There are few things in life that money can't buy, for most people this includes the reward for a semester of hard work. But recent scandals at Southern University reveal how the indiscretions of a university registrar delivered false grades to 541 students in exchange for money.
Faculty members in the University at Buffalo's registrar's office said the likelihood of something similar happening at this institution is infinitesimal.
"Very few staff members have access to official transcripts, and even their access is limited," said Terri Mangione, a University Registrar. "We also have routine grade change and grading audits, where classes are pulled at random, and the professor is contacted to ensure that the grades are correct. This is done periodically, and it is done by different people than those who have access to the transcripts."
Because of all of the precautions taken, if, in the slight chance that a bribe was offered to an office worker, the involved parties would be caught quickly, according to Mangione. However, because UB is so careful when it comes to transcripts, bribery has never even been an issue.
"There has never been a case of transcript bribery here at UB," said Mangione. "People in the offices take their jobs very seriously, and there is just such a very slim chance that anything like that would happen at UB."
Official transcripts are not allowed to students without proper identification. The student must also fill out release forms and privacy statements, according to UB's online Student Response Web site.
Kelly Botsoglou, a freshman anthropology major, said she feels secure that her grades and transcripts will not be unofficially altered in any way.
"I have faith in UB's system that my transcripts will not be tampered with," said Botsoglou. "I would be extremely surprised if something like that were ever to occur here."
Other precautions are taken to ensure that the computer system used for producing printed transcripts is also not accessible to students, or unauthorized office workers.
"Our printers are linked to a completely separate computer system," said Mangione. "We use a special transcript paper, and this system could not be hacked into by any outside person."
According to Mangione, in the unlikely event of transcript fraud, serious action would be taken.
"First, we would contact the University Police if there was ever a question of transcript altering," said Mangione. "If a staff member was under investigation for taking bribes, they would be temporarily removed from their position until the investigation was completed."
Offering bribes for transcripts change would fall under the category of "Academic Dishonesty," according to UB's Student Conduct Rules, University Standards, and Administrative Regulations Handbook, which is available at the Student Response Center. Punishment for students found to be academically dishonest includes expulsion, suspension, probation, loss of privileges, reprimand, or warning, depending on the severity of the offense.
With such strict procedures and penalties at UB, Botsoglou said she wonders if other colleges and universities take the matter of protecting the university from transcript fraud as seriously.
"I just wonder what is going on at Southern University as far as their privacy policies and protection of records," said Botsoglou. "I think those students that were caught are very naive to think that they could get away with something like that."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
