Parents and students gathered at Grand Canyon University (GCU) on Monday for the first day of Welcome Week move-in. Among them was Jason Cooper, a high school football coach from Colfax, Washington, who chose to help his son Zachary move into Acacia Hall rather than attend his own school’s first day of classes and practice.
“I’m missing that, but I wasn’t going miss this,” said Cooper as he helped unload belongings alongside his wife. He described the experience as “incredible” and noted, “I thought I’d be more emotional right now, but I’m not just because of how busy I am, but it’s coming.”
The campus saw significant activity as student leaders and volunteers supported new arrivals. Student body president Tucker Hudson, vice president Dianne Carla Mae Nasibog, Acacia Hall resident assistant Adrian Realyvasquez, and many others assisted with check-ins, provided carts for moving belongings, directed traffic, and distributed water.
Dr. Randy Gibb, GCU Provost, praised the efforts of Dr. Tim Griffin’s team: “Pastor Tim’s team is amazing,” Gibb said. “I think he’s got more than 500 staff and volunteers, and they lead this. And I love the fact that GCU is so student-peer driven that the student leaders do so much of this, and they bring the energy and excitement, because they know what it was like a year ago or two years ago when they were moving in. They have a heart to serve, and they’re serving future students who are coming in to help them get off to a great start.”
This year marks an increase in new student ground enrollment by 10% compared to last year. Nearly 17,000 students will live across 33 campus living areas—a figure believed by GCU to be higher than any other private university in the country.
The university also opened new facilities including Gila Apartments on the east side of campus and launched a cyber-focused living-learning community in Encanto Apartments as part of its Overlock Experience program.
Acacia Hall planned for 217 freshmen to move in on Monday. Resident assistant Adrian Realyvasquez recalled feeling nervous during his own freshman move-in experience: “I remember when I was a freshman… So just being able to be a welcoming face [helps] make them feel like this is where they belong.” He added that parents can feel reassured knowing their children are cared for: “They feel a little bit more at ease knowing that they’re leaving their child in a good place… we’ll steward them well in their journey here.”
Mascot Thunder participated by helping with luggage alongside members of the pep band and spirit squads.
GCU expects record overall enrollment—ground plus online—of approximately 133,000 students this academic year. On-campus enrollment will reach about 25,000 students—a number similar to the population size of Mountain House, California.
Student body president Tucker Hudson commented on the significance of Welcome Week: “It’s definitely a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” he said. “It’s one of the greatest experiences of your life. I would encourage everyone to fully embrace all that Welcome Week has to offer and all that GCU has to offer because it helped me get connected and find my purpose…”
Hailey Rice from Minnesota chose GCU for its warmer climate as well as its affordability and nutrition program offerings. Her father Patrick Rice expressed confidence in her decision: “We feel good about her choice in colleges,” he said. “She’s got a strong faith… It’s sad to see her take that next step, but then we’re happy with the young woman she’s become.”
GCU was established by the Southern Baptist Convention with only 16 faculty members and 100 students in Prescott in 1949 before relocating to Phoenix two years later.
