1. Credential Review International Equivalencies & Fraud Detection
presented by Graduate School Admissions
December 10, 2014

2. Roundtable Discussion
Not necessarily one, right way
How does your field review credentials?
What are you seeing? Trends? Cases of fraud?
The Graduate School is your partner but cannot catch all cases of fraud or instances where a student is not admissible. We conduct a cursory review of TOEFL scores and credentials before matriculating international students and issuing an I-20 or DS We rely on fields to do the heavy lifting when it comes to

3. Code of Legislation
To matriculate in the Graduate School, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.

4. Grad School Recommendations
Develop a credential review plan
Apply it consistently
Follow your instincts
Suspicious or unsure? Refer special cases to the Graduate School.
The plan should include the following:
Review each applicant’s transcripts and diplomas
Do you have all documents necessary to complete your assessment?
Do documents appear legitimate and unaltered?
Are you familiar with the country’s educational system? The institution?
Compare self-reported data with documents
Compare biographical and other vital elements on all documents
Does the chronology make sense?
Was the degree conferred?
Is the translation literal?
Check international degree equivalency
Relay concerns to admissions committee

5. A college or university of recognized standing
If a school or program is unfamiliar, research it:
Does it exist? Did it exist at the time the student attended?
Is the institution accredited or otherwise recognized in its home country?
Is the accrediting body legitimate?
Does the university have any complaints on file?
Online programs may be legitimate but might warrant extra scrutiny.
Does the institution offer the program indicated on the transcript?
What is the structure and duration of the program?

6. International Degree Equivalency
A US bachelor’s degree typically requires:
Completion of high school for admission
120 credits (general education, major, and elective courses)
4-year program
Not all international bachelor’s degrees are equivalent
A word about 3-year degrees
Increasing number of 3-year degrees
If applicant has 3-year degree, refer to Grad School International Degree Equivalencies web page
Unless specifically noted, 3 or 4-year degrees listed on web page will be accepted
If the degree is not listed, ask Grad School to make a determination
A 3-year degree, when combined with an additional year of post-graduate study, is typically considered equivalent
A word about graduate degrees
Be careful! In some countries, individuals can earn a master’s or other graduate degree without first earning an undergraduate degree
All applicants must demonstrate that they’ve earned or are on track to earn the equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree
Use Grad School’s web page as a starting point
Refer special cases to Grad School

7. Types of Fraud and Other Misrepresentations
Interpretive, rather than literal, translations
Altered documents
Fabricated documents
Degree/Diploma mills

8. Red Flags and Signs of Fraud
Unusual grading pattern
Unusual document format
Inconsistent typeface
Spelling or grammatical errors
Lines, words, numbers, etc. are missing (whiteout)
Document is not signed or sealed
University is not accredited/accredited by bogus agencies
University has multiple complaints on file

9. Case Study – Gibson University
The university has a .com URL (Warning! Some fraudulent or suspect institutions have an .edu URL)
Most of the faculty listed on the website are also affiliated with Riverwood University (another online school) but the faculty bio photos show entirely different people!
The accrediting agencies from which the university claims to have achieved “milestones” are fake
The website is full of typos and grammatical errors

10. CollegeNET China Credential Service
Verified translated documents will be available via CollegeNET
This service is free for Cornell and affordable for applicants
We are hoping to pilot the program this year and gather feedback from fields and applicants before deciding whether to require it in the future
Official document can be requested at the time of submission or later in the process
Service may be expanded to other countries

11. Other Things to Look Out For
Letters of Recommendation
Recommenders using personal (non-institutional) addresses
Especially if letter does not include letterhead or a signature
Locate official address online and send a thank you
Statement of Purpose and Writing Samples
Quality of writing—too good to be true?
Compare TOEFL scores with written and spoke English

12. Resources On the Web Books and Guides
How to Obtain Authentic Credentials for Graduate Admissions
Guide to bogus institutions and documents
AACRAO, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
World Education Services (WES) Webinar
Archived February 21, 2014
Degree mills: the billion-dollar industry that has sold over a million fake diplomas
Allen Ezell - John Bear - Prometheus Books
How to obtain International Academic Credentials (today’s handout)
The impact of Bologna and three-year degrees on U.S. Admissions
World Education Services (WES) White Paper
November 2014
AACRAO, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
The AACRAO International Graduate Admissions Guide
Comprehensive information about diploma mills:
AACRAO, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
List of fake accreditation agencies:
Graduate School Transcript Library
The Graduate School is compiling a transcript library consisting of sample original transcripts from domestic and international institutions.
Accreditation reports for online programs: