Another threat from the bogus Ratchford University

www.ratchford-online.org: You are not authorized to view this page

I'm guessing that the new approach for this school is to put a password or non-obvious index page on their website. They'll give this secret to whatever interested potential "students" that they contact.

 

I guess they hate my guts too!

Darren.

 

I think more likely, the guy that runs the thing (I think it's a one-person operation) has by now sent replacement fraudulent diplomas with a different school name to all of his customers. So he's just taken all of the links down and is planning to not use the site for a while in the hopes that the exposure of the fraud will be forgotten about... then, in a few months, he can start reselling this fraudulent school again.

It doesn't seem like it would serve his needs to have a hidden entry page... what employer would believe a website for a school that can't be entered unless you know the secret URL?

 

I've confirmed that all of the Ratchford University website files have been removed from the ratchford-online.org server, probably by the guy that runs professionaldegrees.com.

However, as I said above, they are safely stored for posterity, the OH and NC attorney general offices, and Judson College, should any of them need access.

 

Maybe one where the student can explain it's a mark of the school's professionalism that they go to such lengths to protect their students from the prying eyes of those who don't respect distance learning? And if the "graduate" can provide the employer with a password or URL to access the site to check for themselves, it would look even more legitimate. Don't scoff. How many timebombs have gone off lately because some HR departments seem to be satisfied with prima facie evidence of the credentials and claims of their prospective employees?

 

Here is some more on the totally fake and how they are claiming that what they do is OK -- http://www.yourdegreenow.com/legal.htm

Maybe by posting here this site will soon come down.

John

 

Error on Ratchford diploma

I find it both amusing and very sad that the Ratchford University diploma, as depicted on their website, shows:
Bachelors of Fine Arts

I don't think any legitimate university on earth would put that plural wording on their diploma. So, in its own way, it is like a red flag waving, saying "Hey, this one is not real."

Long ago, there was a mill whose diplomas said "Batchelor of..." This is in the same league.

 

They are actually doing my joke! i.e., The degree mill that can't be named because if it were to be named then it would be obvious to all that it is just a worthless degree mill.

 

Yes, maybe this is where Dean Wormer (I think that was his name) in Animal House first came up with "Double Secret Probation." It could become an accreditation standard in the mill world.

John

 

Yep, Dean Vernon Wormer of Faber College.


Bruce (fountain of useless trivia)

 

"Knowledge is Good."
- Emil Faber, Founder

 

What ever happened with this? Did you ever hear from them again?

 

Well... no. Not a peep.

But that's the standard MO for degree mill operators. I think in the last year, we've gotten probably a half-dozen threats to the effect of "If you don't immediately remove this thread, or print a retraction, or whatever, then we'll sue you".

One guy from Greece even promised that we'd be tried in absentia and extradited from the US. I emailed him back and encouraged him to go forward with his action... I've never been to Greece and would appreciate an all-expense-paid vacation... but I never heard back.

And the Ratchford guy just crawled back in his hole. The sad thing is, he seems to think that his actions are completely justified, that he has a perfect right to sell fraudulent credentials.

Of course, more action is ongoing to expose Ratchford among a much wider audience. I've already let some of the major credential checking databases know about it, and they've added it to the list of fraudulent schools... and there are some HR-related newsletters that make lists of fraudulent schools available to their subscribers, so we'll be making sure that those folks know about Ratchford as well... so, before long, a Ratchford degree will not only be worthless, it will be a "red flag" to an employer to reject an applicant without even interviewing him or her... which is as it should be.