Diploma Mills: A Historical Foundation

In the context of the digital age, this paper discusses the issue of diploma mills, which are fraudulent institutions that grant unearned academic degrees for a fee. The study traces the history of diploma mills back to John Cook Bennett's early practice of awarding degrees based on untested hypotheses of experience rather than curriculum-based learning. It provides a thorough understanding of the operation and classification of these institutions, emphasizing the importance of financial gain and social prestige as key motivators for their continued existence. The paper goes on to investigate the impact of these fraudulent activities on the credibility of higher education, labor markets, and public safety in various industries. Additionally, it describes the typical traits and critical thinking techniques of diploma mills, emphasizing naming conventions, unconventional curricula, quantity over quality methods, and structural flaws. The presentation of notable diploma mill examples and the industries in which they operate serves to highlight the size and complexity of the issue. The paper highlights the significant drawbacks, such as deception, lack of recognition, and the breeding of mediocrity, while acknowledging the potential benefits of honorary degrees as a positive offshoot of the diploma mill concept. In its final section, the paper makes a plea to decision-makers in government, higher education, and business to work together and raise awareness to preserve the credibility and value of educational credentials. Keywords: Diploma mills, For-profit, certificate, fake, degree, educational institution DOI: 10.7176/HRL/54-02 Publication date:September 30th 2023

Engendering Immersion for International Low-Income Muslim Students in United States of America: Morgan State University as Case Study

As education becomes more globalized, many universities are welcoming a diverse student body from various cultural and religious backgrounds. International low-income Muslim students, on the other hand, frequently face unique challenges when pursuing higher education abroad. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers that these students face at Morgan State University (MSU) and to propose strategies to improve their immersion experience. MSU can create a more welcoming and supportive educational environment for international low-income Muslim students by addressing their specific needs and fostering an inclusive campus environment. Keywords: Muslim Students, International Muslim Students, Low Income, Engender, Immersion DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/13-6-04 Publication date:September 30th 2023

Tuberculosis and diabetes in Nigerian patients with and without HIV

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) increase the risk of Tuberculosis (TB). The frequency of DM among patients with TB with and without HIV is poorly documented in many LMIC. This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study in Abuja, Nigeria. Adults with presumptive TB were screened consecutively using sputum culture for TB and blood for HIV screening, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and glycolisated haemoglobin (HbA1c) for diagnosis. HbA1c was measured using the D-10 Haemoglobin Testing System and a point-of-care test (A1C Now+ system) for comparison. Patients were classified as having DM or pre-diabetes using the D-10 reference test. 410 individuals had TB culture, FPG and HbA1c results. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 37.8 (12.6) years and 217 (54.8%) were male. 113 (27.6%) patients were culture-positive, 62 (15.1%) had DM and 46 (11.2%) pre-diabetes. 184 (53.3%) participants were HIV-positive and 95 (51.6%) were on ART. Patients with pre-diabetes and DM were more likely to have TB (OR=1.94, 95%CI=0.01-3.74 and OR=2.39, 95%CI=1.35-4.24, respectively). After adjustment for HIV, age and sex, only DM was statistically associated with TB (AOR=3.10, 95%CI=1.62-5.94). HIV-negative patients with DM had higher risk of TB (AOR=4.32, 95%CI 1.57-11.92) than HIV-positive patients with DM (AOR=3.31, 95%CI 1.29-8.54), but the difference was not statistically significant. A1C Now+ HbA1c measurements correlated poorly with the D-10 HbA1c reference test. A high proportion of patients in Abuja have markers of DM and pre-diabetes at the time of TB diagnosis

