Degrees of Deceit:

Understanding the Landscape of Counterfeit Credentials and University Admissions Fraud


Join Jamie Carmichael and Sarah Elaine Eaton for a provocative session about counterfeit credentials such as fake degrees and tampered transcripts. Admissions fraud remains an understudied area of academic integrity and educational ethics. Learn about some of the telltale signs of admissions fraud in higher education.

This session will be of particular interest to those who handle admissions files for post-secondary institutions, including: academic leaders, registrarial staff, administrative staff, and academics who sit on admissions committees. Although this session is framed within the context of Canadian higher education, many of the concepts and tips will likely apply to those in other jurisdictions, as admissions fraud is a global concern.

This session will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time (Calgary, Canada) via Zoom. Login instructions will be sent to registered participants within one day of the live event. The live session can accommodate 300 participants, but everyone who registers will receive a link to watch a recorded version of the presentation after the live event.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand foundational concepts related to admissions fraud.
  • Be aware of the business models that thrive in this landscape, and the potential for blackmail with counterfeit credentials. 
  • Assess how those involved with admissions processes can better identify fraudulent documents.

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