InCommon Federation Discussions About Online Student Services

["RL 'Bob' Morgan" <>]

> In particular, Jack will have a chance in mid-October to talk with the 
> College Board CIO and would like your thoughts about an InCommon value 
> proposition for them. He's also interested in your thoughts about what 
> organizations and services you'd like to see partner with InCommon.

For some background:

There has been interest for some time in figuring out the possible 
benefits of using identity federation with various organizations that are 
sources of incoming students.  These days students have accounts 
(usernames/passwords) with these organizations.  If these organizations 
become identity providers, it may provide better linkage for students 
identities as they move between organizations.  Here's an example.

UW is working now with CollegeNET on their ApplyWeb service, via which 
almost all undergrad applicants come to the UW (and hundreds of other 
schools).  Traditionally UW has offered UW NetIDs to applicants so they 
can access various UW services; this has been done by sending them a 
paper letter with information (including one-time password) on how to sign 
up.  Our Admissions folks are hoping to avoid the cost of sending this 
paper by letting applicants sign up for UW NetIDs via signing on from 
their CollegeNET accounts, the same ones they use to apply in the first 
place.  We're hoping this will be in place in a few months.

The College Board could be another example, since I believe incoming 
undergrads all have accounts there these days.  Could some processes be 
improved by federating with TCB?

Other examples:  As a research institution most grad applicants (I think) 
come from other US higher-ed.  Federation could provide linkage between 
existing undergrad identities and grad applicant processes.  We've had 
discussion in the past with the Association of American Medical Colleges, 
which runs the MCATs, about linking their med-applicant-testing identities 
with medical school application processes.

 - RL "Bob"