Grand Canyon University GCU Discriminates and Commits Fraud Against Colored Students!!! Phoenix Arizona

 I found they did the same to me and Ive been trying to get out for sometime now. Finally out and they are srewing things up! This is a terrible institution and it is not Christian either.

This isnt surprising as far as financial aide goes or anything else. Turnover at this institution is widespread and growing because of the type of managers and assistant directors they have in place. Nearly all of them have ZERO postsecondary credentials and are in the positions they are in because they have just stuck around for years with no real inner drive to excel or move out of the fruitless capacity they serve in. Pete Martinez, for example who oversees the southeastern division (among others) that you speak of has his hands filled with a director out on maternity leave and an assistant director Ben people call him Gentle Ben because this f*cktard is in the assistant director position because he drank the most beers in his frat and most likely paid his professors to give him a worthless masters from Devry or Argosy or some other random. All the managers kiss his worthless a*s and that translates into poor management because what kind of manager is going to have a good day when Ben is the kind of guy you have to answer to and his sh*tty cubicle job is all you have to spire to (in some cases) after ten plus years. *Shudder* no wonder you Southwest students are so frustrated. The turnover rate is suffering because the school is filled with worthless, incompetent morons selling a sh*tty product. Good luck with that.  
 
 

First allow me to say that new topics can be challenging to grasp for some. Now that we have that out of the way I will attempt to educate the college and financial aid inept. But before we get started here is a wise tip: before you throw stones step out of your glass house, or in people listed in this complaint please educate yourselves before you pull a race card or the "I know it all" attitude.

Financial aid comes in two ways; Grants (not paid back unless satisfactory academic progress has not been attained, basically you stopped going to class) and Loans (they need to be paid back unless you are eligible for "Loan Forgiveness.") There are many types of students and the "type" or classification you are determines your award amount. For instance an independent freshman student maximum loan limit is $9,500 (dependent is $5,500) sophomore independent is $10,500 and both juniors and seniors can get $12,500. The maximum for any Pell grant is currently at $5,550. These are all set in stone by the US Department of Education via Federal Financial Aid (Title IV funding.)

Now the cost of attendance is set by the school in this case Grand Canyon University. I believe the cost of attendance there is roughly $18,000. This is NOT how much the school costs per year, which I believe to be roughly $10,440 for 2 full time semesters which equals 1 academic aid year (24 credits.)
Why the difference you may ask? Well students need school supplies, books, a computer and basically every other school related expense. The reason why this figure is capped is to HELP students not borrow too much or misuse Federal Funds to buy new twenty two inch rims and such. The reason why this is important is because of a little known maximum the government puts on how much you are able to borrow in Federal Funds called an aggregate loan limit (Bachelors Degree $57,500)

Now that you all know a LITTLE piece of the financial aid pie time to get to a few of your issues. First off if an EFC score (Estimated Expected Family Contribution Score) changes it is because you were selected for Verification by either the government or the school because something didnt add up, or you were a lucky winner of a quality assurance process. Either way you would have had to file documents including your taxes, family size, source of income and/or no taxable income worksheets for any numbers to change. I dont care what you say NO school in their right mind would ever complete any of this for you on your behalf or simply change it. I could explain why later but you wouldnt believe me so go waste time with a lawyer and he can laugh at you instead of me.

Ok here is the no brainer for the author of the "colored" people comment; first off its 2011 not the civil rights movement. Second don't compare your financial aid situation to anyone elses, if you do you don't understand how financial aid works and I suggest your RE-READ your Entrance Counseling that was required for you to obtain loans for the government (studentloans.gov) A few simple last remarks; none of you understand how financial aid works which doesnt surprise me since most American consumers are not very detail oriented. None of what has been listed has anything to do with the academics of GCU, instead people who most likely were going to school to get a stipend (left over money after tuition) to simply bail out of school. If any of you did your homework GCU is actually very affordable and reputable (check online rankings I believe they are 6 or 7 in the nation.) At last to qualify myself, I have worked for several large college and Universities of which include ASU, University of Phoenix, Mesa Community College and several others. I also encourage you to return phone calls from counselors, especially if you OWE the school money or you do not understand anything I just spelled out. Obviously the one individual who owed money to the school was not response and certainly not pro-active in handling this single most important investment of your life. I encourage each and every one of you to take responsibility for your own actions, consult an attorney if needed, and get real. I have several former co-workers who are employed with GCU and I can tell you they are an equal opportunity employer and educator. If you have ever been on campus, seen media online, or know anything about its southern Baptist roots you wouldnt pull the race card. Please visit studentaid.ed.gov for information about financial aid or if you felt you have been a victim of illegal behavior.

-Educated MEd.

