ORS 348.594 Definitions for ORS 348.594 to 348.615

As used in ORS 348.594 to 348.615:

“Diploma mill” means:

A school against which a court or public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, has issued a ruling or finding, after due process procedures, that the school has engaged in dishonest, fraudulent or deceptive practices related to the award of degrees, academic standards or student learning requirements;

An entity without legal authority as a school to issue degrees valid as credentials in the jurisdiction that authorizes issuance of degrees; or

A school or entity that:

Offers fee-based degrees, diplomas or certificates that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing the degree, diploma or certificate has completed a program of post-secondary education or training;

Requires an individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain the degree, diploma or certificate; and

Has not been accredited by a post-secondary accrediting agency.

“Diploma mill” does not include:

A school operating legally under ORS 348.604; or

A school that is actively seeking and able to show evidence of reasonable progress toward institutional accreditation with a post-secondary accrediting agency.

“Post-secondary accrediting agency” means a legal entity, or part of a legal entity, that:

Conducts accrediting activities through voluntary peer review;

Makes decisions concerning the accreditation or pre-accreditation status of institutions and programs; and

Is recognized by the United States Department of Education as an entity that conducts the activities and makes the decisions described in this subsection.

“School” means a person, organization, school or institution of learning that confers or offers to confer an academic degree upon a person or to provide academic credit applicable to a degree.

“School” does not include:

An Oregon community college;

A public university listed in ORS 352.002; or

The Oregon Health and Science University.