Hamilton University
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- This institution is not to be confused with the fully accredited Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.
Hamilton University was an unaccredited institution based in Evanston, Wyoming, USA. According to the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, it was first established in Hawaii as American State University.[1] It has since been closed by court order in Wyoming and has relocated to the Bahamas under the name Richardson University.[1]
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[edit] History
Since it had no real students and no faculty, and was housed in buildings which had once been a Motel 6, Hamilton was widely thought to be a diploma mill.[2] The school issued degrees based on "life experiences." Candidates for a degree were required to answer a few questions and write a small project of 2,000 words (about seven typed pages). The school issued Bachelors, Masters and even PhDs. The presence of a small church built in the parking lot had served to make the activity tax-free due to federal and state laws, even though the church building had no pews and people in Evanston had never seen services there.[2]
The website used the .edu domain because until recently unaccredited institutions were allowed to use such domains.
[edit] Academics and accreditation
Hamilton claimed to be accredited by the American Council of Private Colleges and Universities (ACPCU).[1] ACPCU, which was "set up by Hamilton, for Hamilton"[2] has no authorization from the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Former FBI consultant John Bear called it a "fake accrediting agency set up by the Wyoming-based diploma mill, Hamilton University."[3]
[edit] Criticism and controversy
An investigation by the TV news program 60 Minutes revealed that some people in positions of power actually held phony degrees issued by Hamilton University, such as Cessna Aircraft Co. CEO Jack J. Pelton.[2] A statement by the company did not deny the allegations, asserting that Mr. Pelton was chosen for his field experience more than for his academic achievement.
The most notable "graduate" of Hamilton University was former Clinton and Bush Administration appointee Laura Callahan, a key figure in the "Project X" email scandal involving the disappearance of thousands of White House emails which had been subpoenaed by Congress. [4] Callahan's diplomas from HU had enabled her to get a high position in the United States Department of Homeland Security. A probe of her claims evolved into an investigation by the Government Accountability Office of Federal employees who had paid diploma mills with taxpayer funds.
When the CBS 60 Minutes video crew visited the campus, there was no evidence of any students or faculty, but three office workers present.[2]
As of May 2006, after the 60 Minutes report aired, the web site of Hamilton University consists solely of a link to a record-keeping company which purportedly has been contracted to maintain information about the school's former students such as their transcripts. According to the CBS News website, the state of Wyoming recently changed its education laws, forcing Hamilton University to stop selling "degrees based on life experience".
[edit] People with Hamilton degrees
- Laura Callahan, former senior director at the United States Department of Homeland Security
- Ben Hanlon, the father and leader of the Wild Hanlons from the NBC television show Treasure Hunters, claims a Masters and PhD from Hamilton University [5]
- Jack J. Pelton, CEO of Cessna Aircraft Co.[2]
[edit] Connected institutions
- American State University (Moved to Wyoming and renamed Hamilton University)
- Richardson University (Bahamas) (Hamilton University, renamed and relocated again after Wyoming shut the operation down)
[edit] See also
- Diploma mill
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
- School accreditation
[edit] References
- ^ a b Unaccredited Colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (accessed October 14, 2007).
- ^ a b c d e f Diplomas for Sale, CBS News, 60 Minutes (2004-11-10)
- ^ States Struggle to Regulate Online Colleges That Lack Accreditation, The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 23, 2001
- ^ Diploma Mills Are Easily Created and Some Have Issued Bogus Degrees to Federal Employees at Government Expense, Statement of Robert J. Cramer, Managing Director, Office of Special Investigations, United States Government Accountability Office, Before the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives (2004-09-23
- ^ Ben, Wild Hanlons; Treasure Hunters, NBC website (accessed February 11, 2008)
[edit] External links
- Hamilton University's website
- Diplomas for Sale, CBS News, 60 Minutes (2004-11-10)
- Diploma Mills Are Easily Created and Some Have Issued Bogus Degrees to Federal Employees at Government Expense, Statement of Robert J. Cramer, Managing Director, Office of Special Investigations, United States Government Accountability Office, Before the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives (2004-09-23) (discusses Hamilton University). PDF file (requires Adobe Reader)
