Share Paper: Ethical Leadership Considerations for Post-Secondary Leaders in the Digital Future: Examining Diploma Mills and High Quality Education

1. James Bartlett, North Carolina State University, United States
2. Jennifer Pena, North Carolina State University, United States
3. Christopher Flowers, North Carolina State University, United States

Abstract: A literature review was conducted to determine what constituted the rise of the “diploma mill,” as well as to accurately define the term as it exists in the prominent scholarship. Factors attributed to the continued success of such institutions are pinpointed, and recommendations for college leaders—many of whom are struggling to maintain the integrity of their respective institutions due to an increased demand for restructuring to maximize profits in ways that closely align with diploma mill methods—are suggested and explored.