Internet Biblical Seminary

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Security Provisions

Privacy Agreement

To retain proper security over each individual's personal information related to using the Internet Biblical Seminary (IBS) courses, IBS requires your agreement with the IBS Privacy Policy. Please read the IBS Privacy Policy now. To understand the IBS security guidelines, read the following sections on Security. Guidelines differ among student study options and facilitators and church/mission group coordinators.

Security: Students

IBS ministers to everyone desiring to grow in his walk with Jesus Christ and the knowledge of His Word. Therefore, IBS realizes students may be from restricted-access countries and need additional protection over their identities.

While standard Internet guidelines are followed to protect each student's personal information, IBS has adopted some additional security guidelines which vary according to the study option selected. Please consider these guidelines when selecting from the available study options.

• Independent Study

  There are no personal identity protections for students taking the Personal Growth or Certificate of Completion independent study options. Special identity security only applies to Facilitator-Led classes. Therefore, an Independent Study student may enroll in a course immediately without seeking a facilitator's approval.

• Facilitator Led

  • Online Facilitation

    To protect the personal identity of the Online Facilitation student, an alias will be required for online interactions. Each student registering will enter his or her true name and email address for our records to track student progress. The student will also enter a unique name for his or her identity on the Web; this alias will be used for group discussions, too.

  • In-Person Facilitation

    In-Person Facilitation classes require the greatest level of security, especially if the class is held in a restricted-access country*. The In-Person Facilitation study option provides the same personal identity protection of the student as the Online Facilitation, using an alias required for online interactions. Additionally, the In-Person Facilitation study option requires approval from the facilitator before entry into a class. The facilitator is responsible for the safety of each member in the class. In restricted access countries the facilitator must verify the identity of each student to ensure the safety of everyone.

    When facilitators set up classes, they will identify whether the classes are "public" or "private" classes. Most classes located in western countries will be classified as public and will reveal full class details: course name, facilitator contact information, country location specifics, and when the class meets. Classes held in restricted-access countries will most likely be classified as private and will only display the course name, country, and facilitator contact information. There may be more than one class offered for a specific course in a restricted-access country, but for security reasons only one will be shown. The facilitator contact will be the coordinator for that country.

    When students select a private class offering, they must receive the approval of a facilitator to take the class. When students sign up for a class their requests for the class will be placed in "Pending" status awaiting approval from the coordinator. The coordinator will pass the students' requests to take the class to the facilitator or one of the facilitators teaching the course. By signing up for a class, students indicate which course they want to take, but the facilitator and field contact choose which class the students will be assigned to. The facilitator will review the list of students who have signed up for a course and determine whom they already know; then the facilitator will go online and approve those students to take the class. Students whom the facilitator does not know will require close evaluation and consultation with others to determine whether their requests can be approved.

    The facilitator is responsible for the safety of the class and may refuse entry of a student he feels may compromise that safety. The facilitator may rely on others for evaluating each student, but it is the facilitator's responsibility to go online to approve the student.

Security: Facilitators and Church/Mission Group Coordinators

Security guidelines protecting facilitators' and group coordinators' identities are identical. Standard Internet guidelines are followed to protect personal information. At registration, you will enter your real name and email address for our records. But you will also enter a unique name for your identity on the Web; this alias will be used for group discussions.

If you are a facilitator or group coordinator, IBS charges you with additional responsibilities to protect student information and identities. You must be familiar with, and agree to, preserving the security guidelines for students who are under your leadership and are using the IBS courses.

*Restricted-access country = a country with logistical challenges (such as exceptionally rugged terrain or ongoing civil unrest) that impede sharing the gospel of Christ, or a region containing significant hostility toward sharing the gospel of Christ.

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