Title: Student Identity and Account Fraud
Number: AP 2.25
Adopted: September 2026
Reviewed: September 2026
Revised:
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to protect the integrity of the College’s academic, administrative, and financial operations by preventing, detecting, and responding to fraudulent activity committed by individuals who falsely represent themselves as enrolled, admitted, or prospective students.
Policy:
The College is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy educational environment. Fraudulent acts—including misrepresentation of student identity or status—undermine institutional integrity, may result in financial loss, data breaches, and reputational harm, and will not be tolerated.
Any individual who knowingly or intentionally misrepresents themselves as a student, applicant, admitted student, or third parties for the purpose of gaining access to College services, systems, benefits, records, or financial aid is in violation of this policy.
This policy applies to:
- Prospective students
- Applicants for admission
- Admitted but not enrolled individuals
- Current and former students
- Third parties acting on behalf of individuals claiming student status
This policy covers all College systems, services, and processes, including but not limited to areas of the Strategic Enrollment Team, Business Office, Financial Aid Office, and Information Technology.
Prohibited Activities:
Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Submitting false or altered documents to establish student identity or enrollment
- Using another individual’s credentials or personally identifiable information
- Impersonating a student to access academic records, financial aid, or other benefits
- Representing oneself as a student in communications with College offices without authorization
- Attempting to bypass identity verification or authentication controls
Preventive and Detective Measures:
All members of the college community, including applicants, are expected to cooperate with requests for identity verification. The College may implement reasonable safeguards to prevent and identify fraudulent activity, including:
- Identity verification and authentication procedures and systems
- Review and validation of submitted documentation
- Monitoring of system access and unusual account activity
- Staff training on recognizing and escalating suspected fraud
Reporting and Response:
Expectations for responses to suspected fraud can be found in PR 2.25.01 and expectations for engaging with those suspected of fraudulent activity can be found in PR 2.25.02.
Enforcement and Consequences:
Violations of this policy may result in one or more of the following:
- Denial or revocation of admission or enrollment
- Loss of access to College systems and services
- Disciplinary action under AP 2.11
- Referral to law enforcement or regulatory authorities when warranted
Compliance:
This policy is enforced in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, and College policies governing data security, student conduct, and academic integrity.