Warden Demoted Over Fake Degree

Fred Campbell, Warden of the North-Central unit of Calico Rock prison (Arkansas) was demoted after officials found out that the degree he claims comes from Clayton University. Clayton, which used to operate from Missouri, now does so without any authority from Asia. (The founder, Eugene Stone, split with the cash.) The newspaper with the article is subscription only, but I found it through Google Cache.

 

Free article;

http://www.baxterbulletinonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050608/NEWS01/506080339/1002

Like so many other cases of degree fraud, his employers seem like they want to make all sorts of excuses for his dishonesty.

 

Seems like a disproportionate number of these guys work for state and local governments -- especially in law enforcement fields or with fire departments.

 

If true, it could be explained by the practice of raising pay due to the acquisition of degrees. I think it is a driving force behind similar abuse in school systems.

To me, these are cases of fraud and should not only result in dismissal, but in prosecution. Taking money you don't deserve by lying about your qualifications.

 

They are certainly well-represented, but I think teachers still hold the "title", such as it is.

 

Really? I would be surprised. My experience with teaching employment is that they were extra-careful. The major exception would be the situation in Georgia and even then it was not for employment purposes, but for salary scale purposes. My guess is that they are more lenient with that.



Tom Nixon

 

That's what I was thinking of, either using the "degree" for incentive pay, or promotion. Combining that with the fact that teachers routinely have their credentials listed on their school's website, which leads to easier detection.

 

Instead of being demoted this POS should be doing time in an institution similar to the one he formerly supervised. This type of fraud by individuals who are part of the criminal justice system should be severely punished; a demotion may not be much of a deterrent to others.

If in fact, he entered the Clayton program in the 1980s in good faith, then he should have stated that Clayton was unaccredited or seeking accreditation when he submitted his credentials to the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections. That is full disclosure of a questionable situation. Waiting until the state questioned the credentials discredits the "good faith" claim.

 

Sadly, teachers are no more or less ethical than police officers (or other professions), I suspect.


Tom Nixon