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{{Short description|Fraudulent higher education provider}}
{{pp-pc}}
'''Belford University''' was an organization that offered online [[Higher education accreditation|unaccredited]] [[academic degree|degree]]s for "life experience". The organization maintained a post office box in [[Humble, Texas]], but its certificates were mailed from the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="HoustonPress">{{cite news | url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2006-07-20/news/first-degree-fraud/| title=First-Degree Fraud | publisher=[[Houston Press]] | date=2006-07-20 | first=Craig | last=Malisow | accessdate = 2009-12-31}}</ref> Along with many similar websites, it was owned by the [[Karachi]]-based company [[Axact]], the main business of which, according to an investigation by ''[[The New York Times]]'', is "to take the centuries-old scam of selling fake academic degrees and turn it into an Internet-era scheme on a global scale".<ref name=NYT2015>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Declan|authorlink1=Declan Walsh (journalist)|title=Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/world/asia/fake-diplomas-real-cash-pakistani-company-axact-reaps-millions-columbiana-barkley.html|accessdate=18 May 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=17 May 2015}}</ref> In July 2018, [[Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh]], the CEO of Axact was arrested and sentenced to prison for 20 years for his role in perpetuating this scam.<ref name=Dawn2018>{{cite news|last1=Asad|first1=Malik|authorlink1=Malik Asad (journalist)|title=Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156|accessdate=4 January 2019|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date=July 5, 2018}}</ref>
On August 31, 2012, Belford University was shut down and its alleged founder, Salem Kureshi, "ordered to pay $22.7 million in damages".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.diplomamillscam.com/rochville-university |title=Rochville University Scam. Read reviews, comments, ratings and more |date=2012-03-17 |access-date=2016-05-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317141620/http://www.diplomamillscam.com/rochville-university |archivedate=March 17, 2012 }}</ref> "The judgment established the truth of allegations that Belford High School and Belford University are fake schools that do not actually exist."<ref>{{cite web|last=The Googasian Firm, P.C.|title=Belford Class Action Lawsuit|url=http://www.belfordlawsuit.com/|accessdate=25 February 2013}}</ref> Court documents from ''McClusley v. Belford University'' revealed that Belford University was run by 30-year-old Salem Kureshi from his apartment in Karachi, Pakistan.<ref name="McCluskey v. Belford University">{{cite web|title=McCluskey v. Belford University|url=http://www.belfordclassaction.com/2010_06_24.pdf|accessdate=25 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rogalski|first=Jeremy|title=Alleged diploma mill program traced to Pakistan|url=http://www.khou.com/news/investigative/ITeamDiplomasPartTwo-138974439.html|work=KHOU 11 News I-Team|publisher=KHOU.com|accessdate=25 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117093917/http://www.khou.com/news/investigative/ITeamDiplomasPartTwo-138974439.html|archivedate=17 January 2013}}</ref> The court found that Kureshi "operates a sophisticated internet ripoff scheme through various websites, which falsely represent the existence of an accredited and legitimate high school, whose diplomas will be widely accepted by employers, professional associations, other schools, colleges and universities".<ref name="McCluskey v. Belford University"/> Kureshi has admitted that he created 44 online universities and more than 100 promotional websites. "With an inkjet printer, a Microsoft Word template, and a few cheap websites, Kureshi allegedly became an overnight millionaire."<ref name="Coalition for Advocates of Online Education">{{cite web |last=Coalition for Advocates of Online Education |title=Kureshi's Extravagant Global Diploma Mill Scam |url=http://www.diplomamillscam.com/ |publisher=Online Consumer Fraud Monitoring Advocates of America |accessdate=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223062243/http://www.diplomamillscam.com/ |archivedate=23 February 2013 }}</ref>
==Accreditation status==
