Frequently Asked Questions
Topics: Security / Speed / Translation / Usability / Cost Savings / Confidentiality and FERPA / Pricing
Security:
How secure is the transmission of electronic records/transcripts sent through NTC?
NTC utilizes the same underlying security features as used by online banking websites. NTC uses secure
and encrypted formats such as HTTPS and Secure FTP to facilitate transactions and student record
management.
How do I track the records/transcripts that my institution sends/receives?
Each transcript moved through the NTC server receives a unique tracking number. Users or students can
enter the number on our website,
www.transcriptcenter.com, to receive a real-time update on where each
transaction is in the delivery process. Think of it like a FedEx tracking number; it’s the same concept.
How can I be sure that the information in the records/transcripts received is authentic?
NTC secures the end points in each transaction, which means a receiving institution can have a high level
of confidence in the record/transcript's authenticity. Moreover, because NTC sends actual student data
from the source institution's Student Information System, the receiving institution can have a high level of
confidence that the information is correct. This is in stark contrast to competing offerings that only scrape
screens and send images or PDFs. In addition, each transcript is assigned a unique tracking number that
authenticates the information received. Users or students can enter the number on our website,
www.transcriptcenter.com, to receive this information.
Speed:
How quickly can I start sending/receiving records/transcripts?
Almost immediately, if you are a school district or college that has already integrated your transcript data to
one of our supported standards (e.g., SPEEDE EDI , SIF eTranscript, or PESC XML). NTC verifies every
institution that registers – so as soon as that process is complete your institution is ready to go. If your
institution has not yet integrated your transcript data to a standard, then NTC's professional services group
can help.
How fast can I send a record/transcript through NTC?
Sending a record/transcript through NTC takes only a few seconds. The process of selecting a student and
multiple target institutions can be completed in less than one minute.
How fast can I receive a record/transcript through NTC?
As soon as you log in, you will be notified that new records/transcripts were sent to you. At that time, you
can view them, and if you desire, accept them. Once you have accepted a record, downloading that record
is practically instantaneous.
Translation:
Is there any additional software needed to use NTC?
No additional software is needed when using NTC. NTC is a browser-based application, so users only
need an Internet connection and a valid username/password to log onto NTC.
What if the sending institution uses a different data format than the receiving institution?
No problem, NTC was built on open standards, meaning you choose the standard you want to use and NTC
will translate the data into the standard of the receiving institution. NTC translates to the standard used by
Frequently Asked Questions continued
the receiver and if no standard is known for that institution, then NTC generates a print (paper)
record/transcript and mails it First Class via U.S. Postal mail.
Do the recipients of records/transcripts receive real data or PDF images of data?
Both, but we prefer to send data. And while most institutions prefer to receive REAL data, NTC also
allows you to view and print records/transcript documents from PDF files.
What standards are supported by NTC?
NTC was built on open standards. Data can be exchanged via PESC High School Transcript XML, PESC
College Transcript XML, SPEEDE EDI, SIF eTranscript, etc. if there is a standard that you have a question
about, call us and we’ll tell you whether or not it’s supported.
How does NTC prevent transcript fraud?
NTC prevents transcript fraud in several ways. First, it secures the endpoints of a transaction so that the
appropriate people can see exactly who sent a record from a source institution and who accepted a record at
the target institution. Secondly, NTC utilizes state-of-the-art Internet security protocols to safeguard the
transmission of the data. Thirdly, the NTC central server is protected by sophisticated application security
provisions and uncompromising physical security. Finally, each transaction is given a randomly generated
and unique transaction number that can be tracked from the NTC website. This transaction number is
encoded within the academic record data and displayed whenever the data is viewed. Even if a student
tried to forge a record they would also have to somehow forge NTC's transaction number, which is
practically impossible.
Usability:
How much training is required to use NTC?
Very little, NTC built the user interface only after lengthy discussions with registrars and admissions
officers. Much of their feedback is built into the product. Most users can figure out NTC simply by
clicking through it, but we also provide some training modules that can have a user up and running in less
than one hour.
How can I verify that a record/transcript has been sent through NTC?
NTC users receive a confirmation message that verifies the record/transcript has been sent. Plus, at any
time, users can view/print the transaction summary of any record/transcript sent-received through NTC.
