Grand Canyon University

Infobox_University
name = Grand Canyon University


tagline = Don't Miss A Day of Your Future!
established = 1949
type = Private, For-profit
president = Don Andorfer
provost = Kathy Player
address = 3300 W. Camelback Rd.
telephone = 1-877-860-3951
city = Phoenix
state = Arizona
country = USA
staff = 700 approx.
Alumni = 25,000 approx.
campus = Urban
colors = Purple and White
nickname = Lopes
mascot = Antelope

website= [http://www.GCU.edu/ www.GCU.edu]

Grand Canyon University (GCU) Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a private, for-profit accredited, Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. The University offers online and campus-based Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

History

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 Reverend 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.

Prior to losing their partnership with the First Southern Baptist Church, Grand Canyon University was suffering from financial hardships that pushed it to the brink of closure in 2003. As a result, the school was sold in January 2004 to California-based Significant Education, LLC [Tammi Reed Ledbetter, http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=17607 Grand Canyon Univ. sold; trustees in advisory role] , "Baptist Press", Feb 10, 2004, "Accessed May 24, 2006"] , making it the first for-profit Christian college in the United States [Bob Smietana, [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/002/27.24.html Christian Ed That Pays Off] , "Christianity Today", May 19, 2005, "Accessed May 11, 2006"] .

Campus

Grand Canyon University Campus received 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. [Alison Stanton, [http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/1011phx-GCUrenovation1004Z3.html GCU campus receives makeover] , "Arizona Republic", Oct 11, 2006, "Accessed Nov 1, 2006"]

Academics

Reputation and ranking

Grand Canyon University ranks sixth in the list of online colleges [OEDB, [http://oedb.org/rankings online college rankings] , "Online College Rankings", Jan 10, 2007, "Accessed April 30, 2007"] from the Online College Database.

Accreditation

Grand Canyon University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, a regional accrediting body as mentioned above. [http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org]

Grand Canyon University, through its Ken Blanchard College of Business, is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. [http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid=s1_025about&stpg=141] It offers the following business degrees:
*The Ken Blanchard Executive MBA, a one-year EMBA taught in part by Dr. Ken Blanchard. The focus of the EMBA is Servant Leadership.
*The Bachelor of Science (BS) with majors in Accounting, Business Administration, and Marketing.
*The Master of Business Administration (MBA), with emphasis available in a number of disciplines including Accounting, Finance, General Management, Health Systems Management, Leadership, Management of Information Systems, Marketing and Six Sigma.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Arizona State Board of Nursing accredit the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.

The Arizona State Department of Education has given formal approval of the work done at the University for the certification of elementary and secondary teachers and for the renewal of certificates.

Notable alumni and former students

*Tim Salmon former player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
*Chad Curtis Former MLB player drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
*Matt Spivey Currently a coach GCU
*Bayard Forrest former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns
*Horacio Llamas former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns
*Efrain Escudero Mixed Martial Arts competitor for the UFC, and Reality TV Star
*Cody Ransom is a player for the New York Yankees

References

External links

* [http://www.gcu.edu Grand Canyon University Official Website]
* [http://www.ceelearning.com Center for Educational Excellence at GCU]