Sheriff candidate’s college degree fails him

Keith Paul

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

Sheriff candidate and Metro Police Capt. Randy Oaks won't be getting a $750 annual bonus for having a college degree. Officials have determined the Louisiana university where he got his diploma is not a properly accredited school.

Oaks sent a letter to Metro's personnel unit last week asking that his degree from Bienville University, based in Baton Rouge, La., be checked to ensure it was a properly accredited school. Metro officials found last week that the school's accreditation is not recognized by the U.S. Education Department or the Council for Higher Education Accrediting.

Bienville is accredited by Accrediting Commission International Inc., which is not recognized by either the agency or the national group.

"I'm an honest guy. I'm not trying to hide something," Oaks said. "I wanted to make sure if it doesn't meet the requirements, then I do not receive the education incentive."

Oaks received the degree from Bienville at the end of last year, and had put in for the bonus this year. The incentive, which is usually paid in July, was delayed while negotiations with the union representing Metro's sergeants, lieutenants and captains were completed. The bonuses are now being reviewed and processed.

The newly ratified contract, however, changed the requirements for the education bonus, adding the need for nationally recognized accreditation.

"I checked with Metro and at the time the only requirement was that the degree come from an accredited college," Oaks said. "I thought it was."

Oaks said his experience and training as a police officer along with 18 months of corresponding with the school and writing a research paper on weapons of mass destruction yielded him his degree in criminal justice. The degree cost him about $2,200.

Oaks blamed questions about his degree on desperation from Deputy Chief Bill Young, his opponent in the November election to replace Sheriff Jerry Keller, who surprised many when he announced he would not seek a third term.

"This degree wasn't for me to run for sheriff," Oaks said. "A degree isn't a requirement to run for sheriff. I started this two years ago, when I had no intention of running for sheriff.

"You don't need a degree to be a good sheriff. (Former Sheriff) John Moran never had a degree," Oaks said.

Young said he didn't have any comment on Oaks' degree from Bienville University.

"His education is his business," Young said.

Oaks said he sought the degree not to gain the extra payment, but to prepare for his life after Metro, because prospective employers may require a college diploma.

John Bear, an author of several books about higher education and distance education, said a degree from Bienville is not worth anything other than filling a requirement to have a degree.

"He has, in my opinion, a completely useless degree," Bear said. "No accredited college or university would accept it."

As part of research on distance learning, Bear said he sent questionnaires to colleges to determine what distance-learning degrees would be accepted. In the 330 colleges and universities that responded, 329 indicated it would "never accept" a Bienville degree, and one indicated "may accept," but none indicated it would "likely accept" or "always accept."

The school may be about to lose its license to operate in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Board of Regents is scheduled later this month takes up the issue of renewal, and the school has not fulfilled requirements to work toward accreditation recognized by the U.S. Education Department, said John Kay, assistant commissioner for research and data analysis for the Louisiana Board of Regents.

"We have tried without success to reach representatives of Bienville," Kay said. "We sent a certified letter, but received no response. I went by their office several weeks ago and there was still office furniture in there, but the doors were locked, no one was inside and a sign was in the window saying it was for lease."

The staff recommendation will be the license not be renewed.