Recent News

Grand Canyon University is in the process of acquiring a nearby apartment complex that had fallen into disrepair and is helping the residents find alternative housing in the neighborhood. After declining the opportunity to purchase Serrano Village Apartments, at 2828 W. Camelback Road, on multiple occasions over the past two years, GCU agreed on Oct. 27 to acquire the property after it learned that residents had been given notice to vacate the premises by Dec. 1 so that major repairs involving mechanical, water and sewer problems could occur. “Our students have a history of ministering to the residents of Serrano Village, most of whom are refugees from other parts of the world,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “We didn’t want to see them displaced without any assistance or have the property fall into the hands of an absentee owner who might allow for the potential of a criminal element on the property that didn’t previously exist.” Regardless of whether or not it completes the acquisition, GCU immediately provided $100,000 in relocation assistance funds to ensure that every family at Serrano Village is provided the necessary resources to make a smooth transition into a new residence that meets each family’s specific […]

By Laurie Merrill GCU News Bureau Separating faith from work is no easier than separating gender or ethnicity from work, Dr. Daisy Savarirajan told about 75 Grand Canyon University faculty during a “Lunch and Learn” session Friday. “I can’t separate one from the other,” said Savarirajan, a College of Science, Engineering and Technology microbiology instructor. “When I’m serving the students, I’m serving Christ.” Savarirajan discussed “Christ in the Classroom” during one of a series of peer-led talks about assimilating faith into teaching. The sessions are part of GCU’s Integration of Faith, Learning and Work initiative under Dr. Jason Hiles, College of Theology dean. She referenced John 4:35, which reads, “ … look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” This refers to people who would have eternal life in His kingdom, she said. “I see this campus as a field that is ready for harvest.” Teaching microbiology gives her the context for God’s calling, which is to save lives. Focusing on one’s true calling, or the big picture, gives work meaning, Savarirajan said. Otherwise it can feel demeaning, discouraging or draining. She believes her purpose in the classroom is to represent Christ and allow God’s spirit to work in her. She also uses […]

Donate to Elevate helps kids like Donovan Welbaum, 15, who otherwise might never have a chance of attending a private school like the Phoenix Christian Preparatory School, where he has good grades and perfect attendance. The Phoenix skateboard-loving teen was heading toward a rough life on the street or behind bars when he was offered the chance to apply for a scholarship with the help of tax-deferred dollars through Donate to Elevate.

Colangelo College of Business students learned a lot about the future Tuesday afternoon from AJ Maestas, one of the top sports marketing people in the business, but he also dealt in the present by giving them solid advice about how to get a job after they graduate. “You will have no career in sports unless you take networking seriously,” he told them. Take it from someone who knows how to network.

Depictions of war in Hollywood movies aren’t nearly as bad as the real thing, three former government security contractors told a GCU audience Tuesday during a talk on their role in defending the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, during a terrorist attack in 2012. Marine Corps veterans Mark “Oz” Geist and John “Tig” Tiegen, and former Army Ranger Kris “Tanto” Paranto talked about the 13 hours of mayhem at the compound which inspired a book and an upcoming film.

When Raj Sisodia, one of the leaders of the Conscious Capitalism movement in the business world, came to GCU Monday, he did more than just share some important statistics and his beliefs: He told the huge audience in the Student Union that Millennials are “the most meaningful and purposeful generation we’ve ever had.” Dr. Randy Gibb, dean of the Colangelo College of Business, has made it his mission to incorporate Conscious Capitalism ideals into the CCOB curriculum, and getting such an authoritative speaker on campus was a huge victory.

Arguably the best newspaper in the world, The New York Times, featured the work of GCU graphic designer Jessica Foncannon in an article last week about the power of playwright Arthur Miller’s plays in modern design. Foncannon’s work on “My Three Sons,” a play that will be presented in February by the College of Fine Arts and Production, was among eight designs capturing the eye of Times writer Erik Piepenburg, and the only one representing a University.

Colangelo College of Business students continue to do the job when they go up against other universities in local competitions. Teams from GCU finished second, fifth and seventh among college teams in the Stock Market Challenge, and seven GCU students placed in the top three in the Collegiate DECA Fall Leaders Conference, which was on campus.

GCU’s speech and debate team this weekend came in first place among four-year universities in individual events (speech) at the Robert Barbera Collegiate Forensics Invitational #1 at California State University, Northridge. The team beat Arizona State University and the University of California-Berkeley, two of the top-ranked schools in the nation, said team director Barry Regan, a College of Humanities and Social Sciences communications instructor. Click here to read more in GCU Today.

Dennis Green is happy to be a former football coach — he said he smiles a lot more these days — but he hasn’t stopped coaching. He came to campus Thursday afternoon and delivered an enthusiastic talk to Colangelo College of Business students about life, integrity and, of course, football. Along the way, students learned about “SWOT” and his “Five F’s” and “Three D’s,” and he even recreated for them his famous postgame rant. GCU Today has the story.