Worth the paper it’s written on? Degree mills uncovered through pre-employment screenings
A subject of one of our pre-employment screenings, who was identified as a published author and had previously worked as a sworn public servant, applied for an administrative position with an international accounting firm. Among the subject’s claimed credentials was a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Rochville University. After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the university to verify this degree, a representative from the school replied that no records were located under the subject’s name; however, the university staff could verify the degree if the subject requested that documents be sent directly to the prospective employer. No physical address was located for the university in order to facilitate the process. Further research indicated that Rochville University awarded degrees for a price; there was no formal admission process and credit was given for “applicable life experience” instead of attending classes (through correspondence or otherwise) or passing exams. A standard “degree package” included four copies of an education verification letter; however if an employer required that the letter be sent directly, the university would do so upon request from the subject. The university claimed to be accredited by the Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA) and the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA). However, neither the BOUA or the UCOEA are recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. There are currently 13 states where claiming a higher education degree from an Internet “degree mill” is either restricted or explicitly illegal.
