UNACCREDITED DEGREE: PROJECT MANAGER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628006
• 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

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UNCLASSIFIED/ 4E4116
18 August 2011
DISPOSITION MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: (U) Unaccredited Degree: Project Manager
CASE: 2011-10161 -IG
ISSUES UNDER INVESTIGATION:
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
1. (U//-FetfOj Based on a 2008 United States Secret Service
investigation that identified an Agency contractor as possessing a degree
(b)(3) CIAAct
from a known diploma mill, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated'
(b)(6)
a proactive investigation on 5 August 2008 into Agency staff claiming (b)(7)(c)
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 al
degree from an (b)(6)
unaccredited institution, on his Agency BIO. (b)(7)(c)
2. (U/LE.01469- OIG reviewed the claims made by regarding (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
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 (b)(7)(c)
improper reimbursement for the degree by the Agency.
(U//_Egtelet) 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/ /Q7 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.
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INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS:
3. (U/LF.0140) OIG reviewed
claims.
4. (U/ /..E0Tder OIG reviewed
(OPF) and online Agency BIO.
5. (U/ /J OIG interviewed
regarding his unaccredited degree.
security file for any degree
Official Personnel Folder
on 5 September 2008,
6. (U/ /10140)- 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. (U/ 4E01507 OIG reviewed Agency regulations and relevant laws
related to the allegations.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
RESULTS:
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6) as
(b)(7)(c)
8. (U / LE01:461
is a
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
officer serving
has been an Agency employee since
experience as a contractor to the Agency.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
9. (U/Z.EQM
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
holds an associate's degree
and has prior
artd a
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)
10. (U/ /101405,"
master's and a doctorate
include his master's "degree," but his
master's "degree" was conferred in
bachelor's
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
received his associate's degreca in and his bachelor's degree in
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
holds two additional "degrees" frorn
SF-86 fails to
ersonnel records cite that the
and the doctorate in
(b)(6)
z(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
In a 5 September 2008 interview with investigators, stated thai(b)(3) CIAAct
he paid a lump sum for his bachelor's and master's "degrees," and (b)(6)
estimated that they cost $2,000 to $3,000 each. stated that there were(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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no grading fees, review fees, exam fees, or other associated costs to the best
of his recollection.
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
18. ku) presented his credentials to the Agency as part of his
initial application on his SF-86 additionally provided ()(3) CIAAct
transcripts from for his master's and doctorate degrees to HR, which N67(c\
added the degrees to his Agency BIO. Agency BIO indicates that t ,i , CIAAct
' 1
he was selected for positions within the Agency since adding his degree46
to his record. (b)(6) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
19. (U/ /$OUCY) In an interview with investigators on 5 September
2008, stated that was licensed to do business in and
(b)(3) CIAAct (b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
3 (U/ 0.4414e) 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.
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UNCLASSIFIED/
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(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
that it
.1?
mill
encountered
UNCLASSIFIED!
problems
stated that he
/UT
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
it "became
not accredited, and
a diploma
that there
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
knew
because
was
was no
accreditation
body at
the
time for that
type of school.4
stated (b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAActthat he
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) 20.
never visited
(UH_Egerig
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
contended that his degrees
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
from
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
were (b)(6)
stated
the institution
in and
bona fide.
was licensed
he
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
believed
offered before
(b)(3) CIAAct
13467(c)
that degrees
were valid.
(b)(7)(c)
stated
that he would present them as valid if he sought to teach
at a college
(b)(6)
asserted that
he went through a rigorous
process,
and that
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
must have changed in
stated
thatF7was
a
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
non-traditional institution
that catered to a
need
that
was not
filled
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
elsewhere at the time, but
Agency determine where
is at the present.
but
ecommended that
the (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
"fell out,"
_I
that he tookb)(6)
(b)(6)
licensing of the institution
as validating
his degree. (b)(7)(C)1;6)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(7)(c)
ku)k7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(3) CIAAstr write it papers for his courses and that all of the grades were (b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) exclusively based on his discussions of books he had read and questions he(b)(3) CIAAct
answered verbally with his advisor, later clarified that he (b)(6)
considered the discussions to be equivalent to oral exams. (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(7)(c)
1
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
21. U explained that he did not take written exan(b92-cc))
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
22. (u/Lag4ery stated that he defended both his thesis and
dissertation. When asked further about this confirmed there was (b)(3) CIAAct
no committee to which he presented and defended either in person, but (b)(6)
stated that he recalled submitting both to his advisor and answering a few (b)(7)(c)
questions in writing and in a discussion with her.5
4 (U/4491107 Despite assertion, the Distance Education and Training Council has offered (b)(3) CIAAct
Department of Education approved accreditation specifically for distance learning since 1955. (b)(6)
5 (U) An actual defense generally requires a dissertation committee be formed and a public notice posted(b)(7)(C)
in advance of an oral presentation where questions from the committee (and public) are addressed.
5
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(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
23. (U/LID.T.10)- acknowledged his degreetWas not
accredited, but did not acknowledge it was not a valid degree, despite
being presented evidence to the contrary. initially removed the
degree from his Agency BIO after his interview with OIG. He
subsequently reinstated it and stated his desire that a:
. . . request be made in writing, on letterhead, include references, if not
actual copies, of the Agency regulations and/or policies you believe my
non-compliance would put me in conflict with, and whatever provisions
have been made for appeal, if appropriate.
DISPOSITION: (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
24. (U/ /-FLObTe) was never an accredited institution and neve
claimed any accreditation, but it was "approved" by
to operate as a business. The academic rigor was not consistent with a
typical Ph.D. program, as found by There was work(b)(3) CIAAct
required for a degree; however, the work was not consistent with typical (b)(6)
Ph.D. programs (see Appendix B) and was never accepted as accredited by (b)(7)(c)
the US Department of Education as required for use in job placement or (b)(6)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
r (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct:ompensation within the US Government. "degree" frorn vas (b)(7)(c)
(b)(6) present on
his Agency
BIO for his selection to different positions
within
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
the CIA.
when
(b)(7)(c)
did not acknowledge his "degree" was not legitimate
confronted
by OIG
investigators, and he continues to present his "degree"
(b)(3) CIAAct
on the Agency BIO
system. OIG Deputy Counsel determined there
was no (b)(6)
criminal or regulatory
violation on the part of Based on
the (b)(7)(c)
currently available
information, no disciplinary action or further
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
investigation
is recommended.
degree information
OIG will notify HR and request
be removed from his Agency BIO.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
Special Agent
Supervisory Special Agent
6
UNCLASSIFIED/ 4F-0148--
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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