UNACCREDITED DEGREE: ADJUDICATOR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628002
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2024
• Case Number: F-2013-02114
• Publication Date: August 18, 2011

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UNCLASSIFIED/ 44914E3-
18 August 2011
DISPOSITION MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: (U) Unaccredited Degree: Adjudicator
CASE: 2011-101524G
ISSUES UNDER INVESTIGATION:
1. (UH-FLGUO) Based on a 2008 United States Secret Service
investigation that identified an Agency contractor as possessing a degree
from a known diploma mill, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated
a proactive investigation on 5 August 2008 into Agency staff claiming
degrees from non-accredited institutions. OIG matched a list of
unaccredited institutions against Agency BIO information to identify any
individuals who had provided degree evidence to Human Resources.1,2
One of the individuals identified, claimed bachelor's and
master's degrees from an unaccredited
institution, on his Agency BIO.
2. (U/ /Pee�) OIG reviewed the claims made by egarding
his degrees and the associated education to determine if there were false
statements or improper use of an unaccredited degree, and if there was an
improper reimbursement for the degrees by the Agency.
1 (U/ /1-0U0) The term unaccredited refers to the recognition and acceptability of a degree for use in
federal employment as recognized by the Office of Personnel Management. Unaccredited degrees cannot
be used to meet the qualifications for federal positions that require a degree. The complete definitions of
accreditation are included in the Appendix.
2 (U/AFeeef) The Agency biographical profile (Agency BIO) is the mechanism for tracking information
on individuals who officially declare their education to the Agency by providing proof of attendance.
The Agency BIO is made available to hiring managers and used directly in staffing decisions. Only staff
employees and former employees were covered by this review because there is no central database on
contractor educational records.
1
UNCLASSIFIED/
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS:
3. (UH-F914e)- OIG reviewed
claims.
4. (U/49140)- OIG reviewed
(OPF) and online Agency BIO.
5. (UHFOU0) OIG interviewed
regarding his unaccredited degrees.
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UNCLASSIFIEDH-Fetter
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
security file for any degree
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
Official Personnel Foldei(b)(7)(c)
on 4 September 2008,
6. (U/ APEX:PM OIG obtained and reviewed internal job
applications and resumes for positions that he held at the Agency as well
as his Performance Appraisal Reports.
7. (U/,LEGUa)- OIG reviewed Agency regulations and relevant laws
related to the allegations.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
RESULTS: (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
9. (U/AF4){:fe)-
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
a bachelor of science "degree"
(b)(6)
in
(b)(7)(c)
and a
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
received
from
in
master of science "degree"
from
transcripts noted
that
on
he
enrolled in his
bachelor's program
and that he enrolled
These
the bachelor's
or graduating
in his master's program on
transcripts list a completion
and master's programs.
graduating
10 courses,
transcripts
courses at
ori
respectively,
do
of 12 and
The
for
not provide course
completion dates for any
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
2
UNCLASSIFIED/7zfreter
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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UNCLASSIFIED! FOU0
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
12 (U)
claimed accreditation by a
The accreditor is not recognized by the US Department of
Education (DoE). was never accredited by the US
DOE.'
13. (U//FeisTO") According to he had taken classes at other
schools, but confirmed that his only degrees were from
During a 4 September 2008 OIG interview, stated that
he was unsure of the total cost of his degrees, as both were
funded by his then-employer, (b)(6) but he believed
the cost to be approximately $8,000 to $10,000.(b)(7)(c)
14. (U//Fell()) initially presented his master's degree
information to the Agency in his applicant Questionnaire for National
Security Positions (SF-86 EG) did not
include his bachelor's degree information despite the form's instructions to
"list college or university degrees and the dates they were received." He
cited the attendance dates as
accurately to either his master's program
which did not correspond
or his initi a1 (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
3 (1.1 1..E044e). According to Title 20 U.S.C. � 1099b (Recognition of accrediting agency or association), the
Secretary of Education is responsible for recognizing accrediting bodies, which in turn recognize
institutions.
4 (U) provided transcripts showing courses completed at
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
3
UNCLASSII,IEDHFOU0
b)(6)
b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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I
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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UNCLASS1FIEDHFOU0
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
bachelor's program, which began in according to his (b)(3) CIAAct
transcripts. included his degree information in his Agency BIO, (b)(6)
where it remains, also presented his bachelor's and master's degree (b)(7)(c)
information as part of his application
for his last position at the
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(3) CIAAct
15. (U/ /101sTOT
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) learned of the non-accreditation
stated in his OIG interview that
of his degrees from OIG investigators
he first
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(b)
(b)(7)(c)
during his interview,
claimed that he had researched
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
accreditation when first
(b)(6)
reviewing potential on-line
schools,
and that he
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c) believed
at that
time
that was accredited.
stated that did (b)(3) CIAAct
not find
(b)(6)
program
to be substandard in any
way
and that
he worked (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) hard to
complete
the
coursework.
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
16. (u/LEDue)
was qualified for
his initial position as a
on the basis of his
the position.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
experience, and a degree was not required for
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
c)-
18. (u/a-Quo)-(b)(7)(
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
resume indicates his experience is limited
J and does not indicate that he
ossesses the requisite equivalent experience to qualify for the
position in lieu of an accredited bachelor's degree.
4
UNCLASSIFIED/ /FOUO
to
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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UNCLASSIFIED/
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
DISPOSITION: (b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
19 ICILI:549)- obtained a position in
using his non-accredited "degrees." "degrees" (b)(3) CIAAct
have been present on his Agency BIO between and the present, wher((b)(6)
b)(7
they would have been used in consideration for obtaining one additional ( )(c)
position. Additionally has continued to present his degrees on his (b)(3) CIAAct
BIO after notification by OIG of their non-accredited status. Based on the ("6)
(b)(7)(c)
currently available information, no disciplinary action or further
(b)(6) investigation is recommended. OIG will notify HR and request
(b)(7)(c) degree information be removed from his Agency BIO.
Special Agent
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
Supervisory Special Agent
5
UNCLASSIFIED/ /-Fettirer
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