September 22, 2004

Management Controls over Contractor Tuition Reimbursements for Courses Leading to Degrees at Non-Accredited Educational Institutions

Many educational institutions offer on-line courses, provide credit for life and work experience, and permit individuals to obtain undergraduate or graduate level degrees without classroom attendance. While a number of these institutions provide legitimate "distance learning" opportunities, some essentially grant degrees for a flat fee with little or nor actual academic work. Such organizations lack national accreditation and many have become known as "diploma mills." Recent U.S. Senate hearings disclosed that a number of agencies, including the Department of Energy, had paid for Federal employees' course work at unaccredited schools.