“MIIS confirms instructor lied about credentials” |
| MIIS confirms instructor lied about credentials Posted: 23 Nov 2010 01:51 AM PST Click photo to enlarge Bill Hillar Instructor did not receive a doctorate from the University of Oregon.  Hillar, who taught workshops on human trafficking and counterterrorism, was categorized as an independent contractor for MIIS, so he was not subject to the background checks required of all employees, MIIS officials said in a news release. But the incident has prompted them to change that policy. Effective immediately, anyone who teaches a course for credit will undergo a background check. Questions about Hillar's credentials first came to light in early November, MIIS spokesman Jason Warburg said Monday. Two students brought their suspicions about Hillar's military experience to a faculty member, who alerted MIIS officials. "The key issue was did he or did he not misrepresent his credentials," said Warburg. After conducting its review, MIIS found that Hillar, who is not a permanent part of the teaching staff, did not graduate from the University of Oregon with a doctorate, Warburg said, even though the résumé Hillar submitted to MIIS stated he had. MIIS officials looked into Hillar's military credentials, Warburg said, but were unable to substantiate his military record in the 2½ weeks of the review. He said the Freedom of Information Act request the school submitted has not been fulfilled. MIIS officials gave Hillar the opportunity to respond to the issues brought up during their review, but Warburg said Hillar has not contacted them.Hillar received positive comments on his student evaluations, Warburg said. "People, at this point, are just absorbing what's been sent out," he said, adding that some people have expressed surprise at the situation. Students who took Hillar's workshops can choose whether to keep the credit. If they choose to have it removed, they will be able to enroll in another one-credit workshop at MIIS at no extra cost. The school is trying to find a qualified instructor for its spring Human Trafficking workshop. MIIS will try to make the class available on campus and online. "We deeply regret this incident and offer our sincere apologies to the students, alumni, faculty and staff who have been affected by it," MIIS President Sunder Ramaswamy said in the news release. "We also want to express our profound gratitude to the students who brought these issues to the administration's attention. We are very proud of the integrity they have displayed through their actions." Because Hillar was not a member of the institution, Warburg said, the incident likely will not damage the school's standing. Jane Lee can be reached at 648-1188 or jlee@montereyherald.com. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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