Photos by Ralph Freso
Welcome Week at Grand Canyon University has evolved into a mix of fluid efficiency and fun events.
This year’s Aug. 26-31 work-hard, play-hard experience features a Move-In that is compacted into 2 ½ days instead of five and numerous events all within one week instead of expanding into a second.
The work-hard portion is family members helping students move into campus living areas by appointment at four campus entry points from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 6 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.
Extending Move-In hours into the evening the first two days of the week allows students to focus on all the activities going on across campus, said Welcome Programs Manager Alden Sia.
And there are great events not to be missed.
On Wednesday night, a concert by Christian recording artist Chris Renzema at Global Credit Union Arena not only moved to Welcome Week proper but will be free for students this year when they reserve a ticket. Alumni also can attend for a fee.
Renzema’s latest album, “Manna,” has been well-received by critics, including Relevant, a multimedia company that targets young Christians, ranking it fifth in its top 10 worship albums last spring.
One of the most popular evening events remains Silent Disco, also at the arena on Tuesday night. Students don headphones and dance their hearts out to the music. Watching in silence as they jam is a hoot, too.
Another event that has grown, the Club and Community Fair on Friday morning, also moves to Welcome Week proper, when in prior years it was during the following week. It fills the Canyon Activity Center with dozens of student clubs’ displays, offering goodies and information on how to get involved in the coming academic year.
A compacted schedule of Move-In and events has been a goal for years and helps with the timing of another new event, Thursday morning’s Lope Family Sendoff. The presentation in Sunset Auditorium signals to parents that “this is your moment to let go,” Sia said, and they will appreciate the permission to do that after a busy week.
Socials organized by student government leaders for various groups of students – first generation, transfers or, this year, one for new students at the Grove – are also growing and help to meet those in the same situation.
Also expanding has been the involvement of student clubs, which made a pitch to be represented at Welcome Week. A few were chosen to hold events. Saturday night’s American Swing Kids Dance Night at Prescott Field is expected to be popular.
Don’t forget Friday night’s Lope-A-Palooza, always a loud and proud introduction to cheering and jamming at Global Credit Union Arena, preceded by a GCU volleyball match.
That’s just to name a few. See below for all the activities of a busy week.
Welcome Week schedule
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
RECURRING EVENTS
6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 6-noon Wednesday: Appointment Move-In, all living areas
10 a.m.-noon: Pop Ups on the Promenade, Student Union Promenade
4-5 p.m.: New Student and Family Commissioning, Global Credit Union Arena
5-6:30 p.m.: Parent and Family Orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
5-6:30 p.m.: Orientacion Para Padres y Familias, Technology Building, Room 130
5-7 p.m.: Orientation Groups, Global Credit Union Arena
5-6:30 p.m.: High School Hang Out, Thunderground
MONDAY, Aug. 26
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Dance Department Open House, Saguaro Dance Rooms
12:30-3 p.m.: Army ROTC New Cadet Orientation, West Lecture Halls (Building 22, Rooms 101 and 102)
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Latino Student Union Mixer, Thunderground
3:45-5 p.m.: ROTC Parent and Cadet Social, Kaibab (Building 25, second floor)
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Sports and Entertainment Business Club Tailgate, Riverbed
7-8 p.m.: Speedfriending, Colter Field
7-9:30 p.m.: First Monday, Prescott Field
TUESDAY, Aug. 27
6-8 a.m.: Army ROTC New Cadent Orientation Day 2, Colter Field
11 a.m.-noon: ROTC New Cadet Orientation Briefs, West Lecture Halls
11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Dance Department Open House, Saguaro Dance Rooms
1-2 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
6-9 p.m.: Welcome Back at the CAC, Canyon Activity Center
7-10 p.m.: Project L, Prescott Field
8-11 p.m.: Silent Disco, Global Credit Union Arena
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 28
8:15-11 a.m.: Fitness Center Smoothie Stroll and Facility Tour, Juniper Fitness Center
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Multicultural Open House, Multicultural Lounge, Kaibab
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Club Sports Experiences, Juniper and Colter Fields and Canyon Activities Center
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Dance Department Open House, Saguaro Dance Rooms
Noon-1 p.m.: Out-of-State and Transfer Student Social, Thunderground
1-2 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
1-3 p.m.: ASGCU Open House, ASGCU Office in the Student Life Building (Building 26)
1:30-3:30 p.m.: Commuter Life Ice Cream Social and Open House, Commuter Lounge
2-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Open House, CAM Building (Building 35)
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Clubs: Modern Boardgamers Guild Open House, Riverbed
6-10 p.m.: Intramural Sports Field Night, Colter Field
8 p.m.: Welcome Week Concert, Global Credit Union Arena
THURSDAY, Aug. 29
9-10 a.m.: Lope Family Sendoff, Sunset Auditorium
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Student Employment Job Fair, Antelope Gymnasium
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Honors Orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Club Sports Experiences, Antelope Pool, Canyon Activities Center, CAC lawn and Colter Field
1-2 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
1-4 p.m.: Honors Orientation-Elective Sessions, Technology Building (Building 57) lecture halls
3-5 p.m.: ASGCU First Gen Social, Thunderground
3-5 p.m.: Missions Open House, Natural Sciences Building (Building 6), Rooms 139/140
3-4 p.m.: First Community Gathering, all living areas
5-7 p.m.: Suite Life of ASGCU, Quad
7 p.m.: Intramural Sports Field Night, CAC courts
7-10 p.m.: Canyon Cool Down, Grove Fields
FRIDAY, Aug. 30
6-7 a.m.: Sunrise Yoga, Prescott Field
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Club and Community Fair, Canyon Activity Center
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Dance Department Open House, Saguaro Dance Rooms
12:30-2 p.m.: College of Natural Sciences Welcome, Technology Building (Building 57) classrooms
1-4 p.m.: Honors College Open House, Engineering Building, Room 230
2-4 p.m.: ACE Social, GCBC Student Union
3-5 p.m.: ASGCU New Student Social, Grove Pool
7 p.m.: GCU volleyball match, Global Credit Union Arena
9 p.m.-12 a.m.: Lope-A-Palooza, Global Credit Union Arena
SATURDAY, Aug. 31
6:30-8:30 p.m.: Clubs: American Swing Kids Dance Night, Prescott Field
7 p.m.: GCU volleyball match, Global Credit Union Arena
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]
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