University Degree Program

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Not to be confused with University Consulting, Inc., another diploma mill group.

University Degree Program (UDP) is an unaccredited consortium of diploma mills run by Jason and Caroline Abraham (alias: Yaakov and Chaya Rochel). In 2004, The Chronicle of Higher Education noted UDP is the "granddaddy" of diploma mill operations and started operating in the mid-1990s.[1]

In fact, "after an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, its owners turned over $100,000 in profits and promised to stay out of the degree-selling business."[1] However, "the e-mailing hasn't stopped. The call centers haven't closed. And the money hasn't stopped flowing. If anything, the business has grown."

The Chronicle revealed one of the two owners is "a mother of four who has a Ph.D. in mathematics and lives in Brooklyn, NY." The paper explained day-to-day operations, which "sold more than 30,000 degrees and may have earned $50-million or perhaps in excess of $100-million" with its "call centers in Israel and Romania."[1]

Contents

[edit] Connections to other "groups"

According to the Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization, UDP's "web sites of some of the distance learning programs which are not accredited by CHEA-recognized organization's show similarities which suggest that they may be related."[2] Furthermore, "some are products (or clones) of University Degree Program (UDP) sites, while some may be related through a parent organization which called itself "University Consulting, Inc." (UCI) for a time."

[edit] Institutions

  1. Ashford University (London) (not to be confused with Ashford University of Iowa) [1]
  2. Brentwick University cited by 10-NBC "Brentwick's address is actually a post office box above a dry cleaner in London" and Is this illegal? No. Immoral, maybe, but not illegal
  3. Glencullen University
  4. Harrington University
  5. Hartford University Website
  6. Hartley University
  7. Kingsfield University
  8. Landford University
  9. Northfield University
  10. Oaklands University
  11. Parkhurst University
  12. Parkwood University
  13. Shaftesbury University — its "diploma contain two misspellings, but the institution is not recognized, or accredited, in the United Kingdom or the U.S."[3].
  14. Shelbourne University
  15. Shepperton University [4]
  16. Stafford University
  17. Thornewood University
  18. University of Devonshire
  19. University of Dorchester
  20. University of Hampshire Website
  21. University of Dunham
  22. University of Bedford
  23. University of Palmers Green
  24. University of Ravenhurst
  25. University of San Moritz
  26. University of Wexford
  27. Westbourne University
  28. Westhampton University

[edit] Accreditors

The following are unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning connected to UDP.
  • Distance Learning Council of Europe (DLCE: accrediting)
  • European Council for Distance & Open Learning (ECDOL: accrediting)
  • European Committee for Home and Online Education (ECHOE: accrediting))

[edit] Websites shut down by the FTC

(The following are websites used by the UDP that were closed by the Federal Trade Commission)

  1. www.ashforduniversity.org (domain for Ashford University)
  2. www.brentwickuniversity.org (domain for Brentwick University)
  3. www.kingsfielduniversity.org (domain for Kingsfield University)
  4. www.parkwooduniversity.org (domain for Parkwood University)
  5. www.universityofravenhurst.org (domain for the University of Ravenhurst)
  6. www.thornewooduniversity.org (domain for Thornewood University)
  7. www.westbourneuniversity.org (domain for Westbourne University)
  8. www.universityofwexford.org (domain for the University of Wexford)
  9. www.henryheston.com.cnchost.com (domain containing sites for the University of Devonshire, Glencullen University, Harrington University, and Shelbourne University).
  • The second amended complaint added to this list
  1. www.landforduniversity.org (domain for Landford University)
  2. www.northfield-university.org (domain for Northfield University).

[edit] People with UDP degrees

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "The University of Spam", The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 25, 2004. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  2. ^ "Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited", Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization, 2006. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
  3. ^ Forys, Marsha. "Children's counselor charged with fraud", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 26, 2005. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
  4. ^ "Fake universities thrive on the web", BBC, 5 January 2004. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.

[edit] External links


[edit] News articles

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