Recent News

By Michael Ferraresi GCU News Bureau The Antelopes have faced off with their Sun Devil neighbors over the years in a men’s basketball exhibition, club rugby and various other sports. At 7 p.m. Wednesday in the north dining hall of the Student Union, Grand Canyon University goes head-to-head with Arizona State University in a public debate organized by the award-winning GCU speech and debate team. Since it’s a political year and the Nov. 4 general election is right around the corner, the topic for the competition is “Resolved: The Republicans will take back the Senate in November.” For the two-on-two debate, GCU students Thomas Rotering and Thomas Varkey are preparing to argue why the Republicans will win the Senate majority, while ASU’s two student debaters will make an argument for the Democrats to retain their majority. For example, debaters could explore the possible outcomes in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia — states where Senate seats are held by the Democrats but might shift to the GOP. Meanwhile, the Democrats are focused on reclaiming GOP-held Senate seats in Georgia and Kansas. While GCU’s speech and debate team typically competes in traditional forensics events such as […]

Grand Canyon University’s non-traditional commencement ceremony returned to campus and to the more spacious GCU Arena on Saturday. The extra seats were a blessing as family members and friends of nearly 1,900 online students for morning and afternoon ceremonies.

By Michael Ferraresi GCU News Bureau Few desert-style courses in Phoenix are as lush or mature as Maryvale Golf Course, with its huge 1960s-era trees and long stretches of turf that are neither tan nor taupe. It is considered an oasis in the otherwise urban surroundings of west Phoenix. Grand Canyon University intends to enhance that setting even further when it redesigns the course next year through a 30-year operating agreement approved Thursday by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board. As part of the agreement, GCU will oversee plans to create new tee boxes, shape brand-new greens, extend fairways, enhance bunkers, update practice facilities and build a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, among other features, to reach its goal of making Maryvale a golf destination. The public course, located just three miles west of GCU’s main campus at 5902 W. Indian School Road, will undergo its major facelift beginning in January. The course will be closed until October 2015 as GCU directs construction and assumes control of operations. GCU President and CEO Brian Mueller said the Antelopes men’s and women’s NCAA Division I golf teams will use Maryvale as their home course. He added that the course could host college or high school tournaments after […]

The strengthing of and reliance upon faith during tough times is a key theme of the 2014-15 choral series in the College of Fine Arts and Production’s music department. The series begins Thursday evening with the Masterworks Concert I, and GCU Today has a preview here.

Colangelo College of Business students got some valuable insights Monday from three local entrepreneurs representing the Camelback Society, a group of Christian businessmen. In the first meeting of the Dean’s Speaker Series, the businessmen shared their wit and wisdom while explaining how they became successful in their startups.

GCU’s band program has been growing in stature and size since director Paul Koch took over two years ago, and this year is adding a Guitar Ensemble to its repertoire. The first concert of the 2014-15 season, “Java and Jazz” with the Thunder Big Band, is 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Union.

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau An administrator who specializes in leadership, relationships and sponsorships is coming to Grand Canyon University to continue the quest for championships in NCAA Division I. Mike Vaught was introduced as vice president of athletics on Wednesday morning during a press conference in GCU Arena. He takes over a program looking to build on a successful first year in its transition to the highest level of collegiate competition. “Our vision for the athletic department is to be top 25 in everything we do,” Vaught said. “We’ll put a plan in place to get there and take the steps necessary to achieve that, whether that’s how we cut the grass or have student-athletes winning championships. We’ll have three goals for our student-athletes: graduate, win championships and be good role models. If we do those, we will produce future leaders for society, great husbands and wives, and moms and dads.” As deputy director of athletics at Southern Methodist University from 2006 to 2012, Vaught helped a football program that received the NCAA “death penalty” in 1987 end a 25-year bowl drought with four straight postseason appearances. He had a hand in the hiring of two highly respected coaches, […]

Mike Vaught, Grand Canyon University’s new vice president of athletics, is well known among his peers, who say he has a passion for student-athletes, a stellar record as an administrator and a successful career as a coach. Here’s what some of them are saying: “I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to work in concert with Mike during my tenure as the head football coach at Rice University. Mike is a talented administrator whose expertise will greatly benefit GCU.  His background as a coach, fundraiser and executive in the private sector provide him with a broadly-developed leadership skill set.  Mike is a person who is passionate about intercollegiate athletics and most importantly, the student-athletes and their collegiate experience. Penni and I welcome Karri and Mike to our fine community.” — Todd Graham, ASU football coach “Mike Vaught is a home run hire for Grand Canyon University. As both an administrator and a coach, Mike knows how to build and sustain winning programs. His vision, leadership qualities and interpersonal skills are an ideal fit for GCU.” — Chris Del Conte, director of athletics, TCU “Mike Vaught is a tremendous athletic administrator and will be a terrific fit at Grand Canyon University. […]

The psychology department at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences has added three new professors, giving Grand Canyon University more personnel to address the rising need to prepare students for both entry-level jobs and graduate-level programs in psychology.

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Christians talk about getting their hands dirty and their feet wet in practicing their faith. Dr. Palmer Chinchen takes it to a whole new level on the lower extremities. Chinchen, lead pastor of The Grove in Chandler, spoke and his pastor of worship, Josh Havens, sang Monday in the second installment of the Grand Canyon University College of Theology’s Ministry Forum. Together, they challenged audience members to practice what they preach. “A lot of people are willing to follow Jesus into an air-conditioned church,” said Chinchen, whose mantra is, “Take off your shoes and walk the holy ground of a broken world.” Not long ago, Chinchen created what he calls “The Barefoot Tribe” and challenged his congregation to wear their favorite shoes to church, then take them off, throw them in a pile and walk barefoot the rest of the day. The shoes would be donated to people who don’t have any shoes to wear, and for one day the Chandler churchgoers would know what it feels like to walk in the footsteps of those people. He wasn’t sure how many people would participate, but he was overwhelmed by the response. A movement was born. Call it sole […]