Accreditation mill refers to an educational accreditation organization with low standards and without recognition from government and mainstream academia.
Accreditation mills are much like diploma mills, and in many cases are closely associated with diploma mills. Some institutions obtain accreditation from an independent group with low standards. In other cases, the institution sets up its own seemingly independent accreditation board and then accredits itself.[1] This gives the appearance that an outside group has approved the education that is offered at the school.
In many countries, accreditation is a government function. In the United States, the government recognizes about 18 regional and national accrediting organizations for higher education institutions.[1] While standards vary from organization to organization, without recognition from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Department of Education, the claims made by independent groups hold no value in the academic community.
See also
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
References
- ^ a b Diploma mills provide phony credentials, By Helena Andrews, The Capital Times/Medill News Service, February 14, 2005
- Levicoff, Steve. Name It and Frame It? New Opportunities in Adult Education and How to Avoid Being Ripped Off by 'Christian' Degree Mills (4th ed., 1995)
- Bear, John. Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press, 2001).
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