Photos by Ralph Freso
Welcome Week at Grand Canyon University has always been special and full of music, dancing and cheering. For years, it also was a frenzied fall occasion, when the campus community helped thousands of students move on campus. But it has evolved in recent years to an organized, weeklong series of events, information and entertainment.
This year, 105 events span from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 (full schedule list below), all run smoothly by Welcome Programs staff, 77 Student Affairs volunteers and 500 Welcome Crew volunteers.
Now to the important number: There are 19,589 snack units ordered, so a Cheez-It or Oreo is never far from reach.
“I remember when I got here my freshman year, it was so fun, so hype and welcoming,” said Michaella Smith, a program manager at Welcome Programs who was remembering 2017. “I feel like we’ve stuck true to that as an underlying theme, but it’s definitely more fine-tuned and refined. We’re a lot more organized.”
“But we keep that energy,” added Garrett Abeyta, a program manager along with Smith who has worked tirelessly to create a week when students and parents get a good first impression of GCU.
The week starts with 2 ½ days of moving in by appointment, with the Welcome Crew cheering them on and giving them directions. Some living areas also will be assisted in the actual hauling by a team of volunteers from Global Credit Union, which is also holding daily financial seminars.
Days are centered by afternoon orientations for students and family members, an important part of the week. Welcome Programs staff say its research shows that students who go through in-person orientation stay at GCU at a 30% higher rate than those who don’t.
The fun kicks into higher gear in the evening. The emphasis this year was making sure every night of the week is filled with entertainment, keeping students on campus to connect with one another, Welcome Programs staff said.
Silent Disco on Tuesday remains a popular event, when students jam to music via headphones, which is interesting to watch if you aren't wearing headphones and can't hear the music.
Thursday night’s Canyon Cool Down at Willow and Juniper fields is a great way to escape the heat with water-related activities, and Friday night’s Lope-A-Palooza introduces students to the pep-rally wildness of Global Credit Union Arena, led by Spirit Programs.
But a couple of new events and a change to the evening schedule were added: Cabanarama on Monday night kicks off the week, with the Canyon Activities Board bringing its event to Prescott Field that will, for the first time, include live musical performances from students; Ignite Worship Night on Wednesday returns to Welcome Week proper (after being held the following week in prior years) with a Spiritual Life event that gets students started on the right foot – spiritually connected and centered for the year ahead.
In recent years, a concert was added to conclude Welcome Week, free for students. A popular performer for this year’s Labor Day concert at Global Credit Union Arena is signed to a contract and will soon be revealed, university officials said.
Other notable events:
- Back after its inaugural success filling Sunset Auditorium, Thursday morning’s Lope Family Sendoff is when loved ones can officially wish their student well before, often tearfully, taking off. This year it moved to the bigger Antelope Gymnasium.
- A new event on Friday, Student Leadership at GCU, introduces new students to the value of getting involved in campus leadership.
Other ways to get involved:
- GCU Clubs continues to increase its Welcome Week involvement with several events, including a lot of dancing with clubs such as American Kids, the Hip Hop Club and Student Dance Organization all getting in the groove, while a new event was launched with two clubs for mental health and for students with disabilities.
- The daily Pop-Ups on the Promenade include numerous organizations tabling with goodies and information on how to get involved, this year running an extra day, through Thursday, while the big Club and Community Fair brings it all together in the Canyon Activity Center on Friday.
- Socials are held throughout the week, to help new students or those of similar studies or interests connect.
Nearly every department and organization on campus is involved.
“There’s a little bit of everything in Welcome Week, so it’s cool that it’s like an all-hands-on-deck kind of thing,” Abeyta said.
