Guess what happened to me last week!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Broderick, Aug 27, 2002.

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  1. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    So I’m in my co-worker's office with some people from the IT department and he asks me about the ID holder around my neck from Harvard. He said I never went to Harvard and I said I attended the executive leadership program at the JFK School of Gov. I told him that is wasn’t a big deal but I learned a lot and hope to go to another program in the future. Well he got into about his education and that he had an MBA, (trying to impress the IT people and make me look bad.) I had head him say this before and I accepted it, because I didn’t know better and that was over a year ago before I was more “versed” in these matters. So after the IT people left I asked him where his MBA was from. He told me he got it from overseas in England, (fair enough I knew he had traveled a bit in his younger years.) I asked him the name of this fair institution of higher learning and he told me as a matter of fact it was HARRINGTON UNIVERSITY!!!!! I didn’t make a fuss, I just said I thought I had heard of it before. I then asked him when did he get his “MBA” and he said in 1975. Then he proceeded to take out of his wallet a miniature diploma from…you guessed it, Harrington University. Wow, I was impressed.
    Then I asked him where did he get his BA or BS and he said he had only an AA or AS. Hummmmm. I asked him about the course work he had to do to get his “MBA” and if it was by correspondence. I was almost tempted to ask if he had done the work by the internet. Remember now, his diploma is dated 1975. I can bet five dollars he would have said yes as he was beginning to get a little evasive. He really didn’t give much detail.
    After my conversation with him I went to the big boss and told her what this co worker was advertising, and she said it didn’t matter, because his current position did not require this degree, and he did not mention it during the interview when he was hired. I told her that I thought it wasn’t right for this person to advertise false claims because there were people working very hard, like myself, to get their degrees, accredited or state licensed and Harrington University is a wonderful printing press in England. . (She knows that I go to CCU and that it is only State approved.)
    In the end, I let it go but I’m sure it was mentioned to him in a “private” meeting. I could have shot my mouth off and told everyone in the company, but I’m a gentleman, and I know his reputation is tarnished with the big brass.

    Moral of the story; don’t try to cut down someone with something you don’t have. It might work in poker, but one day someone will call your bluff.;)


    Veritas,

    Michael
     
  2. simon

    simon New Member

    However Broderick, as you noticed from the initial reponse of your boss, his/her initial reaction was to defend this person. You see she may have been the one who hired this guy and any negative feedback reflects poorly on her directly. Therefore, she initially downplayed the issue of his degree and you may have potentially lost some points due to her possibly seeing you as a tattletale.

    I understand that this other guy was out of line in his attempting to undercut you regarding the Harvard issue. However, the most politically correct way to play out a scenario such as this is not to launch a frontal "attack" against another but wait until he makes a big mistake (if he does) and then in a indirect manner pass this news on through the grapevine quietly and without vindicativeness.

    Just another perspective.
     
  3. 9Chris

    9Chris New Member

    orginally posted by simon


    Although this way is more politically correct, and it would have been much more effective if the co-worker had made a mistake, I wonder how many of us would have done the same thing Broderick did.
     
  4. Mark Tisdail

    Mark Tisdail New Member

    I'm not sure I understand the difference.....

    ....between "Harrington University is a wonderful printing press in England" and CCU.

    I'm not trying to be difficult here, but really, is there that much difference?
     
  5. wfready

    wfready New Member

    Michael,

    Didn't have to tell his manager, but you could of "jokingly" commented on his degree when he was trying to belittle you with his MBA. Could of just said, "Yeah if I chose to enroll into a diploma mill like Harrington I would have an fancy card sized diploma like yours also!". Ok that was kind of gay but you know what I mean. Then when he feels silly that his cover was blown... KICK HIS BUTT!! LOL jk.

    Semper Fi,

    Bill
     
  6. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    When this matter came to my attention, I had mulled about it in my head for a couple of days. By no means did I want to shatter this man’s reputation, nor did I wish to humiliate him in public. If I had wanted to do that, I would have asked him about the source of his degrees with the IT people present and then proceed to tear him a new one in front of them. Instead I waited until they had left, (I had a feeling something was not right.)
    The real reason I went to the executive director on this was to avoid the “grapevine” information being passed, at which time everyone and their grandmother would know. When I spoke to the boss, I basically said to her that this person needs to be careful about what he advertises and to whom, because one day it is going to catch up with him, and possibly embarrass him and the department. It was a matter of departmental integrity, and I wanted to keep the dirty laundry from being washed in full view of prying eyes.
    You say I should have waited until he had made a big mistake, I submit he had made a grievous error by stating false credentials to members of another department . We here in Human Resources are held to a higher standard as we are in many circumstances the judges, jury, and counselors to the department heads regarding employee behaviors (and the department heads themselves). We are probably the most loved, and hated, department of all. Everyone loves us when we get them new and improved benefits or organize successfully the company’s parties, but they get really upset when we audit there documentation of employees or pull employees out of work for training, upsetting operations. So for a member of HR to have an outright purchased diploma, and advertising it, is cause for concern. It calls into question departmental integrity.
    I think in the end I did the right thing. No one in general management or in the other departments knows about this persons indiscretions, our department has been protected, if anyone in the future asks the boss about this she can honestly say she knew about it and it was addressed, he still has his job, and he’s not shooting his mouth off anymore.
    Besides, you have to be plain crazy to advertise a degree from a blatant mill in front of the IT guys. They’re the ones who have the quickest means to find out if your full of it or not.


    Veritas,

    Michael
     
  7. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    Re: I'm not sure I understand the difference.....

