Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-28
At WORK IN VIRGINIA
A DEGREE MILL WHICH IS GRIND
ING OUT ALL SORTS OF
DIPLOMAS
THE STATE BOARD NOTIFIED.
Arkansas Educator Hot on Trail OF
the Alleged oIountebank.
LOCATED IN THE VALLEY.
Institution Makes u Speciality OF rt>
Out-of-Tovvn Trade Prospectus
Say. s.If You Don't See What Yon
Want, Ask for It.v Legislature
Will Be Appealed To.
Institution Make. u Specially of 1t,
VIII BE Appealed To.

Right In Virginia there is alleged to bs
a degree mill grinding out its diplomas
that run from modest Master or Arts
to a Doctor of Sacred Theology. including
the coveted Doctor of Philosophy title.
Along with the letter conveying this irs
formation to Secretary Brent. of the state
Board of Education, from an Arkansas
educator, yesterday, was q prospectus
of the institution referred to. It was 1n-
tended for nonresident students and ap-
plicants for degrees. and its curriculum
was as extensive as the circulation of the
schools advertisements.
The Arkansas educator was hot on the
trail of the alleged bogus educational
mountebank He stated that he had been
forced to leave Arkansas for practicins
the same tactics that he is now alleged
to be using in Virginia. and judging from
the wording of the letter. the educational
circles of Arkansas would make 1t un-
pleasant for the president of the lnstitu-
ton now located in the Valley OF Viz
ginia if he should happen to re-enter thai
State.
ITS SPECIALITY.
The institution IN question makes
speciality of it's oIt-of-town trade, as IL
were Its prospectus states that 1t is an
old and we'll established school, and adds
complacently that "if you da not find
what you want in the above list write us,
and we will promptly tell you just what
we can do for you" Referring to it's
equipment in the way of buildings. etc,
it makes the very satisfactory statement
that there are separate dorrnitories for
NO
the ladies' rooms are carpeted.
YOU GET THEM BY MAIL.
The fee charged for the nonresident
students who apply for any of the unlimit-
ed degrees is $40. The student receives the
Phi. D. degree at the end of the third
year by mail. Those who strive for the
more exclusive and higher sounding title
of S. T. D.. which continues to be inter-
preted IS Doctor of Sacred Theology. must
make use of Uncle Sans mails for four
years at the rate Of $50 Per annum, plus
a s. note for the sheepssin or the mule
skin upon which the title is appr opriateiy
enGrossed.
ANY KIND YOU WANT
The degrees bestowed by this remark
able institution are Master Of Arts, Doc
Tor of Philosophy. and Doctor of Sacred
Theology. In connection with these modest
degrees it is ingeniousy stated that there
is 81 preparatory department connected
with the institution. where the usual
grammar grade branches can be studied.
and furthermore il the applicant should
not to care to aspire to such q title as S.
I. D.. he can study typewriting or book
keeping. The prospectus and cola teral
literature accompanying it leaves the ap-
plicant to infer that if ne is not satisfied
with the list of degrees named some of
which are the priceless heritage and ex-
elusive property of such time-honored
institutions as Oxford and Cambridge he
can apply for almost any kind of diploma.
and receive his fill.
How Things Are "Fixed',
Along with the letter from the Arkansas
educator, Mr.. Brent produced the prospec-
tus of the Virginia college," to which
reference was made A noticeable fea-
ttlre in connection with it is that while
the presidents name is given, no men,
ton is made of any of it's fac
ulty, and the circular seems to
be intended for the NONRESIDENT
students. The president states tn
his circular that the degrees of his col
leSe are open only to those who have re-
ceived the baccalaureate degree from q
reputable college. but he qualities this by
saying that it is often the case that a
student has done work in certain lines
that is equal to that required by a coll
lege A. B.
SIr. Brent. on receipt OF the letter yes
terday. said:
81 believe the Board of Education Of
Virginia will make a determined effort to
have the Legislature give it the power to
put some kind of restrictions upon these
institutions in the State that give degreaf
without having the equipment. faculty
or endowment to give any value to tles
diplomas~-srhe Legislature has granted
charters to institutions in the State Civ
ing them the power to confer degreei
when they have absolutely nothing to
base the worth of the diplomas upon
except the paper on which they ara writ
ten
Our Institutions.
Mr.. Brent, after expressing mis- opinion
as above stated, went on to say that Vir-
ginia has to-day about fifteen colleges
for men. and an equal number for wo.
men that are giving degrees. while Mas.
sachusetts. State that stands first *
the United States IN point of eiucationa.
facilities. has not more than ten institu
tions for men, where degrees are cone
ferred, and only five colleges for wou1et
whose graduates are entitled. under thei
charters, to receive the coveted diplomas
OF the fifteen Virginia colleges for vso
men. only one is ranked in the first cIas,
by the United States Commissioner OF
Education, while four OF the five SINH
lar institutions in Massachusetts rank in
the first division.
Too Many Mountebanks.
1--WE must rid Virginia of such educa-
tional mouutebanks as these. said Mr..
Brent. 1T has only been recently tnat
we checked the representative of an In
stitution not dissimilar TO this one. from
canyassng for funds in the North and
elsewhere for his college. that practically
had no existence on earth except on pa
per" Mr. Brent cited the cases of many
states t.iat has passed stringent laws
preventing Institutions from giving de-
erees unless they had property and en-
dowment amounting TO 100000, and "a rec
osnized permanent faculty of at least six
members. "Of course. he continued. the
condition in Virginia may not demand
such stringent requirements. but the Leg
isiature should not inssiscriminately grane
charters to so-cailed colleges. giving them
the right TO bestow degrees. when they
have little foundation in fact. | have no
doubt that the new Board OF Education
viii ask the Legislature to confer upon
| ii the power to regulate such institutions.
and It ought To be done In projections
TO the legitimate colleges of this State
who own valuable property and endovs
{coNTINuEn ON SIXTH PAoka j.