Grand Canyon University [GCU]’s earns a 1.5-star rating from 313 reviews, showing that the majority of students are dissatisfied with educational experience.
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contract failure
June 13, 2011
Dr. Kimberly LaPrade
Dean, College of Education
Grand Canyon University
Dr. LaPrade,
I am submitting a request to you for assistance with an unresolved situation with the university that you represent, or connecting me to an individual who can assist me in an expeditious manner. My name is [redacted], and I am a GCU graduate effective June 8, 2011.
I have been charged for coursework that was not a part of my enrollment agreement, and my attempts to resolve the situation within the prescribed channels has led nowhere. At every step along the way in this situation, I was informed that the charges would not occur. When they did, I was notified that the charges would be reversed. It is now going on to the 6th week without any resolution despite my repeated calls, and without any contact from the academic counseling department as to progress.
In November 2009 I enrolled with GCU to complete a masters program in education administration. In Winter 2010 I had to sign a new enrollment agreement to change to the four-credit programming. At that time, I signed an enrollment agreement which called for two 2-credit internship classes. In October 2010, I was told that I would have to take two 4-credit internships, but that I would not be charged for the second. I was reassured by Ryan Weeda, my second academic counselor that this would be the case on repeated occasions.
In April 2011, I was charged for the second internship. Approximately 1200 dollars was subtracted from my financial aid package, leaving a balance of 760 dollars owed to the university. I immediately contacted Ryan Weeda, who informed me that he would submit the issue to his manager for resolution, and that the money would be refunded. After two weeks, I again contacted the university to check on the status. I was told that Ryan had been promoted, and that Dan Medina, my third academic counselor, would assist me. Dan was not aware of my issue, and I had to start the process over. He asked me to submit a complaint form, which I did, and that he would forward this on to his manager.
After two weeks I was contacted by Erin Ontko, who notified me that I had an outstanding balance on my account. Angry, I asked to be connected to Dan, and was notified that my academic counselor was Katherine Biesler (now my fourth counselor in a year and a half), and that Dan was helping her accounts while she was on vacation. Katherine notified me that the request had been approved by her manager, but that action required approval from an unnamed regional manager. Since this time (four weeks into the formal process) I have had no resolution or contact from Lorenzo Sanchez, the academic counseling manager. I am now in my sixth week, have completed all coursework and requested transcripts which I am concerned will not be sent due to the outstanding balance. It appears that GCU has made little priority resolving this situation or contacting me.
I request that GCU honor the signed agreement that I have contracted with the university, and that the 860 dollars along with the 1200 dollars already received be refunded. I am disappointed that the university has not demonstrated leadership or action on my behalf, and consequently I am cc’ing this email to the administrative leadership, along with the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education and consumerist.com seeking resolution.
I hope that this action will spur the university to resolve my situation and take appropriate action so that other students do not suffer.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
financial aid nightmare, unprofessional, worst educational experience ever!!
This university is the most unprofessional educational company I have ever seen. My situation is so complexed... but after attending GCU for the last 3 years I have been through 3 academic counselors and 2 financial advisors. I decided that in 2010 I no longer wanted to complete the degree I was attending GCU for. I talked with my financial advisor and she stated that I would have to take 2 more courses in order to leave the college free and clear. So trusting my financial advisor... I took those classes. So come to find out the information in one of my class was extrememly familiar. I realized I had already taken the class and passed it with a B... called her immediately, no worries its my mistake and it will be removed from your account she says. Ok all is fair. The college is still trying to make me pay $1375.20 for this course I was enrolled into twice. I was in this class for a day!
The additional course I was in, I ran into some problems completing the practicum hours. I communicated the issues with my "facilitator"/instructor, she stated my reasoning did not meet the requirements of the extension that could be given. HELLO... if the school Im interning at wont allow me to go until further notice... then I cant go! What am I supposed to do... NO HELP! I would have to retake the course. "But you already did all the assignments and received good grades so just resubmit your assignments when you retake the course and then you just have to focus on the hours that need to be completed" she says. I finished on 12/5/2010, turned all that I had, and thought I was free and clear to leave the school.
So months and months pass... it has now been 6... I get a call from my newest academic counselor and financial counselor. We need to get you back into classes. Long story short... my unprofessional academic counselor never removed that course I was double booked for... AND GET THIS... I never had to take those addtional courses she stated I had to take. I was free and clear to leave when I wanted to. So what this did now is put me into a new payment period for the academic year. I asked for an itemized statement of my charges... weeks went by and I received nothing from my financial aid counselor. Finally get it because I called and tore someones head off over the phone that had zero knowledge of my situation.
Ok... so moving on, because I only completed 4 credits of that academic period supposedly the university had to return all of my financial aid (SUB and UNSUB loans/PELL) for the entire academic year. They are now say I owe them $12, 000 and I have 1 day to get back into classes or it will be sent to collection with 30% interest sum attached to it. I have checked my loans and PELL grats through NSLDS.ed.gov and there has not been a cent returned. My options are to come back and take classes at this crappy university or owe them this money. Thats all they had to offer me, when I never should have had to take those classes and it was their academic advisors fault. I stated I want to take to the advisor I had to straighten this mess out... GET THIS she no longer works there, the college had to let her go. Everything that I told them... some matched up and some didnt because she took in adquate notes.
I asked to get the money back they supposedly sent back to cover my courses. The cannot do this because I am now labeled at inactive student... but I wasnt at the time that money was awarded?!?! The labeled my as a withdrawn student as of 12/5/10 but never processed my varifaction letter until 12/8/10. I have proof I emailed that varification letter to my financial advisor 10/18/2010.
I NEED A LAWYER! I know I have rights as a students somewhere!~~NEVER AGAIN~~~NEVER AGAIN will I take online courses from an out of state college!
Thanks GCU Resolutions...
But I have called every where seeking answers for my rights... I got in contact with one woman who told me they cant do what they did. I have called all the different departments of GCU and nothing! I dont know if it were resolution or not... but I have a page of numbers I have been given and if any department calls back you all say the same thing and in the end resulting in everyone there basically finds a way to back each other up and there is always an excuse (wheather its new, repeating, or just rediculous)... But I love the hospitality through the message anyways. Anyways Thanks.
If you're not certain that you've worked with the Student Resolution Team, I strongly encourage you to touch base with this group so we can assist you in a prompt manner. Please consider reaching out to this team at resolutionteam@gcu.edu and someone will contact you within one business day.
