More and more institutions and companies are 'cracking down' on online degrees, making sure the achievements are valid, and not a result of a 'diploma mill.' After several people in high-ranking positions, including politics and law enforcement, were fired after their online degrees proved to be a joke, employers just aren't going to risk it anymore.

An investigation by the federal General Accounting Office in 2002 discovered more than 1,200 resumes on a government Web site listed degrees that came from the Internet. Such degrees usually require no testing or classroom time.

The department toughened standards in June and only accepts diplomas recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

"We found a problem and we fixed it," district Fire Chief Bruce Clark said.

Although it may seem harsh, this is exactly the sort of thing that proves beneficial for online education. With the elimination of bogus degrees, the hard work put in by students to obtain valid degrees can finally be appreciated and rewarded.