Distance Learning and Online Degree:
With the advent of the Internet the mode of education
has changed drastically. From distance education the word has changed to Online
Education where the method of teaching has become virtual.
Additionally, course materials will be sent by post, which they can finish at
home An online business degree is best suited to working executives who can
finish their course at their own pace and do not need to lose work to attend
classes.
2. How will an online business degree help your
career?
An online business degree is one of the best possible
ways to enhance one's academic qualifications. Many fortune 700 companies
appreciate employees who have a higher academic degree and consider such degrees
as a criterion for promotion. This means that even if you work hard and exhibit
good professional ethics, you may be sidelined when it comes to promotions and
pay hikes.
3. Getting qualified through an online course serves
three purposes:
1. It enhances your academic standing
2. It does not require you to lose your job in order
to make time for learning.
3. You can learn in your leisure time and use it
productively to enhance your career.
Online Degrees are available all over the Internet
from valid accepted Universities to fake Diploma Mills that churn out diplomas
without need for anything other than cold hard cash.
While the advantages of the Online Degree providing colleges are many the fact
remains that the fake diploma mills are adversely affecting the reputation of
the legitimate degree providing colleges.
Legitimate Online Degree College vs. Fake Diploma
Mills
Universities and colleges online have to be accredited
and the best ones like Phoenix University are, but there are again, the 'life
experience' degree providers like the Belford University that create fake
accreditation agencies and then accredit themselves, causing students looking
for shortcuts to believe that these are legit institutes and are merely showing
them the way out.
However, when all online degree holders enter the
practical world looking for a job carrying their 'online diplomas' these fake
diploma holders cause the legit degree holders to lose out as potential
employers lose faith in the 'online degrees' so many of which are useless.
The latest trend in education is distance education
where you can attain an undergraduate and graduate, certification or
professional degree with the help of advanced technology of Internet.
It is gaining popularity owing to the fact that it can
be obtained without leaving your job and can be done at your own pace. Owing to
this sudden popularity in distance education, more and more universities are
introducing online degree education.
With the wave of intensive growth in distance
education comes another problem which is that of fraudulent online degrees.
Universities need to make a profit in order to sustain
in the growing competition. The statistics behind online universities indicate
that online universities are growing by 33% annually [International Data
Corporation Online].
The benefit that the universities offering online
courses are that they need not worry about infrastructural expenditure and they
can reach out to people across the globe.
The difference between a fake degree online and a
valid one is that fraudulent online degree universities are called 'degree
mills' as their main focus is in fast production and distribution of fake
diplomas. They just offer credit for life experience and if you pay your fees
you get your diploma. You don't have to worry about practical experience. If
you pay a little extra, you can even graduate with honors!
The problem arises when this life experience is not
accepted by state and federal laws and you face the problem of looking for a
suitable job.
A legitimate online college can be recognized against a fake one by checking
out the actual web address which is usually offered by The Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international organization that
dispenses domain names (web addresses).
Accredited schools will receive the .edu designation.
For example, Stanford University's web address is Stanford.edu which
authenticates that they are genuine online universities. Next you can also
check from the list of accredited schools provided by US Department of
Education.
What is the 'The Diploma Mill Police'?
Diploma Mill Police is an online resource to identify
if the diploma you have received from an online university is a valid one and
is from a fully accredited institution.
To authenticate your degree, GetEducated.com, has
launched a free online service, The Diploma Mill Police (TM). This is a free
service offered by the website and helps students as well as employer to put
forth their grievances regarding the accreditation of their online
certifications.
All you need to do is to submit a query to check on
the accreditation status of any online college operating in the USA. A Consumer
Seal of Approval is also provided by GetEducated.com which genuine accredited
colleges can use on their site after being screened by an authorized deputy of
the Diploma Mill Police.
Is getting a fake degree worth the effort. Will it get
you a job in a Fortune 700 company?
Getting a fake degree may cause lot more problems than
benefits. It is a very big risk to buy a fake degree from a diploma mill as
well as to claim that you have a degree which rightfully you are not worthy of.
You are shelling out enormous money and the people who
are scam artists can get away with it but you can be victimized. The problem
arises when this life experience is not acceptable by state and federal laws
and you face a problem which acquiring a suitable job.
Students might be thinking that getting a diploma from
an unaccredited university will save them the drudgery of studying and they
want to out for an easy way out by just paying some money and buying a diploma.
The Diploma itself typically looks impressive and is
indistinguishable from a real college or university diploma. Clearly the
diploma mills have no integrity and are not worried about the injustice to the
students like you who have worked hard for your degrees.
The fake degree may even lead to your prosecution as
in the case of a dozen teachers in Georgia who claimed to have Doctoral degrees
from the bogus Saint Regis University were caught in 2003. Similarly in May
2004, nearly 500 government employees lost their jobs when their degrees were
checked.
It would be sheer luck if you acquire a job in a
Fortune 700 company with the help of a fake degree as these companies undertake
rigorous investigation to check the authenticity of the degrees.
If by chance you manage to get a job, you are always
under pressure on when you might be fired, if they get to know about the fact
that your degree is a fake.
Fake online degrees are a meaningless, waste of money
because wherever, you use the degree; it will be validated as 'fake'. Is that
true?
Getting a fake online degrees is a meaningless, waste
of money because wherever, you use the degree; it will be validated as `fake';
this is true to a certain extent.
There are chances that you will acquire a job in
smaller companies who do not undertake rigorous screening of certificates of
their employees. You might get away with it for sometime.
However, as you go up the ladder or look for a job in
established companies you might come across the ground reality that your degree
is just of piece of paper. A fake online degree has more problems than
benefits. You will always be under the pressure that you would be caught for
your fake certificate.
Students might be thinking that getting a diploma from
an unaccredited university will save them the drudgery of studying and they
want to out for an easy way out by just paying some money and buying a diploma.
The diploma itself typically looks impressive and is
indistinguishable from a real college or university diploma. But the truth is
employers know which degrees are worth it and which have been bought.
Some FAQs Accreditation and College Degrees
1. What is accreditation?
Accreditation is an assurance. It is a type of
authorization given by an authorized government institute. The reason for
accreditation is to give online degrees required recognition. In addition to
this, it is also to ensure the quality of the program being offered.
2. What are the types of accreditation?
Regional accreditation boards provide the most
recognized form of accreditation. For instance, Harvard and Ohio universities
are regionally accredited. Stanford is also regionally accredited.
Whenever you come across people asking you whether you have attended an
accredited university or not, they generally refer to regionally accredited
universities. Hence, regional accreditation is the most preferred form of
accreditation.
3. What is the significance of accreditation?
Accreditation provides a public record of your degree.
A degree from an accredited institute is recognized by employers and companies
all over the world.
4. What are the six regional institutes for
accreditation?
There are about six authorized units responsible for
accrediting online degrees. Namely they are:
NASC - Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
NCA - North Central Association of Schools and
Colleges
NEASC - New England Association of Schools and
Colleges
SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
WASC - Western Association of Schools and Colleges
MSA - Middle States Association
What is programmatic accreditation?
At times, the special departments in accredited
universities require special accreditation. The teachers licensing board requires
a degree from accredited universities. Also, to accredit certain programs, the
government requires a college to be accredited.
What do I need to know about State approved
Universities?
Presently, there has been an enormous increase in
State approved Universities. Many states have a test which a university has to
pass, in order to be approved.
This process however is not equivalent to
accreditation. It simply means that the college is approved to do business. The
standard and quality of the degree is not ensured.
The above given FAQs comprise of basic information
regarding distance learning. If you choose for an online degree, you should
keep in mind the above points.
