Overview
Identity proofing helps make sure that someone really is who they say they are, so institutions can safely share sensitive data and resources with the right people. Given the security landscape today, the importance of this organizational process has moved from “nice to have” to mission-critical. Whether you’re facing NIH’s 2027 compliance deadline, combating financial aid fraud, or standardizing inconsistent help desk processes across campus—your institution needs robust identity proofing. But where do you start?
The Identity Proofing Accelerator is a collaborative learning program for higher education professionals charged with understanding and improving identity proofing at their institutions, no prior business analysis experience required. Through facilitated sessions, sharing with peers, and hands-on implementation work, you’ll gain the knowledge and tools to create an actionable roadmap needed to build or strengthen identity proofing capabilities at your institution.
This isn’t a lecture series, it’s a discovery project. Working in use case teams, you’ll move from understanding requirements to mapping and interviewing stakeholders, analyzing gaps, and working toward creating a plan for your campus.
Snapshot
Next Cohorts:
- Cohort 2: September 22 – December 8, 2026
- Cohort 3: February – April 2027
Delivery: Live, Virtual + Asynchronous, Self Paced Activities
Program Pricing : $2,500 (per institution)
This application is to record your interest and doesn’t commit you to the program until you register using the link we send.
Program Structure & Format
Cohort-Based: Learn alongside peers facing similar challenges, share experiences and findings with your peers, join a community of practice working on identity proofing.
Practical Applications: More than online learning, you’ll work toward implementing the business processes we investigate together.
Mentorship: Direct access to experts.
9 Weeks (Core Program)
+ 30-60-90 day check-ins
Virtual Live Sessions: Interactive learning studio sessions.
Collaboration Lab Sessions: Additional learning and ongoing support.
Self-Paced Assignments: Practical implementation work.
Limited to 20 institutions, up to 3 participants per institution.
Work in smaller groups according to use case to ensure personalized support and meaningful peer connections.
Program Schedule
Who Should Participate
This program is designed for institutions ready to make a serious commitment to tackling their real-world identity proofing challenges. We’re looking for organizations that meet specific readiness criteria to ensure program success.
- Institutions beginning their identity proofing journey – You’re exploring identity proofing requirements and need to understand the landscape before implementation
- Teams ready to assess current capabilities and gaps – You’re prepared to evaluate your existing processes and identify what’s needed for identity proofing
- Organizations ready to assess their identity proofing landscape – Your leadership is willing to facilitate stakeholder conversations and explore how current processes might evolve
- Staff capacity to engage in an intensive 9-week program – Your team can dedicate the necessary time and resources to fully participate
- Institutions willing to share learnings with the community – You’re committed to contributing to the broader InCommon community through knowledge sharing
If your institution meets these criteria and you’re ready to tackle your identity proofing challenges, this program is designed for you.
Meet Your Facilitators
PROGRAM MANAGER, INCOMMON ACADEMY
Jody Tracy
Jody Tracy is Program Manager for Cohorts and Accelerator Initiatives for the InCommon Academy at Internet2. She’s worked with the higher education IT community since 2013 and is passionate about bringing people together to share knowledge and learn from one another.
SENIOR DIRECTOR, INCOMMON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND RESEARCH, INTERNET2
Ann West
SENIOR DIRECTOR, INCOMMON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND RESEARCH, INTERNET2
Ann West
Ann West is the Senior Director of InCommon Strategic Partnerships and Research at Internet2. She works directly with the research and education community to determine what new technology capabilities campuses need, and then partners with IT leaders to bring those ideas to reality.
Ann is a foundational expert in Identity and Access Management (IAM)—the technology that ensures the right person has access to the right digital tools. She has been deeply involved for more than three decades and loved the community experience so much that she joined Internet2 to lead outreach for several large projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
As the former Associate Vice President for Trust and Identity, Ann’s work has been instrumental in the Trust & Identity ecosystem. This includes evangelizing the adoption of IAM practices, growing the community of IAM practitioners, collaborating with the US government and higher education on identity assurance standards and practices, developing and managing third-party support programs, and expanding services like eduroam, a service that provides secure Wi-Fi access on campuses worldwide.
Ann’s current work specializes in the complex, long-term infrastructure projects that require community buy-in and strong partnerships to succeed.
Additional guest advisors and instructors will be joining some sessions. To be announced soon.
Program Pricing
Invest in your institution’s future with the Identity Proofing Accelerator. This program offers value for developing a roadmap for identity proofing, combining expert guidance, peer learning, and comprehensive resources in an intensive 9-week experience.
| Price per Institution | Program Fee |
|---|---|
| Per-institution pricing is designed for collaboration across roles, so teams can learn alongside peers and apply insights directly to their campus environment. This rate includes all program materials, live sessions, collaboration labs, and 3-month follow-up support for up to 3 team members. | $2,500 |
Fee waiver notice: We’re committed to making this program accessible to institutions of all sizes and resource levels. If the program fee is a barrier to your participation, we encourage you to request a fee waiver.
To request a waiver: Email Jody Tracy with a brief explanation of your circumstances. We will review all requests with the goal of supporting as many institutions as possible. No institution should be excluded due to budgetary concerns.
Application Process
Step 1: Submit Application Form
Complete our comprehensive form to indicate your institution’s interest in the next cohort. This initial step helps us understand your current status, goals, and readiness level for this accelerator program.
Step 2: Notification & Onboarding
Receive your acceptance notification, complete the registration process, and begin the onboarding process for your cohort. We look forward to working with you!
Identity Proofing Accelerator FAQs
What are your payment, cancellation, and refund policies for this program?
How much time should we expect to invest weekly?
What technical prerequisites are required?
Can multiple staff members from our institution participate?
Featured Resources
Beyond Authentication: When Secure Access Demands Identity Assurance
Phishing threats are rising, and higher identity assurance doesn’t have to be complicated. Watch this webinar to learn how InCommon is making IAP High / NIST IAL2 more approachable—and how your input can help shape what comes next.
Working Together on Identity Verification
This Thread Meetup Report captures how over 60 higher education professionals discussed tackling deepfakes, vendor selection, compliance headaches, and fragmented processes. Learn what your peers discovered.
Solving R&E's Identity Proofing Puzzle Together
New survey data from IT leaders reveals where identity fraud hits hardest in research and education. Discover what institutions prioritize, why vendor solutions frustrate campuses, and how to tackle these challenges together.
Questions about This Accelerator?
Contact our team to learn more about this program and let us provide guidance about your options.
Curious about a Custom Accelerator?
We provide tailored Accelerator solutions for institutions, consortia, and regional networks. Tell us what you need.