Illinois considering a degree-use law comparable to Oregon's

A bill has been introduced in the Illinois legislature, which would penalize people who use degrees from illegal schools, not the schools themselves. At first glance, the proposed legislation has enough loopholes to drive Ronald Pellar's yacht through. Text of the legislation can easily be found at www.ibhe.state.il.us as the third item on the opening screen.

 

This bill deals with false credentials from legally operating schools rather than diploma mills. (i.e. a bogus diploma from the University of Illinois)

It looks like a good bill but I'm surprised these acts are not already felonies under the existing fraud statutes.

Knowing the IBHE, they'll wait for the political contributions then make a decision.

David L. Boyd

 

This snippet from the February 2002 Illinois Board of Higher Education review of The Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act is interesting:

• States with laws regulating out-of-state correspondence and Internet-based institutions find that many institutions simply ignore the law, knowing that the odds are against being discovered, and they are unlikely to be called to task for failure to register. Even outright fraud carries a slight risk of prosecution. In most states, states attorneys and attorneys general do not place diploma mill activity high on their list for prosecution, in part because “victimless” crimes are low priority, and students at these institutions often do not see themselves as victims. Where out-of-state, Internet-based institutions are involved, the complexity of such cases creates further disincentive to prosecution. These facts have placed many Internet operations effectively beyond laws that establish jurisdiction beyond state lines, and suggest that the “solution” of enlarged jurisdiction may be unworkable, or at least highly problematic. The staff is in the process of developing an on-line consumer information function to help close this gap in oversight and consumer protection.

 

I think David is correct. The proposed wording does appear to be restricted to credentials from authorized Illinois "institutions of higher learning." The relevant text from the link John posted is as follows:

• Sec. 17-2.5. False academic degrees.
  (a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly manufacture or produce a false academic degree.
  (b) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly use a false academic degree for the purpose of obtaining employment or admission to an institution of higher learning or admission to an advanced degree program at an institution of higher learning or for the purpose of obtaining a promotion or higher compensation for employment.
  (c) Sentence. A person who violates this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
  (d) In this Section:
  "False academic degree" means a certificate, diploma, transcript or other document purporting to be issued by an institution of higher learning or purporting to indicate that a person has completed an organized academic program of study at an institution of higher learning when the person has not completed the organized academic program of study as indicated on the certificate, diploma, transcript, or document.
  "Institution of higher learning" means a public or private college, university or community college located in the state of Illinois that is authorized by the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board to issue postsecondary degrees, or is or has been legally constituted to offer degrees and instruction in the state of Illinois.

 

Interpreted literally, this would make it illegal to apply for a job in Illinois with
an out-of-state degree, wouldn't it?

 

No, I would say that interpreted literally this bill doesn't apply at all to an out-of-state degree.

 

Story in Chronicle today: Illinois College Board Backs Legislation to Crack Down on Users of Phony Degrees.

A snippet: "... The proposed legislation would make it a Class A misdemeanor to use a fake diploma, transcript, or other document from a legitimate Illinois college to secure a job or promotion. ...". So this is still referring only to fake degrees from legitimate Illinois institutions, as we have discussed above.

 

Anyone seeking a bogus degree should send a thank you note to Marcia Langsjoen, Staff Attorney for the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

She was kind enough to provide the web addresses to nearly all of these fraudulent organizations in one convenient location.

David L. Boyd