If you will kindly reach out to the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you within one business day.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.
federal aid
I attended Grand Canyon Universities MBA program and received Federal Financial Aid. The last semester I was enrolled at the college I was scheduled to graduate in the middle of it. The schedule was to take two classes per semester. In October 2010 I completed the program and Graduated, I was not required to take the second class in that semester to graduate. The whole time I was in my last class I had noticed that my account had a credit for $1612.31. I called GCU financial aid department to inquire about the credit. They did not understand why I had the credit and said they would look into to it and contact me. Several weeks went by and no one contacted however all of a sudden I received a check for the $1612.31. I cashed it and used it thinking that was my money. Upon completion of my last class I filed my graduation application and sent the required fee of $200. It said I would receive my diploma in eight weeks. Nine weeks went by and I did not get the diploma so I called and they informed me I owed the college $1612.31. I asked why and they told me that I was not eligible to get that money. They said that it was sent back since I only took one class in my final semester. They told me that the money was credited back to my loan and this fact I was able to verify. The issue is that I have is that the check was sent to me and my assumption was that I could use these funds. I had received several refund checks while enrolled in the school and I had never had any problems. The money is gone and now I do not have the ability to repay it to the school. I went through four different financial aid workers while I was enrolled and it seems like no one knows what is going on at the financial aid department. On this issue I have talked with several people, including a supervisor. Everyone tells me something different and I have spent several hours on the phones attempting to solve this problem. I have done some investigating about the schools financial aid office and it seems like many similar issues happen to other students. I am hoping that maybe what has happened to me and the other students can be prevented. The department feels that it is my responsibility and I feel that I am not a financial aid expert. I was that schools client, and as the client I was relying on professional advisement which I did not get. This problem cannot be solved with the financial aid department and I feel that this school has taken advantage of me along with many other students.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):
http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/
Agreed, I just was told a month ago that since they changed the way they count their credits, my fianncial aid was short one class but witht he next round they would take my overage and pay off that last class. Lo and behold I get two weeks ago that I am $97 short after paying the last class with my overage, yesterday I get a call saying I am one class short of money, close to $2, 000..WTF?! I have 4 classes to go to graduate and will not pull money out of my pocket because they changed the way they credit their courses (3 credtis to 4 credits now). I expect them to give me that class or I will go finish elsewhere even if it takes me more time.
I do believe you! I started online courses on Aug 8th, class wise everything is ok, The financial department sucks, i call my counselor all day no answer then I still have a hold on my financial aid disbursement I still have not got aaward letter, i talk to her today and she tells me she had to re-submitt my documents due to one sheet was lost in a shuffle of documents. Franseca is my counselor and now when she emails me she sends me Kimberly contact information her supervisor and when I emailed her no email back or call back from her. I regret applying to this school.
rip off, fraud, etc, etc...
Hello fellow GCU victims,
My name is Mike Ashley and I am unfortunately an online student of GCU. I have been on the bad end of the stick with them for a while now and I have contacted the Phoenix board of education, board of higher education, the US board of education, the accreditation company for GCU and the Inspector Generals office concerning my troubles with GCU. It seems that their are ZERO governing bodies to reside over GCU or any private college. I was told that they might have a local board but that the board could very well be comprised of the people who own the university. I believe they would be the very Apollo Group that has made this adventure a complete cluster-### already.
We have been treated like garbage, ignored, lied to and worst of all...they have our blind government behind them in black balling us all to pay them regardless of their offenses. By standing Idol and ignorant of our cries, they are helping in our demise.
If we have to force a class action lawsuit, we will all need to band together to convince an attorney firm to represent us.
Please contact me when you receive this message. My private e-mail is [protected]@live.com. I need your help in determining my options if their are any. We all need to band together to take these ### down.
Thank you for your time and input.
Mike Ashley
Hello fellow GCU victims,
My name is Mike Ashley and I am unfortunately an online student of GCU. I have been on the bad end of the stick with them for a while now and I have contacted the Phoenix board of education, board of higher education, the US board of education, the accreditation company for GCU and the Inspector Generals office concerning my troubles with GCU. It seems that their are ZERO governing bodies to reside over GCU or any private college. I was told that they might have a local board but that the board could very well be comprised of the people who own the university. I believe they would be the very Apollo Group that has made this adventure a complete cluster-### already.
We have been treated like garbage, ignored, lied to and worst of all...they have our blind government behind them in black balling us all to pay them regardless of their offenses. By standing Idol and ignorant of our cries, they are helping in our demise.
If we have to force a class action lawsuit, we will all need to band together to convince an attorney firm to represent us.
Please contact me when you receive this message. My private e-mail is mikeashley1976@live.com. I need your help in determining my options if their are any. We all need to band together to take these ### down.
Thank you for your time and input.
Mike Ashley
Hello fellow GCU victims!
I have had two people contact me today concerning the fight against GCU's unethical practices.
One who has been screwed and one who has really been screwed by the GCU administration.
Join the fight today! We have the motivation but we need the numbers. People only listen to the masses on these matters. If you want your situation heard...then e-mail me here: mikeashley1976@live.com.
I will help you fight or fight for you...GCU needs to be held accountable and we will do it...one way or another.
Mike Ashley
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Stay away from this school! The staff is very unprofessional and lack training. When problems occur the school will ignore them and when you call to try and to get help the staff acts as if you are bothering them when the problems you are having is indeed the schools fault! This school is pathetic!
I want in also...when will these scoundrels be held accountable for their BS and lies
I have already made my complaint her since I just happen to stumble across the lawsuit. My question is how do I join it? Can someone get back to me on this? I left my e-mail I really would like to see them get what is oming to them for ripping so many people off. How do I receive a reply? J. Ziegler
We are just a few of the many that this money factory is taking advantage of! We need to take this fight to the national media and get answers today!
I am dealing with the school. Just one of the problems is that the staff is very untrained and unprofessional.
Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):
http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/
It seems apparent to me that many of the complaints listed here are from uneducated individuals. Didn't anyone teach you about spell check on your computer? Really people, everyone makes mistakes and every univeristy has a complaint department, so guess what... GCU is in the same league of many of your finer Ivy League schools out there. I have been with GCU for about 3 1/2 years and plan to continue on for my PhD. Even with its FA department problems it is still one of the best online schools there is. Yes, I have had problems with the FA department, but I also realize that your reaction to it is what perpetuates the problem. Take a breath. Relax. Eventually you will get the FA you deserve. I know that is hard to do...but once you realize you have no control over it...and just learn to go with the flow...the better off you will be. To those of you complaining that you have to pay for a class that YOU failed, that is because although that class was paid for by your financial aid, if you failed it then you did not meet the requirement for graduation. Even if you paid for that class out of pocket and you failed it you would still have to pay to take it over again to meet graduation requirements. The government isn't going to pay for you to take the same class twice...duh. All I can really say is...chill. Continue to study, do your DQs and responses on time, submit your homework on time, don't plagiarize, and keep plugging along toward that degree...in the end you will have a degree and you will be proud of your accomplishment.
And I know an idiot when I see one. Didn't anyone ever tell you it isn't safe to post your name and email address on a public website April, or do you live in cotton candy land?
Mike Ashely please do contact me by email rodaprharris@yahoo.com! I want the financial department to go down already and I just started but I know a scam when I see one.
I wish I had listened to my friend who said this school is worthless when it comes to dealing with issues. i have never seen anything like this school in my life. I don't understand how so many of them can have a lack of knowledge.
finacial aide and college credits
I am not surprised to see Grand Canyon with complaints here. I have been attending GCU since 2007. The school lost a scholarship application for transferring to the school, mishandled my loan money, to name a few things. Having been assigned several different academic and financial advisers, it is impossible to get any of them to return a phone call. So here are my problems and I hope people look at other colleges. 1. Lost the paperwork for a transfer scholarship though they did receive another piece of paper that was with the scholarship paperwork. Lost 2000 dollars. Next was a class I needed to take was not available for 3 times that I enrolled in the class. The academic adviser ignored emails and phone calls. Took 3 months to work this through and was never actually resolved. The last is the best because I was invoiced for 2610.00 dollars with no explanation plus I was suppose to graduate but the school took credits away and I cannot get anyone on the phone to speak with me about this and what I need to do. Don't attend this school. It is a waste of time.
It really sucks, I just was told to fax in my high school transcripts in and I started school Aug 8th, now after 3 months the paperwork is almost completed. I got a new financial coounselor and she is almost the same way as the other whenit comes to sendng my information off, answering the phones, and sending email responses. My friends got financial aid two months ago too. They told me to transfer and I am going to transfer ASAP. This school needs to be helped badly.
