Federal works have fake degrees, including nuclear technicians - GoFuckYourself.com

Rictor · 05-11-2004, 04:56 PM

Some federal workers have fake degrees

GAO says dozens of employees have bogus diplomas
The Associated Press

Updated: 10:38 a.m. ET May 11, 2004WASHINGTON - At least 28 senior-level federal employees in eight agencies have bogus college degrees, including three managers at the office that oversees nuclear weapons safety, congressional investigators have found.

The problem is likely even bigger, mainly because the government has no uniform way to check whether employees' alma maters are "diploma mills" that require little, if any, academic work, the General Accounting Office reported.

The findings by the investigative arm of Congress were to be presented to a Senate committee Tuesday.

An earlier GAO report revealed how easy it is to buy a degree from a diploma mill; this one shows high-level federal workers securing such degrees at taxpayer expense. The tally was $169,471 at just two of the schools.

The colleges in question often use names similar to those of accredited schools and offer degrees largely on a person's "life experience." Some simply sell degrees for a flat fee.

Among those with bogus degrees in the GAO review were three workers with emergency operations roles and security clearances at the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the Department of Energy.

One of those workers paid $5,000 for a master's degree from LaSalle University, an unaccredited school, the report said. He attended no classes, took no tests and told the GAO his degree was "a joke."

Under law, the federal government may only pay tuition for academic degree training at schools sanctioned by a recognized accrediting body.

In contacting representatives of three diploma mills, an undercover GAO investigator found they would not permit enrolling in individual courses. Yet they were willing to change their billing practices to receive federal money, dividing the flat fee they charged by the number of courses a student needed to appear as if a per-course fee was charged.

The number of bogus degrees and the amount of tax dollars spent on them are likely understated across the government because of incomplete records and verifications, the GAO said.

Three unaccredited schools ? Pacific Western University, California Coast University and Kennedy-Western University ? provided data showing that 463 of their students were federal employees. Most of those listed were in the Department of Defense. The report did not name employees.

The investigation took place from July 2003 through February.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee planned hearings Tuesday and Wednesday on diploma mills and the taxpayer's role in subsidizing them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4951979/

detoxed · 05-11-2004, 04:57 PM

I'm getting my masters tomorrow!

nathan_f · 05-11-2004, 04:59 PM

There's this kinda lax security stuff.. and it makes me wonder how many spies are working in the us govt totally undetected..

doober · 05-11-2004, 04:59 PM

FAKE+NUCLEAR=WTF ARE YOU GUYS THINKING?

genomega · 05-11-2004, 05:44 PM

What difference does it make. 75% of college students admit they cheat.

torrey · 05-11-2004, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by detoxed
I'm getting my masters tomorrow!

JFK · 05-11-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by detoxed
I'm getting my masters tomorrow!

had my masturbators for a long time now

Firehorse · 05-12-2004, 07:52 PM

Fake degrees and real bombs, very scary!

twistyneck · 05-12-2004, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by genomega
What difference does it make. 75% of college students admit they cheat.

Exactly. And if they can do the job, which apparently they can, who gives a shit?

James White · 05-12-2004, 08:07 PM

ha. thats kind of fucked .. im gonna go grab me a PHD then

CamChicks · 05-12-2004, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twistyneck
Exactly. And if they can do the job, which apparently they can, who gives a shit?

I could work as a pool lifegaurd.. probably quite successfully for years, just sitting there by the pool.. until one day somebody needs CPR.

Then training would have come in handy...

Babel · 05-12-2004, 08:53 PM

I bought 3 degress on the internet

Rictor · 05-12-2004, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babel
I bought 3 degress on the internet

I believe you.

Blinky · 05-12-2004, 09:02 PM

That's great till something happens, like a real emergency. Who's going to take the blame when there's a nuclear meltdown or something ?

05-11-2004, 04:56 PM	#1
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	Federal works have fake degrees, including nuclear technicians Some federal workers have fake degrees GAO says dozens of employees have bogus diplomas The Associated Press Updated: 10:38 a.m. ET May 11, 2004WASHINGTON - At least 28 senior-level federal employees in eight agencies have bogus college degrees, including three managers at the office that oversees nuclear weapons safety, congressional investigators have found. The problem is likely even bigger, mainly because the government has no uniform way to check whether employees' alma maters are "diploma mills" that require little, if any, academic work, the General Accounting Office reported. The findings by the investigative arm of Congress were to be presented to a Senate committee Tuesday. An earlier GAO report revealed how easy it is to buy a degree from a diploma mill; this one shows high-level federal workers securing such degrees at taxpayer expense. The tally was $169,471 at just two of the schools. The colleges in question often use names similar to those of accredited schools and offer degrees largely on a person's "life experience." Some simply sell degrees for a flat fee. Among those with bogus degrees in the GAO review were three workers with emergency operations roles and security clearances at the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the Department of Energy. One of those workers paid $5,000 for a master's degree from LaSalle University, an unaccredited school, the report said. He attended no classes, took no tests and told the GAO his degree was "a joke." Under law, the federal government may only pay tuition for academic degree training at schools sanctioned by a recognized accrediting body. In contacting representatives of three diploma mills, an undercover GAO investigator found they would not permit enrolling in individual courses. Yet they were willing to change their billing practices to receive federal money, dividing the flat fee they charged by the number of courses a student needed to appear as if a per-course fee was charged. The number of bogus degrees and the amount of tax dollars spent on them are likely understated across the government because of incomplete records and verifications, the GAO said. Three unaccredited schools ? Pacific Western University, California Coast University and Kennedy-Western University ? provided data showing that 463 of their students were federal employees. Most of those listed were in the Department of Defense. The report did not name employees. The investigation took place from July 2003 through February. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee planned hearings Tuesday and Wednesday on diploma mills and the taxpayer's role in subsidizing them. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4951979/

05-11-2004, 05:44 PM	#5
genomega Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NW Florida Posts: 1,190	What difference does it make. 75% of college students admit they cheat. __________________ No Jerk TGP Gallery Monitor MoneyBookers

05-12-2004, 07:52 PM	#8
Firehorse Desire it and have it!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: www.fuckwithfire.com ICQ 512915 Posts: 30,767	Fake degrees and real bombs, very scary! __________________ MySweetEbony

05-12-2004, 08:07 PM	#10
James White Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dirty South, Atlanta ICQ# : 191-402-709 Posts: 1,405	ha. thats kind of fucked .. im gonna go grab me a PHD then __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60. Let me repeat... A 120 x 60 button and no more that 3 lines of DEFAULT SIZE AND COLOR text.

05-12-2004, 08:53 PM	#12
Babel Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,457	I bought 3 degress on the internet __________________

05-11-2004, 04:57 PM	#2
detoxed vip member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 17,798	I'm getting my masters tomorrow!

05-11-2004, 04:59 PM	#3
nathan_f Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Think of me as Chomsky with dick jokes. Posts: 3,983	There's this kinda lax security stuff.. and it makes me wonder how many spies are working in the us govt totally undetected..

05-11-2004, 04:59 PM	#4
doober Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: in yoOoo kitchen Posts: 6,984	FAKE+NUCLEAR=WTF ARE YOU GUYS THINKING?

05-12-2004, 09:02 PM	#14
Blinky Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 268	That's great till something happens, like a real emergency. Who's going to take the blame when there's a nuclear meltdown or something ?