Rochville University

Rochville University is an unaccredited online university offering a "Life Experience Degree, and Certificate Program". It has been accused of being a diploma mill. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has indicated that Rochville, Belford University, and the agencies from which they claim accreditation, "appear to be operated by the same people". Malisow, Craig, " [http://www.houstonpress.com/Issues/2006-07-20/news/news.html First Degree Fraud] ," "Houston Press", July 20, 2006. Accessed August 17, 2006.]

Accreditation status

Rochville has claimed to be accredited by various organizations but none are recognized higher education accreditors. These have included the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU), the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA), the Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA), the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA) and the World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC). Because Rochville University is not accredited by any recognized accreditation bodies in the United States, its degrees and credits are unlikely to be acceptable to employers or other institutions. Jurisdictions that have restricted or made illegal the use of credentials from unaccredited schools include Oregon, [http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx Unaccredited Colleges] , "Oregon Office of Degree Authorization"] [http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/01/30/build/wyoming/40-online-learning.inc State mulls online learning] by the Associated Press, "Billings Gazette", January 30, 2005] Michigan, [ [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf Colleges and Universities not accredited by CHEA] , "Michigan Education and Children's Services"] Maine, [ [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"] North Dakota, New Jersey, Washington, [ [http://www.hecb.wa.gov/autheval/daa/ConsumerInformation.asp Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board] , "Washington Consumer Information"] Nevada, [http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-394.html#NRS394Sec700 Use of False or Misleading Degrees] Nevada statute NRS 394.700] Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. [http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/PrivateInstitutions/NoTX.cfm Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas] , "Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board"] [ [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] Many other states are also considering restrictions on the use of degrees from unaccredited institutions. [ [http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/faq.html Is Oregon the only state that disallows use of unaccredited degrees?] "Oregon Office of Degree Authorization"]

Criticism and controversy

Claims have been made that Rochville University is a diploma mill. [ [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/08/117_8792.html Diploma Mills: Purchase Fake Credentials] , by Kim Rahn, "The Korea Times", August 22, 2007] [ [http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/may/21/officer_has_pay_back_raise_after_degreemill_probe/?local_news Officer has to pay back raise after degree-mill probe] , by Aisling Swift, "Naples Daily News", May 21, 2006] [ [http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2005/0505/Front_Page/058.html ‘Diploma mill’ suit settled by boro, cop] by John Dunphy, East Brunswick Sentinel Suburban, 5 May 2005]

On 15 December 2005, CNN aired a report on diploma mills and terrorism. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/15/pzn.01.html Diploma Mills Represent Security Threat to United States] December 15 2005 CNN, Paula Zahn Now] As part of its coverage, the network purchased a master's degree in chemistry from Rochville in the name of Abu Salsabil Hassan Omar, presumably an identity of their own creation. Attempts to find a physical presence for Rochville failed. CNN reported that its website was operated from Sarasota, Florida. The diploma received by the network was mailed from the United Arab Emirates.

There is concern that some may have used degrees obtained from Rochville and other online universities for fraudulent purposes. On 22 February 2007 Yorkshire police announced plans to re-investigate 700 court cases after the conviction of Gene Morrison, "a fraudster who conned the courts for three decades by posing as a forensic expert."cite news | url=http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2066400&SectionID=55| title=700 court cases thrown into doubt by fraudster | publisher=Yorkshire Post | date=22 February 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-13] Morrison was convicted of 22 counts involving his claimed education including four counts of obtaining money by deception, seven counts of attempting to obtain property by deception, eight counts of perverting the course of justice or intending to pervert the course of justice, and three counts of perjury. The court ruled that his BSc degree in forensic science, a masters degree with excellence in forensic investigation and a doctorate in criminology from Rochville University in the United States were gained, "not from years of study and learning, but from accessing a website, www.affordabledegrees.com, and paying a fee."

ee also

*Belford University
*Diploma mill
*Accreditation mill
*List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
*List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning

References

External links

* [http://www.rochvilleuniversity.org Rochville University] - official site