2024.03.23 What do successful readers do - Sandy Millin for PARK.pptx
Msca avoiding diploma mills 4 12 13
1. Ryan Schrenk
Instructional Manager @ MTDA
April 10, 2013
Bozeman, MT
MSCA Yearly Conference
Slides available at:
http://slideshare.net/rschrenk
2. Higher Ed
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19115636/fox-5-
investigates-udc-professors-earn-degrees-from-
diploma-mill#axzz2Ptm4xWHr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb2vJVvBxio
High School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVXpDfJRoc
4. Diploma mills (or degree mills) are
substandard or fraudulent “colleges” that offer
potential students degrees with little or no
serious work. Some are simple frauds: a
mailbox to which people send money in
exchange for paper that purports to be a
college degree. Others require some nominal
work from the student but do not require
college-level course work that is normally
required for a degree.
5. You can earn degrees in significantly less time than
at a traditional college or university.
The college places a heavy emphasis on offering
college credits for life experience.
The college sends you a diploma if you pay a fee.
The college lets you “buy” a grade point average
and academic honors.
The college charges tuition by the degree, or offers
discounts if you enroll in multiple degree
programs. (Traditional colleges generally charge
by the credit hour, course, or semester, although
some vocational schools charge tuition per
program.)
6. The college’s address is a post office box or suite
number.
The college’s Web site does not include information
that a traditional college Web site might include, such
as a mission statement, course requirements for specific
programs, library resources, and faculty information.
The college provides only vague information about its
faculty or has no faculty, only “evaluators,” “mentors”
or “counselors.”
The college claims to be accredited by an association
that either does not exist or is not recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education.
The name of a college is similar to a well-known and
well-respected college.
7. In general, diploma mills would not pass the
initial screening of accrediting organizations
(review for eligibility, candidacy, or initial
accreditation) and thus fall outside the purview
of these bodies. Similarly, accreditation mills
would struggle with the pre-screening for
recognition and thus escape this scrutiny as
well.
8. Lack of Accreditation
Dept of Veteran Affairs won’t grant benefits to
attend
Names similar but not same as legitimate ones
Lack of contact with professors
Lack of work required
Scholarships available for no good reason
Excessive credit for “life experiences”
Obvious typos or English language errors
Questionable marketing methods
9. Can degrees be purchased?
Is there a claim of accreditation when there is no
evidence of this status?
Is there a claim of accreditation from a
questionable accrediting organization?
Does the operation lack state or federal licensure
or authority to operate?
Is little if any attendance required of students?
Are few assignments required for students to earn
credits?
Is a very short period of time required to earn a
degree?
10. Are degrees available based solely on experience or resume
review?
Are there few requirements for graduation?
Does the operating charge very high fees as compared with
average fees charged by higher education institutions?
Alternatively, is the fee so low that it does not appear to be related
to the cost of providing legitimate education?
Does the operation fail to provide any information about the
campus or business location or address and relies, e.g., only on a
post office box?
Does the operation fail to provide a list of its faculty and their
qualifications?
Does the operation have a name similar to other well-known
colleges and universities?
Does the operation make claims in its publications for which there
is no evidence?
11. Atlantic International University
http://www.aiu.edu
About the Doctorate
http://www.aiu.edu/Doctorate.html
How to Apply
https://www.aiu.edu/apply3_phone.aspx
14. How to recognize a fake GED
Can I take the test from home?
Where can I take it?
Isn’t it an online test?
The “GED Online” test is a scam
GED costs around $100 rising to $120 in January
2014
Diploma mills charge more for the fake test
Prep classes are safe though
16. Lincoln Academy
http://www.thelinco
lnhighschool.com/
17. Left up to the State
Beware if not accredited by one of the big 6
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Accreditation Commission for primary
and secondary schools and Northwest Commission
on Colleges and Universities for postsecondary
institutions
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
18. Montana Accreditation Manual
http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/accred/05accredmanu
al.pdf
Contains this and more
Numbers and types of staff or teachers
Required licensures
Class sizes
Curriculum standards
Program definitions
Beware if programs stray and ask questions