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General - Colleges

Q. Why is the California Community Colleges (CCC) system piloting an Identification (ID) Proofing (or Verification) solution?  

A. To reduce application and enrollment fraud across the system caused by bad actors. 

Q. When will the ID Verification feature be added to the CCCApply process?

A. Integration of ID.me ID verification is set to go live in production on February 2, 2024.

Q. How has the vendor for ID Proofing been chosen?

A. ID.me was selected through a Request For Information (or RFI) - managed by the CCC Chancellor’s Office and program and technical security staff from multiple CCC college districts.

Q. How will ID Verification work in the admissions application process?

A. New students will be encouraged to verify their identity following the OpenCCC account creation process before submitting a new application. Existing students will encounter the verification page the next time they login to CCCApply or edit their OpenCCC account profile.

Q. How does this implementation benefit colleges?

A. The integration of ID verification software reduces the manual workload for colleges in identifying potential fraud, allowing staff to focus on legitimate applicants, especially for vulnerable students who cannot use ID verification.

IT Departments

Q. How does the IDme integration align with our existing systems?

A. The identity proofing system integrates seamlessly with CCCApply, ensuring minimal disruption and providing a smooth user experience. Three new data fields have been created to capture the student’s opt-in time, a confirmation time, and the student’s verification status. This data will be passed to the college with the submitted application data via Superglue. Learn more about the new data IDme data fields here: ID Verification Data Fields.

Q. What cybersecurity measures are in place to protect student data during verification?

A. IDme adheres to strict cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive student data. Further details about their security protocols, colleges are encouraged to join the CCCApply Private Fraud Support Group - a secure online group within the CCCTechnology.info support site. To join the private group, please contact SSS Director, Jane Linder, jlinder@ccctechcenter.org or send a request using your institutional email address to CCCTC Staff Support at staffsupportccctc@openccc.zendesk.com.

Q. If IDme is down for routine maintenance or some other system outage occurs, what message displays to the student and is the student routed back to their CCC application?

A. Routine maintenance windows are typically scheduled 4:00 - 5:00 a.m. Eastern on Saturdays but are not always taken. When they are used, it is rarely for the full hour; nevertheless, that is the reserved designated time slot. All updates on maintenance and status can be found on ID.me Status. A good practice is to subscribe with your email address or an RSS feed to stay up to date. 

Faculty and Staff

Q. What happens if a student already has an IDme account?

A. Over 8 million Californians already have a verified IDme account. If a student has already verified their identity with IDme, they will be directed to login to their IDme account as part of the verification workflow. Instead of creating an account - as first time students will do - IDme account holders will login to their account and then will be immediately routed back to continue the CCCApply application process. The process takes a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Q. What considerations have been made for specific student groups, like minors or international students?

A. The IDme opt-in page will not display to minors and they're not required to complete the verification process. Colleges will be able to manually verify other student groups via the OpenCCC Account Creation Tool. Further communication and training materials will address these to ensure inclusivity and fairness.

Q. What is the routine maintenance process for IDme?

A. For maintenance windows, users will be presented a Maintenance Screen. They will not be presented an option to login or create an account. Users are not automatically redirected. 

Routine maintenance windows are typically scheduled 4:00 - 5:00 AM Eastern on Saturdays but are not always taken. When they are taken, it is rarely for the full hour but that is the reserved designated timeslot. All updates on maintenance and status can be found on ID.me Status . It is recommended users subscribe via email address or an RSS feed to stay up to date. 

Students

Q. How long will the ID Verification process via IDme typically take?

A. Most students find that the ID Verification process with IDme is quick, often taking just a few minutes. The duration largely depends on the chosen method of verification and the readiness of the required documentation.

Q. Does the information I provide to IDme when verifying my identity have to match the information in my California Community College (CCC) student account?

A. Yes, you must use the same First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name, as well as the same Date of Birth and Address on your CCC student account. If you use a different Name, Date of Birth, or Address in IDme, your OpenCCC Account will be updated to match the IDme account information.

Q. How long does my IDme verification last?

A. Once verified through IDme, California Community College (CCC) students have an identity verification status of “verified” for one year from the date of their verification confirmation or until they change any of the following information in their OpenCCC Account profile:

1. First Name

2. Middle Name

3. Last Name

4. Date of Birth

5. Address 

Q. Why should I, as a student, consider using the IDme Verification Solution?

A. The IDme Verification Solution offers multiple benefits to students. Primarily, it ensures a higher level of security and authenticity in the application process, reducing the risk of identity theft or fraud. Moreover, with a verified identity, the application process may become smoother, and colleges can process your application faster and more efficiently.

Q. If I encounter issues during the ID Verification process, what support can I expect from IDme?

A. IDme is committed to assisting students throughout the verification process. If you face any challenges with the verification process, ID.me provides a 24/7 helpdesk service. This ensures that all applicants, even those who encounter difficulties with the self-service option, receive the guidance they need promptly.

