Grand Canyon University’s Welcome Week drew large crowds as students and families arrived for the start of the academic year. The university hosted a series of events to help new and returning students adjust to campus life after the summer break.
More than 3,000 students attended the Silent Disco at Global Credit Union Arena. Throughout the week, over 14,000 event check-ins were recorded, with more than 8,000 unique guests participating in various activities. The Lope Shop reported selling over 21,000 items between August 25 and August 29.
To support the influx of students and families, GCU Welcome Programs coordinated curbside appointments for nearly 12,000 participants and rented out 27 golf carts. Over 7,000 new students completed their online orientation module before classes began. More than 500 student volunteers assisted during move-in and orientation events.
The Associated Students of Grand Canyon University (ASGCU) registered hundreds of check-ins at social events for new, transfer, and out-of-state students. The Sweet Life of ASGCU event alone saw more than 600 attendees.
Dining services provided substantial meals throughout Welcome Week. Lopes Training Table served approximately 240 pounds of barbecue chicken on Wednesday (about 300 pieces), followed by 259 pounds of brisket on Thursday and about 200 racks (342 pounds) of ribs on Friday. On average, dining staff served nearly 85 people per hour.
Student engagement was further encouraged through club fairs and organization events. The Fall Club and Community Fair attracted almost 4,000 check-ins, while Welcome Week club events had over 1,400 participants. Multicultural Life initiatives included Project L with more than a thousand check-ins and Taste of the World with participation from around 200 individuals.
Canyon Activities Board’s Canyon Cool Down event brought in close to 2,700 attendees at the Grove location.
Registration is already underway for Family Weekend scheduled for October with nearly 300 people signed up so far.
“Welcome Week attracted tens of thousands to Grand Canyon University as parents helped first-year students move into their residences while returning students headed back to campus after a four-month break.”
“A plethora of events helped acclimate newcomers and provided new opportunities for returning students.”
“As usual, GCU Welcome Programs and other groups were prepared for the masses.”