Have similar issues. I'm trying to get my financial aid before I am unable to go simply because I have no money and I've signed the same paper 4 times now, just signed it for a 5th time this week. Still have yet to see anything, and its been two months. I was told itd be done the 19th of last month, and ever since not a single person answers the damn phone.
I have the class problem too, and it got to a point where the professor even talked to them and they said oh well. I'm in Fine Arts and they keep offering "advanced" classes when not a single student currently in the program has taken the required classes in order to take these classes. Several classes I've taken this semester and last ended up being only me, so it turned into a study class.
Last semester I had a 5 hour gap in my schedule so I tried to get an extra class. After emailing and contacting them I finally got a reply 3 weeks later to finish some paperwork and finalize the class. I get that turned in ASAP and I get "you waited too long" really? I didn't get a reply for 3 WEEKS! I talk to the professor and he lets me stay in the class, so I just get him to sign an agreement at the end and he had to contact the school himself to say i was in the class and did all the assignments etc...
I tell my friend that is currently attending ASU and he laughs and tells me to transfer all the time. He got his financial aid two months ago like a normal school.
Yes it is and I wish I would have knew this all before I started.
ripped off and poor financial aid service
I have been a student at GCU for two years now and am close to graduating. I
have been lied to and my stipend check has been late three times in a row.
My Pell Grant has already come in and now they are telling me 4 weeks into
my class that they have not even sent in my paper work for my loans which I
filled out early to avoid this.
I have been here in GA for 4 years and have been unable to get a job. My
brother has had to support me and now with everything going up but his wages
he cannot pay the bills. We had to take a title loan out for $2500 on the
only vehicle we have at a 25% interest monthly expecting to have the money
from GCU to pay off at least most of it before the 30 days was up. I talked
to GCU financial aid yesterday and they have not even sent in for my loan
yet. We are going to lose our only vehicle that my brother uses to go to
work and are not going to have the money to pay our rent and other bills
because of this. My nerves cannot handle this stress and I, and my brother,
feel like GCU is not only ripping us off but not doing their job in promptly
taking care of the paper work to help us out. I have called multiple times
and keep getting the run around from different counselors who all tell my
different stories.
I see from the web site here that I (we) are not the only ones who have been
having problems with the inept way that GCU handles their financial aid. I
also do not feel that all my loan money has been properly applied and that
they have been taking more of my loan money that was sent to them then what
the cost of my classes were.
My brother has advised me to seek legal help as we are ending up having to
pay $800 in interest fees waiting for financial aid to get my paperwork in
to get my loans there and my stipend check which I rely on to help pay the
bills such as rent and utilities as well as buy food.
I have already considered and checked into switching schools last semester
when they again were so late in getting my funding and ended up having to
wait even longer for my check which cost us a lot of money in late fees.
Please can you see if there is anything you can do to take care of this as I
cannot stop my brother from getting legal help and making me quit school
when I only have 5 more classes to go to get my bachelors degree. My nerves
are shot and he is so mad I feel like I might be put out on the street with
no money and no place to go or live very soon.
Dona Escue
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
So you are all poor and its GCU'S fault? You have no money and your talking about getting a lawyer? Maybe if either of you had credit you wouldn't have to depend on money from the government to get you by. What would you do if you were not in school? You wouldn't be getting those checks to help when they do come. You just sound like a person whom wants everything your way and waits till the last minute to turn anything in or do anything. Why not direct deposit? Some time has passed since your post so maybe you got your degree? To come on here and complain because your free money doesn't arrive fast enough so you can pay Peter to pay Paul makes no sense.
It is sad that it takes so long to receive a stipend check, on the other hand, it seems that you're more concerned with getting a stipend check (from any school) than attending this one. I think you should call the Georgia authorities and report the person charging you 25 PERCENT MONTHLY on a title loan. Sounds like usury to me. But, if you signed the contract, I guess it might be legal.
federal finical aid
In 2017 I was going to attend Grand Canyon University; however, I had a change of heart and withdrew the first day of class. I was told I would have to pay apx. 500.00 for posting one day. I agreed to pay and asked to be withdrawn and the finical aid process stopped. The school did not stop the finical aid process and did not send the money back to the Department of Education. I found this out when the school attempted to file finical aid on my behalf while I was enrolled and attend another University. I have made several attempts to have the situation resolved, only to have my requests ignored, before I decide to contact the Attorney General in my State. I suggest that anyone else having Problems with this school should do the same, as, this is how the Federal Government can track, fine, and if necessary take away the schools accreditation.
I just found the information to report the school to the departnment of education:
Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving Department of Education funds or programs should call or write the Inspector General's Hotline (choose the method of contact which best suits you): •Call the OIG Hotline's toll free number 1-800-MIS-USED. Hotline Operators take calls during the hours of Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Eastern Time except for holidays.
•Complete and submit a Complaint Form (English, Español)
•To ensure complete anonymity, download a hardcopy of the special complaint form, complete, and mail to:
Inspector General's Hotline
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC [protected]
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html?src=rt
I started with Grand Canyon with the hopes of attending a good Christian online school. My start date was for 10/04/2017 and I was very excited and had no issues with my enrollment counselor. Well while attending for the first week of class, the instructor was very disrespectful to me and others. I then brought this matter to my enrollment counselor and asked her what was the process of changing classes, everything went fine, her supervisor took care of things and I was able to change my start date and my instructor under the condition that I would be charged $500 for dropping the class. I agreed, I had no problem paying that. Well, today is 10/22/2017 and my account balance looked a little funny, after my loans posted today which no one called to inform me on that, I was told by another finance counselor that because I dropped the first class on 10/04/2017 another one had to be added on, hello! when was I going to find this out and why? So now I am responsible for a balance of $1.188.00 for a class that I knew nothing about. You have to be kidding me right! After reading all the complaints against this school, I thought I would give it a try anyway and now I am paying for it. I do not recommend this online school to anyone. This is not how real Christians act! If my situation is not dealt with I will be another Grand Canyon student filing a suit.
I spoke with a recruiter at GCU and was promised that I would receive a scholarship based on my grades upon entering and then every semester thereafter as long as I kept my grades up. I never received the scholarship. I was not instructed on how to navigate the system to accept the scholarship. The system is set up so that if you do nat accept financial aide it is automatically accepted for you, but if you do not accept a scholarship it will never be applied. I believed that as a Christian University with Christian Values they would honor their promise. I am scheduled to gradualte in 4 weeks. Amazingly they notified me every time they wanted something from me but I am unable to get anyone to respond to me now to find out about the scholarship. I finally spoke with someone who was not my financial aid counselor who informed me that I will not be receiving the scholarship. She was not directly linked to my case but she would try to get someone to call me back and assured me she would pass on the information.
I also have an issue with e-books. In statistics an e-book was provided at a charge of $75.00. A person in our class asked about the bood and we were instructed not to download the book but to purchase a copy as the challenges of this class would require hands on learning materials. I must say I have to agree. When asked about that I was told that they would not be refunding my money as they provided the copywrited material and if I didn't download it then I just lost out. I am sure that is not how they said it but it meant the same thing. Also after being enrolled in the program, about midway through the course they sprang a materials fee on me. I will only have attended classes for 13 months so they should have known about this prior to my application. I was charged $100.00 for a service/materials fee which was supposedly not included in my quoted price when I started. I got off cheap as new students got to pay $200.00. Changing fees in the middle of classes seems unethical to me as does charging for books instructors do not think will help you complete the class. That is not to mention automated acceptance of loans but not scholarships. I don't know but these behaviors do not fall in align with the Christian Values I was taught.
