Degree Mills and Organized Crime

Does anyone see any sign of a change in the nature of our beloved degree mills? Perhaps I'm imagining things, but the tone does seem to be changing.

In the past, judging from Dr. Bear's book, degree mills seem to have been mostly mom-and-pop operations. Sole proprietorships, run out of somebody's home or a tiny rented office.

But now there seems to be a new breed. There is this internatinal megascam that operates in LA, Israel, Cyprus, Romania and God knows where, that has given us "prestigious non-accredited universities" like St. Moritz, Harrington, Devonshire etc. Then there is this family of schools that includes Earlscroft, Capitol, the latest version of Trinity C&U etc., and which in my opinion is behind 'factwatcher's' attack on the other group.

What they have in common is international organization. Apparently a whole group of people is involved with them, and they are run like businesses. This is not your father's degree mill anymore, it demonstrates professionalism.

Which has led me to speculate on the role of organized crime in these things. The costs of setting up degree mills is very low, and they generate considerable amounts of pure profit. In one sense they are organized crime by definition if they are not operating legally. But the raw profit potential can't have escaped the attention of the kind of friendly people that bring you your drugs, gambling and prostitutes.

Which raises some disturbing possibilities. Might degree-mill critics like Dr. Bear one day confront bullets instead of trolls?

 

Originally posted by BillDayson:
Does anyone see any sign of a change in the nature of our beloved degree mills? ...now there seems to be a new breed.

What they have in common is international organization. Apparently a whole group of people is involved with them, and they are run like businesses.

Sounds like two of my favorite mill operations: MIGS and Harcourt.


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H. Piper
http://harcourtbites.tripod.com

 

A chilling proposition, perhaps there could be an additional insurance option purchased by the "student". For only $500 the school will offer to break the legs of anyone not accepting the "students" degree. or maybe it should be

 

Interesting observation...
I doubt it. It is possible but unlikely unless Dr. Bear attacks an individual or VIP. Remember, this is America. Our heroes brought down the MOB.
There are more people including myself oppose to degree mill. We are like grass around our houses. No one can totally remove all the grass, and no one can silent us either.

 

Bill raised the scary issue of critics like Dr. Bear one day confront bullets instead of trolls? to which Erma replied, I doubt it. It is possible but unlikely unless Dr. Bear attacks an individual or VIP. Remember, this is America.

It is a real concern -- which is why I'm delighted that folks like 20/20, US News, and many others, are finally taking note of the problem. There will (99% likelihood) be an exciting development on these matters on network TV which I hope to mention in a few days.

But the threat is very real. A friend of mine started and, for ten years, ran the admirable Management College of San Francisco, a non-degree-granting school with recognized accreditation. She had a faculty member who was developing an 'outreach' program to the Russian community, with distance learning and degrees under discussion.

Last year, Marilyn finally looked closely, and discovered an alarming level of chicanery in these plans, and a few days before her meeting with the District Attorney's office in San Francisco, she was brutally beaten by (she is certain) the Russian mafia, in broad daylight on a major San Francisco street, and left for dead. Months later, she is still in recovery; she has lost her school; and she believes the name and programs may be in use in Russia, still under the San Francisco Management College name.

I think Bill's hypothesis has real merit, and this is awfully disconcerting to say the least.

John Bear