Fake degrees are a billion-dollar business. However, the legal implications are a bit hazy.
If universities are investigating claims of academic fraud they usually form a team of professors who have knowledge of the subject. That’s because academic fraud often is a complicated and confusing subject matter.
Legal Challenges
Although the federal government has made efforts to build a database of information about fake degrees and diploma mills but it’s left for states to regulate the practice. In certain instances, even if someone isn’t in violation of any particular law by promoting their phony degree in some cases, they may put themselves in legal jeopardy when they use legally protected terms that require a license in their area, such as doctor, lawyer or a professional engineer.
Fake degrees pose a threat since they weaken the legitimacy of legitimate degrees, which people have spent many years and thousands of dollars earning. Additionally, they pose a risk to the public by allowing professionals like engineers and health-care workers to be hired with no training or certifications.
Some companies sell fake degrees that look incredibly real. They typically offer a variety of degree or university and some are created in as little as five days. Some companies claim to offer a degree based on an applicant’s life knowledge or work experience. This can pose a risk to the public, as it can lead to fake credentials being awarded in fields that could present health or safety risks.
Academic Fraud Prosecution
The academic literature that focuses on fraud is prone to conclude that dishonest behavior is more pervasive than ever and is exacerbated due to the ease of using the Internet for cheating. A majority of people also think that students are taking an instrumentalist view of their education and are willing to take any action necessary to earn a good grade.
It is essential for instructors to know how to handle accusations of academic dishonesty. This includes the processes which must be followed in order in order to investigate and pursue them in a manner which is fair and fair.
The procedure should be developed so that any investigation into the allegations will be conducted without bias by a team of experts who have expertise in the area of study of the task that is being investigated, and that do not have an relationship with the accused. The Standing Committee may appoint persons from outside the University to the panel, should it feel that it is necessary. This helps to avoid conflicts of interests, in which the investigation process and subsequent charges are biased against the accused student.
Jurisdictional Questions
Diploma mills offer phony degrees to students who are willing to pay. Some of them are located within the United States.
Faking a degree can be illegal in many states, and a federal crime. It is, for instance, illegal in many states to fraudulently claim a degree that qualifies someone for a position that requires the issuance of a license. Human resource employees typically conduct background checks that include verification of credentials in education and check now https://lambang247.pro/.
Internet fraudsters make a lot of money selling fake transcripts, degrees and other documents. This poses a significant threat and experts believe that fraudsters are getting better at their craft.
Eaton says that establishing an official blacklist of fake diploma mills and schools is a challenge, as fraudsters can easily change their name as well as Internet domains. She suggests that employers instead choose a trustworthy agency to check credentials. The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization has, for instance, an inventory of accredited colleges and universities in the state. It also verifies the authenticity of transcripts as well as investigates suspected cases of degree fraud.
Legislation to stop fake degrees
There is a need for better legal tools to crack down on fake degrees. Verifile, a company that provides information on fraudulent universities and accrediting organizations, claims that states that are “promiscuous” when it comes to regulating education may lure phony degree sellers to their shores. “For every case that is well-known there are numerous regular people who have used fake degrees to advance,” it says. The Seattle sheriff’s deputy who acquired a fake degree from a college to gain a 2 percent raise is one such case. The same is the case for military officers enlisted in the army who bought degrees from an unaccredited institution located in Spokane, Washington.
Ezell says state and federal authorities should consider making it illegal to make use of fake degrees for employment or to enter professions that require licensure. This would also put diploma mills at the forefront since they wouldn’t be able evade scrutiny any more than phony mortgage or credit card firms. However, he says that individuals as well as professional organizations and the police departments should share the burden in cracking down academic fraud.