filed as a SARA Complaint are those that pertain to distance (online) education provided by Massachusetts-based SARA institutions to students residing in other states pursuant to SARA only. Complaints about a SARA institution’s operations or activities can be filed to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and will be resolved pursuant to 610 CMR 2.00 or otherwise in accordance with the institution's policies.
The SARA complaint process is as follows:
- Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution.
- After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint.
- The DHE shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint.
- Within 30 days of the date that the DHE sends a copy of the complaint to the institution, the institution must provide a written response to the student and the DHE.
- Within 30 days of the date the DHE received the institution’s response, or if the DHE receives no response, the Commissioner or his or her designee shall issue a notice to the institution containing the Commissioner’s findings regarding the complaint; any corrective actions that the institution shall take; and that, should the institution fail to take those corrective actions, the complaint shall be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for review and, if the Office of the Attorney General deems it appropriate, enforcement action. For more information visit the DHE Complaint Policy and Process document.