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EspañolBELFORD UNIVERSITY
'Belford University' is an online college offering degrees for "life experience" whose accreditation is not recognized by the United States Department of Education and therefore is unlikely to be accepted by other institutes of higher learning. The organization maintains a post-office box in Humble, Texas, but the degrees it issues are mailed from the United Arab Emirates.[1]
The school is not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Neither of the organizations from which Belford claims accreditation, the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) and the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA), are recognized accreditation associations of higher learning.[1]. 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.[2]
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]
★ Diploma mill
★ List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
★ List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
1. First-Degree Fraud Craig Malisow
2. http://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/accreditation.html
3. I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills
4. Kalil, Mike, Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill, ''New Hampshire Union Leader'', March 13, 2006.
★ 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
| Contents |
| Accreditation |
| Controversy and criticism |
| See also |
| References |
| External links |
Accreditation
The school is not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Neither of the organizations from which Belford claims accreditation, the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) and the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA), are recognized accreditation associations of higher learning.[1]. 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.[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
★ Diploma mill
★ List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
★ List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
References
1. First-Degree Fraud Craig Malisow
2. http://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/accreditation.html
3. I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills
4. Kalil, Mike, Salem candidate defends degree from diploma mill, ''New Hampshire Union Leader'', March 13, 2006.
External 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
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