College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Students taking UNV-112, “Success in Science, Engineering and Technology,” floated fellow students’ boats with a boat-float challenge. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter displayed its robot obstacle course. And the newly formed SAE Aero Design team had a few remote-controlled aircraft to display. All the activities were part of National Engineers Week, or E-Week, which culminated on Friday with an ice cream social outside of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology Building. The University also celebrated E-Week with a virtual bridge building contest. CSET faculty member Dr. Kevin Williams said, “It’s a chance to see opportunities for participation in the various clubs, and it’s a chance to celebrate our engineering students.”

No one should have to choose between faith and science. “Faith is a starting point for knowledge, not the end of the search to understand all that God has done. One who believes wholeheartedly in God can also conduct amazing research projects in ways that enable us to better understand who He is and how He created,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, GCU’s Dean of the College of Theology, who was part of this weekend’s Conference on Faith and Science. Scholars at the two-day conference on GCU’s campus spoke about everything from intelligent design and discoveries in science that point to an intelligent designer, to ethical aspects on new technologies.

From 2010 to 2019, GCU grew from seven colleges to nine and more than doubled its academic programs from 94 to 238. How did that happen? Simple. “Nothing is slow here,” said Dr. Mark Wooden, Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. “We go after things full blast and make them happen.” Reprinted from the February issue of GCU Magazine.

The College of Science, Engineering and Technology’s Associate Dean of Engineering, Dr. Janet Brelin-Fornari, recently received a prestigious appointment. She was chosen to serve on the Board of Delegates for the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, an international organization representing more than 1.5 million professionals in nearly every country in the world. “Having the University name represented on this important board shows the level of expertise at GCU and that we care about quality undergraduate engineering education,” said Dr. Mark Wooden, CSET Dean.

The February 2020 issue of GCU Magazine will be a keepsake for students, faculty, staff and alumni. The special dedication to GCU’s stunning transformation in the last 10 years includes stories, photos and videos covering every aspect of this remarkable story — academics, spiritual life, campus life, community outreach, athletics, online education and alumni — plus President Brian Mueller’s personal thoughts about what it has meant to him. Here’s the digital version.

Hundreds of students from almost 50 middle and high schools toted along their robots, solar-powered model cars and disaster relief engineering designs to the University on Saturday. They were competing in the Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) central regional event, which featured nine design challenges. GCU also will be the site for the state competition in May and the nationals in June.

College of Science, Engineering and Technology Assistant Dean Dr. Jon Valla and Sciences Program Director Dr. Bina Vanmali knew their college needed a course that honed students’ critical thinking and analysis skills. So they tasked the faculty with doing just that. More than a dozen faculty from across disciplines, led by Andrea Strock and Dr. Brian Sillanpaa, went into think-tank mode and redesigned Science 150. About 1,000 prehealth and forensic science students took the hands-on, project-based course in the fall. The neat thing about SCI-150? It teaches science concepts through music-based projects, including students building their own musical instruments and Rube Goldberg machines.

GCU News Bureau A special edition of the Journal of Instructional Research features several articles from Grand Canyon University faculty. JIR features theoretical and empirically-based research articles, critical reflection pieces, case studies and classroom innovations relevant to best practices in post-secondary instruction (including teaching, learning and assessment). The articles listed below are available here: “Defining Effective Online Pedagogy,” John Steele, Rick Holbeck, Jean Mendernach Ten Strategic Points: A Framework for Doctoral Dissertations Students to Conceptualize their Research Design in a Doctoral Residency Program,” Cynthia Bainbridge, Christie McClendon, June Maul “The Goldilocks Paradox: The Need for Instructor Presence but Not Too Much in an Online Discussion Forum,” Elizabeth Larson, Jacob Aroz, Eric Nordin “Virtual Professional Communities: Integrative Faculty Support to Foster Effective Teaching,” Katie Sprute, Crystal McCabe, Lynn Basko, Paul Danuser “Exploring Quiz-Style PowerPoint Games as an Innovative e-Learning and Teaching Pedagogy,” Nikki Squire “Reflective Practice through Mentorship: A Program Reflection,” Emily Pottinger, Rebekah Dyer and Jena Akard “Using OBS to Create Video Lectures for Online Counseling Students,” Daniel A. Kauffman “Active Classrooms: Great for Academic Performance, but can They Improve Student Health? A Critical Literature Review,” Mike Swoboda The Intersection of Theory and Practice in Teacher Preparation Courses,” Brandon Juarez “Alternative Mentoring for Psychology Students,” […]

Photos by Ralph Freso and Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The 2 p.m. ceremony Friday in Winter Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured graduates of the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science, Engineering and Technology and the College of Theology.  

GCU’s HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) chapter likes to keep busy and capped off the fall semester by speaking at the Arizona HOSA Fall Leadership Conference and then, two days later, volunteering for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk.