Have you ever wondered
the credibility of some of the diploma mills and institutions of accreditation
that are popping up? Some of these institutions claim that they can grant you
an educational degree in a very little amount of time with a low cost to boot!
The Council of Higher
Education Accreditation (2003) argues that diploma mills and accreditation
mills mislead and harm. Why? First,
degrees and certificates from diploma mills may not be acknowledged by other
institutions when students try to transfer institutions or go on to graduate
school. Second, employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates in terms
of employment and providing tuition assistance for continuing education
(Council of Higher Education Accreditation, 2003). They also argue that
misleading accreditations can mislead students and the public about the quality
of an institution.
Identifying diploma and
accreditation mills is not easy. Many of the characteristics of these mills are
similar to familiar higher education institutions and are similar to well-known
accrediting organizations (Council for Higher Education Accreditation, 2003).
For example, in terms of
diploma mills, prospective students and the public should be concerned if they
can answer "yes" to the following questions:
· Can degrees be purchased?
· Is there a claim of accreditation where there is
no evidence of this status?
· Does the operation fail to provide a list of its
faculty and there qualifications?
· Does the operation have a name that is similar
to other well-known colleges and universities?
· Are there requirements for graduation? Does the
operation lack state or federal licensure or authority to operate?
One of the many problems
has to do with the fact that there is no single definition of a diploma mill or
of an accreditation mill within the realm of higher education. As educators and
staff within the realm of higher education we have to continue to be aware of
the growing number of institutions and operations that may be falsifying
programs and degrees for financial gain. This could greatly impact the quality
of education for our students and it is a growing problem that needs to be
addressed in the near future.
Be careful when
researching these programs, especially for graduate school and/or professional
development. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Lauren Behr Assistant Director |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.