In Defense of Unaccredited Universities and Colleges

[Virtual Bison]

I believe in decriminalizing these so called "diploma mills," yes. Because if someone wants to pay for a degree that was not earned than thats their business. And if an employer is too lazy not to set standards than that is their problem.

I think they should be obliged to disclose the unaccredited nature of their degree, whether they bought it on ebay or printed it themselves.

I happen to work in the field of IT and no employer will hire someone just because they show off some sheepskin. What is more important to the people in my field is how current I am and what do I really know.

In most case it may not be practical...in order to check their driving license, let's check how they drive...

he American writer on distance education John Bear has written

Mister Millard Fillmore comes handy at times, eh?

Again: if you think you are so good, don't bother with fake degrees: do your research and self-publish it. You may hire a REAL adviser on your own. If you feel you NEED letters after your name, you are under peer pressure...and if you cave in by acquiring a fake or dodgy degree, it just doesn't make ANY sense. Come on! Many accredited institutions leave lots to be desired...go figure dodgy schools in someone's basement...you just have no idea whether there is any faculty at all...oh, yea, they printed a list...PFFT! It's like the clown online posting a James Dean pic as his own...WTF would you know?

And let's be clear: the majority of people with dodgy degrees bought them as a shortcut towards effortless pay increases or something. Period. Freedom in academia my a$$. That's how the whole argument gets discredited...when the dust settles, you only had streetwise bozos wanting to pull a fast one, research my a$$.

I am not entirely supportive of "Diploma Mills" either but I just happen to think that there are fine lines between what constitutes a diploma mill and something legitimate. University of Pheonix is currently under fire from some sources for its unorthodox recruiting and teaching methods. I have heard some people describe UoP as a Mill as well. Then again, there are some purists who would tell you that any distance learning program is a diploma mill.

I am suspicious of anyone who trys to put down any school because it does not conform to their ideals. I would ask just who is watching the watchers?

Quite obviously Hamster you do not understand the difference between Private Universities - of which there are over 5,000 in the world - and diploma mills!

And again there are many who are unable to distinguish.