Grand Canyon University
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Grand Canyon University is a for-profit, non-denominational Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. The University offers online and campus-based bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The campus has approximately 1,700 students. Grand Canyon University has been consistently listed by the US News and World Report as a Best Buy and is currently ranked in the fourth tier.
The College was founded as a nonprofit institution in 1949. Arizona Southern Baptists felt the need to establish a faith-based institution that would allow local Baptists the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor's or Master's degree without going "back east" to one of the Baptist colleges in Texas, Oklahoma or Missouri. First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix donated the land necessary for the institution, and several members of that church, led by Reverand Vaughn Rock "Brother Rock" and S.F. Hawkins donated the finances and physical labor needed to bring G.C.C, as it was known, into reality. Grand Canyon College became Grand Canyon University in 1989.
By 2003, Grand Canyon University was suffering from financial hardships that pushed it to the brink of closure. As a result, the school was sold in January 2004 to California-based Significant Education, LLC[1], making it the first for-profit Christian college in the United States[2].
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[edit] Campus Development
Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation to Develop Teen Center at Grand Canyon University is a $3 million facility to provide teens with safe, productive place to socialize when school’s out. The Rock will include a multi-use concert hall, coffee house with kitchen and snack bar, indoor basketball courts, rock climbing walls, sound room and recording studio, computer/study rooms and a game room. Concerts from youth bands will be planned and other special events are envisioned in partnership with community and church organizations.[3]
Grand Canyon University Campus receives a makeover including a brick promenade, an aquatics center, with Olympic-size pool, a café offering an assortment of drinks, games and big-screen televisions. Those projects at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix are part of a $6 million renovation that reflects more than physical changes on campus.[4]
[edit] Athletics
Grand Canyon University is known around Phoenix for its basketball and baseball programs, which have produced 3 professional players. The GCU mascot is the Antelope.
Baseball
Tim Salmon is a player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Chad Curtis Former MLB player drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Bayard Forrest former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns
Horacio Llamas former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns
[edit] Residence Life
GCU has two opportunities for students to engage in authentic community.
Hegel Hall Suite Style Rooms
North Rim Apartments
[edit] ASGCU
ASGCU is the student government on campus. ASGCU stands for Associated Students of Grand Canyon University.
[edit] Student Life
There are many opportunities to get involved and truly experience all that college life has to offer. Opportunites include student government (ASGCU), intramural sports, student leadership programs, community service, and several residence life sponsored campus events.
[edit] External links
[edit] Note
- ^ Tammi Reed Ledbetter, Grand Canyon Univ. sold; trustees in advisory role, Baptist Press, Feb 10, 2004, Accessed May 24, 2006
- ^ Bob Smietana, Christian Ed That Pays Off, Christianity Today, May 19, 2005, Accessed May 11, 2006
- ^ Dennis Wagner, School's in for Cooper, USA Today, July 31, 2006, Accessed Oct 27, 2006
- ^ Alison Stanton, GCU campus receives makeover, Arizona Republic, Oct 11, 2006, Accessed Nov 1, 2006
