Don't Let a Diploma Mill Tarnish Your Academic Reputation : Ask the Recruiter

Outside US & Canada?

Add to Favorites

Resources and References for Online Teachers			Find Online Education Explore these links for online & distance learning resources: - Online Degree Programs - Online Courses & Training - Career Training Programs Career Planning Looking for more career information? Follow these links to career pathways, career planning and education: - Career Planning - Career Assessment - Guide to Majors - Career Planning Tools - Importance of Accreditation - US Accreditation - WWL Quality Assurance Need More Help? Explore the links below for more information: - Learning Library - Career Pathways - Education Resources - Site Help - Site Map Free Career Finder Test Discover your career aptitude with this free career test. Get informed, and make a decision that's best for you
Home \| Teacher's Aid Home Don't Let a Diploma Mill Tarnish Your Academic Reputation by Mary Hobson WorldWideLearn Columnist As qualifications have become an integral part of establishing quality education, false credentials have proliferated. Diploma mills are institutions that are set up without accreditation recognized by the Secretary of State for Education--still, they grant diplomas and other degrees. But because they are not accredited, they operate outside the framework of standards, rendering the degrees they grant worthless or fraudulent. Maintain Standards Standards are essential to any qualification you wish to gain. If the institution that awards qualifications is not willing to submit itself and its processes to the inspection of one of the authorized standards agencies that operate nationally or internationally, then the conclusion has to be that it will not meet the standards required. Some diploma mills use "accreditation mills"--bodies set up to give the appearance of authorized standards agencies--to make it look as though they've gone through the accreditation process. The diploma mill claims to be "accredited" without having met the authorized standards. So how do you establish the authenticity of a school's academic credentials? There are a number of sites on the Internet that will help you, starting with the US Department of Education, which will give you a guide to valid accredited and accreditation bodies in the US. Many sites deal with diploma mills, including the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which has great information on how to spot and deal with these institutions. International Qualifications Of course, diploma mills exist all over the world. The fastest way to find out whether an international qualification is valid is to identify the local government's education department and check the accreditation of the institution. Teaching at a diploma mill threatens your livelihood and the value of the qualifications you hold. Your education is the most important career resource you have, so be sure that it is a quality one. Sources University of Illinois, "Information resources concerning unaccredited degree-granting institutions," by Prof. George Gollin U.S. Department of Education, "Diploma Mill Resources" About the Author Mary Hobson is the Head of IT School at a Polytechnic in New Zealand. She also works as a freelance writer. Teacher's Aid Home

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer."
-- Ansel Adams

Online Degrees | Online Colleges & Universities | Online Associate Degrees | Online Bachelor Degrees | Online MBA Programs | Online PhD Degrees | Career Training
Home | About World Wide Learn | Site Map | Press Room | Partner With Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

"The World's Premier Online Directory of Education"
World Wide Learn. Copyright 1999 - 2008. Last updated on February 6, 2007.