Q. When a student creates or logs into their ID.me account and begins to verify their identity but the system times out before completing the transaction, does ID.me display a timeout message/page?

A. Yes, the timeout is 15 minutes from the latest point of activity, and a notification will be presented on screen. Users will be directed to the IDme login page to initiate the session. Once they login back in, they will pick back up at the last step they were previously on and will not be required to redo any previously completed steps. 

Q. When a student encounters an error while in IDme , what messages are displayed, and what actions are taken? 

A. Any unsuccessful attempt will automatically present an option to re-attempt the last step or present the opportunity to enter a video chat with a Trusted Referee. Users will not be routed back to CCC to initiate the IDme sign-in page. Usually, the session within IDme is reinitiated by returning to the IDme login screen. If students were in the process of creating an account versus already logged into an existing account, they would return to the account creation screen. 

Q. Will my information be used by the government? 

A. No, identity verification is only for educational purposes only. 

Q. What is Biometric Information?

A. Biometric Information is a form of data related to biometric characteristics which may be used to identify you. Biometric Information includes things like fingerprints, voiceprints, scans of a hand, facial geometry recognition, and iris or retina recognition.

Q. How will my Biometric Information be used?

A. Biometric Information is only used to complete the transaction it was collected for, which may include identify verification and fraud prevention and analysis.

Q. I got a new phone, what do I do to avoid sign-in issues?

A. If you got a new phone number and don’t have access to the phone you used to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA), you must update your settings. This also applies if you lost your phone or changed phone providers. To update the phone number you use for your IDme account, you’ll need to sign in to your IDme account, confirm your email address, enter your information, then set up a new MFA method.

Q. What are the Device Requirements to verify your identity?

A. You may use a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or a computer. Your device must have the following:

• Access to the internet, with an updated browser

• A working webcam or a selfie camera

Q. What tips and/or best practices do you have with photos? 

A. Use the following tips to capture a clear photo of your document:

• Take a photo of the document head-on, avoiding angles.

• Adjust the orientation to match the document's layout. For example, use landscape for wide documents.

• Make sure the document fills the frame, with all four corners visible, and avoid any cutoffs.

• Disable the camera flash to minimize glare.

• Position the document on a dark table or surface for a contrasting background.

• Remove any other objects from the photo.

Q. Can I speak to a Video Chat Agent in languages other than English?

A. You can verify in over 240 languages over a video call. If your primary language is one other than English, tell the Video Chat Agent the language you want to speak during your verification.

Q. What MFA options are available without a smartphone?

A. When using your computer choose Passkey MFA, to set up your computer as the method to sign in. If you don’t have a smartphone or computer, use the phone call option to receive a call to your landline phone.

Q. Is my Social Security Number (SSN) required to verify my identity using IDme ?

A. Yes, if you have been issued a SSN, then  If you choose not to provide your SSN (Social Security Number) for IAL2 verification, we have

Q. What are the alternatives if I choose not to provide my SSN (Social Security Number)?

A. If you choose not to provide your SSN (Social Security Number) for IAL2 verification, we have established two viable alternatives:

• ITIN Holders: Users with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) can use it as a substitute during Supervised Remote proofing. 

• International Users: When prompted to enter your Social Security number, select I don’t have a Social Security Number. After selecting the button, enter and upload your passport information. Similar to ITIN holders, you must complete the Supervised verification process.

Incarcerated Students

Q. I am an incarcerated student interested in applying to a California Community College. How does the new ID verification process affect me?

A. We recognize the challenges incarcerated students face in providing standard ID documentation. The Chancellor's Office is working closely with IDme to develop alternative verification methods that consider the unique circumstances of incarcerated students while still maintaining security. 

Undocumented Students

Q. I am an undocumented student. Will I be required to provide identification documents that could reveal my immigration status?

A. Protecting student privacy is our top priority. The ID verification process does not require documentation that would disclose immigration status. Acceptable forms of ID include a Mexican Matrícula Consular card, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or a verified IDme account linked to an ITIN. 

Q. What measures are in place to ensure my data is secure if I go through the ID verification process as an undocumented student?

A. Extensive cybersecurity protocols protect all student data, including immigration status. IDme is committed to safeguarding sensitive student information and will not share documentation provided for ID verification with any external entity. You can verify your identity while feeling confident your privacy is protected.

Q&A - ID Verification User Flows

See IDme IdentityVerification Integration for user flows.

Q&A - ID Verification Support

Students should contact the CCC Helpdesk for assistance.

Phone: (877) 247-4836 or TTY: (877) 836-9332
Email: support@openccc.net

Colleges should contact CCCTC Staff Support for assistance:

Email: staffsupportccctc@openccc.zendesk.com

Online Forum: CCCTechnology.info