Good morning! It’s another beautiful day out WEST. We’re in Arizona, and we’re ready to go to Phoenix. 

Today we visit Grand Canyon University!

What is GCU or Grand Canyon University?

Grand Canyon University is a Private Christian college in Pheonix, Arizona.

If you’ve been to a homeschooling convention, you may have seen many college representatives at the vendor hall. GCU has the purple tablecloth, giving away purple pens and cool, purple Lope stickers.

GCU offers Dual Enrollment options for high school students along with lower-priced tuition costs and a growing, beautiful campus.

With our oldest in high school, college has been on the fore-front of our minds. He has been very interested in herpetology and paleontology since he was a young boy. 

Because the Grand Canyon is only 4 hours away, Grand Canyon University caught my attention early on in my college research.

This is our first college visit! It’s gettin’ real.

What we saw at GCU

• Engineering 3D Printing Labs
• Basketball Arena
• Music Building
• Cafeteria & Coffee Shop
• E-Gaming Facility
• Dorms

Touring the Campus

Our tour was very organized, down to the bottled water offered during our dorm visits. With the temperature reaching 111, our stops in the shade or air conditioning became most refreshing. 

The apartments were large with four separate bedrooms, jack-and-jill bathrooms, and a modest living area with mini-kitchen. The kitchen had both a sink, full fridge, small counter space, and cabinets.

The dorms were also large with two shared bedrooms (two or three students in each room), two full bathrooms, and a living area including microwave and mini-fridge. The school offers rental of the microwave and fridge combo for each semester as well.

The medical center took up an entire lower floor of a dorm building.

The mailboxes were outside in the plaza areas of the dorms, which was surprising to us because we went to college in Northeast Wisconsin. Arizona weather is quite a different scenario.

The many Gyms throughout campus looked busy and full of ample equipment.

The Basketball arena was large and robust. This arena also holds weekly Chapel services on Mondays.

So much to see!

From our tour guides perspective, you could pick up that the athletics and Lopes (student cheer squad) are a focus point for the school. With the basketball team competing in the 2024 March Madness Tournament, I was not surprised. My questions about the Pep Band and Chapel musicians were answered graciously, but I could tell these aspects of student life are not an emphasis.

Between the 3D Printing labs in the Engineering School and the E-Gaming Room in the Technology Center, the facilities showcased state-of-the-art computer systems, ample classroom spaces, and newer buildings with clean bathrooms, excellent lighting, and fresh design.

A Growing Campus

After lunch, we walked up to the library on the 3rd floor of the Student Union Center. This building houses the main cafeteria, coffee shop, and two library floors. The space was wide open with tables and large windows letting the sunshine in. I was surprised by the lack of books, but it makes sense since all of the classes require online books instead of print. 

We walked by the theater and had a tour of one classroom inside the music department. We also saw the School of business entry way and spoke of their emphasis in both Business and Entrepreneurship.

I picked up the sense that a lot of growth and change is happening on this campus. Exciting times for sure!

Conclusion

After a long, hot day, we eagerly drove back to the house to rest and cool off. We came away with much to consider. So much ahead for our children…. For us….. What story will Jesus write with our lives? Both in this chapter, and the next?

Looking back, I’m grateful for our trip out WEST. As I write this post, our family is currently finishing Week 3 of the new school year, with the County Fair behind us already, the first Football Game complete, and the Summer in the rear view mirror. 

I’m grateful we could pause from our life for a few weeks and travel together, dream together, be hot and tired together, and just “BE” together for a bit.

Thank you Lord for the respite this summer. And, thank you Lord for the hard work you’ve given us to do. Thank you Lord for your grace to do it.

What part of your summer gave you rest? I’d love to “meet” you virtually and hear your story. Please share below in the comments.

Thank you for reading.

Keep walking friend!

Christina