[Vision2020] Attention Ben Merkle

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 13:30:04 -0800

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Teachers in Georgia Receive $30,000 in Raises for Fake Online Degrees

The Associated Press
Published: Mar 24, 2004

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A county school board may demand that six teachers
repay nearly $30,000 in pay raises they received after obtaining fake degrees
from an online school in Liberia.
St. Regis University, which claims to be recognized by the Liberian government,
grants master's degrees and doctorates based on "life experience." A master's
degree costs $995 and a doctorate costs $1,500.

The six Gwinnett County teachers were among 11 in the state found to have
degrees from St. Regis. The Gwinnett teachers received $29,702 in additional pay
for the advanced degrees.

Several school board members have accused the teachers of fleecing the system,
and some suggested the teachers should lose their jobs.

"Teachers get paid based on their years of experience and the type of degrees
they've earned," Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said. "So if they've been paid
on those degrees, that is going to have to be paid back."

A spokesman for the state Professional Standards Commission, which approved the
six teachers' degrees last year, said it would no longer accept credits from St.
Regis.

The state is investigating.

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<DIV><FONT size=3D4><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>Teachers in Georgia Receive =
$30,000 in=20
Raises for Fake Online Degrees</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4><STRONG><FONT size=3D5></HEADLINE><BR></FONT><SPAN=20
class=3Dbyline><CREDITLINE>The Associated =
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class=3Dpubdate>Published:<STORYDATE> Mar 24, 2004</STORYDATE></SPAN> =
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<DIV><BOD>LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A county school board may demand =
that six=20
teachers repay nearly $30,000 in pay raises they received after =
obtaining fake=20
degrees from an online school in Liberia. </DIV>
<P>St. Regis University, which claims to be recognized by the Liberian=20
government, grants master's degrees and doctorates based on "life =
experience." A=20
master's degree costs $995 and a doctorate costs $1,500.=20
<P>The six Gwinnett County teachers were among 11 in the state found to =
have=20
degrees from St. Regis. The Gwinnett teachers received $29,702 in =
additional pay=20
for the advanced degrees.=20
<P>Several school board members have accused the teachers of fleecing =
the=20
system, and some suggested the teachers should lose their jobs.=20
<P>"Teachers get paid based on their years of experience and the type of =
degrees=20
they've earned," Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said. "So if they've =
been paid=20
on those degrees, that is going to have to be paid back."=20
<P>A spokesman for the state Professional Standards Commission, which =
approved=20
the six teachers' degrees last year, said it would no longer accept =
credits from=20
St. Regis.=20
<P>The state is investigating. </P></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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