Ashwood University: Difference between revisions
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'''Ashwood University''' is an institution which claims to award academic degrees based on "life experience". Ashwood University is [[school accreditation|not accredited]] by any recognised accreditation body. As such, its degrees may not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions. The ''[[Toronto Star]]'' reports that Ashwood University operates out of [[Pakistan]]or [[UAE]] and [[Humble]], [[Texas]].<ref>http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/488313</ref>.<ref>http://www.ammas.com/ar/home.cfm?r=va&qid=179311&bid=0&topicid=43</ref> |
'''Ashwood University''' is an institution which claims to award academic degrees based on "life experience". Ashwood University is [[school accreditation|not accredited]] by any recognised accreditation body. As such, its degrees may not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions. The ''[[Toronto Star]]'' reports that Ashwood University operates out of [[Pakistan]] or [[UAE]] and [[Humble]], [[Texas]].<ref>http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/488313</ref>.<ref>http://www.ammas.com/ar/home.cfm?r=va&qid=179311&bid=0&topicid=43</ref> |
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== Recognition and accreditation status == |
== Recognition and accreditation status == |
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The website "onlinelearning101" lists Ashwood University among examples of [[degree mills]], and suggests that the name was selected because it "sounds like the very reputable [[Ashford University]]".<ref name=OL101>{{cite web | title = Spotting Online Degree Mills and Diploma Mills| work = | url = http://www.onlinelearning101.com/online-degree-programs/accredited-degrees/spotting-mills.aspx | accessdate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> Degree mills have been dubbed by John Bear, an ex-FBI consultant, as a "huge crime wave...and almost no one has noticed."<ref>{{cite web | author = Bahur C | title = Diploma Mills - Fraud in Higher Education | work = | url = http://www.degreeinfo.com/article24_1.html | accessdate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> |
The website "onlinelearning101" lists Ashwood University among examples of [[degree mills]], and suggests that the name was selected because it "sounds like the very reputable [[Ashford University]]".<ref name=OL101>{{cite web | title = Spotting Online Degree Mills and Diploma Mills| work = | url = http://www.onlinelearning101.com/online-degree-programs/accredited-degrees/spotting-mills.aspx | accessdate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> Degree mills have been dubbed by John Bear, an ex-FBI consultant, as a "huge crime wave...and almost no one has noticed."<ref>{{cite web | author = Bahur C | title = Diploma Mills - Fraud in Higher Education | work = | url = http://www.degreeinfo.com/article24_1.html | accessdate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:08, 26 February 2010
Ashwood University is an institution which claims to award academic degrees based on "life experience". Ashwood University is not accredited by any recognised accreditation body. As such, its degrees may not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions. The Toronto Star reports that Ashwood University operates out of Pakistan or UAE and Humble, Texas.[1].[2]
Recognition and accreditation status
The website "onlinelearning101" lists Ashwood University among examples of degree mills, and suggests that the name was selected because it "sounds like the very reputable Ashford University".[3] Degree mills have been dubbed by John Bear, an ex-FBI consultant, as a "huge crime wave...and almost no one has noticed."[4]
The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization states that Oregon "has no evidence that this is an accredited or otherwise acceptable provider of postsecondary education meeting Oregon standards."[5] The location of the organization's offices is not known with certainty; no address is given on the website or the whois record; a 2003 Usenet posting [6] indicated that the company is based in a California strip mall, but all diplomas are mailed from Pakistan.
Incidents of fraudulent degrees
In a 2008 article in the Chicago Tribune, a reporter described his experience obtaining a series of "bogus academic credentials" from Ashwood, including a "Doctorate Degree in Medicine & Surgery". He wrote: "All I have to do is persuade my editors to pay $699 'tuition,' including a $75 surcharge guaranteeing me a 4.0 grade-point average."[7]
Several journalists or entertainers have publicized their experiences when they applied for and received bogus credentials from Ashwood in order to investigate its practices.
Television producer Tom Kenny won an Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award (Service News Story - Consumer/Financial) in 2005 for his documentary on online diploma mills entitled, "Degrees of Deception".[8] During his research for the documentary, Kenny bought a degree from Ashwood University; he chose a degree in aerospace engineering, a field he knew nothing about. The diploma he received had been sent from Pakistan.
In 2008, news media reported that the recipient of a doctorate degree from Ashwood University had resigned from her position with the Tacoma, Washington, school district amid an investigation into her use of that degree to obtain a promotion. School district officials said she had resigned due to personal issues. [9] The local newspaper reported that Ashwood issued degrees based on "life experience".[9]
An Australian satirical TV program, The Chaser's War on Everything, reported receiving a medical diploma from Ashwood University in the name of a dog named Sonny. The diploma, displayed on the program, was issued one week after they paid 450 dollars. The presenters claim that in the "life experience" part of the application for the diploma, they listed "has eaten out of hospital rubbish bin for 5 years (35 dog years) ... has significant proctology experience sniffing other dog's bums". The academic transcript, reportedly given together with the diploma and shown on TV, listed that the dog received grades of A in "Immunology", "Zoo Preceptorship" and "Medical Bacteriology" and an A- grade in "Oral Communication and Presentation Skills".[10][11]
Connections
Speedy Degrees (speedydegrees.com), Ashwood University, Belford University, Affordable Degrees (affordabledegrees.com), and Rochville University are operated by the same people. Other sources link speedydegrees.com to Ashwood University.[12]
The World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC), which lists this particular university as accredited is itself not recognized or accredited by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
See also
References
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/488313
- ^ http://www.ammas.com/ar/home.cfm?r=va&qid=179311&bid=0&topicid=43
- ^ "Spotting Online Degree Mills and Diploma Mills". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ Bahur C. "Diploma Mills - Fraud in Higher Education". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization. "Unaccredited colleges". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Re: Ashwood University". Newsgroup: alt.education.distance. 2003-09-03. 1e77ad20.0309031406.14a168e8@posting.google.com. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ PhD, the easy way, By Russell Working, Chicago Tribune, August 9, 2008
- ^ "Department of Communication Notes" ([dead link]). COFAC Collage (Western Illinois University). 2 (1): 9. 2006.
- ^ a b Debby Abe. "Did educator's doctorate come from 'diploma mill'?". The News Tribune (Tacoma). Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
torontostarwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ YouTube: The Chasers War on Everything - Internet Degrees
- ^ Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization. "Office of Degree Authorization". Retrieved 2007-05-24.