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  • Report:  #970991

Complaint Review: Grand Canyon University - Phoenix Arizona

Reported By:
Telesa - Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, 85017 Arizona, United States of America
Phone:
1-800-800-9776
Web:
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I begin Grand Canyon University after being recruited by one of their reps attending a conference for teachers. I contacted the enrollment office and begin the process. I spoke with the financial aid adviser and informed them that I had recently graduated from the University of Phoenix. I explained that I received the Teach grant there and I wanted to know if I qualified for that grant with their school. I was told that I do qualify and that I should go to the appropriate website and complete required documentation.  I did that without any problems. I was contacted by Becky (financial counselor) who advised that my documents was received and I qualified for the grant.  I received the grant in August of 2011 and loans I received were returned.

Now in October, a month before I graduate the program, I get an email stating refund disbursed on my account. So, I contacted the financial aid department to find out what was going on and they tell me they are working on my account and that there was a problem with my financial aid. I did not hear from them for over two weeks so I called them again. I was told that they were still working on it and that my financial aid adviser (Andrea) would be contacting me after they complete the process. I never received that call.  I received a bill from Grand Canyon University for 2, 194.86.

I contacted the financial aid department to only get voice mails of two different supervisors. I left a message.  I called back on Tuesday November 13, 2012 and was able to speak with Andrea who advised that she was unsure of what was going on. She told me she would call me back and she did, but only to tell me that the people in the back office say that I owe the charges because they had over paid me in teach grant awards.

Now, here is the problem, they qualified me for teach grant awards and they disbursed left over funds. Here we are in my last weeks of school and they return teach grant funds. They claim they can go back and return funds, but they cannot get back the loan money they returned.  Who fault is it if they overpaid me and they cannot get loan money back. The financial aid adviser should be held accountable for her mistake not pass the charges on to the student.

All I got from them is excuses and them telling me how much money I received and asking me did I save any money from the stipends sent out.


6 Updates & Rebuttals

Justin Doug

Grand Canyon,
Arizona,
United States of America
I Told You So

#2UPDATE EX-employee responds

Fri, January 11, 2013

Dear Latest Victims of Grand Canyon "Christian" University Online~

I wish you had already come to this website before getting involved with Grand Canyon University.

I taught for five years for Grand Canyon University from 2005 - 2010 and was one of their best online instructors.  I was diligent, timely, competent, and I cared deeply for my students.  Then in 2009, Grand Canyon University was sued by the Department of Education for fraud.  In an out of court settlement, Grand Canyon "Christian" University paid more than $5 million to the Department of Education to make the fraud claim go away.  It was during this time period that good professors like me were fired because we were passing out real grades to students rather than just passing anybody with a bogus "A."

I was told after five years of successful employment with GCU that I was being let go because of my online "tone" and that I had not posted my phone number in the right place.

Grand Canyon University, I predict, won't be around much longer because of unscrupulous practices like this that continue.  To pass out degrees, like water, to the most incompetent students and allow them to be credentialed, for example, as nurses and teachers, is despicable.  Would you want a Grand Canyon graduate to be the nurse at your bedside?  Would you want a Grand Canyon graduate who can't even compose proper English to be teaching your child?

I am sorry to hear that you wasted your money and time at Grand Canyon "Christian" University.

By the way, I now work for three other online universities that have ethnics and integrity.  I am very pleased with my new employment and the students are a lot happier as well.  When I grade a student's paper and include constructive feedback, it is appreciated by all -- including my supervisors.


GCU Masters Student

Belfair,
Washington,
United States of America
I am so worried..about education at Grand Canyon University that I am physically Ill.

#3Consumer Comment

Thu, January 03, 2013

I am about halfway through my masters program at GCU and everyday I grow more and more weary of the Financial and Recruiting Process.  I have never missed class, I have good recommendations from my teachers, and the school itself is what it is.  The financial side though is absolutely confusing and so frustrating that I cried myself to sleep last night.  This is a school founded with Christian Values and I guess that means nothing.  If I call the financial department they always assume complaints, nothing is certain with financial practice, and honestly I am at the point where I want to start a grass roots campaign.  I advise anyone to do research on the reports released from the schools and make their own opinions about what the Directors of the University speak about as far as maintaining profitability.  I was shocked.  If you can find one positive memo or company document that states the concern for student succeeding please post it here.  The only ones I can find say they want success for certain students to avoid investigation or profit loss.  I am really sick to my stomach that I could have made such a poor choice for my education.  I love the teachers and classes.  I have had conversations with my professors and without transcript I will not post what sort of comments they make when I inquire about life after GCU, academics, and  ethics.  Any reports on this site to the contrary must be researched because the students I have tried to contact are either beginners or not who they say they are.  This may not be true for every happy student so prove me wrong.  I am scared to death about what the school can do to people who complain and when my phone rings from GCU I always expect them to be coming up with a way to get rid of me.  So sorry for everyone going through this process and I am not a Christian, but my empathy is true unlike anyone I have talked to a GCU who did not have incentives to keep me there.  I cannot transfer or I lose more money.  This kind of stuff really affects my emotions and I have considered going into the hospital to get help for the intense depression I feel from the way people are treating me after a year of onetime payments, straight A's, taking extra courses, contributing my life of cultural diversity and adversity to the other students and being there to comfort class mates with the same problem.  I encourage you to pretend I am a crazy person and research in favor of GCU.  I would love the information and I do not want to be the one to burst other peoples bubbles.  I could be totally wrong about everything so you decide.  Thanks


robert

jonesville,
South Carolina,
United States of America
Let me know how it goes!!

#4Consumer Comment

Tue, December 04, 2012

I'm wondering how it turns out for you. I would be happy if they sent me the money to pay off my account with Grand Canyon University. That would be fair and I would get my degree. I'm not holding my breath though.


Telesa

Memphis,
Tennessee,
United States of America
No help at all

#5Author of original report

Tue, December 04, 2012

They contacted me today to say they posted additional loan money on the account that they could not do for previous charges. They advised that it was removed and sent to me and that I need to cash the check and return the money to them.  This seems like they are trying to get over on the government by applying funds and having me return them to them to pay for the fees. I contacted them after I submitted my original post and they told me that my appeal was rejected because I missed a step in the process (speak to her supervisors' boss). I left him a message and he never returned the my call.  Now that they have sent funds out to me they want me to return them.  I don't think they are on the up and up if you know what I mean. 


robert

jonesville,
South Carolina,
United States of America
Was there any attempt to actually resolve this by Grand Canyon University?

#6Consumer Comment

Sat, December 01, 2012

Was there any attempt to actually resolve this by Grand Canyon University? Just wondering.


GCUStudentResolutions

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA
Resolution

#7UPDATE Employee

Mon, November 19, 2012

Hi Telesa,

We're sorry to hear that you're frustrated and would like to help. Please send an email to our Student Resolution Office so they can advocate on your behalf to help achieve a resolution for you. The address is: [email protected]. Kindly detail your situation and someone will reach out to you to help resolve the issue.

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