Thursday, July 19, 2007

With the scope of a dollars-for-degrees scandal at Touro College widening, students are wondering if their diplomas might become worthless

Daniel Friedman:

Andrique Baron alleged mastermind of the scam

"I'm concerned because when I apply for a job, they are going to wonder about my diploma," said Marianne Dean, 28, who just completed her first semester at the school's Center for Integrated Teacher Education.

"I have to think whether I am going to sign up for more classes. It doesn't have a good reputation anymore. I can't afford to spend the money if my degree is going to be worthless," she said.

The hand-wringing comes a day after the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of two school administrators for operating a phony diploma and grade-fixing mill, the operation's "bag man" and four people who spent thousands for shady sheepskins.

Prosecutors said they were continuing to investigate and believe the number of those involved could skyrocket into the thousands.

The alleged mastermind, Andrique Baron, skulked around his high-end electronics-stuffed, $500,000 Elmont, L.I., home yesterday and refused to comment.

Jade Richardson, who is planning to transfer to a four-year college after finishing a two-year health-sciences program at Touro, said she worried she might encounter problems now.

"I don't know if other schools will accept the credits now. It is a little too early to make a rash decision like leaving. I think a lot of people are waiting to see what happens. The administration had better stand up and vouch for the work we have done."

Physical-therapy grad student Alan Berkowitzh, 21, said he was contemplating asking for a refund.

Meanwhile, officials with the New York State Department of Education - which issues licenses for many of the professions affected in the scandal - moved to determine how many had posed with a phony Touro degree.

"We are reviewing the files of all teachers and licensed professionals who have presented credentials from Touro. We have a lot of work ahead of us," said DOE spokesman Tom Dunn. "We're cooperating with the DA and launching our own investigation into the school to understand the full scope of the practice and to be certain that it stops."

And officials with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - which accredits the school - said they were opening their own investigation into whether Touro had violated standards, raising the possibility it could lose its accreditation and access to federal and state student loans.

A spokeswoman for the school said Touro officials were cooperating with authorities in every way, but declined to comment further.

Touro is based in the city and most of its 29 locations are in the metropolitan area.

Fees for degrees scheme is alleged

10 indicted in suspected bogus degree sale scheme at New York City college

1 Comments:

At 6:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Touro College has undergraduate schools such as School of General Studies, New York School of Career and Applied Studies, as well as Lander College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of liberal Arts and Sciences etc... These are undergraduate Touro College's sections within its college. If a student is awarded an Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree the transcript will reflect some courses they will not attend. This means that if a student wants to pursue education in another institution their credential will be questioned and most likely not accepted even though Touro College is Fully Accredited. Touro College's undergraduate practices are fraudulent. Since courses are added which a student never attended.

If a student with a Bachelor Degree from undergraduate Touro College decides to go for a degree in Touro Colleges graduate programs such as Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy; the student will never graduate the program because the Directors of the graduate programs are aware of Touro College's undergraduate Degree granting fraud.

Touro College's Graduate programs likes students who received their degrees from other Colleges, such as City University of New York, or some Private Colleges and these student will most likely graduate and will most likely will pass the boards to obtain their licenses in their profession of study.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES FROM TOURO COLLEGE'S UNDERGRADUATE DIVISIONS WILL MOST LIKELY NEVER SEE GRADUATE SCHOOLS AND MAJORITY OF THE DEGREES ARE FRAUDULENT.

THE ONLY REASON WHY TOURO AWARDS THESE FRAUDULENT DEGREES TO SHOW BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT TOURO PROVIDES GOOD EDUCATION AND THAT ITS STUDENTS ARE HAPPY. THE TRUTH IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED DEGREES LIFES ARE DESTROYED.

DON'T GO TO TOURO COLLEGE OR YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR LIFE.

 

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