A Curious Application
In 2004, undercover agents from the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office set out to expose Trinity Southern University, a Dallas-based diploma mill. To do so, they submitted an application for Colby Nolan—a six-year-old house cat—claiming he had job experience and a 3.5 GPA. For $299, Colby was awarded a business administration degree. When informed of his qualifications, the university offered him an executive MBA for just $100 more.
Degrees for Sale
The case revealed that Trinity Southern used spam emails to sell fraudulent degrees. Colby’s credentials included community college coursework, fast-food employment, babysitting, and a paper route—all fabricated. Yet the university issued a transcript and a diploma.
Legal Consequences
Attorney General Jerry Pappert filed a fraud lawsuit. In December 2004, the Texas attorney general secured a restraining order, froze the university’s assets, and charged its owners, Craig B. and Alton S. Poe.
The End of the Line
In March 2005, the Poes were fined over $100,000 and barred from promoting fraudulent degrees. Trinity Southern’s website went offline the same year, ending the cat’s unexpected academic adventure.