WELCOME WEEK SCHEDULE
MONDAY
6 a.m.-9:30 p.m.: Curbside appointment move-in, all living areas
10-11 a.m.: "Guide to Money," CHSS, CHSS Building, Room 102
10 a.m.-noon: Pop-Ups on the Promenade, Promenade and Prescott Patio
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Coffee with the Parent Council, Prescott Promenade
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media dance classes, Saguaro, Rooms 104 and 107
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
Noon-1 p.m.: New student social, Thunderground
2-6 p.m.: New student and family orientation, multiple locations
2-3 p.m. (Doors 1 p.m.): New student commissioning, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Parent and family orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Orientacion para familias, Technology Building, Ctro 130
3-6 p.m.: Orientation groups, Prescott Field
1-5 p.m.: GO Kids (Grades K-8), Cathedral Rock, Rooms 103, 108
3-4:30 p.m. High School Hang Out (Grades 9-12), Thunderground
7-9 p.m.: GCU men’s soccer vs. Cleveland State, GCU Stadium
8-10 p.m.: Cabanarama, Prescott Field
TUESDAY
6 a.m.-9 p.m.: Curbside appointment move-in, all living areas
10-11 a.m.: "Understanding Credit," CHSS Building, Room 102
10 a.m.-noon: Pop-Ups on the Promenade, Promenade and Prescott Patio
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Coffee with the Parent Council, Prescott Promenade
10 a.m-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media dance classes, Saguaro, Rooms 104 and 107
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
2-6 p.m.: New student and family orientation, multiple locations
2-3 p.m. (Doors 1 p.m.): New student commissioning, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Parent and family orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Orientacion para familias, Technology Building, Ctro 130
3-6 p.m.: Orientation groups, Prescott Field
1-5 p.m.: GO Kids (Grades K-8), Echo Room 111
3-4:30 p.m.: High School Hangout (Grades 9-12)
8-11 p.m.: Silent Disco, Global Credit Union Arena
WEDNESDAY
6 a.m.-9 p.m.: Curbside appointment move-in, all living areas
9:30-11 a.m.: Honors College: Bright Minds and Bagels, Technology Building lawn
10-11 a.m.: "Guide to Money," CHSS, CHSS Building, Room 102
10 a.m.-noon: Pop-Ups on the Promenade, Promenade and Prescott Patio
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Coffee with the Parent Council, Prescott Promenade
10 a.m-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media dance classes, Saguaro, Rooms 104 and 107
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Sweet Treats and Commuter Greets, Global Credit Union Arena Concourse
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Taste of the World, Kaibab, Multicultural Lounge
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
1-3 p.m.: ASGCU open house, Student Life Building
1-5 p.m.: GO Kids (Grades K-8), Echo, Room 111
2-6 p.m.: New student and family orientation, multiple locations
2-3 p.m. (Doors 1 p.m.): New student commissioning, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Parent and family orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
3-4:30 p.m.: Orientacion para familias, Technology Building, Room 130
3-6 p.m.: Orientation groups, Prescott Field
3-4:30 p.m.: High School Hang Out (Grades 9-12), Thunderground
5-7 p.m.: Sweet Life of ASGCU, Juniper and Willow fields
6-10 a.m.: Intramural Invasion at the Sand Courts, Sand Volleyball Courts and Canyon Turf Field
8-9:30 p.m.: Ignite worship night, Global Credit Union Arena
9:30-10:30 p.m.: Ignite Fair, Quad lawn
THURSDAY
6:30-7:30 a.m.: Sunrise yoga, Prescott Field
9-10 a.m. Lope Family Sendoff, Antelope Gym
10-11 a.m.: "Understanding Credit," CHSS Building, Room 102
10-11:30 a.m.: Honors College orientation, Global Credit Union Arena
10 a.m.-noon: Pop-Ups on the Promenade, Promenade and Prescott Patio
10 a.m-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media dance classes, Saguaro, Rooms 104 and 107
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: College of Engineering and Technology labs open house, Engineering and Technology buildings
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Faith in Your First Year, Prayer Chapel
Noon-2 p.m.: Honors College level-up sessions, Technology Building lecture halls and classrooms
3-4 p.m.: Residence Life community gatherings, all living areas
3-5 p.m. Missions Meet and Greet, Natural Sciences Building, Room 139/140
3-5 p.m.: College of Arts and Media Open House, Arts and Media Building
3-5 p.m.: Transfer and out-of-state student social, Thunderground
5-7 p.m.: Local Outreach head leader meet-and-greet, Cactus, Room 131
6-8 p.m.: Bingo and trivia, Thunderground
6-9 p.m.: Intramural Invasion at the CAC, CAC Courts 4-9
7-9 p.m.: Men's soccer vs. Sacramento State, GCU Stadium
7-10 p.m.: Canyon Cool Down, Willow and Juniper fields
FRIDAY
9-10 a.m.: "Student Leadership at GCU," Joshua North 102
10-11 a.m.: "Guide to Money," CHSS, Room 102
10-1 p.m.: GCU Club and Community Fair, Canyon Activity Center
10 a.m-4 p.m.: College of Arts and Media dance classes, Saguaro, Rooms 104 and 107
10:30-11:30 a.m.: Life leader meet-and-greet, all living area lobbies
Noon-3 p.m. College of Engineering and Technology new and returning student barbecue, Engineering Building courtyard
1-3 p.m.: College of Natural Sciences welcome reception, Technology Building lawn
1-8 p.m.: Welcome to Esports Mario Cart Tournament, Esports Arena, Technology Building
2-5 p.m. Multicultural Life open house, Kaibab Multicultural Lounge
7-9 p.m.: GCU women's volleyball vs. Long Island State, Global Credit Union Arena
9-12 p.m.: Lope-A-Palooza, Global Credit Union Arena
SATURDAY
1-3:30 p.m.: NAMI and PAMDA clubs social, The Riverbed
5-7 p.m.: Student Dance Org x GCU Hip Hop, Thunderground
6-9 p.m.: GCU women's volleyball vs. UTRGV, Global Credit Union Arena
7-10 p.m.: Project L, Juniper Field
SUNDAY
2 p.m.: GCU women's volleyball vs. Gonzaga, The Riverbed
6-8 p.m. American Kids Club x Welcome Week, Prescott Field
MONDAY
7 p.m.: Welcome Week concert, Global Credit Union Arena
(Prayer Fence, Prescott Field is all day, every day)
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]
