And while we're "searching" (or whatever you want to call it) for a provost --H.R. might want to doublecheck those curriculum vitae for False Degrees

Well, you've got to give the state of ILL credit. They do act like they are concerned with integrity in their public institutions. Here they are enacting a law against those who obtain a job by falsifying their credentials. Enforcement of it? Hah! That will be another thing--just call in your political buddies and "integrity" becomes negotiable. If that doesn't work--get Governor Quinn to stifle reform.

Anyway, a young colleague forwarded this and wondered whether it would have any impact on the current leadership at CSU (or the search for such). Since we are very inconsistent with when and what or to whom we compel compliance you can bet it will be applied with full force and vigor to a faculty member found with a false degree that much is certain, but some people are more equal than others on this campus. At any rate, it's on the books--have a glance at it:

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY – FULL TEXT OF PUBLIC ACT 093-0239

Public Act 93-0239

HB1448 Enrolled                  LRB093 06893 NHT 07039 b

AN ACT regarding higher education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by adding

Section 17-2.5 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/17-2.5 new)

Sec. 17-2.5. False academic degrees.

(a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly manufacture

or produce for profit or for sale a false academic degree,

unless the degree explicitly states "for novelty purposes

only" .

(b) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly use a false

academic degree for the purpose of obtaining employment or

admission to an institution of higher learning or admission

to an advanced degree program at an institution of higher

learning or for the purpose of obtaining a promotion or

higher compensation in employment.

(c) Sentence. A person who violates this Section is

guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) In this Section:

"False academic degree" means a certificate, dlploma,

transcript, or other document purporting to be issued by an

institution of higher learning or purporting to indicate that

a person has completed an organized academic program of study

at an institution of higher learning when the person has not

completed the organized academic program of study indicated

on the certificate, diploma, transcript, or other document.

"Institution of higher learning" means a pUblic or

private college, university, or community college located in

the State of Illinois that is authorized by the Board of

Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board to

issue post-secondary degrees, or a pUblic or private college,

university, or community college located anywhere in the

United States that is or has been legally constituted to

offer degrees and instruction in its state of origin or

incorporation.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

becoming law.

Effective Date: 07/22/03