Seeing Greenwich listed as a 'diploma mill' on the Oregon list has me wondering just what has happened to Greenwich? Does anyone know. Having been removed from Australia,and making a false start in California, the last we heard they were commencing operations again in Hawaii. But their website is still 'under construction' and all their staff, including their new President, seems to have gone off to other education pastures...
This business of labeling some unaccredited "schools" as "diploma mills" is a new development. I see Knightsbridge made the list as a diploma mill, too. The list also includes Columbia Pacific University as a diploma mill, which seems weird. Even stranger is Greenwich's inclusion. Fredrick Taylor International gets the "diploma mill" tag, despite California Approval of one of its versions. Fairfax gets the tag, too. So does Heed, despite having an operation of some substance for decades. Kennedy-Western doesn't get labeled. I wonder if Fairfax isn't more substantial? Lacrosse, a major one, gets hit, as does Clayton University (how the almost-substantial have fallen....) How did they miss Madison? Rushmore? No one has been more critical of Rushmore than I have, but a diploma mill? Not Berne? One must wonder what standard was applied. I can't discern any semblance of consistency. While I'd love to revel in some of the listings (like Knightsbridge), it is hard when some substantial fakes didn't get the "diploma mill" label and some schools with substance were included. It seems to be a moving target. Finally, my personal favorite is Saint Regis. It doesn't say "diploma mill." It says it twice. Just to be sure, I guess.
Maybe this latest development with the Oregon list is an example of what happens when a public official begins (mis) using his/her judgment and power to indulge their own interests and prejudices, albeit often with a fair smattering of ignorance!
Hmmm... We're being rather quick to judgement and also rushing to poor asumptions. Having seen Alan's previous great work I think it would be wise to realize there may more going on here than we know of. Possibly the current ones labeled as degree mills have been investigated while the others will be. Certainly St Regis deserves the 2x label, but it could be a typographical error. If Alan perchance reads this, thanks for the great work and keep it up from an Oregon tax payer!
I don't think those students who have undertaken courses of study at institutions that are now being labelled 'diploma mills' will think we are rushed with our judgment. There is a difference between between an unaccredited school that offers courses of study and a diploma mill that basically takes your money in return for a diploma. The labelling of Greenwich is a case in point. Is Greenwich being labelled just because they did not met the rigourous standards of the Australian system or because they were legislated out of the jurisdiction (by the Federal government at least!) Or does our official in Oregon have some evidence that Greenwich was selling degrees. Certainly there was no evidence of this from the Australian government review into Greenwich. So what is he basing his research and decisions upon? I think that our man in Oregon needs to keep these distinctions in mind!
I must point out that the website explicitly states that just because an institution is not labeled a diploma mill doesn't mean that it is not a diploma mill. It could mean that the ODA has not had time to investigate further. I think that people tend to look at this list as being more than is claimed. It is not claimed to be any kind of finished work. As a matter of fact the text indicates otherwise. It is just a list of examples of institutions whose degrees are illegal for use in Oregon.
I think the concern of some of us is not what HAVEN'T yet been listed as 'diploma mills', but what HAVE!
I guess you are concerned, considering that statement. I'm not, since there is just about zero chance of any of my alma maters appearing on the Oregon list. Can you say the same?
It is irresponsible to published an unfinished work if the unfinished nature portrays a distinction that doesn't exist. Calling some schools diploma mills clearly indicates the others are not. This is just another example of the sloppiness of the ODA's list. I'm all for calling some schools diploma mills. But it seems clear (to me) that Contreras has tagged some schools undeservingly while clearly missing others. There are schools called diploma mills on that list that are demonstrably better than some who are not labeled such, and vice versa. I urge readers not to rush to defend or condemn the newest version of "the list." Look it over, apply what you know. Then condemn or defend it.
Not a worry in the world, Bruce. Our man in Oregon can list every unaccredited school as a 'diploma mill' if he likes. Just that I do like to see some fairness exercised in this, what may become an arbitrary, process
