Article on Trinity C&U

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bgossett, Jun 18, 2002.

Loading...
  1. bgossett

    bgossett New Member

  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In examining the question of whether degree mill customers are mearly victims or co-conspirators, I tend to think the former--how could they not know? I especially feel this way about people who are in positions requiring an accredited degree and get caught with a bogus one.

    But I gotta believe this guy. He really sounds sincere, and I think he was fooled by the accreditation claims. While we might think the degree-for-life-experience connection should've tipped him off, perhaps he really believed he was getting a degree he deserved. (Being asked to do a little more work was particularly cunning on the mill's behalf, IMHO.)

    It goes to show just how much naivete is out there. I used to counsel active duty people on nontraditional higher education when I was enlisted. On more than one occasion I was told by some experienced NCO without a formal education something like, "Well, I've got a lot of training certificates. I'm sure they add up to a bachelor's degree." No, they don't. This minister's life experience, as varied and rich as it might be, doesn't add up to a master's. And it didn't.
     
  3. You mean the latter, I presume?
     
  4. I was amused at the idea that Washington International University is "grandfathered." Ridiculous!

    It's an interesting article, but they could have done better. First, why talk with the FBI about organizations that are violating a South Dakota law?

    And they didn't speak with James Shekleton (General Counsel, SD Board of Regents) who is a key person in this area.

    They didn't mention Yorker International University, which still lists a Sioux Falls address.
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yes, of course. I misspelled "merely," too. I'm having a bad day. This is the 16th day in a row of work for me. (I just finished a 10-day seminar in my doctoral program, with work weeks wedged on each side. No breaks.) I was already leaping ahead to why I felt this guy might really be a victim.
     
  6. Correction: they did speak with Shekleton. Shows how carefully I read the article yesterday...
     
  7. Interesting article. Read between the lines, and it gives you some idea of why there is not more investigation and prosecution of suspect schools.

    For example, the article says: "Officials in the South Dakota Attorney General's office say that without someone willing to come forward as a victim of one of the suspicious college programs, it's hard for legal action to proceed."

    Most state attorney general/consumer protection websites with complaint forms do seem to be aimed at actual victims -- people who have paid and been burned, not people who have accurately diagnosed a solicitation as a scam, refused to bite, and now are notifying the state authorities. I don't think it really is necessary to have a victim on hand, though it would strengthen the case. None of Jeff Brunton's postings about Hawaii investigations and settlements or suits have mentioned victims.

    But wait -- there is a victim here, someone who was obviously willing to talk to the newspaper at length. Oh, but he's a Kentucky minister, not a resident of South Dakota.

    Many AGs will respond to complaints from state residents but not from nonresidents. A few years ago I forwarded a complaint about Washington International U to the AG of Pennsylvania (this is when it still had a mailing address in Bryn Mawr, PA). The response I received basically said that they respond to state residents, period.
     
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I wonder if the South Dakota Attorney General's office would feel differently if someone from Kentucky robbed a SD bank?

    Oh no, we can't prosecute this guy. He lives in Kentucky!!!!!!! :confused:
     
  9. In Russell's example, the victim is in South Dakota and so the SD AG would pursue the case. A better analogy would be if a South Dakotan robbed a Kentucky bank. Would the SD AG pursue this?
     
  10. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Perhaps!
     

Share This Page