Diploma Mills
Has anyone sat with a student and they presented a diploma from a diploma mill? What did you do?
I have had mixed results with dealing with the victims of diploma mills. The results range from those who are discouraged that they have been taken advantage of, to those who are convinced WE are the ones who are wrong in not accepting them. Often, asking why the student chose that path will give you the keys to knowing how best to deal with it. Often, there are underlying reasons that can bring avenues to light.
It is very unfortunate that diploma mills are out there to basically rip people off. I have ran into several instances where a PS has spent their time and monies to receive a general education diploma with hopes of earning a degree just to be told that their diploma is not valid.
This happen often and it's sad that they are put in that situation and I always feel like they just did not even know better. I think in their minds they paying for a diploma they feel like it should be legit. All you can so is guide them to getting their GED.
When I first started out in admissions, I wasn't completely well versed on how diploma mills operated. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way when one of my very first enrollments was flagged for having a false high school diploma. It was extremely heartbreaking for me to tell the student that she had received fake credentials. She was extremely upset as she said that she actually attended online classes for 5 months which she thought was preparing her for the test that she ultimately took to receive her diploma. She paid this false institution $300 for nothing and was still forced to obtain and pay for her GED!
I have come across this many times in my two years of working in Admissions. Most of the time, students are aware that their diploma will not be accepted. The students that are not aware are always so disappointed. It is upsetting to see these diploma mills take advantage of individuals and their money. They are simply trying to better their lives, and spend money that they barely have to obtain their diploma. Once they do that, they end up finding out that it is no good, and I will then refer them to their local community college to take their GED program and obtain their GED. That way, they will have nothing to worry about.
I have experienced this many times. It is unfortunate that these companies are permitted to sell these degrees to unsuspecting buyers. I do give the student information on how to earn their GED and have had students come back and enroll after doing so.
I have had a student who obtained their diploma from a diploma mill school. We just talked about how focused and determined they were to make a career change and not to let anything stand in their way. I also provided them with local accredited HSD/GED testing center information and set follow up dates to check their progress
Really tough; I have people curse, cry, scream. Typically try to direct them to a reputable GED program or Adult HS diploma.
I have known of people who did not graduate from an accredited school and it caused a lot of issues. Personally, I would refer them to someone who can help with this issue.
I,unfortunately, have experienced this as well. I usually explain to the student that we do not accept their diploma, but that there are other options such as taking the GED.
I have a list to schools that do not qualify. I look over the list. If the name is listed I will inform the student. I also suggest that the student can obtain their GED (name and location.) We are located in a facility that also houses GED training. I will walk the student to the GED office. I also keep a list of other locations for students.
I have not witnessed this; however, I am very curious as to how other "institutions" get away with this. I am also curious as to what others have done to approach this situation.
We see it from time to time. The biggest culprits are "academies" and various "home school" consortiums that our state board doesn't recognize. We have a website we use that red-flags a lot of them, but some can be pretty convincing. One bogus school went so far as to invent their own accrediting body (this was the tip-off: it was an accrediting body that we'd never heard of before). The letter we got from that bogus accrediting body came on a very convincing letterhead. It can be tricky: we had a student that we initially disqualified because his school's college-level program was not recognized by the state board, but we later learned that their high school curriculum was, and we were able to admit the student after all. The biggest red flag is when students tell us that they got their high school diploma online through a school or "academy" that is out-of-state. Always sad to have to break the news, because families often spend $500 or more on these worthless credentials.
I agree, it's sad to say. Many students are so excited to be able to earn a diploma online. I also refer them to the State GED Exam.
Honesty is always best....and if you can direct towards the information for aquireing a GED that will truely be a benefit to them.
I have it is hard but you need to let that student know that it is unacceptable and give them the reason why
I have experienced this many times at our school. We have an on-going list of all of the schools that we will not accept and a person that reviews any new school diplomas that a perspective student may bring in to us. Most of the time we require transcripts from a student if it is a school we do not recognize or suspect it is a mill.
Natalie,
Yes, I think in that case giving the student information about how to obtain a GED would be appropriate.
John Ware
I had to tell a student on her first day before she entered the classroom that her diploma was not accepted by our school. She got it on line and paid $400 for it. I explained that we have a professional at our corporate office that verfies the diplomas and her school was one that was identified as not providing the a true diploma. She called me back after talking to the "diploma Mill" and they told her that it was just our school that didn't take it but that many others would. They were out of Canada. I let her know where the local GRE office was and encouraged her to pursue a GED that is accepted.