Can I determine when the record/transcript was delivered to the receiving institution?
NTC users can find out the exact time the record/transcript was delivered to the receiving institution and
even gives you the name of the receiving user to which it was delivered.
Who are the primary users of NTC?
Typically, NTC users are Registrars at K-12 schools and Colleges and Universities. We also support other
non-academic institutions such as certification boards, scholarship organizations, employers, the Armed
Forces, and the NCAA.
Can I trade records/transcripts with institutions not in the NTC trading partner network?
Absolutely, in fact, that is one of the most powerful aspects of NTC. Other electronic transcript providers
only facilitate exchanges within their own network, but NTC already allows its members to send to
institutions that are on other networks, including the SPEEDE transcript server. The SPEEDE transcript
server hosts over 500 colleges and universities. Over time, NTC will add on other exchanges as
appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions continued
What kind of reports can be generated from NTC?
NTC allows users to view reports on their inbound and outbound traffic. In addition, an NTC member can
run queries against their data. NTC constantly tracks the inbound and outbound activity for each member
institution and provides these reports in simple, colorful, and easy to understand charts. Many of our
members tell us that they use these reports to demonstrate the productivity of their department and staff.
Are there any browser limitations when accessing NTC?
NTC supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 1.5 or higher, and Safari 2.0 or higher. These are
highly standard browsers and represent over 96% of Internet users.
Cost Savings:
What are my cost savings of sending and receiving records/transcripts through NTC?
You can determine your approximate cost saving when using NTC by using our Cost Savings Calculator on
our website, www.transcriptcenter.com.
What are the benefits of joining NTC’s trading partner network?
Joining NTC will help your institution save time, save money, improve efficiency, decrease transcript
fraud, and improve customer service.
Confidentiality and FERPA:
Does NTC comply with the laws set by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)?
Absolutely, NTC is a fully FERPA compliant solution and integrates cleanly with the current business
process used by your institution. NTC personnel are experts in FERPA compliance and student
confidentiality, so our solution builds upon the existing safeguards you have in place. Our system requires
that users agree to the Terms of Use policy before they can send or receive records, and by agreeing to this
policy, a user acknowledges that they have the right to send, view, or request a student's record.
How does NTC protect confidential information such as student data?
NTC has several layers of security in place that ensures the right people have access to the right data. NTC
only displays student information to authenticated users relevant to a particular transaction (e.g., users from
the sending or receiving institutions, or the student and/or parent). Even approved users are locked out of
data not related to their institution. Moreover, only a narrow subset of student data is returned when a
general user tracks a particular transaction from NTC's public website, www.transcriptcenter.com.
Pricing:
How much does NTC cost?
NTC is priced to be substantially less what an academic or co-academic institution is *currently* paying.
For example, the Texas Education Agency recently released a study in which it costs a typical school
district $7.71 to send a paper transcript. It costs receiving institutions even more because they have to re-
key all of the data. NTC not only saves your organization time and energy, it also saves you a lot of
money. There is a one-time set-up fee based on the size of your institution and then a per transaction fee
thereafter. In most cases, NTC only charges for records/transcripts that are sent. For more information,
please see our Pricing sheets for K-12 Schools, Colleges and Universities, and Co-Academic
Organizations, listed under the Resources section on our website.
How do I sign up?
There are two different ways to sign up, 1) go to our website at www.transcriptcenter.com and click
“Request More Information” under a specific membership level, or 2) call us at (800) 792-1750.
Frequently Asked Questions continued
How is my institution billed?
Each month, NTC will provide you with a detailed report of every single transaction, as well as an easy-to-
understand bill. These are typically sent via email.
Is there a minimum time period for memberships or can I sign up on a month-to-month basis?
There is no minimum contract period and you are welcome to leave at any time. That said, the one-time
set-up fee is non refundable and most of our pricing plans do not penalize you for inactivity.
Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, you do have to sign a contract. This contract does several important things for both parties. Among
other things, it affirms that both your institution and NTC will each protect the confidentiality and privacy
of your student records. It also declares the National Transcript Center as an Official Agent of your student
records, which allows NTC to send your requests and records/transcripts to other institutions and designate
them as "Official."