Another Degree Mill: International American University

Ahah, International American University is visiting my country for recruiting students. Welcome to another Degree Mill

 

Is this the one?

International American University

Although it does raise a few questions for me, it seems like an actual university. I don't notice any signs of it being a mill... but maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

 

It looks like it is this one

International American University,Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

It is unaccredited but california approved.

Most of their faculty with PhDs are Capella graduates. The school seems to have a campus and actually teach students but the degrees are unaccredited. They seem to target international students interested in a student visa but not so interested in studying very hard.

I wouldn't call them a degree mill as they seem to offer a program of studies but they are unaccredited.

 

Unsuspecting indians have purchased degrees from IAU

IAU 2008 Commencement India - August 23, 2008

 

Thanks for sharing the information. So, if this is an unaccrediated college, how it is aprroved by the Govt. for issuing I-20 forms for International Students. Is the State helping to operate unaccrediated programs ?

 

You don't need to be accredited to be eligible to issue student visas. Many english schools are also eligible.

The business model is simple, I help you to get into the US as a student so you can eventually try to immigrate there. The degree is irrelevant for many of these "students".

A friend of mine that works in immigration told me that he has never met an Indiant student that went to Canada on a student visa that came back. The same should be the case for the US.

Indian students will go to this school if they help them with a student visa.

 

International American University (IAU /4201 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 610
Los Angeles, CA), indeed unaccredited, is however, a California Approved university. Will /can the OP support his /her allegation that IAU is a degree mill?

“In Dec 2011, International American University received its full re-approval to operate by the State of California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) to grant degrees under the provisions of the California Education Code. The approval is valid for 5 years from Dec 15, 2011 - Dec 14, 2016. Five years is the maximum approval the BPPE grants.”

About IAU
https://app.dca.ca.gov/bppe/view-school.asp?schlcode=41500926

 

Sorry, am I missing something here? I don't see anything from the link (which comes from the school -- I was expecting some news report from a third party about the school violating any laws related to authentic instruction) that indicates a fraudulent purchase of diplomas by Indians...

 

See this photo:
DSC_0026

It seems that there is a college called "Gupta College of Management and Technology" in Bangalore, India which is offering some degrees in collaboration with Bangalore University, India (approved by UGC, eqv of RA accredited in India) and IAU, USA.

Little digging on their website reveals more history about this "school"
GCMAT, Bangalore | Top Management College in India | Best B School in Bangalore

 

The whole affair seems to be another "conduit" to import more UN-suspecting (and over-ambitious) Indian students to USA. In other words, another "F1" scam in the offing.

The DHS is more watchful these days, so, people trying to attend this school just for visas should be careful.

 

Scam or not... those people got to light candles and open presents during their graduation ceremony!!

 

The reality is that type of schools employ people and give jobs to local citizens.
The government doesn't do much because they bring tons of money from abroad and create jobs.



Found few alumni from this school below. They seem to be doing OK wiith the IAU degree

Qualification
Accounts Office
Dr Mounir Kehal - KES International
https://talent.me/momataj-momo

There is one faculty member at Darton with an IAU degree

http://www.darton.edu/catalog/catalogs/2010-2011/files/pg_513-550.pdf

Another at Walden
Jose Lopez

It looks like Walden doesn't mind the DBA from IAU for a teaching position.

 

The degree from this school may or may not make a difference to USA local citizens. At the most, you'll burn your money and time.

It's a different case for International students. Remember what happened with Tr-Valley? The same Government which permitted them to recruit international students and gave them student visas, locked the school and deported ALL the international students (at least majority of them). The school's owner made (her) money, the government got their taxes, and the students got their deportation stamps in their passports, which will bar them LIFETIME not only to enter USA but most countries in the world. So, who are the losers?

BTW - Here is a good article for international students with advice on how to "spot" the shady schools:
Tri Valley University case: analysis and learnings : Applying to US Universities

 

Good article, it looks like many of the RA online schools discussed here would partially satisfy some of these "shady schools" requirements:

The app2us 10-point red flag to suspect a sham university
• GRE is not required
• Admission is guaranteed
• No need to physically join classes, all or many classes online
• Nobody will fail, pass grade/ A grade is assured


According to this article, may be one should not join some of the popular schools around here.

 

I think Walden has hired Jose based on his Ph.D., from Lynn University which is a RA University in Boca raton, FL.
Joe should remove AIU degree from his profile on Walden's website.

 

Lynn does not have PhDs in business, the guy is teaching business so it leads me to believe that the DBA was at least taken into consideration for the position.

 

Lynn used to offer DBA untill a few years ago.

 

However he lists his doctorate from Lynn as a PhD and not a DBA. I think this is one of those cases where he is trying to impress students by showing two doctorates but the reality is that he is just making himself look bad.

 

A lot of them present DBA/DM as PhD. Here is an example, Dr. Lionel Bernard lists his DM(UMUC) as PhD on linkedin. (not an attempt to discredit Dr. Lionel Bernard)

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=43963984&authType=name&authToken=B9gV&goback=%2Ermg_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1

Some more examples

Cheryl Lentz, M.S., Troy University; Ph.D., University of Phoenix
Charles Needham, M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Phoenix
Michael M. Scharff, M.B.A., Syracuse University; Ph.D., University of Phoenix.


http://www.waldenu.edu/Colleges-and-Schools/College-of-Management-and-Technology/39581.htm

 

It might be the case but still does not explain why Jose is trying to impress people with his second doctorate from IAU.

I must say that credential inflation is becoming an issue, it seems that one needs to show multiple doctorates and masters just to show some credibility.