New NBC Comedy "Community" Addresses Fake Online Degrees
Last night NBC premiered "Community," a new comedy for their Thursday prime time line-up. Interestingly enough, the premise of the show revolved around a topic very near and not-so-dear to our hearts: fake online degrees.
The show stars Joel McHale (of E!'s The Soup fame) as Jeff Winger, a lawyer trying to earn back his law license after it gets revoked due to the discovery of some shady action. What sort of shady action, you ask? Let's just say his law degree turned out to be a little bit less than legit:
"I thought you had a degree from Columbia," a client muses.
"Now I need to get one from America," says Jeff.
A little later in the scene, Jeff snarks to his client (who also happens to be a dean at Greendale Community College, where this sitcom lays its scene) that his new diploma require a form more concrete than an e-mailed PDF attachment.
We were surprised and bemused to see a diploma mill pop up, not as a banner ad, but as a pivotal plot point in a prime time sitcom, but really it's a sign of the times as online school scammers appear more frequently and diploma mill scandals continue to rock the headlines. Some recipients (like Jeff on the show) are well aware of what they're doing when they purchase these bogus degrees, but many would-be students are simply uneducated about the difference between an accredited school and an imposter. No matter the motive, however, the result is always the same: back at school like Jeff, to get those credits and earn that degree -- for real this time.
Search Schools
University of PhoenixAt University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.
Programs
Location: Online |
|
Everest University OnlineManage your career and your life while earning your degree online.
Programs
Location: Santa Ana: , Santa Ana CA |
|
Capella UniversityAchieve your potential with an online degree from Capella University. Programs
Location: Minneapolis: Capella Tower, Minneapolis MN 55402 |
|
USC School of Social WorkThe USC School of Social Work’s MSW@USC offers the opportunity to earn a Master of Social Work degree through the Virtual Academic Center without relocating to Southern California. Programs
Location: Online |
|
Keiser UniversityFor over 30 years, Keiser University eCampus Online has provided student-centered, quality career education.
Programs
Location: Fort Lauderdale: , Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 |
|
DeVry UniversityMake a difference with a graduate degree from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management.
Programs
Location: Chicago: , Chicago IL |
|
Virginia CollegeSet your career in motion at Virginia College.
Programs
Location: Birmingham: 300 River Hills Business Park, Birmingham AL 35242 |
|
Allied Health InstituteAllied Health Institute is a post-secondary vocational school offering a variety of Diploma and Associate Degree programs in the field of Allied Health. By utilizing online learning, students have the flexibility to continue their education from the convenience of their own home. Our virtual classrooms will enable students to attend classes and communicate with instructors and classmates. Students can complete some programs without leaving their current employment or sacrificing family time.
Programs
Location: Online |
|
Animal Behavior CollegeInterested in a career as a professional dog trainer? Animal Behavior College is the place to start.
Programs
Location: Northridge: 9249 Reseda Blvd, Northridge CA 91324 |
|
Kaplan UniversityAdvance your career with an online degree from Kaplan University.
Programs
Location: Fort Lauderdale: 6301 Kaplan University Avenue, Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 |
|
