By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
The welcome that incoming Grand Canyon University students get at Move-In is inspirational all by itself.
But it’s only just the start.
When Welcome Week 2019 commences Monday, Aug. 19, it will kick off a package of activities designed to keep newcomers busy all day, every day. Sure, there’s plenty to do when they and their parents first arrive, but then there are the parties (lots of them), the socials and the traditional activities.
“It’s all about connecting them with a variety of different people,” said Jeremy Mack, Director of Student Engagement.
The newest – and most interesting – party this year is Silent Disco, scheduled for 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, in GCU Arena. It’s exactly what the name implies: There’s no music to be heard unless you’re tuned to one of the channels on the headphones that are handed out.
“It’s really fun to watch a group of people when you can’t hear anything, but they’re dancing,” said Mack, adding that the Associated Students of GCU (ASGCU) have staged a couple of silent discos and got 500 students the first time and twice that many the next. “It’s like watching the guy next to you in a car, jamming out.”
The addition of Silent Disco meant two returning events, Ignite and Lope-a-Palooza, had to be moved back a day. Ignite, a chance to worship together, will be on Thursday, Aug. 22, and Lope-A-Palooza, where freshmen learn what GCU spirit is all about, will be the following evening.
Freshman also will be divided into O-Groups, aka Orientation Groups, which will mix with other O-Groups on campus for what Mack called “a different type of tour than they’ve had in the past.”
ASGCU also organizes socials for just about every group, including transfer students, commuters, newcomers from particular states or regions and international students.
Add it all up, and it’s always a week to remember. Here’s the complete schedule:
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
6:30 a.m.-noon -- Welcome Crew Express Move-in, all living areas
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
8 a.m.-noon -- Welcome Crew Training, GCU Arena
4:30-6:30 p.m. -- Welcome Crew Pool Party, Diamondback Pool
MONDAY, AUG. 19
6:30-8:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Juniper Hall and Ocotillo Hall
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Family Lounge, Thunder Alley
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Orientation Expo, North Dining Hall, Student Union
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scheduling and finances, Cypress Hall
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Bed Bath, & Beyond Tent, GCU Arena Patio
9:30-11:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Acacia Hall and Chaparral Hall
1-8 p.m. -- Commuter Welcome, GCU Arena and Lopes Performance Center
2:30-3:45 p.m. -- New Student Orientation, GCU Arena
4-5:30 p.m. -- New Family Welcome (Part 1), GCU Arena
4-8 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8-10 p.m. -- Canyon Cooldown, Grove Lawn
TUESDAY, AUG. 20
6 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Returning Student Self Move-in (by appointment), various living areas
6:30-8:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Willow Hall and Roadrunner Apartments
7-8:30 a.m. -- Bye Bye Breakfast, Canyon 49 Grill
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Family Lounge, Thunder Alley
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Orientation Expo, North Dining Hall, Student Union
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scheduling and Finances, Cypress Hall
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Tent, GCU Arena Patio
9:15-11:30 a.m. -- New Family Welcome, Part 2, Colangelo College of Business lecture halls
9:30-11:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Ironwood Hall and Prescott Hall
2:30-3:45 p.m. -- New Student Orientation, GCU Arena
4-5:30 p.m. -- New Family Welcome, Part 1, GCU Arena
4-8 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8-10 p.m. -- Night at the Movies, GCU Arena
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21
6 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Returning Student Self Move-in (by appointment), various living areas
6:30-8:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Diamondback Apartments
7-8:30 a.m. -- Bye Bye Breakfast, Canyon 49 Grill
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Family Lounge, Thunder Alley
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Orientation Expo, North Dining Hall, Student Union
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scheduling and Finances, Cypress Hall
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Tent, GCU Arena Patio
9:15-11:30 a.m. -- New Family Welcome, Part 2, Colangelo College of Business lecture halls
9:30-11:30 a.m. -- New Student Express Move-in, Saguaro Hall and Sedona Hall
2:30-3:45 p.m. -- New Student Orientation, GCU Arena
4-5:30 p.m. -- New Family Welcome, Part 1, GCU Arena
4-8 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8-10 p.m. -- Silent Disco, GCU Arena
THURSDAY, AUG. 22
6 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Returning Student Self Move-in (by appointment), various living areas
7-8:30 a.m. -- Bye Bye Breakfast, Canyon 49 Grill
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- O-Group Activities, various living areas
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Family Lounge, Thunder Alley
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Orientation Expo, North Dining Hall, Student Union
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scheduling and Finances, Cypress Hall
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Tent, GCU Arena Patio
9:15-11:30 a.m. -- New Family Welcome, Part 2, Colangelo College of Business lecture halls
2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Living & Learning Communities Orientation, GCU Arena
3-4 p.m. -- Transfer Student Social, Thunder Alley
3-6 p.m. -- ROTC New Cadet Orientation, Day 1, North Gym lecture halls, Room 101
2-3:30 p.m. -- ACE Social, Lopes Performance Center
5-7 p.m. -- Welcome Back Worship Bash Center for Worship Arts, Recording Studio
8-9:30 p.m. – Ignite, GCU Arena and Quad
FRIDAY, AUG. 23
6 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Returning Student Self Move-in (by appointment), various living areas
All day -- Explore Lope Country, various campus locations
8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Family Lounge, Thunder Alley
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Orientation Expo, North Dining Hall, Student Union
8 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scheduling and Finances, Cypress Hall
8 a.m.- 5 p.m. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Tent, GCU Arena Patio
9 a.m.-11 a.m. -- ROTC New Cadet Orientation, Day 2, North Gym lecture halls, Room 101
10 a.m.-noon -- Honors Orientation, GCU Arena
10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- New International Student Orientation, Lopes Performance Center
Noon-2 p.m. -- Native American Welcome, North Gym lecture halls, Room 102
Noon-4 p.m. -- Honors College Optional Elective Session, Technology Building, rooms 130-133
2-3 p.m. -- Out of State and International Student Social, Lopes Performance Center
3-6 p.m. -- Welcome Back at the CAC, Canyon Activity Center
7:30 p.m. – “One Man, Two Guvnors,” Ethington Theatre
7:49-8:30 p.m. – Lope-A-Palooza, GCU Arena
8:30-10 p.m. – Infuse, Quad
9-10:30 p.m. -- Live Music, Canyon 49 Grill, GCU Golf Course, GCU Hotel
SATURDAY, AUG. 24
7 a.m.- 7 p.m. -- Ultimate Lopeventure, various campus locations
10:30-11:45 a.m. -- New Adult Learner Orientation, Building 71 lecture hall (27th Avenue)
11 a.m. -- Volleyball scrimmage, Antelope Gym
2-3:15 p.m. -- Makeup New Student Orientation, Lopes Performance Center
7:30 p.m. – “One Man, Two Guvnors,” Ethington Theatre
5-7 p.m. -- Volunteer Thank You Event, Thunderground
8-10 p.m. -- Glow Party, GCU Arena
SUNDAY, AUG. 25
7:30 p.m. – “One Man, Two Guvnors,” Ethington Theatre
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or [email protected].
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