    I admit that it's in large part subjective but I would say that there's a big difference. The biggest problem I have with CCU is that they are not accredited so the degrees will have limited utility. They are not accredited because the entrance and graduation requirements are below standard. However, they are close enough to the standards that I don't consider claiming a degree from there to be either fraudulent or foolish. Someone claiming a degree from HU would be either fraudulent or foolish. I would probably have to lean more towards the foolish end of the spectrum if they flashed one of those tiny wallet sized diplomas though. Can you imagine what those guys must have been saying to one another about that tiny diploma after they left? :D
     
  8. simon

    simon New Member

    Broderick,

    You are missing my point. Based on the information you initially posted, you clearly indicated that your boss stated that the nature of this other employees degree did not matter. What was she telling you? She appears to be indicating that she did not give a hoot about the issue! Unless she stated anything additional to the statement you printed, your boss did not seem a bit concerned.

    Now obviously I and no one else but you were present during this interaction with your boss, so you are in the best position to know what other impressions she may have been experiencing regarding the information you provided.

    There isn't any one way to manage a situtation such as the one you presented. There are myriad possiblities. I presented one perspective. If it does not jive with your experiences thats fine.

    However, as a former senior administrator I must tell you that going to a boss with information such as in the case you provided could potentially backfire on the messenger. Your boss did not appear to be particularly grateful regarding the news you presented and only she knows how this may reflect on her and how she feels about it. As an example, she may be very satisfied with this other guy's job performance and like him personally.

    That is why it is generally in the best interest of the receipient of undermining behavior from another employee to think through potential ramifications of one's actions prior to going to the boss. Situations such as yours generally require careful strategizing which at the end of the business day leaves one smelling like fresh roses.
     
  9. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    Simon,

    Point taken. While I dont think it backfired, I do think the matter was taken up with the individual in private, putting the matter to rest. I am sure though, that in the future if this person puts in for a promotion it will be looked at from another point of view due to the lack of integrity and judgement.

    Veritas,

    Michael
     
  10. Timmy Ade

    Timmy Ade New Member

    “I went to the big boss and told her what this co worker was advertising, and she said it didn’t matter, because his current position did not require this degree, and he did not mention it during the interview when he was hired.”


    Broderick and all,
    In my opinion, the bottom line is what the boss stated above.

    Let freedom reign,

    Timmy.
     
  11. believer

    believer New Member

    Which other state-approved universities do the Senior Members of this forum believe meet minimal standards?
     
  12. Buckwheat

    Buckwheat New Member

    Broderick,
    Good for you! Sounds like he had what was coming to him!
    It sounds as if Harrington is Accredited by the personal director
    of you company. Let me guess they also hire direct family members, cousins, buddies etc. or anything that may bubble up from the shallow end of the gene pool! If this may be of comfort, it sounds as if he will be on a damage control mission! As to the person who hired this clown- well you know all good managers
    surround themselves ring of scapegoats for when things go bad;
    but in this managers case, these " rings of defense" eventually evolve into zones of deterioration. Hats off for catching this guy between the hammer and anvil of degree mills!
    Keep up the good work!
    Gavin:)
     
  13. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Broderick

    It sounds like the employer who approved your studies at CCU isn't very picky about College degrees. As long as you stay with that company it probably isn't an issue. I just would't be putting a CCU degree on your resume when looking for employment. As soon as people find out it isn't accredited, they will likely have the same response you did to the Harrington MBA Grad.
     
  14. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    Sorry, I don't agree with you. There is a huge difference from the CCU degree and the printed piece of paper fom Harrington or San Moritz or what ever. I wouldn't even call it a "degree" nor him a "grad".
    Don't forget I'm located in California. I will put the CCU degree on my resume, and if there are questions, I will answer them honestly. Hey, I might even whip out the laminated wallet size diploma! (JK).:D

    Veritas,

    Michael
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

     
  16. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    I wonder if my RA school offers a wallet card?:D

    I agree there is a difference, but I certainly wouldn't put CCU anywhere near real college degree level. It seems closer to high school level. Also according to your manager, Harrington and CCU have equal utility. You can of course explain it is state approved and those that have no understanding of college accreditation will assume it is accredited. Those who know better will group it close to or with the degree mill group.
     
  17. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    I would start with schools like Colorado State, Indiana State, California State, and similar.

    If by the question you mean non-regionally accrediated, the answer is very dependentent on who responds. Most (90%) would say none. A few, who have already staked the rest of their career's on them will give you glowing recommendations of some.

    My opion is that non-RA is waste of money, and you might as well spend that amount studying in the library and then forming your own school and awarding the degree yourself. Probably only a little more cost then a outfit likr Harrington. And a whole lot more satisfying.
     
  18. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    High school level? What data do you have to support this? Have you done any research or is this "just your opinion"? If it is, how have you come to this conclusion? What high school curricula did you compare to the CCU curricula. It's been a while, but my high school didnt offer managerial operations, or business law. What high school did you go to?

    Harrington has equal utility? She never said this. She knew right away that the Harrington diploma was bought, and that the person in question never mentioned the diploma and this was the first time she had heard of it, in addition, the person in question's job did not require a degree.
    Harrington is fraud. Period. In what state are they approved? How about what country? None. It is a printing press and a bank account.

    Veritas,

    Michael
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2002
  19. Mark Tisdail

    Mark Tisdail New Member

    Sorry, but neither does CCU. They offer you a chance to take an open book test following the chapters, turn it in to a gray building on Main St. and receive 3 units. Hardly an offer.
     
  20. Myoptimism

    Myoptimism New Member

    Non-RA is a waste of money? I won't even attempt to argue with you after stating such a broad statement as that.

    Regards,
    Tony
     

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