Hamilton University

I coworker just informed me that he received his PhD (while studying for his Masters) in one year from Hamilton University. I wasn't familiar with the organization, but had to question him a little about it. I asked how many courses he took ("a few") and asked to read his dissertation (he called it a "research project"). We started discussing the process (I told him that I'm working on my proposal and he had the "deer in the headlights" stare). Obviously, I needed to do a little research myself. So, I confirmed my suspicions through this forum.

One question for all of you: How much did he spend on this fake degree?

I plan to present a 'package' showing what he bought and what it's really worth and I want to gather as much information as possible.

Thanks,
Gary

 

Make sure that you let him know about Callahan. (Search this forum for links to articles.) She's a fraud that bought her Ph.D. from Hamilton also. She was working in the Department of Homeland Security in their computer department. She was exposed as a fraud and some congressman made a big stink and got her suspended. The GSA also did an investigation and the civil service has gone through some house cleaning.

 

Thanks, Bill. I already saved that article for him. Also, I copied many URLs for these threads for him to read. I wonder if there's any way for him to sue or otherwise recover his expenses. Probably not, caveat emptor...

Gary

 

Actually, she was the Deputy CIO and a 6 figure income SES (Senior Executive Service) employee. There has been some discussion about the possibility of criminal charges. Federal applications must be signed as an affirmation of veracity. I tried to find my old e-mail regarding this issue but couldn't. Suffice it to say we all had to have official transcripts sent to our HR departments to verify academic credentials. These were then compared to the CHEA and USDOE accreditation databases. You are absolutely right about house cleaning.

 

Some more illustrious Hamilton U grads including some recent alumni:

Assistant Professor of Health Administration at Midway College: http://www.midway.edu/degreeprograms/catalog9.pdf

A former bank investment advisor and and staff member at Morningside College with a Hamilton masters in public administration and political science:
http://www.morningside.edu/morningside/pubrel/documents/FacultyandStaffNotesfall03.pdf

Here is a "Personalogist" selling wares with a Hamilton Ph.D.: http://www.personology.com/find/master.asp?aid=37f&pageid=1

A Director in the Extended Studies program at Columbia College of Missouri with an M.A. from Hamilton U.: http://www.personology.com/find/master.asp?aid=37f&pageid=1

Someone who letured at UoP on venture capital with B.A. and MBA from Hamilton and a D.Mus. from another unrecognized school -- City University of Los Angeles: http://www.vnpartners.com/young.htm

How much do you want to bet that this distinguished alum from Eisenhower High School has one of her "advanced degrees" in "Early Childhood Education" from Hamilton: http://www.chsd218.org/Eisenhower/2003_distinguished_alumni.htm


An M.D. with an MBA and Ph.D. from Hamilton: http://www.wallstreetcm.com/Members/rustomkhatib.htm

The 1999 Nevada Music Educator of the Year with a Ph.D. from Hamilton: http://www.prideofnevada.com/about_the_director.htm
Note: he obtained the Hamilton doctorate after his award. According to his Who's Who biography the Hamilton Ph.D. was in 2002.

A Learning Skills Specialist and speaker on "Transitioning from High School to College" with a Ph.D. from Hamilton. He is the Coordinator of the Learning Disabilities Program at Monterey Peninsula College: http://www.armanasco.com/pdf/87.pdf

The Enterpreneur in Residence at Temple University with a Ph.D. in Business Admin from Hamilton: http://www.sbm.temple.edu/IEI/word/howardlubert.doc

We always love those hypnotherapists. Here is one from Hamilton: http://www.hypnosisonline.com/asp/therapist_detail.asp?EntryID=589

Do you think this is the Wyoming Hamilton or the New York (RA) Hamilton for this automotive instructor?: http://www.nicc.edu/facultyandstaff.cfm

Here is a Ph.D. in Dance from Hamilton U: http://www.danceinfo.fi/tanka/database/taiteilijat/taiteilijaViewForm?taiteilija_id=1051&eng=1

A Chemistry faculty member with an M.A. from Duke but a Ph.D. from Hamilton: http://www.piedmont.cc.nc.us/AboutPCC/personnellisting.asp

A Ph.D. faculty member at Manhattanville College with his doctorate in Organizational Behavior from Hamilton: http://www.mville.edu/graduate/faculty.htm

The Hon. Supreme Law Giver with a Doctorate in Relgious Education from Hamilton: http://www.haitzetao.net/Event(E).htm
How could we go wrong with a Hamilton degree?

