College of Doctoral Studies

Welcome Week 2017 promises to be another busy and festive time for students as they return to campus. But it’s extremely important, too. “The week says to all, ‘You belong here,’” said Charity Norman, manager of GCU’s Student and Family Program.

The College of Doctoral Studies has a new degree program designed to help adults learn how to better teach adults. The Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning degree is ideal for people who have an MBA and want to teach.

Photos by Slaven Gujic  GCU News Bureau Online students in the College of Doctoral Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Nursing and Health Care Professions received their degrees Friday in two separate ceremonies at GCU Arena. Classic pianist Jade Simmons delivered the keynote address for each ceremony, and Dr. Tim Griffin, GCU’s pastor and dean of students, and GCU President Brian Mueller were among the speakers.  

Andy Bevilacqua came to Grand Canyon University on Friday for the first time to receive his diploma from the College of Doctoral Studies, but that’s about the only thing in his story that makes him like a lot of other people. He’s the CEO for a company that tests and evaluates equipment and technology for the U.S. military and space program, and, oh by the way, he’s also 65 and fighting Parkinson’s disease.

More than 5,000 graduates and their 30,000 guests will be on the Grand Canyon University campus this week for spring commencement. There will be six ceremonies — two each, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Thursday through Saturday.

This year’s Canyon Challenge, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at GCU Arena, features five mission-driven finalists competing for the $15,000 in prize money. Storage Together, which won an international competition in Barcelona last fall, is among the competitors.

The Doctoral Community Cohort, designed to help learners get through the doctoral process, recently installed a new leadership group, led by its new president, Cheryl Martin. “Since the DCC has been such a powerful learning tool for me, I wanted to be a part of producing great DCC sessions to affect other doctoral learners,” Martin said.

This weekend’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium, but the festivities begin at Grand Canyon University Arena on Thursday night with the 29th annual Slam Dunk and 3-point Championships. GCU also will be represented in other ways — by the Thundering Heard Pep Band and by dozens of students who will be volunteering at the various festivities.

One of the learners at the College of Doctoral Studies residency this week is from Virginia and is out west for the first time, but Jayme Miles’ experience with the Grand Canyon University doctoral program is about much more than geography. She has found it to be extremely helpful and feels gratified to finally see the campus.

Nearly 1,000 people gathered Thursday at GCU Arena to hear 18 speakers and watch a full day’s worth of thought-provoking, emotional and inspirational TEDx talks. GCU students Austin Mosher and Jedidiah Woods, who conceived and organized the event, believe this year’s inaugural TEDx Grand Canyon University production will become an annual staple.