Online education is more popular than ever, and – as eLearners can attest - it’s changing the lives of millions of people who can’t afford to put everything on hold for a “traditional” college degree. Nationwide, enrollments and course offerings continue to grow, as does the abundance of reputable, innovative programs. Unfortunately, some cynics still question online education’s design and credibility. Much of their doubt stems from the existence of so-called “diploma mills” – online colleges and universities that take students’ money in exchange for bogus, unearned diplomas.
This summer, diploma mills made New Jersey headlines, when a group of school district administrators were found to have received pay raises and tuition reimbursement for degrees they essentially bought from an unaccredited college. Breyer State University, the online school in question, has been blacklisted by a series of states, where it has either been prohibited from operating, or where its degrees are flagged for public warning. For years, “bad apple” institutions like Breyer have cast a cloud of suspicion across legitimate programs, forcing conscientious online students to take a defensive stance regarding the standards and rigor that define real, substantive programs.
To a large extent, accreditation agencies (educational authorities recognized on either a regional or national level) have proved helpful in delineating which schools are above board, and which do not meet fundamental standards. But sifting through accreditation body titles can sometimes get confusing – in part because diploma mills often invent their own, phony accrediting agencies to give themselves official-sounding stamps of approval. (This was the case with Breyer State, now allegedly operating in Idaho.) Besides that, not all unaccredited schools are diploma mills. Some schools argue that their unaccredited status allows them to remain more budget-friendly because they’re able to sidestep the costs associated with the accreditation process. In the end, online students may be left wondering which programs are credible, and whether or not their degrees will be taken seriously.
The good news for online education is that state officials are cracking down on illegitimate institutions. Allentown’s Examiner reports on the case of New Jersey’s Freehold School District, where the superintendant has agreed to disavow his doctoral title and return the amount of his raise. The New Jersey Senate is currently reviewing a bill that will ensure the veracity of all advanced credentials in conjunction with tuition reimbursement or salary increases. http://examiner.gmnews.com/news/2008/1009/front_page/020.html
A similar article in The Birmingham News outlines steps being taken by Alabama officials to suppress the issuance of degrees by fraudulent online colleges. Previously a popular headquarters for dubious Internet schools, Alabama is now rigorously policing schools that claim address there. With a fulltime staff dedicated to the cause, eighteen schools have had their licenses revoked and others are being denied new applications. The Alabama State Department of Postsecondary Education reports that even tougher restrictions, whereby all degree-issuing institutions must have USDE-recognized accreditation, are slated for later this fall. http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1220343354277630.xml&coll=2&thispage=2
Currently, ten states have laws on the books that actually criminalize the use of an unaccredited degree for purposes of gaining employment or promotion. Experts predict this list will grow. But some states still struggle to regulate which schools, operating under their geographical auspices, are licensed or accredited. Like Alabama, Idaho is a state that has traditionally housed spurious online colleges. In recent years some Idaho institutions have flown under the radar, without the state required registration and/or accreditation, while using an Idaho address, and awarding their “degrees” to students.
The state of Oregon is one that’s been particularly vigilant in terms of online education’s legitimacy; their Office of Degree Authorization acts as a watchdog and a mediator on behalf of students and citizens. The Chronicle of Higher Education recently moderated an insightful, online discussion with The ODA’s Administrator, Alan Contreras. Contreras, a bona fide expert on the best and worst of online education practices, addressed many of the issues and misconceptions surrounding the degree mill problem, including ways in which society can fight degree mills and thereby help to relieve some distance learning prejudice. http://chronicle.com/live/2008/07/contreras/
So what can you do if you’re pursuing online education, and don’t want to get duped? While diploma mills might never be completely eradicated, trusted resources do exist to help protect students and employers from buying into fake claims. The U.S. Department of Education does not issue its own accreditations, but it does sponsor a database of nearly 7,000 postsecondary schools and programs that have received accreditation from an agency approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Searching your prospect school within this listing is a failsafe way to determine accreditation, which can potentially save you a lot of money and disappointment. http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
And don’t forget: we’re a great resource too! ELearners.com maintains a comprehensive database of online schools and programs - all with verifiable accreditations.