Belford University

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Belford University is an organization offering online unaccredited degrees for "life experience". The organization maintains a post office box in Humble, Texas, but its certificates are mailed from the United Arab Emirates.[1]

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[edit] Accreditation status

The school is not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Neither of the organizations from which Belford claims accreditation, the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) and the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA), are recognized accreditation associations of higher learning.[2] Without recognized accreditation, Belford's degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other academic institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.[3] Jurisdictions that have restricted or made illegal the use of credentials from unaccredited schools include Oregon,[4] [5] Michigan,[6] Maine,[7] North Dakota,[5] New Jersey,[5] Washington,[4] [8] Nevada,[4][9] Illinois,[4] Indiana,[4] Texas[10][11] and Korea.[12] Many other states are also considering restrictions on the use of degrees from unaccredited institutions. [13]

[edit] Controversy and criticism

A 2005 investigative report on WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY, characterized Belford as "just one of hundreds of diploma mills easily accessible online."[14]

According to David Linkletter of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Belford "is not a legitimate institute of higher education. No legitimate university offers a complete degree on the basis of one's life experience. I particularly like the 'order now' button on their Web site, which is another clue...To the extent that Belford University is in Texas, it is operating in violation of the Texas Education Code."[1] Furthermore, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has indicated that Belford, Rochville University, and the agencies from which they claim accreditation "appear to be operated by the same people."[1]

On 13 March 2006, Arthur Barnes, a former fire chief, was dismissed from his job for his Belford "degree". According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, "The Web site www.belforduniversity.org offers master's degrees based on 'life experience' for $479. Users are asked to submit their work experience on the Web to qualify for the degree. And if there is no work experience, they can still get a degree by finishing an online multiple-choice test." In fact, "The program even lets users choose their grade-point averages. A 3.0 GPA is free, but they can earn a 4.0 for an extra $75. The program also promises to ship the degrees out within a week."[15]

Belford University offered George Gollin a doctorate in thoracic surgery based on his life experience reading newspapers and watching the nightly news . [16]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Malisow, Craig. "First-Degree Fraud", Houston Press, July 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. 
  2. ^ Recognized Accrediting Organizations (as of February, 2006), CHEA
  3. ^ Diploma Mills and Accreditation - Accreditation
  4. ^ a b c d e Unaccredited Colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
  5. ^ a b c State mulls online learning by the Associated Press, Billings Gazette, January 30, 2005
  6. ^ Colleges and Universities not accredited by CHEA, Michigan Education and Children's Services
  7. ^ Accredited and Non-Accredited Colleges and Universities, Maine’s List of Non-Accredited Post-Secondary Schools
  8. ^ Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, Washington Consumer Information
  9. ^ Use of False or Misleading DegreesNevada statute NRS 394.700
  10. ^ Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  11. ^ Two less doctors in the house - Hebert, Wilson back away from Ph.D.'s issued by ‘diploma mills',by Stephen Palkot, Fort Bend Herald, September 28, 2007
  12. ^ Guide to teaching English in Korea Koreapot.com
  13. ^ Is Oregon the only state that disallows use of unaccredited degrees? Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
  14. ^ "I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills", WHEC-TV, 8 February 2005. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. 
  15. ^ Kalil, Mike, Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill, New Hampshire Union Leader, March 13, 2006.
  16. ^ Diploma mills pose degrees of danger, By Sarah Antonacci, Springfield Journal Register, February 19, 2008

[edit] External links