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Largest Christian university celebrates FTC dropping lawsuit, ending years of 'lawfare' from Biden admin
Fox News ^ | 8/23/25 | Joshua Q. Nelson

Posted on 08/24/2025 3:28:12 AM PDT by Libloather

The largest Christian college in the United States has been cleared of federal allegations after university officials said the school was unjustly targeted by the Biden administration.

Grand Canyon University announced last week that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted unanimously to drop its lawsuit against the school.

In 2023, the FTC under the Biden administration filed suit in federal court against GCU, its marketer Grand Canyon Education, Inc., and its president and CEO, Brian Mueller, claiming the defendants used deceptive advertising and engaged in illegal telemarketing. In addition to providing marketing services, Grand Canyon Education, Inc., provides recruiting and support services to the university.

"This case, which we inherited from the previous administration, was filed nearly two years ago and has suffered losses in two motions to dismiss," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said. "These losses are compounded by recent events: Grand Canyon secured a victory over the Department of Education in a related matter before the Ninth Circuit; the Department of Education rescinded a massive fine levied on related grounds; and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Grand Canyon University is properly claiming 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation designation."

The Biden FTC previously complained that the Arizona-based school misled prospective doctoral students about the amount of time it would take to finish its accelerated program, deceptively marketed the school as a nonprofit, and illegally called prospective students who submitted their contact information on the school's website but requested not to be contacted.

The Department of Education under the Biden administration denied GCU’s nonprofit recognition after it was approved by the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, the Internal Revenue Service, the State of Arizona, and the Higher Learning Commission.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Education; History
KEYWORDS: arizona; christian; education; ftc; harassment; lawfare; persecution; university
I bet Brandon didn't even know about it.
1 posted on 08/24/2025 3:28:12 AM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Brandon didn’t know anything about anything. He only knew he got ice cream if he was good.


2 posted on 08/24/2025 3:32:36 AM PDT by southernindymom
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To: Libloather
complained that the Arizona-based school misled prospective doctoral students about the amount of time it would take to finish its accelerated program

I don't know what an accelerated PhD program even means. The usual requirement is 2 years of relevant graduate level courses and then a thesis. Princeton used to be famous in physics for requiring physics PhDs be complete in 3 years. There averate is now 6 years. With all the advances since Einstein's general relativity there is just a lot to learn and a thesis solving a significant issue just take longer.

3 posted on 08/24/2025 3:56:06 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: AndyJackson

I think some schools will accept already compiled research, as long as it is original work.


4 posted on 08/24/2025 3:57:17 AM PDT by Jonty30 (Pornography feeds abortion. Abortion is Satan's ultimate effort to hurt God. )
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To: AndyJackson

An accelerated PhD is a doctoral program designed to be completed in a shorter time than traditional PhD programs, often in 3-4 years instead of 5-7. This is achieved through various methods, depending on the institution and program:

- **Streamlined Curriculum**: Coursework is condensed, focusing on essential material, with fewer elective courses.
- **Prior Learning Credit**: Some programs grant credit for prior graduate work (e.g., a master’s degree) or professional experience, reducing required coursework.
- **Intensive Research Focus**: Students may start research earlier, sometimes from the first semester, integrating coursework and dissertation work.
- **Year-Round Study**: Programs may eliminate long breaks, requiring continuous study, including summers.
- **Cohort-Based or Structured Timeline**: Fixed schedules with clear milestones keep students on track.
- **Online or Hybrid Formats**: Some accelerated PhDs, especially in fields like education or business, are offered online, allowing flexibility and faster progress.

Examples include:
- **Combined Programs**: Some universities offer BS/PhD or MS/PhD tracks where students transition directly from undergraduate or master’s studies, bypassing separate applications (e.g., MIT’s EECS department offers a 5-year BS/MS/PhD track).
- **Professional Doctorates**: Programs like EdD or DBA often have accelerated options (e.g., Liberty University’s online DBA can be completed in 2.5-3 years).
- **Specific Disciplines**: Fields like nursing (DNP) or education (EdD) may offer 3-year accelerated tracks, especially for working professionals.

### Key Considerations:
- **Eligibility**: Often requires a strong academic background, relevant experience, or a master’s degree.
- **Workload**: Highly intensive, demanding significant time and focus, which may not suit everyone.
- **Field Variability**: Accelerated PhDs are more common in applied fields (e.g., business, education) than in research-heavy disciplines like physics or humanities.
- **Quality Concerns**: Some question the depth of training, especially in research-intensive fields, though reputable programs maintain rigor.

