GCU Has >133 BBB Complaints

[GrandScamyon]

As of the end of December 2011 it was 133. In just two weeks it's now up to 137---and counting!

And they just got sued by the feds for fraud too. They paid $5.2 million to settle.

Avoid Grand Canyon University--it is a scam and a ripoff! Not just a degree mill.....it's a disgrace mill!!!

Quote:Submitted: Thursday, December 29, 2011
Posted: Thursday, December 29, 2011
Reported By: Justina — Grand Canyon Arizona United States of America

Grand Canyon "University" Hall of Shame Fraud, Internet

Check out the Better Business Bureau website. Grand Canyon "University" has had 133 BBB complaints lodged against it during the past three years.

I am a former GCU professor, fired for awarding legitimate grades to students.

I now teach for the "Big Guys" online and I have had no problems. Curious, I checked to see how many BBB complaints the "Big Guys" have had during the last three years: THREE

Big Guys: Three (3) BBB complaints during the last three years

Grand Canyon University: 133 (ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE) BBB complaints during the last three years

Quote:Submitted: Sunday, August 21, 2011
Last Posting: Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Reported By: Justina — Gainesville Florida United States of America

Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University Online Grand Canyon University was Sued for Fraud by the United States Department of Education Phoenix, Arizona

Are you job searching after receive a “degree” from Grand Canyon University?

How would you like to inform potential employers that you graduated from a “university” that was sued by the United States Department of Education for fraud? Think that will enhance your chances of getting a job in a tight job market?

In August 11, 2008, the U.S. Department of Education filed a qui tam action under the False Claims Act for GCU’s receiving millions of dollars from the U.S. DOE while paying incentives and bonuses to enrollment counselors for any warm body who applies to get a degree at GCU (such incentives and bonuses are illegal and out of compliance with federal mandates).

It was alleged in the federal civil complaint filed against GCU that GCU (1) “knowingly made false statements to get a false or fraudulent claim paid,” and (2) “knowingly submitted false records to get a false or fraudulent claim paid.”

GCU settled out for $5.2 million.

Now imagine that you are job searching and your potential boss knows that (a) any warm body was allowed to enroll at GCU and (b) online instructors who give real grades are fired (I was one of them).

How serious is your potential boss going to take your transcript which shows you received all A’s and B’s from GCU—and hundreds of other graduates from GCU also show all A’s and B’s on their transcripts?

“So, tell me about your experiences as an online student at GCU,” your potential boss states.

“Oh, the online professors are really nice. And if they don’t pass you, you can make a complaint on them and get them fired.”

“Oh,” says your potential boss. “I see several misspelled words on your job application and you’re your statement of purpose. Why is that?”

“Well, because, at GCU, we get graded according to a grading rubric and misspelled words only count for a miniscule number of points. A student can therefore still receive an A on his or her papers, even if spelling is a problem.”

“And did you learn how to write reports? This job will require you to submit weekly reports that must read well.”

“Oh, yes!” you contend. “I participated in CLCs—Collaborative Learning Communities. Oftentimes, there are six people who write a paper as a group. Sometimes it’s only one person who is really doing all of the writing, but all of the rest of us get the same grade, which is generally an A. I mean, if our ‘online facilitator’ had not awarded us an ‘A,’ we certainly would have complained about her and gotten her into trouble.”

“And what standing does Grand Canyon University have with the United States Department of Education.”

“Oh, we were sued by the U.S. DOE for fraud.”

“Well, thank you for coming in for this interview. I’ll be sure to keep your resume on file.”

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Grand Canyon University

[Dickie Billericay]

(01-15-2012 05:53 PM)GrandScamyon Wrote:  Avoid Grand Canyon University--it is a scam and a ripoff! Not just a degree mill.....it's a disgrace mill!!!

Thanks for the heads up on that situation. Have a friend who made a run at a GCU program who reported they refused to send a student loan award letter until after the start of the semester. Thus no way to know whether the loan covered all (or any) of the tuition until liability was incurred for the courses. Friend decided to look elsewhere.

So regional accreditation means what again, exactly? Something to do with "quality"? Absolutely, positively no more than 200 BBB complaints (in the last three years)?

[Virtual Bison]

I find this report to be rather disturbing since this was, at least for a while, one of the few schools which would accept credits from Warren National University once the accreditation fascists shut it down. At least it was one of the few schools which did so publically and actively solicited former students.