I have read so many complaints about Grand Canyon Financial department. Well, I only have good words especially for a financial counselor whose name is Holly McFarland. There was a problem with my financial aid, and she fixed it in no time. She called and kept me up to date on the process. Thanks to Holly I will be receiving a bigger check which will allow me to get a laptop computer!
A. McIntosh
Dear Anna,
I agree with you totally and I hope you found resolution to this issue.
Upon my initial introduction and application at GCU on March 22, 2017, my academic counselor Alix Langdon notified my that I would be receiving a $1000 scholarship towards tuition because of my undergraduate GPA. Throughout the course of my program I saw on my finances at the school website I had received a discount of $333. towards tuition. Off course I did not print it because I trusted them. After I graduated, all financial statements were removed from the website and I was not given an scholarship. There were numerous fees applied to my account for e-books and maintenance fees, plus a balance of almost $2k that was supposed to be returned to the federal government was kept into their account. They hold on to your loan balance in their account, while you pay interest on it. I am appalled that a school that considers itself a christian colllege with claims of honesty and integrity will resort to this type of behavior, but I am no longer surprised since there are numerous reports of their unchristian like behavior. I have tried rectify this with the financial aid counselors but once you graduate, you are no longer a cash cow to them.
Camille
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Hi Anna,
We’d like to assist you. Please contact the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.
Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):
http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/
I wish she could be my financial councilor. I have been going there for almost 4 years, should be graduating with you and have had nothing but issues with financial aid. Honestly they are the worse people at their jobs than anyone i have ever come across. Yeah its harsh, but yes i want it friggin fixed! Honestly they only contact me if I owe them money or their is an "issue" with paperwork. Ive had to sign the same paper nearly 3 or 4 times recently because they keep losing it. I have called about 4 times last week, emailed 3 times last week and this week, and have not gotten a single response from my councilor at all. when I go into the office he is either not there, at lunch, or makes me sit there for literally an hour before walking out and saying "Well I think you are stupid and will believe this BS excuse." Talk about being professional...
Honestly if there is another issue with my financial aid I will sue them for false claims, something for-profit schools are under investigation for to begin with. Plus I won't be able to pay for gas or any of my school stuff at all, so they are screwing me. I have about a week left before I have absolutely no money...
Personally I have been debating switching schools. The professors I have had have been fantastic, I have made some good friends, but too many negatives about this school than positive. they are screwing me over, I even have to pay more next semester, and this whole financial aid crap pushed me over the edge. I'll be going to ASU or another school, taking a minor, and getting my degree from them instead. Not only that but I've talked a good 10 to 15 people out of going there next year too, at least 8 of them were signed up and ready to go so I hope GCU takes notice and fixes this crap. They spend 200 million on a stadium, but still have monkeys running everything...
I have done that and I am still waiting for my matter to be resolved.
Have you tried talking with someone from the school? I saw yesterday that an individual from the school posted their contact information and asked that you contact her... today your complaint is here but her reply to you has been removed. You should avail yourself of the services offered to resolve your complaint.
rip off
this school has lost my fin aid paperwork several times. After a couple of months, they are sitting on my refund check and refused to give me my money.Stating making sure I don't owe any money... Also the amount of my tuition change drastically..this is a hell hole.. The counselors are con artist ...I know the state of Arizona attorney office must have gotten complaints about this school..I will contact everyone I need to...to get this college known about the deceptive tactics they used to get people...I have been to college..I know how it is suppose to be run and this is definetly not it..
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
What a nightmare. Currently hounded by collections.
I received my Masters from this college with no problem and immediately started my doctorate. In the midst the courses were changed. I started class with one syllabus and another was given. The work went from medium to extreme hard. This should have been a sign. My mother spent 72 days in ICU this year. I contacted them to take time off. They stated I HAD to go to dissertation this Summer and had to continue. Suddenly after contacting I went from A's to failing. I was then directed to retake a course. NO ONE stated I would have to pay for dissertation out of pocket as no financial aid would be released! I flew and and got anm A. The class I was in was at an A level. Suddenly the last paper was failed so low I failed! I contacted the head of Doctoral department who stated this was at least a C paper as he read it! The professor gave me ZERO feedback the entire course and zero emails. This would have passed me if I even had a C! I went through the process and was denied. So I signed up through Southern Weslayn and got an A on my first course(go figure).
So then I was told by GCU I had to pay back the financial aid. LOL
WHAT I passed enough credits according to federal law!
They said they had to pay back the government. WHAT
I contacted the government and according to them I am clear as long as I get 12 credits passed by March which I will have.
Also as my mothher was in ICU 72 days that also would have cleared me anyhow! As the fed aid has an extraordinary issue clause.
GCU is a liar Stay away Not a Christian organization at all.
They are turning it over to a collection agency. What abunch of thieves.
Tatia Williams Ladson SC
I agree, I have taken classes at numerous colleges and universities and this is by far the worst school I have gone to. The staff is untrained and unprofessional.
Hello Tatia,
We’d like to assist you. Please contact the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.
Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):
http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/
The exact same thing with me. I started Aug 8, 2011 and was selected for a verification and I am a online student and still have not recieved an award letter. I contact the financial team and I get nothing, now that I have someone else looking into my federal stuff she contacts me and says she lost my document and had to submit it again. I am starting my second class on the Sept 26, 2011 and my class is not paid for. I made the biggest mistake of my life by attending this school.
Rip off!!!
Help me to understand something... How come if I took a class in the december the university get paid by loans and gant money then turns around and says since you failed the class you have to pay for it!! I am sick of this university every day my academic and financial aid conselor chances... I dont understand this!! I thought that this was gonna be a...
Read full review of Grand Canyon University [GCU] and 20 commentsfinancial aid online grad counseling program
I withdrew from classes in December. By then the school already recieved finacial aid money for January. It is March and the school is refusing to give back the $1, 395 for a class I never took. I printed the paper from thier website showing they owe me this money. Once I called they said they would return the money that was over 6 weeks ago. Now filling a lawsit.
I wish I would have never left Keller, I found the are not accurate with the statements they make, or get a attitude if you challenge their ability. I have a new counselor "Pablo". He demonstrated he is on point. However, we are back to the same situation no emails return nor phone calls. I would have like to have known the checks are delayed, until when. I too depend on that money being recently separated and spending all this extra money to take more classes that is required for California BBS requirements.
I have experienced issues with Ashford. My twin sister went there and NEVER had any issues with Ashford. I was using Military Spouse Vouchers and Financial aid. Somehow, all of the money was either non-existent or "missing." Thank God I kept track and printed out copies of all billings and vouchers in the event of financial issues. Sure enough, I was told that I owed another $5000 and could not graduate. I sent them copies of my financial documents. Then, I "somehow" had a zero balance after I explained that several thousand dollars of financial aid was "missing." Always keep track of your financial documents.
If you took out finical aid they will not return it, I have been dealing with the same problem for over a year. They charged me for two classes I never took. Every time I spoke with someone I was promised a resolution. Every time I called back no one knew what I was talking about. I have now filed a complaint with Attorney General in my State and I’m asking others that are having the same problem, to file a complaint with their local AG as well.
fin aid/scholarship scam
My complaints with Grand Canyon deal with 1) what I perceive as false advertising/bait & switch regarding an academic scholarship and 2) sketchy tactics regarding financial aid 3) Dwindling and difficult communication once you are 'in the system'. 1: When I was shopping around for graduate schools, I chose Grand Canyon University partly because the...
