Newsmakers

Is Biden Admin Trying to Shut Down Largest Christian University in America?

A battle between the largest Christian university in America and the Biden administration took a new turn this month after Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona reportedly vowed to shutter Grand Canyon University (GCU), a college located in Phoenix, Arizona. Cardona reportedly made his comments during an April 10 House Appropriations Committee hearing, stating the administration is "cracking down not only to shut them down, but to send a message to not prey on students," according to Fox News. GCU made headlines last fall when the Department of Education fined the school a historic $37.7 million over claims students were misled about the cost of a doctoral program. Despite GCU denying the claims, appealing that ruling — and defiantly pledging not to pay — Cardona doubled down. He said the fine is the "largest...in history against a school that lied about costs and terminated a school from Title IV." Brian Mueller, president of Grand Canyon University, recently told CBN News he believes his school is being unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, calling the massive $37.7 million fine "incredibly disappointing." "This all started 14 years ago ... Grand Canyon was in a very difficult spot," he said, noting the school buildings were aged and the institution was millions of dollars in debt. "We switched from a nonprofit to a for-profit status and went to the public markets to get access to capital." Mueller continued, "We wanted to make private Christian higher education affordable to all socioeconomic classes of Americans. And the plan worked better than we thought." Just 10 years later, he said GCU is in a "very good spot" and that the campus is "growing like crazy," with online education exploding in popularity. With the previous issues remedied, GCU wanted to go back to being a nonprofit university. "We thought, for the legacy of the institution, [we] would be best served by doing that," he said. "We went through the process and the IRS, who has the authority to do that work, did it, and said, 'The operation you've set up qualifies as a nonprofit, and we're giving you the legal authority to operate as a nonprofit.' And then the state of Arizona reinforced that." But Mueller said GCU found out the Department of Education did not plan to recognize the newfound nonprofit status. After four years of reportedly attempting to work with the government, he said GCU got nowhere. That's when GCU filed a complaint and the situation intensified. Hear Mueller explain.

Broadcast on:: 18 Apr 2024

Cardona reportedly made his comments during an April 10 House Appropriations Committee hearing, stating the administration is "cracking down not only to shut them down, but to send a message to not prey on students," according to Fox News.

GCU made headlines last fall when the Department of Education fined the school a historic $37.7 million over claims students were misled about the cost of a doctoral program. Despite GCU denying the claims, appealing that ruling — and defiantly pledging not to pay — Cardona doubled down.

He said the fine is the "largest...in history against a school that lied about costs and terminated a school from Title IV." Brian Mueller, president of Grand Canyon University, recently told CBN News he believes his school is being unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, calling the massive $37.7 million fine "incredibly disappointing." "This all started 14 years ago ... Grand Canyon was in a very difficult spot," he said, noting the school buildings were aged and the institution was millions of dollars in debt. "We switched from a nonprofit to a for-profit status and went to the public markets to get access to capital." Mueller continued, "We wanted to make private Christian higher education affordable to all socioeconomic classes of Americans. And the plan worked better than we thought."

Just 10 years later, he said GCU is in a "very good spot" and that the campus is "growing like crazy," with online education exploding in popularity. With the previous issues remedied, GCU wanted to go back to being a nonprofit university. "We thought, for the legacy of the institution, [we] would be best served by doing that," he said. "We went through the process and the IRS, who has the authority to do that work, did it, and said, 'The operation you've set up qualifies as a nonprofit, and we're giving you the legal authority to operate as a nonprofit.' And then the state of Arizona reinforced that."

But Mueller said GCU found out the Department of Education did not plan to recognize the newfound nonprofit status. After four years of reportedly attempting to work with the government, he said GCU got nowhere. That's when GCU filed a complaint and the situation intensified. Hear Mueller explain.