Would you teach at a diploma mill?

I took my SATs and almost everything was computerized (except grading my essay, perhaps). The SATs might as well be conducted online, and be graded automatically. Does that make CollegeBoard an SAT-mill? My point is, if REAL education is being imparted to the student, then there is hardly any problem - whether it's an accredited school or not.

A working definition of a degree mill would hence be: Any institute that does not require students to attend classes and be graded; and delivers a degree to the student without any tests or exams, is a degree mill.

Therefore, teaching at a diploma mill is not even an option. Being listed at a degree mill as a professor however, is possible in return for wads of $$$. And then, developing courses/modules/exams at an online institute that aims to teach students is a downright legitimate activity. Suppose you record some of your lectures and deliver webcasts and webinars through an online instititute - is there anything wrong with that?

I don't think there is. I would teach at an online institute if given the opportunity - the best part would be that I can manage it with my current workload.

 

I would never teach at a diploma mill. I would teach at an unaccredited college, provided that the academic rigor was at least equivalent to the lower ranking RA schools and that my students would be getting a solid grounding in both general subjects and their academic major. One of the two B&M colleges I adjunct for is NA, but I am absolutely satisfied with the quality of the education offered in my academic department, so I have a clear conscience.

 

Good example. Kennedy-Western was clearly a school at which one shouldn't teach... They couldn't even pass the oft but not always rigorous California approval, which could have been discovered with a little bit of research; their degrees weren't just non-standard but sub-standard.

As for listing the schools at which you teach on a resume, I've never found any hard and fast rule. Some Deans look down on everything while others try to look at the whole individual being more than the sum of the parts, so to speak. Hard to say... Relevant teaching experience is often in the eyes of the beholder.

 

Exactly what I was thinking!! I've seen the term "diploma mill" used A LOT here, and the reality is that an actual diploma mill does not have ANY teachers, administration, classes, grades, accreditation, NOTHING. It is a COMPANY that sells FAKE degrees that are completely worthless. The only staff are the sales reps. Thats a diploma mill. You cannot teach at one. Its impossible.

 

This ^ What he said ^