If you’re considering one, check program accreditation, faculty support, and whether the accelerated timeline aligns with your career goals (e.g., academia vs. industry). Would you like me to search for specific accelerated PhD programs or provide details on a particular field?


5 posted on 08/24/2025 3:58:24 AM PDT by Jonty30 (Pornography feeds abortion. Abortion is Satan's ultimate effort to hurt God. )
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To: All

Biden was hell bent to “get” Christians yet Biden appointed as a prestigious Reserve Board member, DEI box checker, Lisa DeNell Cook, whose entire academic career was found to be fraudulent:
<><>faking research data,
<><>outright plagiarism,
<><>lying on her resume

More recent reports of an investigation into Lisa Cook do not concern her dishonest flawed academic record. Instead, they focus on mortgage fraud allegations made in August 2025 by a Trump administration official.

These new accusations differ from past criticisms of her academic work, which were largely raised by commentators and politicians during her 2022 Senate confirmation process.

Mortgage fraud investigation into Cook (August 2025)
Source of allegations: Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred the matter to the Department of Justice.

The claims: Pulte accused Cook of misrepresenting her primary residence to obtain favorable mortgage loan terms on properties in Michigan and Georgia. A DOJ official confirmed the matter “requires further examination”.

President Donald Trump amplified the allegations on social media and called for Cook’s resignation from the Federal Reserve Board.

The President’s power to fire a Fed Governor is limited and would likely face legal challenges.


Past academic controversies (2022 confirmation)
During her 2022 Senate confirmation, the validity and relevance of Cook’s academic work was questioned.

Senator Pat Toomey claimed Cook was “unqualified to fight inflation” and accused her of being “hyper-partisan” based on her past tweets. Critics accused Cook of “careless scholarship” or “academic misconduct” for focusing on race in economics.

Other economists, including her thesis advisor, defended Cook’s credentials. They noted the importance of her research on the impact of racial violence on innovation.

Cook’s response: During her confirmation hearing, Cook addressed the attacks. She stated, “I know I have been the target of anonymous and untrue attacks on my academic record”.


6 posted on 08/24/2025 4:27:22 AM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: All

Accusations of Biden targeting Christians:

FACE Act enforcement: Critics, including former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Senator Josh Hawley, have accused the Biden DOJ of “weaponizing” the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act to target peaceful anti-abortion Christian protesters.

They allege that this was done while ignoring vandalism against churches. In April 2025, Bondi, who was appointed to a task force by former President Trump, stated that the new administration dropped several cases against anti-abortion protesters and redefined the FACE Act.

FBI memo on “radical-traditionalist Catholics”: In 2023, it was revealed that the FBI’s Richmond Field Office had issued a memo suggesting that “radical-traditionalist Catholics” could be considered security risks and had proposed engaging in outreach to infiltrate Catholic parishes. Following public outcry, including from Attorney General Merrick Garland, the FBI withdrew the memo and stated that the characterization of Catholics was false.

Political rhetoric: Some outlets have framed actions like the FBI memo and FACE Act prosecutions as part of a broader pattern of bias against Christians under the Biden administration. Some have also criticized President Biden’s declaration of Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility” in 2024 as insensitive to Christians.

After the FBI memo was revealed, Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray both condemned the memo. Garland called suggestions of targeting based on faith “outrageous,” while Wray said he was “aghast” when he saw it.

Fact-checking organizations: The New York Times reported in 2024 that experts found no data to support the idea that Catholics in the U.S. were being persecuted by the government at record levels. A religious studies professor at Arizona State University cited in the article said there was “pretty hard” evidence against the idea of a marked increase in targeting a particular kind of Christian.

Legal interpretations: The FACE Act has a history of being used by multiple administrations to prosecute actions on both sides of the abortion debate. Some critics argue the Biden administration’s use of the act was politically motivated, while supporters maintain it was a proper enforcement of the law.
Biden’s Christian ‘Persecution’? We Assess Trump’s Recent ...
Jan 2, 2024 — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said during a September congressional hearing that he was “appalled” by the memo and that “Catholics are not extremists.”

New York Times
Hawley Presses FBI to Probe Biden-Era Targeting of Christians
Mar 26, 2025 — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, seeking documents related to the Biden administration’s targeting of Christians.

U.S. Senate (.gov)
Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias - The White House
Feb 6, 2025 — The Biden Department of Justice sought to squelch faith in the public square by bringing Federal criminal charges and obtaining in numerous cases multi-year.....snip


7 posted on 08/24/2025 5:57:31 AM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: Libloather

This will happen again unless it is fixed by legislation.


8 posted on 08/24/2025 6:16:23 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
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