Definitions for ORS 348.594 to 348.615

As used in ORS 348.594 to 348.615: (1)(a) “Diploma mill” means: (A) 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; (B) An entity without legal authority as a school to issue degrees valid as credentials in the jurisdiction that authorizes issuance of degrees; or (C) A school or entity that: (i) 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; (ii) Requires an individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain the degree, diploma or certificate; and (iii) Has not been accredited by a post-secondary accrediting agency. (b) “Diploma mill” does not include: (A) A school operating legally under ORS 348.604; or (B) A school that is actively seeking and able to show evidence of reasonable progress toward institutional accreditation with a post-secondary accrediting agency. (2) “Post-secondary accrediting agency” means a legal entity, or part of a legal entity, that: (a) Conducts accrediting activities through voluntary peer review; (b) Makes decisions concerning the accreditation or pre-accreditation status of institutions and programs; and (c) Is recognized by the United States Department of Education as an entity that conducts the activities and makes the decisions described in this subsection. (3)(a) “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. (b) “School” does not include: (A) An Oregon community college; (B) A public university listed in ORS 352.002; or (C) The Oregon Health and Science University.