Identity Management in the Higher Education Experience

Networked IT resources are now essential to almost every aspect of higher education's mission, yet how can institutions ensure that the right people get the right resources at the right time? Our presentation examines identity management (IdM) as a critical piece of the IT infrastructure that helps institutions match users securely with appropriate resources, comply with a growing body of privacy regulation, facilitate intra- and extrainstitutional services, and deliver a good online experience? We'll look at why institutions need to address IdM issues, what tools are available, and where the technology is headed. Making use of a recent EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) study of IdM practices and Internet2 Middleware Initiative models and best practices, we'll also examine the current state of IdM and moderate a discussion with audience members about what they're doing and the challenges they see.