History Lesson:

Grand Canyon University once was a private Christian University that is until they were bought out by the Apollo Group in the early 2000's. You see GCU was originally owned an operated by a Southern Baptist Church who found themselves facing bankruptcy during the aforementioned time period. Well, in came the group now known as the Apollo Group. Many of you may be more familiar with this business engine under the name of University of Phoenix. Yup...same group of business tycoons. Now, don't get me wrong I am all for free-markets and capitalism. It's what makes our country great, however, there is a reason we have laws, rules and regs. We have to have those checks and balances. Well...much to my dismay I became one of the many "victims" of GCU's newly found ownership and their remarkable business prowress. You see...I spent 17 years in healthcare and in 2006 GCU launched their business plan through my, as well as several other folks, healthcare employers. For the first time in the Unviversities history they were now offering online and co-hort courses geared toward advancing the careers of the helathcare worker. Co hort meaning the classes came to the campus of the employer to hold classes. Well...I like many other coworkers jumped on-board at the chance of the more accessible and purported discounted educational offering. Well...as many of us were soon to learn we just stepped into a lions trap. Suffice to say as an honor student having held a 4.0GPA pre GCU and during GCU it was nothing short of the biggest triathalon of education in my life. I [like my co-workers] became the hamster in the wheel doing nothing more than spitting money at GCU. How, you ask? It was simple...they signed us all up in our places of employment; stated there would be a tuition discount (which at least in my case was never honored); our employers were offering $5250 a year towards attendance at this University so we all thought it was "safe." Once in the labryinth you can never get out. I'm sure you are wondering why I would refer to it as a labyrinth..So, I will give you my personal example... they would say "Ghostwriter" you need to take this accounting class 123. Ghostwriter would take class 123 in an accelerated format and nearing the completion of accelerated format #1 academic enrollment advisor would prepare the schedule for accelerated format #2. By the end of accelerated format #2 the "course catalog requirements" had miraculously changed and accelerated format classes #1 no longer meant anything other than a fat paycheck to the Unviersity and Ghostwriter was told a whole new group of classes was now required. So ghostwriter would take business law get an "A" and 16 weeks later was told it didn't count toward anything except the bill and by the way here are the new classes you need to take. Ghostwriter did this from 2006-2010 continuously,, full-time, year-round. Ghostwriter has filed all the acadmeic and financial appeals through the University possible  and now 4 1/2yrs later am finally learning how to make it a legal matter. After transferring in more than enough for an associates and additionally having completed all the excessive #'s of credits mentioned through GCU themselves they still say I need yet two more classes to-date and at a full tuition rate to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree. I am left owing a purported 72k for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Healthcare Managemernt (no longer offered) and no degree. Not quite sure how I can owe 72k when the government cuts you off at 52,5k. Much to my dismay I just learned of the class action wagered against GCU which was settled in 2010 through recent internet searches which puts me "too late." I was also told of activities of the Univetsity during this same time period of enrollment counselors (who were getting bonuses for these enrollement tactics) as signing up homeless people for their courses in Southern United States. I have no idea if this is true but I would tend to believe it given their practices during my time spent with this Business Engine. Oh, and fyi the way GCU gets away with calling themselves a Christian University....they never canceled the pastoral courses that had been historically offered and they used (am told they don't any longer) to require at least 6 credits of the "religious studies." Wish"Ghostwriter" luck. It's Samson vs Goliath folks....

Grand Canyon University officially settles $5.2 mil lawsuit

by Dawn Gilbertson - Aug. 18, 2010 05:04 PM

The Arizona Republic

Read more: archive.azcentral.com/business/articles/2010/08/18/20100818biz-grandcanyon0819.html#ixzz3PIFVrxVA