This school, that is located in Indiana but whose administrative office is located in Staten Island, NYC, claims on their website that they are affiliated with Sophia University and that their degrees, including doctorates, are granted by both institutions. They indicate that in 1998 they sought information to obtain regional accreditation but have not attained it twenty years latter! They also state that some of their programs are accredited by the NYS Board of Regents.
Well, it's a " .org" school and that automatically makes me wrinkle up my nose. Then there's this "The Commission on Proprietary Education, State of Indiana, determined that the program(s) or course(s) offered by Ignatius University are excluded from regulation in accordance with IC-20-1-19-1 Private School Accreditation Act." By itself it's not a big deal that it's a "religiously exempt" school (although personally I become suspicious of these) but I get even more suspicious when religiously exempt schools offer non-religious degree programs. Someone would have to have a very compelling argument in order to convince me to give them my money. I'm guessing that these degrees would have very limited utility.
Well, IF the programs they run result in degrees fro Sofia University, Bulgaria, then they may have utility; why not? On the other hand, the arrangement may bee too complex to actually give them money. Since it's an entity professing a link to Eastern Christianity, I checked it out. I found this: http://www.malankara.com , Malankara Archdiocese of North America, which appears to be a legitimate branch of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, a legitimate Oriental Orthodox jurisdiction headquartered in Damascus. "Malankara" implies a connection with that Church's communities in India. And, yes, the rector of Ignatius University Anthony J. DeLuca is really listed there, as Chorbishop (Corepiscopos), which is the highest honorary rank for a priest (not a member of the Order of Bishops, but rather a senior Presbyter). Of course, this came up before, and the late great Uncle Janko pointed out that while DeLuca is Oriental Orthodox priest, Bulgaria is predominantly Eastern Orthodox nation - similar but separate communions. I wonder how this works out if someone works on joint doctorate in anything theological.
Sheer number of different degrees they seem to offer is a little unsettling. I would hesitate to call this a mill, but do not see sufficient reasons to recommend this school, either.
That would be impressive if it was true. But I don't see them on New York's list. http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/accred/handbook/directory.htm Perhaps they meant 'registered' as opposed to 'accredited'. I didn't see them on that list either when I did an institution search. http://www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html
