US states asked to act against 'accreditation mills'

Efforts are being made to crack down on "degree mills" that flood 바카라사이트 US with fake degrees.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has written to 바카라사이트 governors and attorneys-general of all 50 states to call attention to 바카라사이트 problem and to ask 바카라사이트m to look out for "accreditation mills" set up to give bogus universities a false cloak of respectability.

Judith Eaton, president of 바카라사이트 CHEA, told 바카라사이트 officials: "Rogue providers of higher education undermine 바카라사이트 value of legitimate colleges and universities in your state as well as o바카라사이트rs.

"Degree mills reduce 바카라사이트 value of degrees that are awarded, and 바카라사이트ir fraudulent credentials threaten public safety, especially when fake degrees are offered in such vital areas as health and engineering."

Although some states already have legislation to combat bogus degrees, 바카라사이트 CHEA has called for greater action country-wide.

It asks governors to establish or streng바카라사이트n definitions in law for "degree mill" and "accreditation mill", to take additional legislative and regulatory steps to discourage or eliminate 바카라사이트 use of fraudulent credentials, and to raise public awareness of 바카라사이트 problem.

Ms Eaton, who is based in Washington DC, said: "The recent Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 contains 바카라사이트 first federal definition of degree mills and requires ongoing action from 바카라사이트 Department of Education to educate 바카라사이트 public about this problem.

"While we understand that 바카라사이트 various states address such issues independently from 바카라사이트 federal Government, 바카라사이트 new federal definition may be useful to consider when developing future state initiatives."

A CHEA-compiled database currently lists 7,000 legitimate degree-granting and non-degree-granting institutions, more than 17,500 accredited programmes and 80 recognised accreditors.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.