University Degree Program

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Not to be confused with University Consulting, Inc., another diploma mill group.

University Degree Program (UDP) is an unaccredited consortium of diploma mills run by Jason and Caroline Abraham (alias: Yaakov and Chaya Rochel). In 2004, The Chronicle of Higher Education noted UDP is the "granddaddy" of diploma mill operations and started operating in the mid-1990s.^[1]

In fact, "after an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, its owners turned over $100,000 in profits and promised to stay out of the degree-selling business."^[1] However, "the e-mailing hasn't stopped. The call centers haven't closed. And the money hasn't stopped flowing. If anything, the business has grown."

The Chronicle revealed one of the two owners is "a mother of four who has a Ph.D. in mathematics and lives in Brooklyn, NY." The paper explained day-to-day operations, which "sold more than 30,000 degrees and may have earned $50-million or perhaps in excess of $100-million" with its "call centers in Israel and Romania."^[1]

Contents 1 Connections to other "groups" 1.1 Institutions 1.2 Accreditors 2 Websites shut down by the FTC 3 People with UDP degrees 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 6.1 News articles

[edit] Connections to other "groups"

According to the Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization, UDP's "web sites of some of the distance learning programs which are not accredited by CHEA-recognized organization's show similarities which suggest that they may be related."^[2] Furthermore, "some are products (or clones) of University Degree Program (UDP) sites, while some may be related through a parent organization which called itself "University Consulting, Inc." (UCI) for a time."

[edit] Institutions

1. Ashford University (London) (not to be confused with Ashford University of Iowa) [1]
2. Brentwick University cited by 10-NBC "Brentwick's address is actually a post office box above a dry cleaner in London" and Is this illegal? No. Immoral, maybe, but not illegal
3. Glencullen University
4. Harrington University
5. Hartford University Website
6. Hartley University
7. Kingsfield University
8. Landford University
9. Northfield University
10. Oaklands University
11. Parkhurst University
12. Parkwood University
13. Shaftesbury University — its "diploma contain two misspellings, but the institution is not recognized, or accredited, in the United Kingdom or the U.S."^[3].
14. Shelbourne University
15. Shepperton University ^[4]
16. Stafford University
17. Thornewood University
18. University of Devonshire
19. University of Dorchester
20. University of Hampshire Website
21. University of Dunham
22. University of Bedford
23. University of Palmers Green
24. University of Ravenhurst
25. University of San Moritz
26. University of Wexford
27. Westbourne University
28. Westhampton University

[edit] Accreditors

The following are unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning connected to UDP.

• Distance Learning Council of Europe (DLCE: accrediting)
• European Council for Distance & Open Learning (ECDOL: accrediting)
• European Committee for Home and Online Education (ECHOE: accrediting))

[edit] Websites shut down by the FTC

(The following are websites used by the UDP that were closed by the Federal Trade Commission)

1. www.ashforduniversity.org (domain for Ashford University)
2. www.brentwickuniversity.org (domain for Brentwick University)
3. www.kingsfielduniversity.org (domain for Kingsfield University)
4. www.parkwooduniversity.org (domain for Parkwood University)
5. www.universityofravenhurst.org (domain for the University of Ravenhurst)
6. www.thornewooduniversity.org (domain for Thornewood University)
7. www.westbourneuniversity.org (domain for Westbourne University)
8. www.universityofwexford.org (domain for the University of Wexford)
9. www.henryheston.com.cnchost.com (domain containing sites for the University of Devonshire, Glencullen University, Harrington University, and Shelbourne University).

• The second amended complaint added to this list

1. www.landforduniversity.org (domain for Landford University)
2. www.northfield-university.org (domain for Northfield University).

[edit] People with UDP degrees

• George Weah - Degree from Parkwood University[2]

[edit] See also

• Accreditation mill
• Diploma mill
• List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
• List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
• Operation Dipscam
• School accreditation

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• University Degree Program – Official website
• Office of Degree Authorization, State of Oregon
• Credential Watch, State of Michigan
• Fraudulent Foreign Credential Evaluators, State of Texas
• Higher Education Expose
• U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs

[edit] News articles

• "Fake universities thrive on the web", BBC, 5 January 2004. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
• Gollin, George. "Unconvential University Diplomas Doesn't Mean it exists (PDF File)", University of Illinois, September 2003. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
• "Diploma mill making millions", The Seattle Times, September 3, 2005. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
• "'Fake doctor factory' awards degrees", The BBC, 26 November 2000. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
• "I-Team 10 Investigation: Diploma mills", WHEC-TV, 2/8/05. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.