CHEA fights back against degree mills.IN THE 1980S THE PROBLEM WAS SO BAD, THE FBI LAUNCHED AN investigation called "DipScam," shorthand shorthand, any brief, rapid system of writing that may be used in transcribing, or recording, the spoken word. Such systems, many having characters based on the letters of the alphabet, were used in ancient times; the shorthand of Tiro, Cicero's amanuensis, was used for Operation Diploma Scam. That initiative led to the closing of some 40 phony degree mills and more than 20 convictions. But degree mills are back and, aided by the internet, have grown to what some estimate may be a $1 billion industry. And with people in business, government, and even education itself obtaining bogus credentials, they're not going away soon. Now The Council for Higher Education Accreditation Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. Its purposes include providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation and providing scrutiny and certification of (www.chea.org) has published a list of suggestions to help combat site-based and distance-based degree mills. The suggestions have been sent to key stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. in state and federal government, educators, accreditors, and others, to alert them to the problem and enlist en·list v. en·list·ed, en·list·ing, en·lists v.tr. 1. To engage (persons or a person) for service in the armed forces. 2. To engage the support or cooperation of. v. their aid. 1. Know What Degree Mills Are: Create Tools for Identification * Identify key characteristics and common practices of mills. * Develop and apply definitions of degree mills. 2. Stop the Funding for Degree Mills: Deny Government or Private Sector Financial Support * Assure that degree mills do not receive public (taxpayer) funds. * Assure that students attending mills do not receive publicly funded student aid. * Assure that there is no employer-funded tuition assistance. 3. Inform the Public about Degree Mills: Educate for Awareness * Routinely inform the public about how degree mills harm students and society. * Assure that advertising of higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. is confined con·fine v. con·fined, con·fin·ing, con·fines v.tr. 1. To keep within bounds; restrict: Please confine your remarks to the issues at hand. See Synonyms at limit. to legitimate providers and not degree mills. * Identify and publicize pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. publicize or -cise Verb [-cizing, -cized] questionable marketing and recruitment practices associated with degree mills. * Educate the public about the role of the Internet in making distance-based degree mills readily available. 4. Pursue Legal Action Against Degree Mills * Encourage and assist with the development of federal, state, or local law that make establishing, licensing, and operating degree mills illegal. * Work to make the use of fraudulent degrees (e.g., for obtaining or upgrading employment) illegal. 5. Use Evidence of Quality Provided by Recognized Accreditation and Quality Assurance Bodies * Use accreditation and quality assurance lists to identify reliable higher education institutions and programs. 6. Address Degree Mills Internationally: Contain the Expansion * Establish cross-border agreements among countries that discourage the import and export of site-based and distance-based degree mills. * Develop reliable country-based lists of legitimate higher education providers. * Develop a list of degree mill characteristics, practices and providers. --Tim Goral goral an intermediate type between goat and antelope. Look, smell and climb like goats but have wide muzzles like antelopes and are not bearded. Called also Naemorhedus spp. |
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