Read full review of Grand Canyon University [GCU] and 4 commentsare these people just crooks or what
I’ve been a student at this so called online university for two years. I have a 3.9 GPU. I cannot get my advisors (academic and financial) to answer the calls I place to them. The financial counselor was supposed to have set up a book loan for me on December 22, 2009 but there is no record of it in the bookstore. The people there are very unresponsive and do not return calls.
They now have in debt for tens of thousands of dollars and I’m wondering if the degree I get will be worth the paper it’s written one! Unless the book loan goes through soon I will be faced with starting a class without the textbook. Are these people just crooks or what?
I am a graduate of GCU. I just found out that my masters degree is useless for my teaching license because my program was not an "approved education program". So I spent 2 years and $30, 000 for nothing. I was never told that this degree was not going on my license. You would think that somewhere in the 2 years someone would have told me! Unfortunately since the place was recommended by my school district and the school rep was pushing for me to do it, I believed them and it never occured to me to question it. If you look on the website now under degree programs, you will see that the first line of the TESOL degree explains that it is not for licensure. So I am a fool but I think GCU did not act responsibly.
fraud need to unit a law suit
I really think we need to start a law suit as the lady who contacted me at first was a great and I mean great salesperson and she was top liar...a true con...when I was enrolled before any financing set in and started class and then I told her I would fill forms out but under no circumstance do I want a loan as I know of two grants I would for sure have...I am on disability, I have proof of the lies, but can't find a lawyer that will take money from them when we win and we will...I asked for computer science, she said I had to do business first...I already had business 30 years ago...owned my own as well...but hurting and she justnever let off...I am in debt 5k and only had on 6 week class and the profess. never answered questions till after assign. turned in and graded and never even looked how anyone was doing until whole course was over and I questioned grade. Really bad...go to TCJC if possible...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Please file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General in your state or the Arizona Attorney General, I have already done so and I'm asking others to do the same.
Again I have never had an issue with this school. I am very much enjoying my online student life.
Hi Sherholder,
If you could kindly contact Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day to assist you in resolving the issues you've noted above.
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us and giving us the opportunity to help you.
Thanks!
financial aide nightmare!
This school is a nightmare to deal with the financial aide, it is a total rip-off. They promise scholarships, then tell you you do not qualify. They charge an extremely large amount of money to your student aide. I took a total of nine classes and was charged 18, 750.oo. I truly could not afford to continue in this school!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
tpowels01,
We are very sorry you are unhappy with your experience. Grand Canyon University (GCU) is committed to the success of its students and values the opportunity to resolve disputes. GCU’s resolution team provides options designed to address student issues, and is available to assist with your grievance. Please contact the resolutions office at resolutionteam@gcu.edu and we will start working on your issue immediately.
This institution needs to be investigated as we have all been victimized and I'd really like to do something about it! This is terrible, they have scammed so many students with financial obligations. I'm trying to find out if there is something we can do! This is indeed beginning to become a big problem as our education is at stake! Not to mention they have brutalized our creditability and financialbility as far as getting financial aid and putting us all in debt that they knew we couldn't afford with student loans. I'm about to first contact The United States Department of Education and after that I should hope that they would file a complaint with the student loan servicing centers.
So you were charged $520 per credit hour...were you a graduate student? That would be about right at most schools if yo u are getting your Masters. If you were undergrad, was all of that for tuition, or did you get a stipend? Just wondering?
Hello,
If you would kindly contact the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day to assist you in addressing the issues listed above.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.
Thanks!
tay away from this university!!! nothing but problems!!!
Stay away from this school!!! The staff is very unprofessional and lack training. When problems occur the school will ignore them and when you call to try and to get help the staff acts as if you are bothering them when the problems you are having is indeed the schools fault!!! This school is pathetic!!!
Read full review of Grand Canyon University [GCU] and 7 commentsfinancial aid tuition scam
Well Grand Canyon University strikes yet again. After a while you have to question the overall integrity of a university when it's swarmed by the same type of complaints on a continual basis. Here's my latest chapter. I applied for financial aid towards a doctoral program at the university. I was told that I was close to reaching my aggregate limits, but would have enough to cover my tuition etc. until February of 2011. I was told this by my finance counselor Renee Belonge (sp)who emailed me and told me that she had her manager to verify coverage, and everything was great. ( The power of email documentation.) Enter Fall 2010...still no award letter. I make a complaint via this board and one of the finance Directors looks into my case and recertifies that indeed I do have enough aid until 2/11. ( Did I mention this guy is a finance director?) I was told that the reason why my account had not been credited with FA was because my checks had been sent back. Now mind you they had no rhyme or reason but they were indeed sent back. They researched for over a week allegedly and found that my FA awards were sent back in error. So I am issued a few weeks later new sub and Unsub loans that covered my tuition. Meanwhile my mom dies, I drop fill out a leave of absence form ( did I mention I faxed this three times to the attention of a Turk ...an academic counselor...and received verification of receipt from my finance counselor( uhhm ok); however she states that I filled it out incorrectly...so I sent it back another two times). At any rate they never dropped me from the class / processed the new paper work and I received an F and a notice of academic probabtion. Wait it only gets better. In January I receive a $112 refund check for my tuition/ fees. Ok...hmmm they really did apply my loans etc...I'll appeal the grade no problem or so my thinking went. Two weeks later as I am driving, I receive a acall from Rene. She informs me that I had reached my aggregate limits back in the fall and now I owe the university $4000. (insert explicatives). I couldn't raise my voice as my two year old was sleeping in the back seat. I questioned her sanity as well as the practices of the university. She wanted me to talk with the supervisor but I told her I would call back the following morning. Can we say I can't get these people suddenly and now my bill less than 3 weeks later is now $6000. Do not do not believe anything these people tell you. This place is a rip off. I am this week filing a complaint with the BBB, the state attorney generals office, local and state representatives, I'm blogging, I'm face booking, I'm contacting an attorney and sounding the alarm that Grand Canyon University is a scam. Now should any representatives who frequent this board wish to contact me to resolve this issue you may at [protected]@yahoo.com. Did I mention they also stuck my husband 2 years ago with a $2500 bill when he never even attended his online class. After he was told he'd be dropped automatically if he never entered by his Finance counselor...amazing track record don't you think...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have had a terrible time with GCU in the finances department- I definitely question the integrity of this institution as they are VERY push and finances seem to be very inconsistent (I work with a number of people who are also getting their grad degree through them and we have all been told and charged completely different amounts for the exact same program). I find this unacceptable and I do not plan on continuing my graduate work with them.
Excuse me but I received my master's from GCU and now working on my Doctorate there and I'm in the same program as Morgan. You have no right to say that GCU is for any mature person who can handle independent studies when the problem does not lie with the person studying anything. My husband and I have had similar experiences as Morgan and the problem is with communication of the FA advisors and Academic advisors. Hurray for you to have a 3.97, that is irrelevant to the situation this person is referring to. Maybe if you would have read the complaint and analyzed it you would have found this fact. The next question I would ask you is MasterRei is when did you go to GCU because when I receievd my Master's these problems were not an issue. They started with the new "computer" system GCU installed. Until I finish my degree my recommendations for future students will be kept silent because depending on how things go will decide if I recommend GCU to others.
