Belford University is an unaccredited online college offering degrees for "life experience." The organization maintains a post-office box in Humble, Texas, but the degrees it issues are mailed from the United Arab Emirates.[1]
Belford University is not accredited by any accreditation body recognized by its country. According to the US Department of Education, unaccredited degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.[2]
Controversy and criticism
A 2005 investigative report on WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY, characterized Belford as "just one of hundreds of diploma mills easily accessible on-line."[3]
According to David Linkletter of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Belford "is not a legitimate institute of higher education. No legitimate university offers a complete degree on the basis of one's life experience. I particularly like the 'order now' button on their Web site, which is another clue...To the extent that Belford University is in Texas, it is operating in violation of the Texas Education Code."[1] Furthermore, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has indicated that Belford, Rochville University, and the agencies from which they claim accreditation "appear to be operated by the same people."[1]
On March 13, 2006 Arthur Barnes, a former fire chief, was dismissed from his job for his Belford "degree." According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, "The Web site www.belforduniversity.org offers master's degrees based on 'life experience' for $479. Users are asked to submit their work experience on the Web to qualify for the degree. And if there is no work experience, they can still get a degree by finishing an online multiple-choice test." In fact, "The program even lets users choose their grade-point averages. A 3.0 GPA is free, but they can earn a 4.0 for an extra $75. The program also promises to ship the degrees out within a week."[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Malisow, Craig (July 20, 2006). "First-Degree Fraud". Houston Press. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Educational accreditation". US Department of Education.
- ^ "I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills". WHEC-TV. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ Kalil, Mike, Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill, New Hampshire Union Leader, March 13, 2006.
Links
- Belford University - official site
- Belford University More About Belford University
- I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills, WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY, February 8, 2005.
- Kalil, Mike, Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill, New Hampshire Union Leader, March 13, 2006.
- Malisow, Craig, "First Degree Fraud", Houston Press, July 20, 2006. Accessed August 17, 2006.
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation - provides public database documenting accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities