History of Grand Canyon University
The Grand Canyon University story is unlike any in the world
From its humble beginnings in 1949, when three Baptist pastors each pledged a silver dollar to kick off fundraising to build the Christian university … to decades of producing graduates grounded in servant leadership … to near-bankruptcy … to a remarkable transformation that has made it the largest Christian university in the world, GCU has become a driving force in higher education.
It’s a story of bucking the odds.
Of free market ideals.
Of ensuring higher education is attainable to all socioeconomic classes.
Of academics grounded in offerings that focus on jobs and careers.
Of giving back to help those less fortunate.
But, mostly, it’s a story of faith.
The GCU story
The idea of a faith-based college in Arizona was initially championed by Dr. Willis J. Ray, who would become the first president at Grand Canyon. From there, the idea took hold at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention on Oct. 29, 1946, when representatives from 48 churches gathered at Glendale Calvary Baptist Church (now First Southern Baptist Church of Glendale).
Grand 'Construction' University
When Grand Canyon College moved from Prescott to west Phoenix in 1951 to break ground on 90 acres of land surrounded by cotton fields, it wasn’t without its share of drama. Builder and trustee A.A. Wallace had less than a month to construct nine new structures before students arrived for the fall semester. Although he didn’t meet the insurmountable September deadline, he had faith, and the nine low-roofed, pumice-blocked edifices debuted just a month later.
A campus culture like no other
No doubt about it, there’s something magical about Grand Canyon University. It’s like a secret everyone on campus knows. Just knows. An exuberance. An unfathomable joy. An open-the-door-for-your-neighbors friendliness. A cannot-be-contained spark. A paint-your-face-purple excitement.
Then and now
The campus skyline may look a lot different these days – new buildings, bigger crowds, more purple everywhere. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see plenty that hasn’t changed: the same spirited events, the same school pride and the same sense of community that have been part of GCU since day one. These then-and-now photos show while the campus keeps growing, the heart of GCU remains the same.
Did you know…?
We all know GCU was founded in 1949, that Thunder is the university’s mascot, and that purple, white and black are the official school colors. But you probably didn’t know these gems: that Thunder actually was preceded by a fluffy mascot dubbed the Purple People Eater, that professors spent their lunch breaks from teaching literature or history to put up a few 2x4s and build North Gymnasium, and that purple, white and black actually weren’t the school’s original colors. Here are a few little-known historical facts and dusted-off stories behind some of the university’s traditions, popular events, notable alumni and more.
Brian Mueller and the 'Phoenix 50'
Brian Mueller walked across the sparse, small campus that was Grand Canyon University in 2008 and admittedly had his doubts. Accompanied by Stan Meyer, his longtime friend and colleague from the University of Phoenix, he saw a university with less than 1,000 traditional students on a campus that was nearly bankrupt a few years earlier, surrounded by one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in Phoenix.
Pioneering online education
Every fall and spring, they arrive from all over the globe, family and friends trailing in the swish of their graduation gowns into Grand Canyon University Arena. They will stop and tell their stories in many accents. How they had a full-time job, a baby on the way and finished their master’s degree; how they took care of a dying husband and still filed their assignments; how they returned to college 40 years after deferring the dream of a bachelor’s degree.
Rise of athletics
Over Grand Canyon’s first six decades, a triumphant tradition of melding academics with athletics enhanced the culture and climate of campus life. GCU Athletics, with that base in place, was ready to radiate more energy and a bigger spotlight once the 2013 elevation to NCAA Division I matched the rise of the university.
The next 75 years
When students step onto the sun-drenched GCU campus for the first time, the 70-foot palm trees stretching toward the Sonoran Desert sky above them, the contemporary apartment suites to welcome them, and the sophisticated labs, new classrooms and walkway of eateries to greet them, they might think they’ve stepped into paradise.
“To look at how far we have come from our humble beginnings in 1949 to where we were 15 years ago to becoming the largest Christian university in the country, it is clear that God has his hand on this place in a very special way. With everything going on in the world today, I am convinced God’s plan was for us to be at this university, at this time, and in these circumstances.”
GCU President Brian Mueller
Read about how GCU has grown and transformed over 75 years, while faith and trusting God through the school's Christian foundation have stayed the same.
75 Years of Purpose | 15 Years of Transformation is available at the Lope Shops!