I am one class shy of earning a master's degree from GCU online. I registered through Mindstreams who handled almost all registration events and advised on financial aid. My experience with GCU has been top notch. I have learned more than I thought I would and have a 3.97 GPA. I have recieved all my refund checks. My only concern now is how to ensure participation in the loan forgiveness program for teachers. Sorry things have not gone well for you but I highly recommend GCU for any mature person who can handle independent study.
Morgan,
Someone from our student resolution team will be in touch with you via the email you provided in your post.
If there's additional information about your situation that you'd like to share with me, please feel free to email me those details at Robyn.Itule@gcu.edu.
Thanks,
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
Grand Canyon University
robyn.itule@gcu.edu
unprofessional staff!! no training anybody can work at this school!!
I want to start by saying this school's staff lack training. I'm currently enrolled at this university (enrollment date 07-29-2010) and since I have been enrolled at this school I have experienced nothing but problems. PROBLEM #1 Starting with one of my professors, I had had a problem with my professor grading work and posting discussion questions on time. I immediately reported this to my academic counselor (Morgan Denney) and a ticket was created to check and make sure he was doing his job. Well I waited a couple of days for my resolution and come to find out it was discovered that he was not meeting university requirements but nothing was done about the situation. I was told by a manager (Alecia Burns) that the university had to hire alot of new staff and he just needed to be further trained. I gave him and chance and still things remained the same he still didn't meet requirements regarding grades and posting. This issue was not resolved! PROBLEM #2 I started my second term at this school on January 17, 2011 My loans and teach grant posted to my account but no pell grant. I've called the school several times regarding my pell grant posting to my account no one in the financial aid department has told me anything and they still haven't released my money. Everyone keeps creating tickets for what they call the back office but still the issue has not been resolved. Each time I call the counselors act as if I am bothering them when its really their job to resolve my issues instead of acting irritated. I want to address a financial manger Jennifer Randoff I have contacted her serveral times and left a message but she never returned my call and my finance counselor Kimberly Judy stated that Jennifer maybe has not returned my call because she is tired of dealing with my problems. How professional is that.PROBLEM #3 I've been double charged for two of my classes and I've contacted both financial aid and the academic department again nothing has been done about it my account reflects a balance that I don't even owe and the school is aware that I don't owe it but they has done absolutely nothing about it. This school's staff is lazy and very very unprofessional. They don't show any concerns about the students at all. I really regret I ever enrolled at a university like this. Its sad that this school claims to have a christian heritage but has staff members that talk and treat the students like garbage. College is very expensive and as a student its not fair to experience this many problems especially being a new student correction its not fair to experience this many problems at all. I am a good student and have great grades I really wish this university would do better or go out of business!
Thanks Robin my issue has finally been resolved!
Thanks 4boyzmom! Good luck to you too! Robin Itule has not did anything to help me at all..
That comment was suppose to be to someone else's post sorry. I'm glad your issue was resolved.
Excuse me but I received my master's from GCU and now working on my Doctorate there and I'm in the same program as Morgan. You have no right to say that GCU is for any mature person who can handle independent studies when the problem does not lie with the person studying anything. My husband and I have had similar experiences as Morgan and the problem is with communication of the FA advisors and Academic advisors. Hurray for you to have a 3.97, that is irrelevant to the situation this person is referring to. Maybe if you would have read the complaint and analyzed it you would have found this fact. The next question I would ask you is MasterRei is when did you go to GCU because when I receievd my Master's these problems were not an issue. They started with the new "computer" system GCU installed. Until I finish my degree my recommendations for future students will be kept silent because depending on how things go will decide if I recommend GCU to others.
Hi Nikia,
When we spoke last Thursday, I was able to connect you with Carrie in our Student Resolution Office and I understand that the two of you have been in communication to resolve the issues you listed above.
My role with the university is to be a liaison who connects students to resources who are the most capable of sorting out the issues students post in this forum. You're always welcome to contact me and I'll be more than happy to listen to any concerns and connect you to resources within the university who are dedicated to student success and facilitating resolutions.
Thanks!
Robyn
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
robyn.itule@gcu.edu
Well not anyone can work there. I am an alumni of the school as well as a doctoral student in my last year and they won't employ me, their very on student cannot get a job with them. By the way I'm having issues with them as well as my husband. Hence the reason I saw your post.
It is sad you have to post here to get your issues resolved or get GCU to listen to you. My husband and I have gone to Dr. Player and we are still in the same situation as we were before. Good Luck and repost what Robyn did for you if anything because that is how GCU works.
Hello,
Would you please contact me directly at robyn.itule@gcu.edu and I will help you out right away.
Thanks,
Robyn Itule
Social Media Stratigist
robyn.itule@gcu.edu
[protected]
transfer credits
I began attending Grand Canyon University in February 25, 2010. I only decided to attend Grand Canyon University after an email approval from the Director of the Masters of Addiction Counseling program accepting the 2 "C" graduate level grades from Liberty University. See copied email below from GCU. Eleven months later and starting my fourth class on January 6, 2011 I was charged $1, 300 on my VISA and received an email stating GCU overruled the decision that was made on February 25, 2010 made by the Directors of addiction counseling because GCU needed to stay in compliance. See second email below. #! I reieved the email 11 months laters and 4 classes into my studies. I began sending GCU emails on November 1, 2010 trying to get a hold of somebody to inform them I did not see those 2 classes reflected in my angel portol. After repeated emails for 2 1/2 months I finally get a response on the same day I was charged for my class and now cannot get a refund. Moreover, I wanted to discontinue my studies at GCU and have not heard about a refund on the January 6, 2011 class. Never in my life have I ever experienced this level of miscommunication, disregard. If I attended Liberty University as opposed to GCU at this time, I would only need to take 4 classes as opposed to 8. This mistake on GCU’s part was devastating financially, personally, and professionally. I would read the actual emails below and the readers can decide for themselves whether to attend Grand Canyon University or not. The emails speak for themselves. I emailed NAADAC today and I will be aggressively pursuing this matter further so this does not happen to others.
___________________________________________________________________
Email on February 25, 2010:
Great news! Below are your Grad Credit Trs Request results from Dr. Bowden. We can transfer in all 3 of your classes, we just need a letter from you stating that you understand that the 2 C’s will affect your GPA and also stating that the COUN 502 will only transfer into the Addiction program. See the section in red below for details.
I will approve the following grad transfer subs for Robin::
COUN 502 for PCN 509 (Robin will need to take PCN 509 if she ever decides to enroll in the MS-PC Degree Program) This transfer sub will only apply in the Master in Addiction Counseling Degree Program it will not transfer in as a sub for PCN 509 in Masters in Professional Counseling Degree Program.
HSER 500 for PCN 535
• CCP 650 for PCN 520
IMPORTANT NOTE: Robin will need to first send GCU a signed letter stating that she understands that she will need a 3.0 to graduate from GCU and that transferring in her (C) grades will pull down her GPA up right away. The letter should also state that she understands that her COUN 502 course will only sub the MS-AC program not in the MS-PC Program. This letter needs and the emails need to be placed in Robin's file academic at GCU.
__________________________________________________________________
January 6, 2011 -Email sent the day I started my fourth class and charged on my VISA $1, 300
Robin,
Sorry for the delay, but I was checking into the classes from Liberty. GCU’s academics department is refusing to transfer those classes in because of the grades. They are overruling Dr. Bowden’s decision per academic policy and to remain in compliance. My manager tried to reach you to explain, but I thought I’d try you as well because I think you should know as soon as possible. I do not know why they did not say anything sooner. I am sorry, I feel terrible. Do you want to speak to me or my manager regarding this? I out in the morning tomorrow, but will be in the office in the afternoon.
