Graham International University

[DeShawn]

Thank you for contacting CHEA.  CHEA does not recognize ECLBS, we will certainly look into this.
Eric G Selwyn
Membership and Outreach Manager
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
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(202) 955-6126
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http://www.chea.org  e: selwyn@chea.org
  
  
 
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From: deshawn.thompson <deshawn.thompson@proton.me>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 1:50 PM
To: Council for Higher Education Accreditation <chea@chea.org>
Subject: Report of Possible Degree Mill Activity – Graham International University (GIU) 
Dear CHEA Team,
I hope this message finds you well.
I would like to report a possible degree mill operating under the name Graham International University (GIU). The institution publicly claims to be accredited and “CHEA-recognized,” but based on my review, these claims appear to be misleading.
Details:
• Name: Graham International University (GIU)
• Website: https://university.fgjf.org
• Claimed Accreditor: ECLBS (European Council of Leading Business Schools) – which, to my knowledge, is not recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education as an official accrediting body.
• Operating Entity: The Frankie Graham Jr. Foundation (Entity #6552119), a Pennsylvania-registered nonprofit organization.
• Claimed Location: 1502 Palm Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19604, USA
• Programs Advertised: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programs.
• Sample Certificates: https://university.fgjf.org/certificate-samples/
• News Article Referencing “CHEA Recognition”: https://university.fgjf.org/news/giu-ecl...editation/
In this article, GIU claims that it is “CHEA-recognized” through ECLBS. However, the language is ambiguous and appears to imply direct CHEA recognition.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has no record of Graham International University being authorized, licensed, or exempted to operate or award degrees within the state, according to their published institutional listings.
Given these concerns, I wanted to bring this matter to your attention for review under CHEA’s Combating Degree and Accreditation Mills initiative .
Thank you for your time and for your continued work to uphold academic integrity.
Kind regards,
DeShawn Thompson

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Good morning and thank you for contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Higher Education Access and Equity.
 
Your outreach on November 12, 2025, is seeking confirmation if GIU is currently authorized, licensed, or holds an exemption from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to operate and award degrees within the Commonwealth and whether PDE has any record of this university’s approval or exemption status.
 
GIU is not authorized to operate or award degrees by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  GIU is also not exempt from requiring authorization.
 
 
Kind regards,
 
Hemalatha Raja | Administrative Assistant 1
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education | Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
Phone: 717.783.6786
607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Postsecondary and Higher Education | Department of Education | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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Graham International University (GIU) is a diploma mill that falsely claims to be recognized by CHEA. I have verified with CHEA that no such recognition exists, and the institution is not authorized by either the Pennsylvania or California Departments of Education, making its operations illegal.