A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Pending Verifications
At the National Student Clearinghouse, we’re proud that most degree verification requests are completed instantly — 78 percent of all requests through DegreeVerify (DV) are immediately confirmed. But what about the one in five requests that aren’t instantly confirmed? As you can see, we work hard to resolve them quickly:
- The average turnaround time for results: 48 hours (includes weekends, not just business days)
- 60 percent of pending transactions are closed within the first 24 hours
- 80 percent of pending transactions are closed within 72 hours
Here’s a look at how the National Student Clearinghouse works with schools and requestors to resolve those pesky “pending” verifications quickly and accurately.
What does “pending” mean?
“Pending” means that the request didn’t match the Clearinghouse’s records, and the school is conducting some research to find the right student record.
In order to resolve pending requests, the school must take action. It usually means that the staff of the school’s office of the registrar needs to locate the record, confirm the details, and add the information into the Clearinghouse database.
When a transaction requires school research, the Clearinghouse stays in close contact with the school, following up to check on the request’s status. We provide updates through the “Transaction History” link located on each request. By searching for the transaction ID and then selecting the ”Show Details” link, each transaction will expand to show full details. There, you can track the Clearinghouse’s follow-ups to see how we’re working with the school to resolve your request.
What do I do with an “unable to confirm” result?
Sometimes, the school can’t locate the student record in question, resulting in an “unable to confirm” result. This is often because the requestor’s information doesn’t match the school’s information. In that case, you as the requestor must reach out to degreeverify@studentclearinghouse.org to:
- Provide additional information to help the school locate the record
- Send documentation, such as a transcript or diploma
If you notice any error in the original request (such as misspellings or the wrong SSN), we encourage you to resubmit your request with the correct information.
When you receive an “unable to confirm” result, you can rest assured that the school has already gone through the “pending” process outlined above. The school will need some new information in order to move the request forward.
How can I get help with a discrepancy in confirmed results?
If there is a discrepancy between your information and the school’s record, please send an send an email stating the information you are disputing and the transaction ID to degreeverify@studentclearinghouse.org.
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