I'd like to believe there must be a misunderstanding. Why would someone need to lie to get a job as police chief if he were already a police chief? It seems the degree would not be his most important qualification. Unless of course the lie is a carry-over from an earlier period in his life and he forgot to, or couldn't, drop it now.
Not an incredibly informative article. All they have is the anonymous source, I guess. I was looking for more dirt on the guy : ) Tom
Police Chief Rodney Monroe has a degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. His having the degree is not in question. How he could have got the degree by completing only six credits at VCU after he transfered there is in question. It usually requires a transfer student to complete 30 credits before being issued a degree. http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-05-0205.html http://www.ugrad.vcu.edu/faqs/transfers.html Was the degree issued by mistake? Was there there a shady deal? Did someone put pressure on VCU?
Well, that sounds like more a case of bending the rules by VCU and sour grapes from someone who doesn't like Chief Monroe. If he has the requisite number of credits & distribution for the degree, I don't see the big deal.
Bruce I agree with you, but because some guy or gal got passed over they are crying. The guy has been Police Chief in several cities and a Assistant Police Chief in New York. He is more than qualified by EXPERIENCE ALONE to have been chosen as the new Police Chief in Charlotte-NC. Their are so many people out their that do not TRUST themselves and everybody is suspect in their world. To those people I say, EXERCISE MORE and GET A LIFE.
Further research suggests to me that the person who turned Monroe into S. Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges, was probably an employee of Virginia Commonwealth University. Who else would know Monroe's degree details and college policy so well? Monroe did not meet graduation requirements for the degree. He completed only 6 of the 30 required credits needed by those who are transfer students. Monroe was singled out by VCU's president at his graduation as an example others should follow. This shows that he was not just another student at the school and that there was a special relationship in place. Two courses would probably not make someone standout enough to be noticed by the president if they didn't already know one another. If there is a standard to be followed it should be the same for all. If you or I went there we would have to do all 30 credits, and spend thousands of dollars. When someone gets a break around the rules, it just pays the cost on to others. If Monroe accepted a degree when he knew he had not met the requirements, then that tells us a lot about his real character. I would be suprised if the degree is pulled and someone loses a job at the university. This is one to keep an eye on.
I agree. While I wouldn't speculate on who squawked and why, it seems VCU bent the rules. Another poster suggested the degree might be rescinded? Not likely. As John Bear has noted for decades, universities bend the rules all the time. I've been the beneficiary of one such event (not Union, despite degree mill peddlers' suggestions). The school in question waived a particular restriction because of my military duties.
I have seen how schools can bend the rules. I met a psychologist a few years ago, a fellow D.Min student at Ashland Theological Seminary (RA and ATS) who claimed she was admitted to the program without any graduate degrees in theology--just a Ph.D. from a Christian university. Tom
VCU is investigating itself, to see if the degree was awarded without the 30 credit hours required. WTVR-TV in Richmond is said to have obtained from an anonymous source, e-mails alleging that high-level officials at VCU and the city “pushed through” the degree. This is looking more and more like a case of individuals at the university violating rules to help a buddy, rather than any kind of officially sanctioned waiver done in accordance with university policy.
This may very well be the case, but I don't see how, even if this is true, the degree would be rescinded. Unless, of course, the recipient was in a position to bring pressure to bear and did. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
Conspiracy theory.. I love it! "Monroe was singled out by VCU's president at his graduation as an example others should follow." OK - how about him being a chief, well established and even with his duties he managed to obtain a degree? Is that not an example to follow?
June 19, 2008 Some article links and quotes. http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-19-0149.html http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/05/degree
It seems that when Monroe turned his resume in for his current postion, he did not quite identify his degree correctly. The same degree now under investigation for improper awarding. Monroe's Resume Monroe's Diploma http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/670092.html
If nothing else, this is further proof of what John Bear once said about educational credentials coming under scrutiny after something good happens to a person.
Reminds me of another controversy over university policy that happened recently with UF. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080410/NEWS/804100319/0/news
Tuition Problem? Tuition Problem? There are now allegations that Monroe received improper tuition reimbursement. http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8555418
HwyRogue, You are so right, but their seems to be an individual that is determined to drag out this Conspiracy theory. Lets see what happens, the Charlotte Mayor and City Council seem to like the New Charlotte-NC Police Chief.
I met this guy a few times when I was volunteering with released offenders in Richmond. Nice enough fellow. It looks like this is calmed down now. Since the guy did earn his credits and the degree was awarded based on nothing illegitimate (exceptions are not necessarily illegitimate), I really don't see the big deal. If it were Excelsior, TESC or Charter Oak he would not have even had to take the few credits he took in residency at VCU.