Later on the accreditation Nazis met with representatives of this college and twisted their arms, forcing them to abandon their attempts to recruit WNU alumns. I do not know if they actually stopped honoring Warren credits or if it was just lip service to throw off the scent when the dogs were closing in.

I hope the reports on rip off report are not all true, but this would not be the first time that a regionally accredited school screwed its students.

[Albert Hidel]

(01-17-2012 05:11 PM)Virtual Bison Wrote:  I find this report to be rather disturbing since this was, at least for a while, one of the few schools which would accept credits from Warren National University once the accreditation fascists shut it down.

At first it seemed as though GCU was trying to do the WNU students a favor. Now it's looking like they just saw a bunch of easy targets for more false promises and doubletalk.

[Herbert Spencer]

(01-15-2012 05:53 PM)GrandScamyon Wrote:  As of the end of December 2011 it was 133. In just two weeks it's now up to 137---and counting!

As of today: 143 complaints.

Nice catch, Grand Scamyon. GCU seems like a candidate for a consumer warning here. Although I wonder if BBB complaints make for an apples-to-apples comparison, as non-profits typically don't belong to the BBB. If RA is really a mark of quality it would be nice to see some JD Power-type stats on consumer satisfaction.

[Martin Eisenstadt]

(01-15-2012 05:53 PM)GrandScamyon Wrote:  Avoid Grand Canyon University--it is a scam and a ripoff! Not just a degree mill.....it's a disgrace mill!!!

Here's an interesting complaint about GCU posted on the BBB website. Apparently the GCU education program is for those with ready access to government school classrooms, such as teachers already active in the field trying to pump up their credentials to get a raise at taxpayer expense, not newbies trying to break into the government education scam. An expensive lesson for this lady, no doubt.

But even worse, notice that the student is an education major yet she is barely literate. Clearly this gal would be over-matched in any academic setting that required even moderate fluency in the English language, let alone a college program. I'm sure this lady is sincere in her noble goal of helping others, but....OMFG! You have to wonder if a TOEFL exam for some American-born victims of the government education system might be in order.

This is why Walter Williams described schools of education as "academic slums." But that doesn't stop the Gold Standard from selling people a bunch of hot air. I can't think of any other reason they would admit someone so obviously lacking the basic foundation to complete the work.

Wasn't John Cleese the star of "Timly Manor"?

Quote:Negative Experience (1 review)
1/21/2012

I am an education major at Grand Canyon U. Is that the short classes give you no time to set up observations in a timly manor. The councilers tell you that you have a list of over 10 to 15 options of observing a public, priviate, schools and tutoring services. The class requirements and teacher says it must be a title one school. Public Title one schools in my city would take as long or longer as your class last. this puts you in a bind becasue even if the teacher gives you and incomplete and gives you more time, your next class starts and it has observation requirements too.

This consumer had a NEGATIVE experience with this business.

by Jill S. on 1/21/2012 | Submit a Comment

http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Revi...r-reviews/

[Herbert Spencer]

(01-25-2012 05:39 AM)Herbert Spencer Wrote:  

(01-15-2012 05:53 PM)GrandScamyon Wrote:  As of the end of December 2011 it was 133. In just two weeks it's now up to 137---and counting!

As of today: 143 complaints.

And as of today, 148 complaints.

Incredible. Over and under for end of 2012 total? I'm thinking 200 sounds about right.

You have to figure that if AZ was a WASC jurisdiction that this place would be on double secret probation by now. The NCACS version of the Gold Standard is really becoming a joke.

[ham]

Quote:I am an education major at Grand Canyon U. Is that the short classes give you no time to set up observations in a timly manor. The councilers tell you that you have a list of over 10 to 15 options of observing a public, priviate, schools and tutoring services. The class requirements and teacher says it must be a title one school. Public Title one schools in my city would take as long or longer as your class last. this puts you in a bind becasue even if the teacher gives you and incomplete and gives you more time, your next class starts and it has observation requirements too.

Is this middle English?

[Yancy Derringer]

(03-10-2012 06:49 AM)Herbert Spencer Wrote:  Over and under for end of 2012 total? I'm thinking 200 sounds about right.

153 as of today. I say they hit 200 by July 4.

[Armando Ramos]

(03-28-2012 01:37 PM)Yancy Derringer Wrote:  I say they hit 200 by July 4.

200 by the All-Star Game (July 10).