If you stopped, picked up this paper and are reading this story because you're a student at The University of Memphis put it down. Go home and find the nearest phone because by the time classes end on April 28 you could have a masters and doctorate degree from an established college.
Many students have received e-mails offering college degrees in a very short period of time without study and 100 percent verifiable, but the message mentions no school, no company name or price. A number at the bottom of the page is the only way to contact the degree-offering person or persons.
If you were skeptical of this e-mail, congratulations are in order, because you're on par with the federal government.
"I think it's a scam," said Alyssa Harper, a fifth-year bachelor's student, after hearing a brief explanation of the degree system.
"I know what it takes to get a college degree."
Rafael Dodd, senior finance major, is as skeptical as any.
"There is a big catch behind that," he said.
Jamie Littlefield's "6 Snares Fake Schools Set," explains how these degree mills work and how to spot a fake degree.
While doing research for projects or papers students may notice the .edu at the end of an Internet address and believe they're on a reputable site with reliable information. But according to elearners.com, that may not always be true.
According to Littlefield's article on about.com, "Don't be fooled with a website's TLD (suffix). Just because an address ends in .edu, it isn't necessarily affiliated with a legitimate educational organization.
These fake schools aren't easily recognizable even to experts.
"The latest edition of'Bear's Guide to Earning Nontraditional Degrees,' unavoidably includes 481 phony schools," according to elearners.com.
To Harper, it's surprising these degree mills are sending their two-week degree to college students who've made the commitment to getting a degree the old-fashioned way.
"People who go to college want to do something and have a goal," she said. "It's strange all around."
The U.S. Department of Education has listed a Web site to help students and other degree seekers find real accrediting agencies for verification.
"Any of us who open up e-mails know they're growing," said Dr. Thomas Nenon, assistant vice provost for academic affairs.
Nenon says technology has helped degree mills reach more and more people, however some don't just see these degree mills as scams, but as an opportunity.
"If it turns out you work for a company that offers a promotion and they don't look into where a degree comes from I guess for some people that is motivation to do this.
To verify a school's accreditation, check out the siteonline.
