UNACCREDITED DEGREE: PROJECT MANAGER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628003
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2024
• Case Number: F-2013-02114
• Publication Date: August 18, 2011

Approved for Release: 2024/11/08 C06628003
UNCLASSIFIED/ /...peticr
18 August 2011
DISPOSITION MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: (U) Unaccredited Degree: Project Manager
CASE: 2011-10154-IG
ISSUES UNDER INVESTIGATION:
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
1. (U/401JOT 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.12
One of the individuals identified, claimed a master's degree
from , an unaccredited institution, on his
Agency BIO.
2. (U//..EPUOT OIG reviewed the claims made by regarding
his degree 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 degree by the Agency. (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
(U/ ak4ifFer 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/LECA:ier 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/ AFetfer
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INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS:
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UNCLASSIFIED/ LEQ131:7
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
3. (U/ /EgisTefrOIG reviewed
claims.
4. (U/LEQUe/ OIG reviewed
(OPF) and online Agency BIO.
5. (U/ /Q� OIG interviewed
regarding his unaccredited degree.
security file for any degree
Official Personnel Folder
on 9 October 2008,
6. (U/ /..E.0140) OIG obtained and reviewed internal job
applications and resumes for positions that he held at the Agency as well
as his Performance Appraisal Reports.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
7. (URZOTzfe.) OIG reviewed Agency regulations and relevant laws
related to the allegations.
RESULTS:
8. (U/ /1-01:ie)
holds a bachelor's degree from
from
also holds a master of science (MS) "degree" in
that he received in
10. (U)
provides bachelor's master's, and doctoral "degrees"
through "life experience."
2
UNCLASSIFIED/ /SettCr.
(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)
(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)
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UNCLASSIFIED/ /10140-
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) 13 (U)
claims accreditation by/
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
Both
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
of these are accreditation mills, and
neither is approved
by the US
Department of Education (DoE).
was never accredited
by the US DoE.4
(b)(3)
(b)(3) CIAAct
CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
14
(UH.EgisTel
During an interview with OIG on 18 September
(b)(7)(c)
2008,
stated that he did not receive tuition reimbursement from the
Agency.
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)idded that when he first checked into he was told by the
(b)(7)(c)Lividual at whom he contacted that it was fully accredited.
(b)(6) 15. (U/LEQUCIT told OIG that upon receiving his master's
(b)(7)(c);ree fron- he went online
and updated his Agency BIO profile. He stated that he also
reported his degree to
via e mail.
resume.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
also stated that his degree from
(b)(3) CIAAct
was listed on his()
4 (u/4eseeT 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.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
3
UNCLASS1f,iED//1-0U0
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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(b)(6)
16.
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UNCLASSIFIED/
(UHFLOUOrOn a SPHS dated
(
CO662800b)(6) (b)(6)3
b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
/f14).t:T.(4-
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
listed an oigi(c)
(b)(7)(c)
MS from
in
(b)(7)(c)
attended
received or
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
on
17. (U/iFet707
During routine
background investigation
Security (OS) investi ator that he
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
he told an Office
of
received
his master's
fro
(b)(6)
had
degree in
(b)(7)(c)
an online university, in
The
investigator
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
the re-investigation found
did not
have a physical (b)(7)(c)
conducting
that
for
(b)(7)(c)
address, and when the
investigator searched
on the internet,
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
the investigator discovered
reportedly not credible.
the degree issues at the
that
was
linked to diploma
did not confront
mills and
CIAAct
(b)(6),
(100)
CIAAct
The OS investigator
time of the re-investigation.
over
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6) 18. (U//10140)-
(b)(7)(c) Business Bureau (BBB) about
received information about
felt better about his choice to attend
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
told OIG that he had consulted the Better
in 2005. According to
from the BBB prior to enrolling and
()ut he did not elaborate on
what specifically he had received. He said, after submitting his prior
course credits and work experiences, he was shocked to receive a transcript
and diploma three weeks later with 10 classes that he allegedly completed.
(b)(6)
He contends that, at the time, he thought that could not be right. OIG (b)(7)(c)
verified the status of with the BBB and confirmed that the BBB
report or cites the institution as not accredited,/
19. (U//101401 said that about one year after receiving the
degree, he did additional research on the degree. He said he
checked with the BBB again, and was cited as disreputJII
contended that he did additional research and discovered that
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
4
UNCLASSIFIED!PAeer
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(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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UNCLASSIFIED/ /FOUO
accreditation was revoked by the DoE in 2008.
organization that allegedly accredited
not be legitimate.5
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
explained that the
is now defunct and found to
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
20. (U/LEQUO) On his PAR, rating period
(b)(3)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
cited that he received an MS degree in during the (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
reporting period. He wrote that he graduated with honors, but the
narrative was worded in an ambiguous manner and never mentioned
where he completed his master's degree:
(b)(6) ,
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
21. (U/i-FAGeOT When interviewed by OIG in 2008, stated (b)(6)
that his romotion in was due to his work product, not his degreE(b)(7)(c)
from He stated that his supervisors knew about his degree from (b)(6)
e believed that he listed earning a master's degree as one of (b)(7)(c)
his objectives in his PAR.
22. (U/4F-QUerr In his PAR for the rating period of
states that he earned two Exceptional Performance
Awards (EPAs). It was during this reporting period that claimed to
have earned his master's degree in with no school listed.
supervisor, specifically cited
completion of his master's degree while managing two busy branches as an
"exceptional effort" and gave him the highest rating on his PAR for
"Personal and Professional Development."
23. (U//101:10) specifically acknowledged in his OIG
interview that, when he received his degree three weeks after_applying, he
realized it was a bad purchase and that it was "worthless. (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
cooperated with investigators and agreed to remove the degree from his
(b)(7)(c)
resume.
5 (U) did not source his statement that he discovered the accreditation was revoked, and it is not
accurate. was never accredited by the US Department of Education, and therefore was not
subject to having its accreditation status revoked.
(b)(3)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
CIAAct
(b)(6)
th11711r1
(b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(6) 5
(b)(6) (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) UNCLASSIFIED//-Q- (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c) (b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
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UNCLASSIFIED! ICeef
DISPOSITION:
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
24. (U/LE0149)-
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
reported that he had
a degree on his PAR, and it was present on his Agency BIO between
where it would have been used in consideration for obtaining
one position. acknowledged his "degree" was "worthless" and
cooperated with OIG. voluntarily removed his "degree" from his
Agency BIO following his OIG interview. Based on the currently available
information, no disciplinary action or further investigatiott is
recommended.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
Special Agent
Supervisory Special Agent
6
UNCLASSIFIED/ /SOW)"
(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)
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