DIGITAL GCU Today AUG issue

GCU MAGAZ I NE • 1 3 • Creating an anatomical atlas; • Developing a bandage to help in wound care; • Measuring whether daily exercise is better than alternating exercise when it comes to lowering blood pressure. Mobley emphasized that even with these new opportunities for research grants, GCU remains first and foremost, as it has been since it was founded in 1949, a teaching institution. “But we want to supplement that with significant research initiatives,” he said. So, rather than immediate sweeping changes, expect to see a steady ramp-up in the University’s existing research programs. “We’ve been on a great ramp-up. This (grant opportunities and the like) will just continue to improve that,” he said. “As we get to be a bigger and bigger university, as you go from 10,000 to 20,000 to 30,000 students, it’s very difficult to think about involving a whole lot of students in research and innovative activities unless you’ve got some sources of funding externally.” Other opportunities Outside of research grants for the sciences, Mobley said GCU is looking forward to grant opportunities elsewhere. He noted that many foundations’ charters limit their support to nonprofits, which means GCU’s new status could pave the way for help with community initiatives in the Murphy and Alhambra school districts. Carpenter also is encouraged by the chance to be able to help the community more with such financial support. He is heartened, he said, by “those opportunities to be able to apply for grants, to be able to make an impact moving forward in the Murphy district, moving forward even further with the Alhambra district, to be able to better those communities, to be able to better the community that surrounds us and give opportunities.” Jon Valla, a CSET assistant dean, sees chances for GCU to land student training and experience grants, which provide students with the experiences they need to be accepted into graduate or medical school. He also is excited about what the nonprofit transition means in terms of philanthropy. “We will now be able to accept philanthropic gifts from alumni, parents, relatives and friends of the University,” Valla said. “Providing for equipment and other items that will significantly and directly enhance the experiences and training of future students is often a very attractive target for donors.” Mobley said all these initiatives, research and otherwise, are again focused on the most important thing to the University: its students. “The heavy focus, unlike a traditional research university, is opportunities for our students,” he said. “That’s the thing that comes first as a teaching university.” As it always has been and will continue to be, Mueller emphasized. When he arrived at GCU in 2008, the University still was recovering from the shock of facing bankruptcy and nearly closing its doors four years earlier. Asked about his level of excitement then compared to today, he replied: “It was a combination of excited and scared because there were a lot of challenges. Whether we were going to make it out of the tough times was not absolutely clear. We’re just as excited as we were 10 years ago, but we’re much more confident and sure that this model has staying power.” And its impetus comes from celebrating students. While the transition to nonprofit status will open new opportunities for research grants, GCUwill remain primarily a teaching institution.