CHAPTER 429

H.P. 915 - L.D. 1317

An Act To Prohibit and Provide Penalties for the Issuance,

Manufacture and Use of False Academic Degrees or

Certificates

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 410 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 410

FALSE ACADEMIC DEGREES OR CERTIFICATES

§10801.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Accreditation.__"Accreditation" means a formal status granted by an accrediting agency to an institution meeting or exceeding the educational quality criteria as stated in the accrediting agency's publication in order to assess and enhance the educational quality of an institution, ensure consistency in institutional operations, promote institutional improvement and provide for public accountability.

2.__Accreditation mill.__"Accreditation mill" means an entity that is created to give the appearance that certain substandard schools or institutions of higher education are legitimately accredited organizations, that is not recognized by any authorized state, professional or national agency and that has few, if any, standards for quality.

3.__Diploma mill.__"Diploma mill" means an institution of higher education operating without accreditation or supervision