Monticello University

Monticello University was an unaccredited diploma mill, incorporated in Hawaii and South Dakota but based in Kansas, whose operator Leslie Edwin Snell (aka Dax Snell) was found guilty in 2000 of issuing invalid degrees, and which Kansas has accused of being fraudulent.[1][2]

The university was incorporated on February 4, 1998 in Hawaii, and in September of that year in South Dakota. In July of 1999 the State of Hawaii filed a complaint against the university, accusing it of deceiving consumers and asking the judge to order Snell to stop operating there.[3] Authorities in Kansas filed a civil lawsuit against Snell in that state in September of 1999 and ordered the ISP there that hosted Monticello's website to take it down.[4] The Circuit Court of the First Circuit in the State of Hawaii ordered the university, amongst other things, to cease claiming it was legally qualified to issue degrees and to declare that it utilises "erroneous or misleading advertising."[5] In Kansas, Snell was found guilty in the civil suit on April 20, 2000. He was ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine and to reimburse the defrauded students.[6] Monticello University in Hawaii was involuntarily dissolved on January 30, 2002.[7]

Operation Dipscam listed the university as one of the top ten diploma mills in the United States.[8]

Victims affected by the diploma mill include Babar Awan, the Federal Law Minister of Pakistan.[5][9]

See also

• Hawaii's complaint against Monticello University, archived here.
• Hawaii's judgement against Monticello University, archived here.
• Hawaii's judgement against a partner in the Monticello fraud, archived here.
• Thomas Jefferson Education Foundation, a related fraudulent organisation.
• List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning

References

1. "Civil Enforcement Lawsuits: Monticello University". State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Retrieved 2010-08-22. formerly known as Thomas Jefferson University
2. Tang, Heather (May 26, 2000). "State dominates the $200 million quick-degree industry". Honolulu: Pacific Business News. Retrieved 22 August 2010. operator Leslie Snell was found guilty in Hawaii and Kansas of issuing invalid degrees without state authority and was fined in excess of $1.7 million. ... judge's finding that the university falsely claimed to offer "accredited doctorate, master's and bachelor's" degrees
3. Carroll, Diane; Franey, Lynn (August 12, 1999). "Kansas authorities investigating Monticello University". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
4. Olsen, Florence (August 20, 1999). "Kansas Sues the Owner of an On-Line University That Allegedly Sold Degrees". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on April 29, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
5. Iqbal, Anwar (July 12, 2010). "Status of Babar Awan's alma mater in doubt". Dawn. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. university from where Law Minister Babar Awan claims to have done his PhD is banned in the United States from issuing any degree ... it does "utilise erroneous or misleading advertising".
6. Associated Press (April 22, 2000). "President of online school found liable of misrepresenting program". The Olathe Daily News. A4. Retrieved May 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Monticello University". cca.hawaii.gov. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
8. Noah, Harold J.; Eckstein, Max A. (2001). "3". Fraud and education: the worm in the apple. The Internet Archive. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-7425-1032-6. 7. Monticello University (Kansas)
9. "Babar Awan's case to be sent to ECP, again". PakTribune. July 29, 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010. take action against the law minister for holding a fake doctorate degree.

External links

• Default judgement against Gretchen Snell Deckker