The school was not accredited by any [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accrediting agency recognized]] by the [[United States Department of Education]] (USDE) or the [[Council on Higher Education Accreditation]] (CHEA). Neither of the organizations from which Belford claimed accreditation, the [[International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities]] (IAAOU) and the [[Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation]] (UCOEA), are [[List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations|recognized accreditation associations of higher learning]].<ref>[http://www.chea.org/pdf/CHEA_USDE_AllAccred.pdf Recognized Accrediting Organizations (as of February, 2006)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113002744/http://www.chea.org/pdf/CHEA_USDE_AllAccred.pdf |date=2017-01-13 }}, CHEA</ref> Without recognized accreditation, Belford's degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other academic institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/accreditation.html Diploma Mills and Accreditation – Accreditation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Jurisdictions that have restricted or prohibited the use of credentials from unaccredited schools include [[South Korea]]<ref>[http://www.koreapot.com/bbs.php?inc=view&num=10&ctg=6&page=1&keyfield=&key=&andor= Guide to teaching English in Korea] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407073623/http://www.koreapot.com/bbs.php?inc=view&num=10&ctg=6&page=1&keyfield=&key=&andor= |date=April 7, 2008 }} Koreapot.com</ref> and the US states of [[Oregon]],<ref name="oda">[http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx Unaccredited Colleges] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715144241/http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx |date=July 15, 2007 }}, ''Oregon Office of Degree Authorization''</ref><ref name="gazette">[http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/01/30/build/wyoming/40-online-learning.inc State mulls online learning] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115072626/http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews%2F2005%2F01%2F30%2Fbuild%2Fwyoming%2F40-online-learning.inc |date=January 15, 2008 }} by the [[Associated Press]], ''[[Billings Gazette]]'', January 30, 2005.</ref> [[Michigan]],<ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf Colleges and Universities not accredited by CHEA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628214640/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf |date=June 28, 2011 }}, ''Michigan Education and Children's Services''</ref> [[Maine]],<ref>[http://www.maine.gov/education/highered/Non-Accredited/non-accredited.htm Accredited and Non-Accredited Colleges and Universities], ''Maine’s List of Non-Accredited Post-Secondary Schools''</ref> [[North Dakota]],<ref name="gazette"/> [[New Jersey]],<ref name="gazette"/> [[Washington (state)|Washington]],<ref name="oda"/><ref>[http://www.hecb.wa.gov/autheval/daa/ConsumerInformation.asp Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106012006/http://www.hecb.wa.gov/autheval/daa/ConsumerInformation.asp |date=January 6, 2008 }}, ''Washington Consumer Information''</ref> [[Nevada]],<ref name="oda"/><ref name="nevlaw">[http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-394.html#NRS394Sec700 Use of False or Misleading Degrees] Nevada statute NRS 394.700</ref> [[Illinois]],<ref name="oda"/> [[Indiana]]<ref name="oda"/> and [[Texas]].<ref>[http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=EF4C3C3B-EB44-4381-6673F760B3946FBB Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712033711/http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=EF4C3C3B-EB44-4381-6673F760B3946FBB |date=2017-07-12 }}, ''Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board''</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20121208222357/http://www.herald-coaster.com/articles/2007/09/28/news/top_story/topstory.txt Two less doctors in the house - Hebert, Wilson back away from Ph.D.'s issued by ‘diploma mills'], by Stephen Palkot, ''Fort Bend Herald'', September 28, 2007.</ref> Many other states are also considering restrictions on the use of degrees from unaccredited institutions.<ref>[http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/faq.html "Is Oregon the only state that disallows use of unaccredited degrees?"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830151732/http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/faq.html |date=August 30, 2012 }}, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization.</ref> It has been listed as a [[diploma mill]] by the [[American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers]].<ref>{{citation |author=Ezell, Allen |title=Recent developments with degree mills |journal=College & University Journal |volume=85|number=2 |year=2009 |page=40 |url=http://macrao.org/Publications/Degree%20Mills%20Article%20CU%20Fall%202009.pdf |access-date=2012-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313220135/http://macrao.org/Publications/Degree%20Mills%20Article%20CU%20Fall%202009.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Controversy and criticism==
A 2005 investigative report on [[WHEC-TV]] in [[Rochester,
According to David Linkletter of the [[Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board]], Belford "is not a legitimate institute of higher education.
