With a click of the mouse, college degrees are available by paying money in lieu of going to class; however, Bakersfield College president William Andrews advocates learning in traditional classroom settings.
Online Web sites referred to as “diploma mills” promise a degree of choice, transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Online Suffield University program coordinator Joel Silver said that “it is a great résumé enhancer; however, if you are looking to use this degree in order to teach in the public school district, this might not be right for you.”
The degree requirements of Suffield University for a Bachelor of Arts in Education or any major is: two years of work or life experience not related to the intended major, one year of work or life experience related to the intended major or 30 college credits.
By filling out a questionnaire regarding your personal life experience, the questionnaire is submitted for review by the institution. Upon approval, which usually occurs within 48 hours, a payment of $495 is requested. Once payment is submitted, alumni status is activated immediately and your custom graduation package will process and ship within a few days.
Silver explained that the private sector is likely to accept a degree from their institution because private schools do not have to abide by the same standards of accreditation as tax-funded schools.
There are two types of accreditation.
There is regional accreditation, which BC and other similar institutions maintain, that allows units from courses to transfer to other schools.
There is also national accreditation like from Suffield University and similar institutions, which will not fulfill regional requirements. Therefore, major institutions will not recognize the units from nationally accredited universities.
However, Suffield University claims, “It is not that our accreditation is better or worse. It is just different,” claimed Silver.
Transcripts are also provided in the purchase package. For additional fees, you may enhance your grades to include Summa Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude. The price of honors cost approximately $60 for each upgrade at Suffield University.
According to the accreditations page on Suffield University’s Web site, “the degree programs offered at Suffield University are not designed to be used for admittance to a graduate school or to meet any particular licensing or accreditation standards. Suffield University has not applied for any accreditation that would be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, nor would it qualify for such accreditation due to its non-traditional and non-resident international status.
The proper accreditation is important to the institution and students alike. If BC, which serves a student body of approximately 16,000, were to lose its accreditation, then all of the course units students are taking would not be transferable.
BC president William Andrews takes prides of their accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. “It’s a guarantee of quality,” said Andrews.
There is also an enormous benefit in attending classrooms on campus, according to Andrews. “There is an interaction between faculty and students. It is the process of education, learning to work with others,” said Andrews.
“Degree mills” are becoming a serious matter for authorities who are trying to close them down. Many have been blocked due to court orders in states like Hawaii and Louisiana. Other mills, such as Communion of Saints Seminary, continue to operate illegally in Oregon.
According to a CBS news report, Alan Contreras, who heads the crack down on diploma mills in Oregon, reportedly found several people holding government positions with these degrees from fake institutions.
Contreras said, “You don’t want somebody with a fake degree working in Homeland Security. You don’t want somebody with a fake degree teaching your children or designing your bridges.”
There are online schools like the University of Phoenix that do maintain legitimate accreditation and provide a strong education for students who do not have the time for a traditional education in the classroom.
Many universities, including BC, have legitimate online courses that are transferable.
Andrews’ advise, for students looking for online universities, is for students to do research on universities they don’t recognize.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it is,” said Andrews.