Columbia State University
Encyclopedia
Columbia State University was a diploma mill
based in California
that used a Louisiana
mailing address. It operated from the mid-1980s until it was closed by court order in 1998.
Although its name implied that Columbia State was a state-supported educational institution, it was not associated with a state
government. Rather, it was a private operation owned by Ronald Pellar
, a professional hypnotist also known as Ronald Dante who performed on stage under the name Dr. Dante.
In U.S. Senate hearings in 2004, a former employee testified that Columbia State had "no faculty, ... no curriculum
, no classes, no courses, no tests, no one to grade tests, no educational facilities, no library and no academic accreditation
." However, she testified that the school's promotional materials claimed that it was accredited, displaying a bogus accreditation certificate in the university catalog. Also, the school logo and stationery
falsely stated that Columbia State had been established in 1953. The stationery also listed a ten-member "Board of Advisors" that consisted of made-up names and titles. In her testimony, the former employee estimated that the operation had gross income
of about $20 million between 1996 and 1998. However further investigation revealed that Columbia State University was licensed to operated by the State of Louisiana, text books and course work were originally provided to students of whom many completed the work and received degrees with the promise the school would soon achieve accreditation. One Florida law enforcement officer accomplished a complete course in Public Administration only to learn after receiving his degree the school would never be accredited. The State of Louisiana provided the Florida officer records of the schools license to operate in a settlement.
Columbia State offered bachelor's
, master's
, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of fields. Its marketing targeted people who had not finished college
or graduate school
, advertising that they could qualify for a degree from Columbia State University in as little as 27 days based on their life, work, and academic experience.
According to Senate testimony, at one time Columbia State's letterhead stationery listed Jonas Salk
, inventor of the polio vaccine
, as a recipient of an honorary Ph.D. degree
from Columbia State, but Dr. Salk's name was removed after he protested to Ron Pellar.
In 1997 Pellar was convicted of criminal contempt for violating an earlier injunction
against making false representation
s, issued in connection with a "permanent makeup
" business and a paralegal
training academy, and in 1998 he was sentenced to 67 months in prison
for the contempt conviction. In 2004, while still serving that sentence, he pled guilty to nine count
s of mail fraud associated with the Columbia State operation. For that guilty plea he received a sentence of eight months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution
of $45,835 and forfeit
a $1.5 million yacht
.
In 2010, Massachusetts attorney and candidate for Congress Jeff Perry
disclosed that he had paid Columbia State University "several thousand dollars", studied for alleged courses, and wrote papers under the impression that it was an accredited institution. He later earned legitimate degrees from Curry College
and New England School of Law
.
Diploma mill
A diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
based in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that used a Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
mailing address. It operated from the mid-1980s until it was closed by court order in 1998.
Although its name implied that Columbia State was a state-supported educational institution, it was not associated with a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
government. Rather, it was a private operation owned by Ronald Pellar
Ronald Pellar
Ronald Pellar is an American hypnotist and fraudster who performed under the stage names Ronald Dante and Dr. Dante, and who was briefly married to actress Lana Turner...
, a professional hypnotist also known as Ronald Dante who performed on stage under the name Dr. Dante.
In U.S. Senate hearings in 2004, a former employee testified that Columbia State had "no faculty, ... no curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, no classes, no courses, no tests, no one to grade tests, no educational facilities, no library and no academic accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
." However, she testified that the school's promotional materials claimed that it was accredited, displaying a bogus accreditation certificate in the university catalog. Also, the school logo and stationery
Stationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
falsely stated that Columbia State had been established in 1953. The stationery also listed a ten-member "Board of Advisors" that consisted of made-up names and titles. In her testimony, the former employee estimated that the operation had gross income
Gross income
Gross income in United States tax law is receipts and gains from all sources less cost of goods sold. Gross income is the starting point for determining Federal and state income tax of individuals, corporations, estates and trusts, whether resident or nonresident."Except as otherwise provided" by...
of about $20 million between 1996 and 1998. However further investigation revealed that Columbia State University was licensed to operated by the State of Louisiana, text books and course work were originally provided to students of whom many completed the work and received degrees with the promise the school would soon achieve accreditation. One Florida law enforcement officer accomplished a complete course in Public Administration only to learn after receiving his degree the school would never be accredited. The State of Louisiana provided the Florida officer records of the schools license to operate in a settlement.
Columbia State offered bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of fields. Its marketing targeted people who had not finished college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or graduate school
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
, advertising that they could qualify for a degree from Columbia State University in as little as 27 days based on their life, work, and academic experience.
According to Senate testimony, at one time Columbia State's letterhead stationery listed Jonas Salk
Jonas Salk
Jonas Edward Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. He was born in New York City to parents from Ashkenazi Jewish Russian immigrant families...
, inventor of the polio vaccine
Polio vaccine
Two polio vaccines are used throughout the world to combat poliomyelitis . The first was developed by Jonas Salk and first tested in 1952. Announced to the world by Salk on April 12, 1955, it consists of an injected dose of inactivated poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin...
, as a recipient of an honorary Ph.D. degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Columbia State, but Dr. Salk's name was removed after he protested to Ron Pellar.
In 1997 Pellar was convicted of criminal contempt for violating an earlier injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against making false representation
Misrepresentation
Misrepresentation is a contract law concept. It means a false statement of fact made by one party to another party, which has the effect of inducing that party into the contract. For example, under certain circumstances, false statements or promises made by a seller of goods regarding the quality...
s, issued in connection with a "permanent makeup
Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids...
" business and a paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
training academy, and in 1998 he was sentenced to 67 months in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for the contempt conviction. In 2004, while still serving that sentence, he pled guilty to nine count
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
s of mail fraud associated with the Columbia State operation. For that guilty plea he received a sentence of eight months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
of $45,835 and forfeit
Asset forfeiture
Asset forfeiture is confiscation, by the State, of assets which are either the alleged proceeds of crime or the alleged instrumentalities of crime, and more recently, alleged terrorism. Instrumentalities of crime are property that was allegedly used to facilitate crime, for example cars...
a $1.5 million yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
.
In 2010, Massachusetts attorney and candidate for Congress Jeff Perry
Jeff Perry (politician)
Jeffrey Davis "Jeff" Perry is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who represented the 5th Barnstable District from 2003-2011...
disclosed that he had paid Columbia State University "several thousand dollars", studied for alleged courses, and wrote papers under the impression that it was an accredited institution. He later earned legitimate degrees from Curry College
Curry College
Curry College is a private liberal arts-based institution in Milton, Massachusetts that started as the School of Elocution in 1879.-History:...
and New England School of Law
New England School of Law
New England School of Law is a private law school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1908 as a law school for women.-History:...
.
External links
- The amazing Dr. Dante has seen it all: From Hollywood to prison terms By J. Harry Jones, San Diego Union Tribune, August 5, 2006
- The Hypnotist Who Married Lana Turner, The Chronicle of Higher EducationThe Chronicle of Higher EducationThe Chronicle of Higher Education is a newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty, staff members and administrators....
, June 25, 2004 - Operator of Orange County 'Diploma Mill' Indicted on Federal Mail Fraud Charges, FBI Field News press release, April 18, 2003