Soldiers and Defense Contractors with fake degrees

Breaking story in Huntsville, Alabama. I'm working here as a contractor and this is big news. One co-worker discussing this today stated that most of the fake degrees were from Regis University. I asked him if he meant St. Regis University, but he wasn't aware there was a difference between the fake St. Regis and the legitimate Regis U. in CO.


http://www.whnt.com/news/takingaction/whnt-fake-diplomas-soldiers-51209,0,5532909.story

http://www.whnt.com/news/takingaction/whnt-degreesofdeceptionbewary-9298233,0,3435741,full.story

 

These people create a situation in which all non-traditionally earned degrees are suspect. Those caught with fake educational credentials need harsh punishment.

"doing something like that speaks a whole lot more about their character," sums up my feelings. (WHNT NEWS 19's Special Investigation, Michele @ 9:33 AM CDT, May 13, 2009)

 

There was a diploma mill set up in my home town of Spokane, WA. They released a list of names of people who obtained degrees from the mill on the local papers website last year:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=15898

I blieve the diploma mill name was St Regis University.

Cory

 

Wow! I am curious the whole thing because I have never met any contractors or military personnel has fake degrees or degree. But well, send them all to Court-Martial because using fake degree for promotion is the same way stealing the money from the Government.

 

Yeah! That's terrible that they have made a situation where they have made Regis U look suspect by using a similar name. Arg.

 

LOL...

Because only the government is allowed to steal money from the people!

I have run into this in the DoD circles, specifically Cook's College of Electronics Engineering. Never accredited, and the keys appear to be unchanged since it's inception. 6 or so employees passed around the answer keys, and are now all filling Engineering positions. The "school" has long since moved to Malaysia, but the damage remains.

In the meantime, this has continued until now, where the "graduates" now do the interviewing and hiring/firing for their organizations. Ironically enough, they will not recognize non-ABET degrees. How funny is that?

 

St Regis

This my favorite case cited in the article:

Anthony McGugan, of Barnegat, N.J., spent $24,088 on 16 different degrees and certificates between 1983 and 2002, including a doctor of theology, a masters of theology in systematic theology, a Master of Social Work in addiction counseling, bachelor's degrees in human services and biblical studies, and certificates in addiction therapy, family and youth counseling, ministry education, Christian education, interpersonal relationships, addiction counseling, professional counseling, substance abuse counseling and social development. ​

Who would buy multiple degrees from a mill?

 

Someone who benefited from the purchase and use of the previous ones, I would guess. If I had no scruples and discovered that I could drop $1500 or so on a piece of paper that would qualify me for a better job or more money in my current position, I might go back for a second helping or fifteen myself.

 

Someone who wanted to counsel without earning the degrees (aka "learning techniques that won't harm people"). You can find videos of his workshops (?) on google video. They are labeled Disc 2 of 4 etc, so I'm curious as to whether he makes money off of his advice. Seeking the extra bogus certifications suggests yes.

It gets interesting, fast. http://www.hcn.org/blogs/heard/paper-busts-buyers-of-bogus-degrees

What makes me cringe is that some nuclear engineers bought their degrees. Someone with a bogus Criminal Justice degree can blow up a lot fewer people than engineers without degrees. Based on a few different articles and their comments, it looks like some people were just trying to get credit for their time in the military.

It's waaay less hassle to just earn a legit degree and get awarded credit for prior service. The advanced degrees I can almost see. But BAs?!? WHY?!?!!?

 

There are lots of engineers without degrees - the engineers who sign off on nuclear plant deseigns have to be state registered professional engineers.
Interestingly engineers who design aircraft do not - it is up to the FAA (for commercaial aircraft) or various review teams to accept designs.
I have been an aerospace engineer for a long time and do not have an ABET degree.