What is a Diploma Mill?
•
An illegal operation selling
certificates and/or degrees that require no coursework
or tests.
•
An operation awarding “degrees” for life
experiences.
What’s wrong with a diploma mill and a fake
degree?
•
Diploma Mills and fake degrees make all
institutions and degrees suspect.
•
Diploma Mills target the less
well-informed citizens.
•
Diploma Mills cause employers to waste
time and money verifying degrees.
•
Fake degrees are not recognized by the
legitimate institutions when students
request transfer or acceptance to graduate school.
•
Employers may not recognize the diploma
for employment or promotions.
How do I identify a Diploma Mill or a fake
degree?
•
The operation lacks state and/or federal
authority to operate.
•
The e-mail address for the operation
changes regularly and cannot be used for
inquiries or other contact.
•
The operation provides only a post
office box or telephone number for contact
(the telephone number is usually connected to an answering service
promising
contact within 24 hours).
•
A very short period is required to earn
a degree.
•
Very few, if any, assignments are
required to complete a degree.
•
Little, if any, class attendance, online
or in person, is required of the student.
What is ADHE doing to prevent Diploma Mills from establishing
operations in the
State?
•
Requiring all degree-granting
institutions operating in Arkansas to meet the
standards established for the operation of an institution of
higher education in
Arkansas by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(Coordinating
Board).
•
Requiring all degree-granting
institutions to have all degree programs (traditional
delivery and distance delivery) approved by the Coordinating
Board.
•
Constantly monitoring the operations of
all institutions approved by the
Coordinating Board.
•
Investigating reports of non-authorized
institution(s) in the State and providing
information to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office
if the
institution(s) does not comply with Arkansas Rules and
Regulations.
•
Working with other states to prevent the
spread of diploma mills.
How can I find out if an institution is approved to offer degree
programs in
Arkansas?
•
The Arkansas Department of Higher
Education maintains a list of the colleges
and universities approved by the Arkansas Higher Education
Coordinating Board
and authorized by the Director of the Arkansas Department of
Higher Education
to offer degrees to Arkansas citizens. The lists are available
at:
Arkansas Public Colleges and Universities
http://www.adhe.edu
Non-public and Out-of-State College and
Universities
http://www.adhe.edu/pdfs/ICAC/ICACA-Institutions.pdf
http://www.adhe.edu/ICAC/ExemptInstitutions.doc
•
Contact the Arkansas Department of
Higher Education at (501) 371-2000.
Who do I contact if I think I have been in contact with a Diploma
Mill?
•
The Coordinator for Institutional
Certification (501) 371-2012 or (501) 371-2000.
•
Arkansas Attorney General’s Office of
Consumer Protection (501) 682-2007.
More information about Diploma Mills can be found
at:
•
The Council for Higher Education
Accreditation
http://www.chea.org
•
The United States Department of
Education
http://www.ed.gov
•
The Federal Trade
Commission
http://www.ftc.gov
•
US Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov
•
Better Business Bureau
http://www.bbb.org
Information on this website was compiled from documents prepared
by the Alabama Commission on Higher
Education, Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Illinois
Board of Higher Education; Kentucky
Community and Technical College System; Oregon Student Assistance
Commission Office of Degree
Authorization; Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board Degree
Authorization