University Degree Program

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University Degree Program (UDP) is or was an unaccredited consortium of diploma mills run by Americans Jason and Caroline Abraham (of Brooklyn, New York; also known by their Hebrew names Yaakov and Chaya Rochel) beginning in the 1990s. In 2004, The Chronicle of Higher Education called UDP the "granddaddy" of diploma mill operations. [1]

Contents

Operations

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that the University Degree Program recruited "students" over the telephone from call centers in Romania (where the call center also sold fake international driver's licenses) and Israel. Telephone salespeople, who were paid on commission and received performance-based bonuses, could offer degrees in any field requested. The Abrahams created websites for a diverse variety of bogus institutions whose names were printed on diplomas. Customers were not told which of these "universities" would issue their degrees. According to the Chronicle, UDP sent a letter to customers stating: "The policy of not disclosing the name of the University protects you against unscrupulous individuals who do not approve of self-study and lifestyle improvement." The letter also said that this was done to avoid "bad publicity". [2]

The operation was estimated to have sold more than 30,000 "degrees" and received proceeds totaling $50 million to $100 million or more. [2]

Early in 2003 the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and British government authorities took action against UDP and related businesses, including the illegal sale of fake international driver's licenses. The FTC filed a preliminary injunction in January 2003 and amended complaints in February and May 2003. [3] In May the FTC and Israeli government authorities shut down the call center operation in the Mea Shearim section of Jerusalem. [2] The FTC complaint cited "deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce". The Abrahams "turned over $100,000 in profits" and promised to stop selling degrees. [2]

In 2004, however, the Chronicle reported that email advertising "remarkably similar" to UDP's and phone solicitations using a "nearly identical" script had continued after that agreement, leading observers to think that the UDP or the Abrahams were still operating diploma mills. [2] The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization observed that some websites that appeared to be University Degree Program "products (or clones)" remained in operation. [3]

In 2009, it was listed as a diploma mill by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. [4]

Entities associated with UDP

Institutions

The following are institutions connected to UDP.

Accreditors

The following are unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning connected to UDP. [3]

Websites shut down by the FTC

The following are websites used by the UDP that were closed by the Federal Trade Commission. [3]

People with UDP degrees

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Bartlett, Tom (2004-06-25). "The University of Spam". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The University of Spam". The Chronicle of Higher Education. June 25, 2004. Retrieved 2006-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited". Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-06-27. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
  4. ↑ Ezell, Allen (2009), "Recent developments with degree mills" (PDF), College & University Journal, 85 (2): 40, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-13, retrieved 2012-01-31
  5. 1 2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Notice of Disqualification Proceedings and Opportunity to Explain, January 20, 2006; among the complaints against the person cited are his claiming degrees from Ashford University and Brentwick University.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Gollin, George (September 2003). "Unconventional University Diplomas Doesn't Mean it exists (PDF File)" (PDF). University of Illinois . Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  7. ↑ Brentwick U, Best of the Rest [ dead link ], Washington Post, October 15, 2000. The reporter describes his experience obtaining a fake degree from Brentwick, whose address is actually a mail drop above a dry cleaner in London. However, the phone number he was originally given was in New York City; he wired his payment to Cyprus; and the diploma was accompanied by a notice that credit card records would show a payment to "Hyacinth, Romania."
  8. ↑ Unaccredited colleges Archived 2011-05-25 at the Wayback Machine , Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, accessed 14 February 2012
  9. 1 2 Unaccredited Colleges Archived 2011-05-25 at the Wayback Machine , Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, accessed August 29, 2011
  10. 1 2 Forys, Marsha (April 26, 2005). "Children's counselor charged with fraud". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
  11. ↑ "Fake universities thrive on the web". BBC. 5 January 2004. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
  12. ↑ Gollin, George. "Shepperton University". Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited by CHEA-recognized organizations. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  13. ↑ University of Dorchester was identified as a clone of Strassford University c. 2003, using website http://www.uoduk.co.uk/. As of 2011, an entity of the same name (but alternately calling itself Dorchester University) is using the website http://www.dorchesteru.org.uk/. The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization "Office of Degree Authorization". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2012. (accessed 30 August 2011) identifies this entity as unaccredited, but does not link it to UDP.
  14. ↑ Archived version of University of Hampshire website
  15. ↑ Honor Among Thieves Archived 2007-10-20 at the Wayback Machine , Insidehighered.com, October 16, 2007, and Inspector was not what he claimed, by Jim Hall, The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia), October 14, 2007
  16. ↑ Leonard Ingram profile, Gaia Community website, accessed April 6, 2008
  17. ↑ Kostas Margaritis' website (see Biography), accessed July 3, 2008. The Shelbourne degree has been discussed in Greek-language news media, including http://www.iospress.gr/ios2008/ios20080622.htm and http://www.iospress.gr/extra/extra20080629.htm.
  18. ↑ Judy Kroeger, Counselor held for court in fraud, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 9, 2005
  19. ↑ Chris Foreman, Man enters ARD in counseling case, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, April 29, 2006
  20. ↑ George Weah in Diploma-Mill Scandal, Gelf Magazine, April 22, 2006
  21. ↑ Farzand Ahmed (March 28, 2010). "Phoney degrees: Pak Law Minister not alone". India Today.
  22. ↑ Tim Carpenter (November 8, 2011). "Brownback sticking by new IT chief". Topeka Capitol Journal.
  23. ↑ John Hanna (November 8, 2011). "Brownback's IT chief resigns over questions about degree". Associated Press.
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