I forgot to say that I do agree that there is some kind of financial aid scam going on at this school. I'm not sure if they are targeting a particular race though. I think everyone is at risk.

I'm just curious as to why you are using the word "colored" to describe a black or an African American person? That word in itself is racist and shouldn't be used but if that's your preference that's your business but don't use a word that has negative racial undertones and then turn around and say someone else is being racists. #imjustsaying

Ms Jay et al,

Dear Desert EMT:

It appears that I stepped on a toe when you responded in like manner toward my complaint. In response, the last paragraph is only a theory and perhaps you are or have been running the same game with financial aid. Watch out because the government receives numerous complaints and requests for investigation. They are cracking down because we are speaking up against people who deal with our financial aid.

However, your theory of the financial aid being fixed to meet only my needs is erroneous. My loans have a capacity and I am at liberty to ask for the full amount per year. Why??? I am paying for it and it will be my responsibility. The second thing is that GCU has many different reasons why they do this and that...there is no solidity to the program and their expectations. How can GCU claim that my tuition will be $9,500.00 throughout my freshman year and approve me for an award of $14,000.00 in aid that was awarded and approved this year while I am a freshman? Can you please answer me that? I mean you have so much experience in this field of work and I am absolutely clueless and dumb regarding the subject.

I am laughing at you right now because I feel the animosity in your writing and I know that I have touched on a topic that irritates you. Why??? It is true. A student confirmed it and I know she did it innocently. This is why I do not disclose her name. Please do not tell me that I lack knowledge when I have studied at another college for at least six years with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Education.

Before you insult anyone...get the facts first! Thank you for your input and self-knowledge.

I began attending Grand Canyon University in 01/09. I was excited to have a chance to continue my education. However, I felt uneasy after undergoing some financial aid difficulties with the finance department at GCU. I was informed that I had received over $11,000.00 in approved loan money and federal grants, BUT I was only allowed a combined aid of $9,500.00.

GCU stood with the remainder of the money. The excuse was that I was a freshman and according to GCU staff in the finance and academic departments: freshman's are only allowed $9,500.00 combined financial aid. After accepting the lie or excuse, I have continue to study at GCU.

The ironic part is that this year I was allowed $14,513.00 for the year. I enrolled for the summer and fall, but GCU is not keeping to their lie of freshman's only being allowed a combined aid of $9,500.00. This year I am allowed full aid; however, I have only received two checks: $109.67 and $1,641.00 from $14,513.00.

Is this legal? My total tuition costs and fees are: $$6782.36. My full refund was supposed to arrive yesterday (7/17/09) and a check of $1,641.00 was sent to my home alone. Here is the discriminatory part: A fellow student was waiting for her check. She is a Caucasian female and e-mailed me stating that she received her full refund. They give certain students full refunds and the colored students receive their refund in parts.

GCU is a rip-off university that should be shut down and thoroughly investigated for discrimination and fraud. GCU's calculations are wrong and I have found lump sum amounts missing from my total aid. I am seeking legal representation to file suit against GCU.

As an equal opportunity employer and provider, your statements are very disturbing and we want to understand why you feel this way. Can you please contact Dave Weems (dweems@gcu.edu) at your earliest convenience, or provide contact information so that we may connect with you?

The student loan limits are set by the US Government, not GCU. As a graduate of GCU, who is also black and female, I can say that this never happened when I attended.  You do realize that the university has over 12,000 students and financial aid awards are determined by the gov and the refunds sent out after the the lender has sent the money to the school.  You also have to realize that your aid award is for the entire year, not just one semester, so if you received that amount, that may be all your refund check is entitled to and the rest goes to pay for the next semesters classes.  This is common practice.  For example I was awarded $20,000 worth of aid at Capella, for my doctorate degree. Its for an entire year and broken up for each semester, to pay for courses.  I get the balance of whatever is left after each semester. 

First and foremost, it is important to realize that ALL institutions of higher learning are federally regulated- especially those that distribute Title IV Federal Financial Aid.

Seeing as GCU has no campuses in New York, where it appears the reporter is from, how can they discriminate on color?

I'd suggest taking some time to fully understand how the system works. The maximum allowed (by federal law) loan limit for freshman students is $9,500 annually. Schools are only capable of awarding students financial aid UP TO their cost of attendance. GCU is a three term school, so any aid given annually is divided into the three semesters. Since you started in January, there was likely only one semester left in your aid year (2008-2009) therefore your maximum aid would be lower then if you had been scheduled to attend three semesters; such as the schedule starting May 2009 and ending May 2010 (2009-2010 aid year).

There could be any number of reasons why your financial aid refund would be delayed. I've worked in this industry (at different schools) for many years. It happens everywhere. It sounds like your troubles are due more to your lack of understanding of process than by any act of intentional wrongdoing.