Does the law favor degree mills?

[RespectableGent]

Think about it. During degree mill trials judges have never mandated minimum levels of instruction. Judges have ruled that "elements of instruction" must be provided before granting degrees. If "elements of instruction" are provided, the law is happy.

In his book Degree Mills, John Bear even reveals the millist he truly is by coming out and saying "But what about a college which requires a three page dissertation before awarding a degree? One man's diploma mill is another man's alternative university" leading the reader to believe that it's perfectly acceptable to earn an advanced degree by writing an essay.

Congress and States have had the power to require colleges to become accredited for centuries now, and to mandate minimum levels of education. Whenever legislature comes together to discuss the possibility of a law they say "Well, we agree that instantdegrees needs to go, but what about the ones who make them do a little work? How do we define between awful and criminal?" suggesting that they want awful colleges to stay in business.

[ham]

In his book Degree Mills, John Bear even reveals the millist he truly is by coming out and saying "But what about a college which requires a three page dissertation before awarding a degree? One man's diploma mill is another man's alternative university" leading the reader to believe that it's perfectly acceptable to earn an advanced degree by writing an essay.

It is illegal what big brother and those who finance it think is illegal at that very moment, subject to change. The horror of a potential offense also must be considered under the light of who does what on behalf of whom...
Talibans are freedom fighters in the 1980s and public enemies n.1 years later.
The killing of several civilians may either be an "atrocity", a "hate crime", a "crime against humanity", a 'glitch', 'collateral damage' or 'blasting a terrorist organization' according to who does what on behalf of which cause or master.

[Herbert Spencer]

Think about it. During degree mill trials judges have never mandated minimum levels of instruction. Judges have ruled that "elements of instruction" must be provided before granting degrees. If "elements of instruction" are provided, the law is happy.

The 2006 libel case in the UK showed how courts view these issues.  The local fish wrap called McKenna's unaccredited LaSalle U (Mandeville, Louisiana) degree "bogus" and he sued (UK law obviously being different than US).

Hypnotist McKenna wins 'bogus degree' libel case

"Mr McKenna had been granted a degree by La Salle, for what it was worth (as to which opinions clearly differ). He valued it and was not seeking to deceive anyone by making reference to it," said the judge.

"Mr McKenna was not, in my judgment, dishonest and, for that matter, whatever one may think of the academic quality of his work, or of the La Salle degree, it would not be accurate to describe it as 'bogus'."

La Salle allowed McKenna credits for "work or life experience", and for his book, co-written with two other authors, called The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna. He was awarded his PhD "magna cum laude" in 1996.

Unknown to him, however, the university's president, Thomas Kirk, pleaded guilty at around the same time to misleading students into believing that his institution was accredited, when in fact Kirk had set up the accrediting body himself.

Misrepresent "accreditation" in the US, go to jail.  Do a little work, get a degree you "value," do not try to deceive anyone, and in the UK it's jackpot time if someone calls it bogus.  Obviously, the US laws are being enforced to protect the accreditation agencies and the billion-dollar endowments of the wealthy higher-education cartel they represent.  It's only when the cartel views your operation as a threat that they drop the hammer on you.  

More's the shame that the SRU case didn't go to trial.  It would have been interesting to see how a jury of normal people viewed that operation as different from, say, TESC, COSC or Excelsior, the vaunted RA "Easy 3."  Even the feds testified that SRU was not strictly pay-to-pay, and that they had to submit verification for PLA.  Seems like the feds were engaged in more fraud than the defendants.  

[RespectableGent]

Hi RespectableGent,

Well,"Diploma mill credentials devalue the legitimate degrees earned by millions of individuals through hard work, persistence and achievement." Degrees and diplomas issued by diploma mills are frequently used for fraudulent purposes, such as obtaining employment, promotions, raises, or bonuses on false pretenses. Diploma Mill News provides excerpts of articles and press releases related to bogus degrees, padded CVs, identity theft, and impersonations of licensed professionals.

Thanks

Who says it's fraudulent to get a raise based on a degree rightfully and legally earned?

There's nothing special about a school that makes it a school. A degree is a piece of paper issued by a CORPORATION. The University of Pheonix is a corporation just like Almeda University is a corporation. Both have equal right to issue degrees at their own discretion and for whatever they want, just like KMart can issue out employee of the month awards for whatever it wants.

State government regularly license degree mills to operate. If the school is licensed to operate, that makes its degrees as legal and ethical as any other.

[ham]

State government regularly license degree mills to operate.

Either the U.S State has no detailed provisions dealing with that, and thus everything goes, or they simply either don't license or harass existing mills, whence the via crucis of many mills migrating from one state to the next.
Other States such as Italy or France never licensed any 'mill' as far as I know; they even harassed local branches of accredited, legitimate foreign universities that didn't get an authorization.
ECOLE SUPERIEURE ROBERT DE SORBON makes so much fuss about it, but fact is, they are NOT accredited as mainstream universities...they are a CULTURAL ASSOCIATION...your local karate school could pretend they are a Japanese university, by the same token.