The Silicon Valley World Internet Center on Technology Council -- An eBuisness Council member who holds B.S. and MBA from Hamilton: http://www.worldinternetcenter.com/About_the_Center/Councils_and_Fellows/councils_and_fellows.html

A distinguished military man (Lt. Col. , retd.)) who received Central Michigan University's Distinguished Alumni Award. He has a Hamilton Ph.D. --
http://www.westchasewow.com/Archive/2002/04/kudos/default.htm

An Operations Director for a US Senator with a Kennedy Western Undergraduate and a Hamilton MBA: http://www.dcbmbaa.org/directories/membdir/profiles.htm


A bit of a disclaimer because Hamilton University can be tricky. There is a legit Hamilton College in New York (http://www.hamilton.edu/academics/). I think that on some web sites I saw listings to "Hamilton University" in New York which I an ascribing to a misprint on the web page and that they are referring to the RA Hamilton College. However, bear in mind that according to U.S. News "America's Best Colleges" reports that Hamilton offers only Bachelor degrees. Also, the respected McMaster Univerversity in Ontario is in Hamilton Ontario. I have also seen references to Hamilton University of Waikto in New Zealand which if there was a name change is now the University of Waikto. Nonetheless, my bet on the Hamiton degrees I found are from Wyoming -- especially those at the graduate level.


John

 

How do people get away with this? Aren't employers (HR personnel, specifically) supposed to know the difference between legitimate and illigitimate academic credentials? Obviously, there is some utility to these degrees...

I wonder what would happen if their employers were given an anonymous tip?

Gary

 

In many cases they either don't know or don't check.

John

 

I wonder what we can do to "educate the masses" in this regard. For that matter, would anybody listen?

Maybe one of the diploma mill experts can build a web-site detailing the diploma mills. At the rate of production, this may be problematic (new diploma mills pop up often). A better idea may be to create a knowledge forum for HR managers detailing accredidation, what to look for, etc.

As long as phonies are available, we will have this problem. Of course, prohibiting them is one of those "first ammendment rights and regulation of the Internet" issues.

Gary

 

IMHO the best means possible would be for HR to enact appropriate policies and enforce them. Even when this is done many applicants will continue to filter through because the level of enforcement will vary.

In my company we require RA degrees and background checks are done when an offer is being extended. However, when resumes filter to hiring managers they typically are looking at the skill sets and not the degree qualifications. I once had a resume show up on my desk and the bachelor's degree was from a well known mill. When I took it back to HR I showed them the degree mill website and point out the status of the degree. They said they were aware of the highly publicized Columbia State U. but not this one. They were appreciative of the information and the resume was placed inthe Circular file (File 13). I have never received a mill resume since!


John

 

GBrown,

The problem has been to define what is acceptable education. Limiting acceptablility to accreditation recognized by US DOE is one way. Being more specific such as "RA only" is another. While these are positive measures they ignore and disenfranchise a good deal of legitimate education and training that is not accredited such as corporate and State Approved (e.g. CA, which has mandatory procedures for institutional review and approval against published standards but is not recognized by US DOE per Federal law, therefore is more limited nationwide).

Given that this is an interstate problem, I would like to see the FBI resurrect their task force to deal with fraudulent operations... e.g. instant degrees. I'd also like to see a more consistent and comprehensive set of MANDATORY higher ed guidelines at and across all of the States (since accreditation is voluntary and States regulate education) in order to eradicate refuges which permit schools like Hamilton U to exist. This would also solve some of the confusion concerning different standards at the State level.

 

New CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company has two degrees from Hamilton University: Textron Names Jack Pelton CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company

Perhaps it could be the Hamilton campus of Miami University?

 

In some cases, they DO know. My manager at the place I recently worked had a Masters from Hamilton. HR had even given him four weeks off to satisfy his "residency requirement" in Wyoming. I applied for the MBA program at Heriot-Watt (very well respected school) I was refused tuition reimbursement, being told "It's not a real school." I found a link to the Oregon ODA site at this site, printed out the list, and told HR Manager that H-W is not on this list. I left the list with him, without actively pointing out that both Hamilton, and the HR Mgr's Alma Mater (Ph.D. from St. Regis Univ) were on the Oregon list. I was downsized shortly after that. No connection there, of course. And I'm happy to say I now have a better job .

 

Jerry,

It sounds like your former company was rife with diploma mill credentials which is why they were willing to look the other way on Hamilton. On not supporting real programs of study -- we see similar behavior on this board by degree mill supporters.


John