Nikia, I could not agree more. Great post and very thorough. Don't bother calling Robyn Tutle, you will get nowhere. I believe GCU places a 'social media strategist' name and contact to persuade the viewers to think GCU will handle the situation which is not the case. Any ethical, professional university should not have to view daily an online complaint board. Robyn Tutle emailed me the day after my complaint. I spoke to someone about my issues and never heard back from them again. I am in the process of gathering information and seeking legal counsel against GCU so students do not have to go through what I went through. I feel strongly I have an ethical duty and believe I have the resources. I am glad you took the time to inform future or current students at GCU.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
So you were charged $520 per credit hour...were you a graduate student? That would be about right at most schools if yo u are getting your Masters. If you were undergrad, was all of that for tuition, or did you get a stipend? Just wondering?
Hi Robin,
Can you please contact me directly at Robyn.Itule@gcu.edu and I'll be happy to assist you regarding the information above.
Thanks,
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
robyn.itule@gcu.edu
[protected]
financial aid rip off
This is by far the worst experience, I have ever been put in. I have been enrolled at GCU since 2008 and completed all my classes required for my degree. As I filed my graduation application this past November as i have been told by my academic advisor I came to find out that I can't . On dec 3rd, I was contacted by Andrea from finances at GCU stating that GCU wouldn't be able to confirm my degree or send any official transcipts out because I owe $1, 425.00 for my last class that I took in August. This is in itself was a shock to me because no one has informed me with this information prior to that. I never received a bill from GCU for this amount, nor an email, nor did it show on the student portal that there was a hold on my account or that I needed to make a payment of that amount . I was originally registered to take the class in july but due to my admission to the hospital 2 days prior to when the class actually started, I felt that I wouldn't be successful in the class so i contacted my academic advisor ( Brooke winburg) by email and asked her if I can take the class in the next upcoming cycle and if it would affect my current financial aid. We spoke on the phone and she told me that I m able to take it in August 19th and that it wouldn't affect my financial aid since i didn't sign in the class or started any discussions . I called my financial advisor Matthew Schanen and he also told me that my financial aid looks okay and after this last class, it looks like I have completed everything and there is no holds on my account but i come to find out that I owe the university for this class because I didn't take the class in July but in August which is a new financial aid year and at the time I didn't renew my financial aid ( which I didn't know about because my financial advisor never told me anything about a renewal but infact told me that my account looks fine) and how would i renew my FAFSA if i m graduating and have no classes that i m enrolled in ? I was told that I should have received an email with the renewal for financial aid and I didn't receive that email at all nor did i receive any paperwork. I was never contacted by anyone in the finances department to let me know that this is the case and my student portal didn't show any payments due or holds on it until the day after finances contacted me after turing in my graduation application. I m really frustrated that I m going to be the victim to someone else's incompetency and lack of efficacy to relay accurate information to the students. If I had to renew my financial aid, why didn't the financial advisor let me know and sent me an email stating that?. Isn't that what a financial advisor is suppose to do? Why did he relay wrong information to me stating that my account has no holds and taking the class in august would be fine and now I m faced with this problem? How was I allowed to take the class and financial aid didn't cover it and there wasn't any payments made by me either? Well to answer these questions I was told by my academic advisor to contact a manager in the financial department at GCU for her to make the decision to clear my account or not. Surprisingly, the manager had the same last name as my financial advisor so i wonder if they are related? her solution was after reviewing my record she states that he tried to contact me on 2 different dates and has left voicemails telling me that i need to renew my financial aid but he didn't hear back from me. According to her my options are to take a personal loan and pay for the amount or set a payment plan ...I went ahead and contact my cell phone company and got records of my incoming and outgoing calls on these 2 dates and come to find out that no calls has been received or made to GCU on both dates... I have filed a report with BBB and will take it to my lawyer next if this matter is not solved... Where did my financial aid for the class go? I m the victim to a financial advisor incompetency and lack of efficacy to relay accurate information to the students.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am retired from the military and I've worked as an educator for more than eight years. There is definitely fleecing of students taking place at GCU. Four years ago I took some education classes, but smelled a dead fish early on. When I decided I no longer wanted anything to do with GCU, I was contacted by a collections agency that claimed I owed GCU over $1000. According to my finance records, though, my tuition was paid in full. Curiously, the school had not contacted me about owing them money. At about the same time, the school contacted me about re-enrolling in GCU. Initially, I was incredulous at the audacity. If I owed them money, why were they recruiting me? The individual did help me straighten the matter out (after I had talked to numerous "advisors" who wouldn't return my calls). Again, my records showed a 0 balance owed to GCU. Today, four year later, I received a letter from the "GCU collections representative" stating that I owe the school $81 and that unless it is paid by Dec. 12, my account will be turned over to a collection agency. Here's the kicker: The letters further states that if I pay the amount by Dec. 5, I will only have to pay half of the amount! If it looks like a scam and smells like a scam - it's a scam! So, begins my letter-writing campaign to the school president, BBB, attorney general, Dept. of Ed... This school gives true Christians a bad name. I think it's time we closed this sucker down. I recommend that everyone who has had similar issues with GCU, begin their own campaign using letter-writing, social media, etc. What this school is doing just isn't right.
I owe money now too because they messed up, but they will have to wait to get it back. I used it for my other school because they screwed up my finical aid. The department of education did get the school return the money though and I believe that they are still being investigated for fraud.
I have the same issue at GCU, just I owe 2 grand to them. They messed up big time. I have mad countless calls and apparently my finance counselor has changed.. hmm strange right. This is too much to take. This school states their a christian university, they are just a bunch of GOD DAMN CROOKS!
If you are still having problems here is some information that may help:
Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving Department of Education funds or programs should call or write the Inspector General's Hotline (choose the method of contact which best suits you):
•Send an email message to oig.hotline@ed.gov
•Call the OIG Hotline's toll free number 1-800-MIS-USED. Hotline Operators take calls during the hours of Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Eastern Time except for holidays.
•Complete and submit a Complaint Form (English, Español)
•To ensure complete anonymity, download a hardcopy of the special complaint form, complete, and mail to:
Inspector General's Hotline
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC [protected]
I just filed a complaint with the Department if Education, I also filed a consumer complaint the attorney general in my state. If more complaints that are sent to the Department of Education they will see a pattern and will be able to take care of this matter. I’m asking everyone that has an issue or has had an issue in the past to file a suspected fraud complaint against this school, or contact the Attorney General in your state.
Do not bother with getting in touch with any of these so-called media strategist...I have been waiting for two months for someone to call me concerning my issues now I am not even in the school anymore.
Hello,
Would you kindly reach out to the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day to work with you on resolving the issue you've noted above.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.
I STRONGLY agree with this statement. The finance department at GCU is awful. They must have an extremely high turnover rate. Every time I go into the office or receive a call I talk to someone new. This gets extremely frustrating due to the fact they have messed my account up so bad that it is impossible for me to explain my situation to the new finance counselor(s). Also as far as billing goes GCU never sends out bills or gives any heads up a balance is due until they send you an e-mail stating "you will be sent to a collection agency if your bill is not paid by a specific date". Something needs to be done at GCU because it is very time consuming and frustrating to go through the same thing every semester and it bothers me others have to go through the same situations.
Alcorona67,
Would you kindly contact me directly at robyn.itule@gcu.edu regarding the issues listed above and I'll be happy to do all I can to assist you.
Thanks!
