January 1, Christian University Claims It’s Being Unjustly Targeted By Feds

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) president, Brian Mueller, pulled back the curtain on what he sees as undue federal pressure on the nation’s largest Christian university.

GCU, facing multiple investigations from the Department of Education (ED) and other federal heavyweights, is taking a stand. When pressed on whether religious bias might be fueling the federal scrutiny, Mueller responded cautiously.

“Well, they haven’t said it is, and I certainly haven’t said it is. And I hope that it’s not, but that the two largest Christian universities in the country are being investigated,” he reflected, hinting at the concurrent ED probe into Virginia’s Liberty University.

“And so is that [a] coincidence? I don’t know.”

The heart of the issue? A 2018 decision by the ED, which shot down GCU’s push to regain its nonprofit status—a move crucial for the university’s quest to unlock federal grant-writing, research opportunities, and critical funds due to their substantial Hispanic enrollment.

GCU’s nonprofit journey has been a rollercoaster. Originally a nonprofit from its 1949 foundation, they shifted to a for-profit model in 2004, bringing in private investors to keep the academic dream alive. Yet, in 2018, GCU reclaimed its nonprofit status—at least by the benchmarks of the IRS, State of Arizona, and other entities. The ED, however, begged to differ.

Following the rejection, GCU launched a lawsuit in 2021, labeling the ED’s decision as “arbitrary and capricious.” In defense, an ED spokesperson retorted that under 2018 considerations, GCU missed the mark for nonprofit status because the bulk of their revenues fed a for-profit entity. This back-and-forth continued through the courts, with GCU consistently on the losing end. Their battle continues with an appeal set for Dec. 5.

On October 5, GCU ratcheted up the tension, alleging in a statement that the ED, alongside the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), seemed to be gunning for them in what appeared as retaliation.

The statement minced no words: “Government officials associated with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and under the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are coordinating efforts to unjustly target GCU… this is occurring at an alarming level for government agencies to be taking against the largest Christian university in the country.”

Further complications emerge with an inquiry into GCU’s advertising methods, specifically their claims about the high demand for cybersecurity experts.

Mueller, defending the university’s stance, asserted to Fox News Digital, “We said that because that’s a fact.”

Adding another layer, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) chipped in with a statement explaining why GCU faces a different type of review, stemming from a 2021 Trump-era law.

The FTC, meanwhile, is shining a spotlight on GCU’s partner, Grand Canyon Education (GCE). The university rebuffs allegations of cold-calling potential students, insisting they only reach out to genuinely interested parties.

Interestingly, this all ties into the Biden administration’s 2021 initiative to crack the whip on for-profit colleges, citing concerns over misused Title IV funds.

Mueller counters this narrative, highlighting GCU’s commendable student loan default rates and underlining the mismatch between federal perceptions and GCU’s reality.

While Mueller voices his bafflement over the intense scrutiny, the FTC remains tight-lipped, offering “no comment” in response to his statements.

Not to be outdone, the Department of Education is also taking a hard look at GCU’s doctoral program, accusing the university of downplaying costs. In response, a department spokesperson drove home their point: most students forked out considerably more than the listed price.

The Department remains firm in their commitment to overseeing educational institutions, irrespective of their religious affiliations or past litigations.

As the battle lines between GCU and federal agencies continue to be drawn, one thing’s for sure: GCU isn’t backing down without a fight.

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