By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
The growth of the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University is reflected in many ways – including its clubs and honor societies.
The latest example was the Delta Mu Delta induction ceremony Wednesday afternoon. Last spring, the event fit in a room at GCU Golf Course. But there were so many inductees Wednesday – 60 in all, about twice the number just eight months earlier – that it had to be moved to Ethington Theatre, and that increase was accomplished even though the eligibility requirements were toughened.
This clearly is a case of following through on a plan. The group’s 2017-18 leaders – President Meghan Metzger, Vice President Shelbie Knuckles, Secretary Eva Mysnyk and Treasurer Conner Teich, and its faculty advisors, Dr. Moronke Oke and Dr. Donna DeMilia – promised at the last ceremony to increase the number of events during this academic year, and they did that. There was a service project at Feed My Starving Children, and the social at Canyon 49 Grill last month drew a big crowd.
The turnout for the social reflected another aspect of the growth, culminating in the much larger number of inductees Wednesday.
How did they do it? This shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows a millennial: They stepped up their campaign on social media.
“It’s just making sure people know what’s available through this and making sure they know it’s more than just a sticker for your resume,” Metzger said. “It’s actually a useful club where you can meet great people and get scholarships.
“We’ve seen a lot more members want to be involved and a lot of people taking pride in Delta Mu Delta. It’s awesome to see it recognized as an honor society.”
Founded in 1913 by a dean at Harvard University and professors from Yale and New York universities, Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society for business programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
GCU expanded its membership to doctoral learners this year and also adhered to Delta Mu Delta’s stepped-up requirements: In addition to being in the top 20 percent of their class, members now must have at least 24 credits, up from 20.
Next up is a colloquium on Feb. 21 named in honor of Dr. Kevin McClean, the chapter’s founding advisor and now a retired GCU professor.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or [email protected].
