Contrary to how she presented it, comedienne Helen Paul’s professorship is from a religious institution and not a secular academic degree-awarding university.
The actress, who bagged a PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos in 2019, announced her promotion to a professor and head of the arts, music and entertainment department in Instagram posts on Monday.
What she didn’t clarify, however, is that the professorship is from a religious institution.
Paul had written the institution’s name that promoted her as Heart International University, but its full name is Heart Bible International University (HBIU), a theological institution.
The Cable, which fact-checked Paul’s claims, reports that HBIU was established in 2008. It offers undergraduate and graduates degree programmes, certificate courses and preparatory high school, “allowing the acquisition of a low-cost diploma”. The institution’s website also displays 32 members of staff, none of whom identifies as a professor.
A file attached to the page identifies it as a “religious institution” meant “to empower individuals for God’s kingdom”.
“[We] offer degrees in business, theology, fine arts, global studies, chaplaincy, old & new testament, and Christian education,” the audio says, adding that the Florida State Board of Education accredits it for Religious Studies.
Before the accreditation page of the website was updated in March, the text on the webpage read, “HBI / HBIU / Heart Christian University offers degrees both undergraduate and graduate. We are a global university with different colleges and a strong supportive chaplaincy international program registered legally through the State of Florida and granted Accreditation through the Florida State Board of Education for Religious Studies, Independent Colleges, and Universities. As a religious institution, our focus is on Religious Studies.”
Although its updated record was marked as non-binding, unaudited, and not constituting state endorsement, a search of HBIU on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) of the US Department of Education showed that it is not listed.
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), which HBIU cites for credibility, has a statute on its site with certain requirements exempting “religious institutions” from the jurisdiction of its commission for independent education.
The conditions are found in Section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes and Rule 6E-5.001, Florida Administrative Code. The FLDOE states that such religious institutions are “not required to obtain licensure” upon meeting the requirements.
According to FLDOE, a religious college may operate without governmental oversight if the college annually verifies that the name of the institution includes a religious modifier by affidavit to the commission for independent education.
This modifier could also be the name of a religious patriarch, saint, person or symbol of the church involved.
It states that the institution must offer only educational programmes preparing students for religious vocations like ministry, counselling, theology, education, administration, music, fine arts, media communications or social work.
FLDOE states that the titles of the degrees issued by the institution “cannot be confused with secular degree titles”.
It adds that each degree title must include a religious modifier that must be placed on the title line of the degree, on the transcript, and “whenever the title of the degree appears in official school documents or publications”.
However, the HBIU has updated the information on the website with a caveat:
“Let it be known that the credits and degrees earned through our Christian university are for religious services and may not be accepted by all colleges.”