College Awarded Unearned Degrees

Officials at Edison State College suspended two administrators with pay, and admitted Thursday that the college had awarded degrees to students who didn't complete program requirements, The News-Press reported. A public records request from the newspaper led to the focus on the issue. The inappropriate degrees were awarded to students who were given permission to substitute in electives for required courses. "Substitutions were often provided to enhance matriculation rates into a baccalaureate degree program," Steve Atkins, vice president for academic affairs, said at a news conference.