ARRC/Hamilton on why they get criticized

A Bears’ Guide reader gave us permission to share with degreeinfo his recent correspondence with the Academic Resource and Referral Center (ARRC). Amazing to me how audaciously they work to maintain the fiction that ARRC and Hamilton are not the same organization. (For those unfamiliar with this scam, ARRC is a widely advertised academic referral service that, interestingly enough, only ever recommends Hamilton University, an unaccredited school in Wyoming.)

First, our reader’s inquiry to ARRC:

“Reference my 16 page package faxed to you on March 26, 2001. I have not received anything in writing from you as of this date. I did receive a catalog from Hamilton University. If I enrolled with them for $2250 and a short course and thesis they would award a degree in Management. However, in checking with Bear's Guide to earning Degree's by distance learning, 14th Edition, Chapter 27, page 283, I found out they were a "degree mill". As they state " The official Web site for the state of Wyoming points out that Wyoming cannot regulate religious schools, which is what Hamilton claims to be, even though it happily awards degrees of any kind. Comes complete with its very own fake accrediting agency, the American Council of Private Colleges and Universities (ACPCU). I was glad to find that out before signing up for Hamilton. Also checked with U.S. Dept of Education and CHEA for recognition of Hamilton---------could find nothing. Suggest you drop this college before someone gets "taken"! Please advise if there is anything coming from any other college or university ( please be sure it is accredited) as I am anxious to complete a Bachelors degree as soon as possible! Thank you.”

ARRC’s response:

“While acceptance of the concept of granting of university level credit and degrees based on life and work experience has grown tremendously over the last quarter century, not everyone embraces this idea. As you now know some detractors tend to be somewhat vocal in the criticism.

Higher education today is a very competitive field with many institutions (traditional and nontraditional—public and private) vying for new students. It is not hard to understand why some of those connected with higher education take aim at a speedy low cost alternative. Criticism generally comes from one of two sources:

1. Those directly connected with traditional higher education who are anxious to protect their share of students.

2. Those connected with other nontraditional schools who are concerned from a competitive standpoint.

The Internet is a vast and wonderful tool however it also allows individuals to post information of a questionable nature or, in some cases, outright falsehoods. On the Internet you will find sites which attempt to convince us that Bill Gates is the Anti-Christ, that Disney’s "The Lion King" is pornographic and that NASA never really landed a man on the moon. Obviously some of the information found on the Internet must be viewed with skepticism.

There are others that simply feel that the granting of university level credit for life and work experience is wrong and condemn any school that does so.

The enrollment invitation booklet which you received from Hamilton University clearly states that they are exempt from licensing by Wyoming state law and that their level of accreditation is not listed by the U.S. Department of Education. Hamilton University does have, however, the highest level of accreditation possible for any school that grants degrees based wholly or substantially on life and work experience.

If you are searching for a degree program, which bases the granting of your degree wholly on life and work experience, then Hamilton would be our only referral. We know of no other reputable institution in this field. If you are unhappy with this option you likely have no other choice but to attend classes or do course work over an extended time at a traditional school (which is certainly an appropriate choice for many).
If you have any further questions please let us know.

ACADEMIC RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTER”
---------------
Justin Wells
Bears' Guide editor

 

HUH? No other reputable institution? Only Hamilton?

This alone would warrant criticism!

Russell

 

Not to mention the fact that ARRC incorrectly and fraudulently claims that "Hamilton University does have, however, the highest level of accreditation possible for any school that grants degrees based wholly or substantially on life and work experience."

What about, for example, TESC?

And the phrase "we know of no other reputable institution in this field (emphasis added)

What a surprise that they consider Hamilton to be reputable school, considering that ARRC and Hamilton are the same entity.

 

An easy search of Hamilton University brought up the following statement from the Wyoming Higher Ed website http://www.k12.wy.us/higher_ed/hamilton.html
And I quote: "Not licensed due to a religious exemption claim. "
I think the key words would be *not licensed*

 

Perhaps an expanded key phrase would be "Religious Exemption Claim." According to Hamilton's web site the school is a ministry of FION Church. FION, or "Faith in the Order of Nature," was established in 1943, and is committed to a "higher power" which they call "Nature." All this according to their website. Due to this religious exemption claim, Hamilton is exempt from state regulaton.

Question!

If one decided to birth a religious movement known as Scooby Doo-ism, gained a substantial following and founded a ministry extension called Scooby Doo School of Ministry, could SBSOM legally award degrees via a religious exemption claim?

