Griffin Fabitz/Cronkite News
Grand Canyon University campus.
The Goldwater Institute announced Wednesday that it is suing the U.S. Department of Education under the Freedom of Information Act. The records requested relate to the department's investigation and nearly $38 million in fines imposed on Grand Canyon University last year.
GCU is appealing the fine and denies misleading students about the cost of its graduate programs.
The Goldwater Institute would like to see emails about the GCU incident between top education officials and the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Staff attorney Stacey Skunky said there seems to be something wrong with the huge fines levied against GCU.
“So we'll look at exactly what we can uncover. If there's anything terrible out there. If this proves they're targeting GCU,” Skanky said. .
The Department of Education did not comment, citing pending litigation.
Separately, the FTC has filed a complaint against GCU, saying it is also being audited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Skanky said the open records request pending with the Department of Education was created to avoid records being withheld under federal exemptions.
“There's a lot of communication between institutions just around higher education law, so it's going to be a big fight to have to show some kind of privilege there.”
Skunky said the Goldwater Institute operates independently from GCU with a focus on transparency and government accountability.