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
[protected]
robyn.itule@gcu.edu
Ok it was confirmed by the mail center at GCU that no package was given to them as of today and yesterday. You told me Jesse that it would go out by thursday and now even fed-ex has no record of it being picked up. The lady I spoke to at the mail center at GCU said that if a package is given to them later than 4pm then it wont go out till the following day because the last pick up for Fed-ex is 4pm. I shared with you that I needed to have a date because my Electricity was going to be shut off if not paid by yesterday. After speaking with you yesterday and being given a tracking number to track it I was able to extend the shut off date till today. Now I am being told (Once Again) that this package does not even exist and there is no record at all of it being in transition nor of it being picked up by fed-ex. I dont think anyone understands how much this happens and has consistantly continued to happen to me concerning any type of financial aid from GCU. Once I told that a package is on its way then GCU's reputation is on the line and I have to push and push to get an answer and it is always the same. I just got out of the Emergency ward because of relapsing due to stress and now this. Once again I can that the financial aid department is consistent about one thing..."They promise me one thing and then do the complete opposite."
You know my power is going to be turned off tonight by 5pm.I do not have the money to make the deposit to turn my power back on when it gets shut off tonight. That is not ok. With all the hospital bills and medication that needs to be paid for we are poorer than before.
Look I understand and appreciate that many people have worked hard to make things happen concerning any financial aid. I am promised that thing like this will not happen again. I tell my wife and she does not believe aything anyone from GCU has to say and I am the fool for believing. I appreciate all the hard work everyone has done for me but when that hard work leaves me still waiting and then I am havign chest pain's and in the hospital because of all the stress then everyone's promises mean nothing. I cannot force myself to feel better because nothing is alleviating this pain and suffering I am going through. Now I am supposed to be expecting another disbursment at the end of Febuary when i complete this class. I am already stressed knowing what type of anguish and suffering I am going to have to go through when it comes to receiving that disbursment. It has been the same and I am not ready to do it all over again. Perhaps the school is too small too handle all the students.
This is more stress that I can handle. Do I have to drop out due to all these inconsistencies? This stress has affected not only me but my family to. What does it matter because we are only online students.
I am going to report this somehow because I have finally had enough. I need the email's of your supervisor's and anyone else who has handled this matter.
I have already been through this so many times I have lost count and I am finally through. I have held up my end as long as I could so much that it has made me sick to the point of being hospitalized and now I mentally and physically cannot take anymore and I am done playing this game. No student should be subjected to this over and over again. It may be a laughing matter to some but I really do not have much time left to live and I am trying my best to finish my program and to enjoy the time that I do have but your school is not making this any easier. The result of all this is me getting sicker and visiting the emergency room more frequently. I cannot stop my wife from seeking legal help but I can tell you that I do not have the capacity to do this anymore.
Hi MTA28
Would you please contact me directly via email at robyn.itule@GCU.edu and I will do all I can to assist you. You'll receive an out of office message as I am away from the office for the holiday, but I will reply and put you in touch with our student resolution team promptly.
Thanks!
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
Robyn.itule@gcu.edu
[protected]
poor service/lies/shady tactics
Grand Canyon University uses fraudulent tactics and lies to recruit tuition paying students. They will tell you what ever you want to hear in order to turn a profit. I started out with 3 counselors and a set graduation date. After 16 months of school, I had 9 different counselors, which were constantly being switched for whatever reason. Each new counselor would request my transcript forms, which were submitted 3 times and still not resolved to this very day. My graduation date has been pushed back dramatically due to their incompetent staff. After all of the extra classes added, I will own an extra $30, 000, more than what I was told I would have to pay. The instructors post the same feedback every week, simply pasting a generic response, rather than adding any insight. I usually have to send 3 emails just to get a response from a counselor, and the problems never seem to get resolved, only handed to other counselors. As a result of all of the lack of support, and lies, I have wasted over $10, 000 and 1 1/2 years of my time. Thanks Grand Canyon University! I am dropping out due to your greed. Hopefully I can find a university that is worth while.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I found it refreshing to hear that others have had similar problems to mine. I too have had several financial counselors and academic advisers. Fall of this year [protected]) I was scheduled to begin classes. Before my start date my father-in-law passed. This was also the beginning of a new school year and I was teaching a new grade level. I pondered on waiting a few more weeks but decided to bite the bullet. Between teaching a new grade level and completing the work for my class I never had a spare moment. In the beginning I had difficulty turning papers in because I had gone from a PC to a MAC. I finally figured it out! However, two of my journal were not accepted by the professor who knew I was having computer problems~! . I wrote a letter of appeal and the decision was made to only accept one of my journals. This caused me to flunk the class! I was furious because I had worked so hard and spent so much time completing the work.
The following class I spoke with my academic counselor about dropping the class. I wanted to take a break after the stress of the first one to get situated and feel at peace . I was told I couldn't because the class had begun. At this time my Lyme disease was acting up (probably from stress) and there was no way I could complete the class. I dropped out on my own. I called and apparently her boss listened to the tape conversation the counselor and I had about dropping the class. Of course I was the one at fault! ? I now have a $2000.00 balance on my account because they returned my funding. Apparently there is some policy that if you do not pass a class the college returns your money. I did ask to drop the class and was told I couldn't! The first class I worked so hard and flunked because of one journal they would not accept.
I am not some young kid trying to get out of something. I am a 49 year old who is taking classes for professional growth. I feel as if the college is not working with me but against me.
VERY UPSET!
Hi MTA28
Would you please contact me directly via email at robyn.itule@GCU.edu and I will do all I can to assist you. You'll receive an out of office message as I am away from the office for the holiday, but I will reply and put you in touch with our student resolution team.
Thanks!
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
Robyn.itule@gcu.edu
[protected]
Hello,
Would you please contact me directly at ritule@gcu.edu or by phone at [protected] between 9a-5p Mountain time to discuss the concerns you've addressed above.
Many Thanks!
Robyn Itule
Social Media Strategist
ritule@gcu.edu
[protected]
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I want my official copy of my transcript that liberty university has already paid for immediately so I can start my classes this month and graduate by may of 2019 or I will file a lawsuit against grand canyon university for fraud on my account after I was told that I qualified for financial aid for my program
I was contacted for over a year and have encountered issues from financial aid to settlements of a grade. Even the enrollment counselor stopped talking to me and I told the student counselor via e-mail if all her and others are going to do is run, then please do so and hit a wall while you're at it.
I asked to be taken off calling lists. They keep calling me. I turned them into the BBB. With no luck. I block the calls but they just keep calling with new numbers. I want the calls to stop. They are harassing me.
This school was a scam, and now they are taking my tax money! I don't understand why because they're not a real school, and I'm not letting these people to continue to profit off of me. I work hard for the little money I do get and for them to take my tax returns, is unfair!
If they are getting repaid from the government from all the people this fake school has ripped off over the years, then why are they taking my tax return! And why now? I don't understand why the government would allow a fake school to exist, to fool people into actually thinking they are bettering their future, only to find out it was a complete waste of time, and now they're allowed to take our tax returns from us?! This is not ok and I will not stop until they stop taking my money! I'm not paying anything for a fake education that doesn't count for anything! Shame on them for hiding behind the "religious" type of "school" they pretend to be!
I very much wish I had read this before enrolling because I am being ripped off ! What is even worse is the fact that they call themselves a Christian university. I plan to contact the better business today and file a complaint I also plan on calling the government loan agency to report what they are doing please as many people as possible do this and help stop this rip off.
Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):
http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/