Russell,
Who is feeling metaphysically drawn to Scooby Doo-ism.

 

Most likely, yes. Since freedom of religion is a Constitutional right in the US, I suspect that any religion that meets some minimal criteria would probably qualify.

When I was a young entrepreneur in the early 80s, I and my two partners opened a computer sales/service operation. Our main competitor was "Community Computers", which was a division of "The Community", a hippie commune type of thing run by an extremely sleazy guy who seemed to have his fingers in everything.
The whole operation was incorporated as a church, which gave it a religious exemption from income tax, and favorable treatment of all of its "members", none of whom were paid wages, but had all of their needs handled by the income generated by the computer store.

They were audited twice by State and IRS officials, but managed to manufacture sufficient documents that purported to provide evidence of sermons given, outreach programs (which, of course, didn't really exist) and other such things that got them off the hook. They did eventually get nailed, but I believe that their sleazy founder disappeared just in time.... and who knows, maybe now he's in the education business

 

Russell Morris asks, "If one decided to birth a religious movement known as Scooby Doo-ism, gained a substantial following and founded a ministry extension called Scooby Doo School of Ministry, could SBSOM legally award degrees via a religious exemption claim?"

Governments are on wobbly ground whenever they make religious exemptions or rules, which is why Dubya's "Faith Based" charity scheme must fail: it would have to give equal recognition to Catholics and Scientologists, Methodists and the Church of Satan.

A rare exception to usual stepping with great caution occurred when the FBI, IRS, and Postal Inspectors combined to raid LaSalle University, run by the World Christian Church (set up by founder James (Thomas) Kirk. Kirk had taken a vow of poverty; the church owned his $1.5 million mansion on the river, etc.

Kirk's response to the raid: an immediate "photo op" plastering their campus with "Illegally closed by the Federal Government" banners -- and placing a full page (full page!) ad in USA Today (cost: over $70,000) to complain about how their fine upstanding church was crushed by federal stormtroopers.

(Following indictments on 18 counts of mail fraud, tax fraud, etc., Kirk and his two colleagues later pleaded guilty and went off to federal prison.)

Scooby-dooism has at least as much merit as World Christian Churchism. Will it be Scooby-doo-I-Love U., then? Perhaps with Chancellor Shaggy, Dean Freddy, President Daphne, and Professor Velma?

Does anyone else on earth know who was the voice of Shaggy? Oh, if my brain were not bulging with information like this, I might find something useful to do, one day.

 

Chip, I think you are on to something. The administration page from several degree mill web sites I've seen lately, looks exactly like the leader of your "hippie commune."

Russell

 

John:

Is this the same James T. Kirk who served as Captain of the Starship Enterprise?

One can only imagine how many degree mills are in space:

Romulan International University

Klingon School of Business Management

Tribble Cosmetology College

Federation University of Galactic Studies

Vulcan College of Emotional Theory

***And all accredited by WAUC!

Russell

 

Russell Morris suggests, "Vulcan College of Emotional Theory"

Bachelor's degree in nine seconds via mind meld.

 

When I was a kid, I watched Scooby-Doo religiously -- er, maybe I should qualify that, given the thread. But anyway, years later, I found myself listening to Casey Kasem's Adult Contemporary Top 40 (what, didn't *everybody* listen to Michael Bolton and Gloria Estefan during their rebellious teen years?). First thought: No, it couldn't be. But I looked it up, and sure enough -- Casey Kasem was, zoinks, Shaggy.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Casey Kasem, I believe.

Rich Douglas, who hates that show.

 

Hamilton U

Hamilton also recommended Rutgers U, State of NJ which is near where I work. I used to live about 1/4 mile from the College Avenue and Busch campuses at opposite ends from each other in New Brunswick.

 

Justin Wells wrote:

> For those unfamiliar with this scam, ARRC is a widely
> advertised academic referral service that, interestingly enough,
> only ever recommends Hamilton University, an unaccredited
> school in Wyoming. [...]
>
> ARRC’s response: [...]
> If you are searching for a degree program, which bases the
> granting of your degree wholly on life and work experience,
> then Hamilton would be our only referral. We know of no other
> reputable institution in this field.

And this from a "service" which claims it "draws from a pool of more than 500 universities"! (http://www.arrc.org/frequent.htm)

According to http://www.whois.net, arrc.org is registered in Hawaii. Jeffrey Brunton has shown an interest in Hamilton University, so he must be aware of this.