Grand Canyon University

Six GCU graduates from the last decade have one thing in common: They see the value of their time at the University. Several still are getting value in other ways. Maya Hinojos struck a deal with GCU to sell more than 6,300 beds from her family’s mattress company, and three are employed by the University. Reprinted from the February issue of GCU Magazine.

A group of seniors in the Dance Department felt blessed to have been at the American College Dance Association’s West Conference when they found out about the cancellation of their final Spring Dance Concert. They got to perform together one last time after being chosen for the conference’s gala. “The seniors in the cast, knowing it was their last performance as members of GCU’s Ethington Dance Ensemble, gave their most heartfelt performances to date. It was a bittersweet moment, to be sure,” said Susannah Keita, Director of the Dance Department.

GCU’s partnerships with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, the Phoenix Police Department and other entities have paid off with a dramatic transformation of its west Phoenix neighborhood in the last 10 years. But students have benefited greatly as well. Reprinted from the February issue of GCU Magazine.

With coronavirus-prompted school closures becoming a reality, it also became an inevitability that educators would have to teach in a different way. They would have to turn to online instruction in this new era of distance learning. That’s when GCU’s K12 Educational Development Department started to think of things it could do to support teachers. “We just leaped into action and said let’s put it on a YouTube Channel; we know we can do this,” said Corinne Araza, the department’s Director of STEM Outreach and Program Development. It’s where educators can find webinars and Tip-of-the-Day videos, and where parents can find educational tips, too. The department is also supporting teachers through various social media outlets.

Families often get to know the GCU campus through live, in-person tours. But not everyone can make it to campus, and that’s where the GCU Live team comes in. GCU Live conducts full, interactive, live virtual tours that are streamed online for those who might not have the opportunity to visit the University. These virtual tours have become the best way to get to know the campus as social distancing has changed the way we interact.

Spring break wasn’t much of a break for the GCU faculty, which had to transition ground classes to an online environment after the COVID-19 outbreak forced University officials to close much of the campus. But the hard work paid off. Instructors reported a seamless transition on the first day of classes Monday.

GCU was ready for this. After ground students were sent home to finish their studies at home because of the COVID-19 outbreak, leaders and faculty kicked into high gear by sharing its vast storehouse of expertise on online learning to insure a seamless transition as online instruction begins today. “GCU has been at the forefront in its investment in technology. We are at a time when that investment allows us to function, quite literally,” said Dr. Seanan Kelly, assistant professor in the College of Doctoral Studies and an expert in online instruction.

Dr. Mark Spalding, Spanish Program Faculty Lead for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, has some innovative and engaging ways of teaching the language — so engaging, in fact, that some of them have gotten married after bonding in his class.

It wasn’t the ending they had wanted, but the Ethington Theatre department wasn’t going to let COVID-19 rob them of the opportunity to experience the final production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” So what did they do? On the final night of rehearsal last week, shortly after receiving the news that all campus events would be canceled for the remainder of the semester, the cast performed what would be their only run-through of the anticipated production right then and there, with no costumes, a half finished set and other production details. It was an experience students won’t soon forget.

GCE Pastor Jim Miller was faced with a dilemma: The vast majority of employees are working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, which meant there wouldn’t be a live audience for his monthly Chapel service Wednesday morning featuring GCU President Brian Mueller. But Miller is a people person, so he brought it to the people — virtually. The service was viewed on Zoom and Facebook, and Mueller delivered a memorable talk.