College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Among the thousands of people who plan to participate a walk to benefit breast cancer patients, families and research later this month are GCU employees Woody and Allison Mason, who have been on a long cancer journey of their own. Woody’s identical twin, Dilon, is a three-time cancer survivor who got a new lease on life, thanks to his brother’s donation of stem cells, and Allison has been there every step of the way. GCU Today has a story about them that includes GCU’s heart for the walk and how you can sign up.

CSET’s faculty grew by nine members this fall as its student enrollment rose to more than 2,800 students. Dr. Jon Valla, the new assistant dean, is playing a role in transitioning GCU to a strong research facility. GCU Today has the story.

This year for the first time, high school students enrolled as GCU STEM Scholars are experimenting with human cadavers as part of their curriculum. On Friday, Peoria’s Medical Engineering and Technology Professional Academy students, many of whom are considering enrolling at GCU for its medical program, were at first squeamish but then enthralled by the unusual activity. GCU Today has the story.

Dr. Galyna Kufryk, a professor of biological sciences in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, was invited by the Institut Pasteur in Paris to continue her research of tiny photosynthetic organisms that someday could help solve the world’s energy crisis. You can read more about Kufryk, who received the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award last year from CSET, and her work in this GCU Today story.

One of the many bright new freshmen who started classes three weeks ago is Yousif Al Dulaimi, a pre-med biology major who grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, amid Saddam Hussein’s ouster and his country’s war. Yousif arrived in Chandler with his family about 14 months ago, enrolled in and graduated from Hamilton High and now is taking five courses and working two jobs.

The number of GCU students doing internships just keeps growing — up to more than 300 for the 2014-15 school year. The types of opportunities they’re getting also are expanding, and several found themselves getting to do far more than they expected.

The tools to succeed as a student at GCU have never before been so intentional and integrated throughout the colleges and curriculum. From the time they step onto campus until their commencement, students are continuously exposed to purposeful planning, advising and other guidance to make the most of their programs of study, academics, career aspirations and spirituality. And soon, a new First Year Center of academic excellence will open in Juniper Hall, which is home to 250 of GCU’s 750 Honors College students. Click here to read more in GCU Today.

The first students in GCU’s engineering program attended classes Monday in their new building. Over the coming years, they will be exposed to a new way of preparing for the workforce and future jobs in biomedical, electrical and mechanical engineering and of thinking about how Christian anthropology fits in with their future careers.

By Janie Magruder GCU News Bureau If Ethington Theatre at Grand Canyon University ever staged “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” freshman Heidi Laabs would make an ideal lead character. The Mesa biology major, who moved into Willow Hall with hundreds of other new students Tuesday, has sampled University life over the past 72 hours and is finding things to her liking. It’s been a blessed week filled with good fortune. Her room, a vintage Pottery Barn prototype, is clean and cool. Already, her roommate and suitemates have BFF status, and in just three short days on campus, Heidi has experienced some of the best things GCU has to offer — a warm welcome from volunteers, a high-energy worship service, movie night, swimming, free iced tea and much more. All with thousands of other members of the Class of 2019. With her long blond hair, Heidi is more Goldilocks than Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White. The GCU decision The only child of Susan and Tom Laabs, Heidi graduated from Gilbert Christian High, a college preparatory school, with about 40 other seniors this spring. She likes science, played on the women’s basketball team and performed with the hand bell choir at her church, Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran in Gilbert. Heidi […]

Record-breaking high temperatures Friday in Phoenix couldn’t hold a candle to the enthusiasm of President/CEO Brian Mueller and other GCU leaders during the all-employee meeting in the Arena. Mueller delivered his own take on a “State of the University” address by hosting a Q-and-A with more than a dozen representatives of the faculty, colleges, programs, enrollment, student body, community outreach and staff.