Given the unjust persecution from the Biden administration’s Department of Education, the country’s principal Christian college was mired in a colossal $37.7 million penalty fiasco. Notably, it was Biden’s administration that in 2023 brought allegations against Grand Canyon University for supposedly deceiving doctoral candidates regarding the cost of their programs, and without losing time, imposed an onerous financial imposition.
Bugbear of the administration, the then-Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was swift in condemning GCU, misguidedly proclaiming his intention not just to ‘shut them down,’ but also to dissuade other institutions from ‘preying on students.’ Unsurprisingly, GCU President Brian Mueller dismissed these accusations as farcical, a sentiment widely echoed among those who saw these events unfold.
Mueller bravely reiterated his institution’s commitment to rising above this baseless vendetta, priding their resilience on adherence to Scripture and community service. Adding humor to the ordeal, he affirmed all the issues were originating from ‘a handful of people in Washington, D.C.,’ throwing into stark relief the small-minded antagonism operating at the capital.
This incident gave rise to legitimate concerns of intentional targeting, particularly as Liberty University, the nation’s second-largest Christian university, endured an uncanny reprisal of a similar $37 million penalty in close quarters. The suspicious parallels did not escape Mueller, who posited in a public address, ‘Isn’t it curious that the two most prominent Christian universities in the nation… are both penalized identical amounts at the same time?’
After a relentless two-year legal tug-of-war, sanity finally prevailed. In a display of righteous justice, the Trump administration’s Department of Education declared on a Friday that it had reversed the colossal $37.7 million penalty against GCU, liberating the university from any blame. This was a significant win not just for the university, but also for the Christian community who had been closely following this case.
GCU’s press release echoed the university’s vindication, noting there were ‘no findings against GCU, or any of its employees, officers, agents, or contractors, and importantly, no monetary demands.’ The announcement was a resounding affirmation of GCU’s innocence and a damning indictment of the Biden administration’s unmerited assault.
The judgment was hailed from all quarters, both in academia and politics, as a momentous victory. Symbolizing more than just an administrative win, it showcased the Trump administration’s steadfast dedication to safeguarding religious institutions from prejudiced enforcement – a stark departure from the previous administration’s stance.
Education Department spokesperson Ellen Keast articulated the administration’s position on the matter, lucidly expressing that unlike their predecessors, the Trump administration wouldn’t resort to ‘persecution and prosecution of colleges and universities based solely on their religious affiliation.’
Pledging the administration’s ongoing commitment to fairness and neutrality in regulatory oversight, Keast emphasized that ‘The Trump administration will continue to ensure every institution of higher education is held accountable based on facts but department enforcement will be for the purpose of serving students, not political bias.’ This refreshing approach was seen as a beacon of hope for faith-based institutions who had often been unjustly targeted.
The Trump administration’s statement encapsulated a broader commitment to justice and impartiality in regulatory administration, particularly for faith-oriented institutions that felt unjustifiably targeted under previous, more biased, policies. This shift in approach brought a degree of comfort to religious institutions that had previously been unjustly singled out.
The decision was greeted with widespread acclaim from promoters of Christian higher education. The Trump administration’s corrective intervention in this case was seen as a bellwether moment for the Christian community campaigning for their educational rights.
The development in this drawn-out Grand Canyon University saga was heartening news for those vested in the cause of Christian higher education. Indeed, the granting of their appeal reinforced their long-held contention that they had been unfairly targeted from the beginning.
This triumphant milestone demonstrated once again that truth has a way of prevailing, regardless of how intensely it’s suppressed. It highlighted the perils of allowing partisan bias to influence critical educational policy making, fueling hopes for grander impartiality in academia.
The reverberations of this victory were sweeping, with supporters across the country viewing it as a validation of their commitment to fairness in higher education. Furthermore, it served as a stark reminder of the dangers of allowing personal bias to cloud judgment in significant educational policy matters.
This tale of false accusations, unwarranted punishment, and ultimate redemption will serve as a beacon of hope for all of those who have found themselves on the receiving end of biased judgments. As GCU and its supporters look to the future, they will undoubtedly carry with them the lesson that justice may be delayed, but it cannot be denied.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the case all along was the unwavering truth that one’s faith or belief system should never be used as a weapon against them. The Grand Canyon University saga offered a potent reminder of this, highlighting the value of fairness, justice, and the significant role religious institutions play in providing valuable education to communities across the country.
The post Biden Administration’s Baseless $37.7 Million Charge Against Christian College Erased appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