Utilization of electronic information sources (EIS) by the academic staff of Hezekiah Oluwasanmi library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become basic ingredients in the operations of libraries, and the education sector in general. Libraries are finding it increasingly difficult to acquire and make available to their users the full range of information in print form. Besides, electronic information sources (EIS) are becoming more popular with users who find them rewarding and preferred over the print sources. Libraries are subscribing to EIS as an alternative way of avoiding the problems associated with print sources. This paper examines the impact of the use of EIS on scholarly publications, job performance and ICT skills acquisition of librarians in Hezekiah Oluwasanmi library. It also highlights some of the problems associated with the use of EIS in this library and emphasizes the importance of ICTs training for librarians in a rapidly evolving technologically driven profession. University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal Vol. 7(1) 2005: 47-5

Enhancing Academic Motivation and Ethno Racial Identity Development Through Ethnic and Racial Coalition in Minority Serving Institutions

This study examines how ethnic and racial coalitions can encourage academic motivation and the growth of ethno-racial identities in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). It makes the case that coalitions can foster conditions that encourage academic engagement and identity affirmation by drawing on empirical data and theoretical viewpoints. The need to pay maximum attention to education at higher level especially in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) cannot be over emphasized. The study aimed at ascertaining the roles of ethnic and racial coalition in enhancing academic motivation and ethnoracial identity development amongst students in Minority Serving Institutions. This study makes a persuasive case for the use of such coalitions as an effective means of reducing educational inequities by evaluating quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of these institutions. Two research questions were raised and answered and two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at .05 level of significance. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The sample consisted of 22 African students and 15 Non-African students. The instrument used for data collection is a structured questionnaire. The reliability indices of the instrument were found to be .90 and .91. The data collected was analyzed using mean to answer the research questions and Analysis of Variance to test the null hypotheses. The findings illuminate the potential of ethnic and racial coalitions to foster positive academic outcomes, cultural affirmation, and increased self-identification among ethnic and racial minority students. Findings also revealed among others that provision of adequate career orientation, and encouraging belief in the value of education are roles of ethnic and racial coalition in enhancing academic motivation as well as holding cultural celebrations, providing support for group identification and cohesion are roles of ethnic and racial coalition in enhancing ethnoracial identity development amongst students in MSIs. The study recommended among others that the management of the Minority Serving Institutions should provide administrative support for ethnic and racial coalition on MSI campuses for enhancing the academic motivation and ethno racial identity development amongst students. Keywords: Academic Motivation, Ethno Racial Identity Development & Ethnic and Racial Coalition DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/70-01 Publication date:June 30th 202

Tuberculosis and diabetes in Nigerian patients with and without HIV

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and HIV increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB). The frequency of DM among patients with TB with and without HIV is poorly documented in many low- and middle-income countries. Methods This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study performed in Abuja, Nigeria. Adults with presumptive TB were screened consecutively. Sputum culture was used for TB screening and blood was used for HIV screening, as well as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) assessment for the diagnosis of DM. HbA1c was measured using the D-10 Haemoglobin Testing System and a point-of-care test (A1C Now+ system) for comparison. Patients were classified as having DM or pre-diabetes using the D-10 reference test. Results Four hundred and ten individuals had TB culture, FPG, and HbA1c results. Participants had a mean (± standard deviation) age of 37.8 ± 12.6 years and 217 (54.8%) were male. One hundred and thirteen (27.6%) patients were culture-positive, 62 (15.1%) had DM, and 46 (11.2%) had pre-diabetes. One hundred and eighty-four (53.3%) participants were HIV-positive and 95 (51.6%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients with pre-diabetes and DM were more likely to have TB (odds ratio (OR) 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–3.74, and OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.35–4.24, respectively). After adjustment for HIV, age, and sex, only DM was statistically associated with TB (adjusted OR (AOR) 3.10, 95% CI 1.62–5.94). HIV-negative patients with DM had a higher risk of TB (AOR 4.32, 95% CI 1.57–11.92) than HIV-positive patients with DM (AOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.29–8.54), but the difference was not statistically significant. A1C Now+ HbA1c measurements correlated poorly with the D-10 HbA1c reference test. Conclusion A high proportion of patients in Abuja have markers of DM and pre-diabetes at the time of TB diagnosis.</br