In a 2007 article, a ''[[Yale Daily News]]'' journalist reported that he had applied for a doctorate with what he described as a brief paltry life experience justification, and was approved for his requested degree 12 hours later. He said that the basic price for a doctorate was $549 and entitled the recipient to a [[transcript (education)|transcript]] showing a 3.0 grade point average. [[Latin honors]] could be obtained for an additional fee of $25 and Belford offered to back-date a degree for an additional $75 fee.<ref>[http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2007/apr/05/diploma-mills-deserve-their-own-rankings/ "Diploma mills deserve their own rankings"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019200349/http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2007/apr/05/diploma-mills-deserve-their-own-rankings/ |date=October 19, 2011 }}, ''[[Yale Daily News]]'', April 5, 2007.</ref>
Several people with "degrees" from Belford have been severely penalized for attempting to use them to qualify for jobs or promotions. A fire chief was dismissed from his job for his Belford degree in 2006.<ref>Kalil, Mike, [http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Salem+selectman+candidate+defends+degree+from+online+diploma+mill&articleId=41df29d6-a7eb-423c-b84d-83f7c9a90a32 "Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill"], ''[[New Hampshire Union Leader]]'', March 13, 2006.</ref> Similarly, a faculty member at [[Pensacola State College]] was dismissed in January 2011 for "present[ing] college administrators with an unaccredited master's degree from an online diploma mill that he obtained while on a paid sabbatical".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pnj.com/article/20110118/NEWS01/110118019/PSC-fires-professor |title=PSC fires professor |author=Wernowsky, Kris |publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] |date=January 18, 2011 |accessdate=January 20, 2011}}</ref> In 2008, a candidate for [[sheriff]] in [[Mahoning County, Ohio]], was removed from the ballot after the [[Supreme Court of Ohio]] determined that his [[associate's degree]] from Belford could not be used to satisfy the state's requirement that a sheriff have at least two years of post-secondary education.<ref>''The Vindicator'' (Youngstown, Ohio), [http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jan/11/elections-board-disqualifies-alli8217s-bid/ "Elections board disqualifies Alli’s bid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310154333/http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jan/11/elections-board-disqualifies-alli8217s-bid/ |date=2012-03-10 }}, January 11, 2008, and [http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/feb/15/wellington-says-candidacy-issue-should-have-beennw/ "Wellington says candidacy issue should have been settled locally"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911193959/http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jan/11/elections-board-disqualifies-alli8217s-bid/ |date=2016-09-11 }}, February 15, 2008.</ref>
Dr. Ben Mays, a veterinarian in [[Clinton, Arkansas]], successfully received a diploma accrediting his dog as Dr. Maxwell Sniffingwell, partially in criticism of Arkansas politician John Rhoda, who himself had received a diploma from the university.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2010/10/02/another-belford-u-doctor|title=Another proud Belford U. doctor|last=Brantley|first=Max|work=Arkansas Times|access-date=2018-03-28}}</ref>
[[Ahmad Tavakoli]], a member of [[Iran]]'s parliament, has made allegations that the vice president of Iran, [[Mohammad Reza Rahimi]], holds a fraudulent Ph.D. degree from Belford University. Tavakoli has published documents on his website purporting to show fraudulent documents created by Rahimi.<ref>[http://alef.ir/1388/content/view/54871/ "How a Belford Chain develops"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726132422/http://alef.ir/1388/content/view/54871/ |date=2011-07-26 }} (in [[Persian language|Farsi]]), June 16, 2011.</ref>
Salem Kureshi, the owner of Belford University and Belford High School, agreed to a default judgment against him and his companies in a 2011 [[class-action lawsuit]] filed in a U.S. federal court; on June 19, 2012, the court held him in contempt for failing to comply with the terms of the judgment, including a $22.7 million payment.<ref name=lawsuit>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2012/09/227m_federal_class_action_laws.html |title=$22.7 million 'diploma mill' judgment for Flint woman, other plaintiffs, only a small victory, experts say |author=Jeremy Allen |publisher=Michigan Live |date=September 6, 2012 |accessdate=September 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/judge-orders-diploma-mill-operator-to-pay-22-7-million-in-class-action-lawsuit/48430?cid=at "Judge Orders Diploma-Mill Operator to Pay $22.7-Million in Class-Action Lawsuit", ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' September 7, 2012.]</ref>
==Belford High School==
Belford High School was another one of Salem Kureshi's "websites, which falsely represented the existence of an accredited and legitimate high school".<ref name="McCluskey v. Belford University"/> It was shut down, along with Belford University, on August 31, 2012.<ref name=":0" />
==See also==
*[[
*[[List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning]]
*[[List of unrecognized
==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning]]
[[Category:Distance education institutions]]
[[Category:Axact]]
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