Penn State Selects Certified Transcript Services from GeoTrust and Adobe to Secure Academic Records
University Registrar to Offer Secure Electronic Transcripts, Expediting
Service to Students and Alumni and Protecting University's Brand
NEEDHAM, Mass., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- GeoTrust, Inc., a leader in
identity verification solutions for e-business, today announced that The
Pennsylvania State University has selected the Certified Transcript Services
(CTS) solution to secure the electronic delivery of academic records. Penn
State is implementing the solution to speed the delivery of transcripts and
grades on behalf of alumni and students, prevent the publication and
distribution of fraudulent records and diplomas bearing the university's name,
and reduce internal costs.
Penn State is one of the first major universities to put in place a system
designed to ensure the integrity of electronic transcripts. For several
years, the school has allowed students to electronically order copies of
official transcripts, which were then printed and mailed. Now, it is
enhancing that system with the CTS solution from GeoTrust and Adobe Systems
Incorporated to allow an entirely secure and electronic process.
"Each year, Penn State receives about 120,000 requests from students and
alumni who need copies of their official transcripts," said J. James Wager,
assistant vice president for undergraduate education and university registrar,
Penn State University. "Employers, graduate schools and professional
certifying agencies require a high level of certainty that the academic
credential was issued by Penn State, not a 'diploma mill,' and that the
document has not been altered. Certified Transcript Services will help us to
provide that level of confidence to our customers, more rapidly serve our
students and alumni, and enable our staff to spend more time servicing
customers."
Neal Creighton, CEO of GeoTrust, said: "Academic records are commonly
altered, from a few grades improved to wholesale fabrication. Such changes
mislead recipients and compromise the reputations of major colleges and
universities. By putting in place a secure system, Penn State is taking a
forward-thinking, aggressive stance to protect its students and brand
integrity."
John Landwehr, director of Security Solutions and Strategy, Adobe, said:
"High-value documents are increasingly changed or fabricated altogether,
damaging the credibility of institutions, including colleges and universities.
The CTS solution Penn State is implementing protects the integrity of
information contained in academic records and is similar to that used by banks
and financial institutions today to secure business critical information.
This solution represents an important step forward in technology to combat
document forgery."
Certified Transcript Services allows college registrars, admissions
offices and departments to create certified Adobe Portable Document Format
(PDF) transcripts. When a recipient opens a CTS transcript, it certifies that
the academic institution's identity has been verified by a trusted
organization and that the transcript has not been altered. Anyone using
freely available Adobe(R) Reader(R) software can open the transcript without
the use of special software.
The Penn State high-volume CTS solution uses GeoTrust True Credentials for
Adobe Acrobat(R), the first widely available implementation of public-key
document validation technology. Additional system components include the
Adobe LiveCycle(TM) Document Security Server and SafeNet cryptographic
Hardware Security Module, Luna SA FIPS 3 device to protect the Penn State
identity signature key. Leading Adobe integrator Four Point Solutions
integrated the solution into Penn State's transcript production process.
The solution is available through GeoTrust (866-273-7355) and Four Point
Solutions (613-225-0503).
About Penn State
Penn State is a multi-campus public land-grant university dedicated to
improving the lives of the people of Pennsylvania, the nation and the world
through integrated, high-quality programs in teaching, research and service.
Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, and continuing and
distance education informed by scholarship and research. Founded in 1855,
Penn State has conferred more than a half-million degrees.
About GeoTrust, Inc.
GeoTrust is a leader in identity verification and trust services for e-
business. Its products include web security services for secure e-commerce
transactions, identity verification, managed security services and TrustWatch
(http://www.trustwatch.com), a free toolbar and search site that helps
consumers recognize whether a site has been verified and is safe for the
exchange of confidential information. With more than 80,000 companies in over
140 countries using its technology for online security, GeoTrust has rapidly
become the second largest digital certificate provider in the world. Visit
geotrust.com for more information.
GeoTrust, Certified Transcript Services and True Credentials are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of GeoTrust, Inc. in the United States
and/or other countries. Adobe, Acrobat, Reader and Adobe LiveCycle are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the
United States and/or other countries. All other product names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:
Joan Lockhart Liz Serotte
GeoTrust, Inc. Schwartz Communications, Inc.
781-292-4153 781-684-0770
jlockhart@geotrust.com geotrust@schwartz-pr.com
SOURCE GeoTrust, Inc.
Web Site: geotrust.com |
