EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published in the April issue of GCU Magazine, available in the purple bins around campus or digitally.
As the 2025-26 academic year gets set to start, GCU News took a look back at the big headlines from 2024-2025.
1. We're 75 and thriving
What once was a sleepy little Baptist college has become a flourishing 10-college university touting more than 24,600 ground and approximately 98,300 online students. Grand Canyon University, which opened its doors in 1949 in Prescott, Arizona, celebrated its diamond anniversary in January 2024 with the dedication of the “Grace Tree” sculpture by Surprise, Arizona, botanical artist Joe Tyler. It was followed by the 75th anniversary Week of Service in the fall, in which more than 1,000 students served across 40 ministries. The slate of events culminated this February with the Amethyst Gala, which raised approximately $1.5 million for GCU’s FivePoint Plan to transform the community.
2. A big win in nonprofit fray
GCU won a significant battle in its fight to return to nonprofit status. In November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in a 3-0 decision, ruled that the Department of Education acted unlawfully in determining GCU’s nonprofit status and sent the case back. In 2019, the department refused to recognize the university as a nonprofit, though that status has been approved by several other entities, including the state of Arizona and the Internal Revenue Service.
UPDATE: In May, the U.S. Department of Education rescinded its record fine, with prejudice, against GCU. Story
3. Scoring a new athletic conference
In November, the university announced it will join the Mountain West Conference as early as the second quarter of 2025 and no later than July 1. The move marks a new era for GCU. “We are incredibly appreciative of the Mountain West Conference’s interest in GCU and their recognition of the value we bring to its membership,” GCU President Brian Mueller said. The conference’s members include Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. Also signing agreements to join are Hawai’i, UTEP and UC Davis.
UPDATE: GCU officially entered the Mountain West Conference this week. Story
4. Rolling out the red carpet
GCU partnered with Canyon Productions, Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Great American Pure Flix to bring “The Last Supper” to the big screen. The film, which premiered March 14, tells the story of Jesus’ last night with His disciples, told from the perspectives of Peter, who would deny Him, and Judas, who would betray Him. Canyon Productions CEO and GCU trustee Shawn Boskie hopes those who see the film know after watching it, “We have a savior that saves, and nobody is beyond redemption.”
5. Police substation opens
In February, GCU celebrated its latest steps to address safety in the community by partnering with the Phoenix Police Department to open a police substation at 5234 N. 27th Ave. The substation includes the GCU Public Safety Dispatch and Real-Time Operations Center that uses monitoring systems to provide real-time intelligence. The substation is the culmination of the work of 27Collab, a community partnership led by GCU that includes 80 schools, businesses, churches, nonprofits and other organizations.
6. Banner year for basketball
Women’s basketball was fire in 2024-25, punching its ticket to the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time after setting a GCU DI-era program record for a winning streak (30 consecutive wins as the team entered the tournament). The men also punched their ticket to be a part of March Madness. It marked the team’s fourth time to go to the Big Dance in five years.
7. $2 million T.W. Lewis Foundation grant
Philanthropist Tom Lewis shined his light on the university this year as his T.W. Lewis Foundation granted GCU $2 million over five years. The grant has funded the T.W. Lewis Speaker Series, which features Christian leaders in the entrepreneurial space. It also will establish the T.W. Lewis Center for Student Success at the Colangelo College of Business. Tom Lewis founded the T.W. Lewis Co., best known for building more than 5,000 homes in metro Phoenix from 1991-2016.
8. Trades pathways expanded
The burgeoning Center for Workforce Development has grown since making its debut in 2022, going from offering one pathway for electricians to adding educational pathways for computer numerical control machinists, as well as for those wanting to pursue the construction and semiconductor manufacturing trades. The center also debuted its Pre Apprenticeship for Electricians program in Austin, Texas, in August.
9. Accelerated nursing sites in seven states
Since GCU's first Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing site opened in 2020, those hands-on nursing education locations have scaled rapidly as the university continues to address the national nursing shortage. Ten are now open across the country, including four in Arizona (Sun City, Tucson, west Phoenix and Chandler) and one each in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Florida, Missouri and New Mexico. GCU aims to open 40 such sites across the country in the next four years. The program, for students with previous college credits, can be completed in as little as 16 months.
10. Board gains quartet of Arizona moguls
Four powerhouse leaders joined the GCU Board of Trustees in September: Shawn Boskie, founder and CEO of Christian film production company Canyon Productions; Jerry Colangelo, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks; Dave Donaldson, co-founder and chairman of CityServe; and Mike Ingram, founder of El Dorado Holdings, one of the largest private land holding companies in greater Phoenix and Maricopa County. “What we’re looking at is an expansion of our university on a global basis,” said Dr. Fred Miller, board chairman. “And to do that, you need people who have a big foothold, not only in the local community but on a national basis.”
