The president of Grand Canyon University said his school has no intention of paying the unprecedented fine levied by the U.S. Department of Education for alleged deceptive practices, adding, “we’re not paying a dime.”
The Phoenix, Arizona-based University President Brian Mueller told The Christian Post, “We are the most transparent institution in the country.”
The Education Department slapped GCU with the largest fine in the department’s history for allegedly misleading students about the cost of its doctoral program.
Mueller echoed an extensive Oct. 31 statement from GCU characterizing the allegations as “further evidence of the coordinated and unjust actions the federal government is taking against the largest Christian university in the country.”
Mueller asserted that the department’s actions are illogical and potentially retaliatory.
He said, “We’ve presented at seven major conferences because of our level of transparency. And so to come in and fine any amount to a university that is recognized within the industry as setting the gold standard for transparency, there’s no logic to that.”
Mueller said the school’s battle with the department extends beyond the recent fine, which he suspects is a continuation of the conflict GCU has had with the federal government since 2018 over its nonprofit status.