ATLANTA—Diploma fraud is an age-old problem wreaking havoc on the reputations and brand prestige of colleges and universities nationwide, according to Parchment, Inc., a market leader in secure digital credentials. Clark Atlanta University is not immune to this growing scourge. To fight back against fraudulent credentials, CAU has teamed with Parchment to become the first and only HBCU in the nation to begin issuing highly secure and encrypted digital diplomas.
“Clark Atlanta University is proud to serve as the trailblazer among HBCUs when it comes to providing digital diplomas,” said CAU Registrar Susan Gibson. CAU had already been providing secure eTranscripts to its students and graduates.
Some of the security features of digital diplomas include direct, integrated sharing with major social channels, a certified PDF version with an Adobe Blue Ribbon embedded digital signature with tamper evidence notification, unique document identification numbers and a link to online versions embedded within the certified PDF. The technology used in the new eDiplomas will make it much harder for counterfeiters to falsify a CAU diploma, and protect our graduates who put in the work to earn a real degree.
“eTranscripts and eDiplomas align with President Johnson’s vision of ‘Lifting Every Voice’ by enabling our students to be recognized around the world at the click of a button,” said Martin Hill, academic records manager in the Office of the Registrar, and leader of the digital diploma project.
The benefits of eDiplomas also extend to our graduates who now receive proof of graduating within hours of commencement, instead of waiting weeks or months for a paper version to arrive by mail. Nearly 90 graduates in CAU’s December 2016 class were the first to enjoy faster access to a digital diploma, resulting in a streamlined vetting process for employers considering hiring them.
“Today’s generation of students rely heavily on technology and social media to share their life stories,” Registrar Gibson continued. “The digital diploma gives CAU graduates the opportunity to share their educational milestones with family, friends, employers and others via social media.”
Following a successful pilot program last year, CAU now plans to roll out digital diplomas to all graduates beginning with the Class of 2017 in May. For more information on this project, contact project manager Martin Hill at 404.880.6338 or email mhill@cau.edu.
