'Diploma mills' have it too easy in Alabama

'Diploma mills' have it too easy in Alabama: "'Diploma mills' have it too easy in Alabama
Sunday, April 01, 2007
By GREGORY G. FITCH
Special to the Press-Register

Over the past several decades, the delivery of education has expanded from the traditional classroom. Instruction methods now include online and video teaching, interactive videos, compressed video and correspondence delivery.

The change has been more accommodating for many students, typically those employed full-time who are seeking a degree but have limited time to commit.

A market-driven need for skilled workers has made education in the 21st century a big business. As a business commodity, education is a key to economic development and quality of life.

That means education is in demand -- and, unfortunately, there are those who have seen this as a way to make money by offering questionable and even fake college degrees.

These operations, often Internet-based and complete with fraudulent accreditation, have grown into a lucrative, billion-dollar-per-year industry that utilizes sophisticated marketing techniques and delivers false credentials with big price tags."