CMU School of Drama


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Academic shortcuts

Fredericksburg.com: "FOR A DEGREE to be worth the sheepskin it's written on, there needs to be real scholarship and completion of the stated academic requirements behind it. Recently, three fine universities have been shaken by scandals involving unmerited diplomas. Now, West Virginia University, Carnegie Mellon, and our own Virginia Commonwealth University are all dealing with damaged careers and reputations."

6 comments:

arosenbu said...

i'm glad that they are catching these "mistakes" and punishing the people who let them get away with the degree. On the other hand, if the person's advisor didnt tell them they needed some more credits, should the degree be completely recinded? I think they should have a set time to correct it( take more classes) THEN it should be recinded. But i agree with the firing//forced resignations of the deans.

Derek said...

I find this article interesting and a bit close to home considering my major. While I might not have the same classes as the people around me, I would argue that my major has had equal to, if not more rigor than others I know. But really my major plays to my interests and strong points, just as a physics degree plays to a physics major's strong points. I wouldnt expect just anyone to jump into my major, just as I wouldnt jump into theirs. It is important to note though that all of these "Academic Shortcuts" are unrelated people getting majors, or special transfers getting fast tracked due to a connection. The article seems to question the integrity of independent majors, yet all of the examples are not based on self-defined or independent majors, but people getting accredited majors in unjust ways.

Katherine! said...

It is so sad that this happens. Why would you want to cheat for your education. The reason one goes to a university is to increase your knowledge. Getting a degree when you don't deserve it is sad. Just take the required courses and get it the way everyone else does. I am also glad the ones making the mistake in the administration are being punished. This kind of crime needs to stop!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Katherine, the whole point of spending a BUNCH of money that you don't have is to learn something. Why bother wasting all the money on college if you are going to cheat your way through? the goal is to come out the other side having learned and absorbed as much information as possible out of your institution of choice - I don't understand why you would want to just get a piece of paper if you didn't gain all the knowledge to back it up.

Sam Thompson said...

Universities where this is happening need to have more oversight of their diploma-awarding process. There should be no reason those people slipped through with a diploma despite not earning them. It is in the best interest of the university to catch these mistakes before they are finalized. Not only do they create public-relations nightmares, but they cheapen the diplomas of all the rest of the school's graduates. If people know that you can get a diploma without earning it at a certain school, that school's reputation will be diminished in their mind.

Jacob Jimenez said...

I really don't see what the use of a degree would be unless if you actually know what it is you were suppose to learn. If not, you will inevitably start screwing up in your job anyways. Its settling to know that they were discovered though. I wouldn't want anyone getting the same degree I've worked for, but by not earning it the same way as the rest of us. It is devaluing to our education and their time.