Grand Canyon University to welcome record 7,100 new students

PHOENIX — A flood of purple moved across part of Phoenix on Monday morning, but it wasn’t worrisome. A record number of new students will be arriving at Grand Canyon University this week.

University President-CEO Brian Mueller, deans, faculty and student volunteers helped unload cars and deliver their belongings to the dorms on the campus at Camelback Road and 35th Avenue during the kickoff to Welcome Week. About 7,100 new students have enrolled.

In addition to lugging luggage, volunteers will guide the students through the check-in process, acquaint them with the campus and ease their transitions to college life.

The newcomers will make up over a third of the student population this year. Enrollment will be about 21,000 students. Ten years ago, there were about 1,000 students.

Hundreds of ⁦@gcu⁩ students up way before dawn to help the incoming new students unload cars and get stuff into the dorms. The Luggage Lug is underway near 35th Avenue & Camelback. ⁦@KTAR923⁩ ⁦@AZMorningNews⁩ pic.twitter.com/I2tzjxy1pQ

— Jim Cross (@Crossfire923) August 20, 2018

It’s never too early to get your Lopes Up! Move-in day 1 is on! 🤘#LopeCountry #gcu pic.twitter.com/szEHPtnUgb

— Grand Canyon U (@gcu) August 20, 2018

Earlier in the summer, the university completed its transition back to nonprofit status, ending a two-year push.

GCU was a nonprofit school between its founding in 1949 and 2004, when it moved to a for-profit model to pay off $20 million in debt.

Arizona State University had its move-in day recently, welcoming about 15,000 students, according to the university’s website.

The main Tempe campus, Downtown Phoenix, West and Polytechnic will all host events including introductions to organizational clubs and “Toilet Paper Dodgeball,” among many others.

#ASUMoveIn begins today! Welcome back, Sun Devils 😈

Check out your #ASUWelcome events ➡️ https://t.co/8HTjDLu0Vc pic.twitter.com/3peD45W9R6

— Arizona State University (@ASU) August 10, 2018

The University of Arizona welcomed its freshmen as well. The Wildcats will be kicking off the school year with vendor fairs, a concert and more.

Happy Move-In Day! We can't wait to see you soon for Wildcat Welcome! https://t.co/i5lRizKIK0 #fourdaysuntilschoolstarts pic.twitter.com/ee73uR8Bi3

— The University of Arizona Office of Admissions (@uaadmissions) August 16, 2018

Northern Arizona University will have its official move-in day on Thursday.

COUNTDOWN 🔛
📍10 days until #NAUMoveIn
💛13 days until The Letters
📚 14 days until first day of NAU
🏈 26 days until First home @NAU_Football game pic.twitter.com/kdxZXxFvjO

— NAU (@NAU) August 13, 2018

Welcome to college, class of 2022.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

Related

Grand Canyon University completes transition back to nonprofit statusGrand Canyon University reaching attendance, expansion milestonesGrand Canyon University earns OK on nonprofit applicationGrand Canyon University again files for nonprofit status3 Phoenix family members plead guilty in COVID fraud caseWrongful death lawsuit alleges Arizona ignored 19 abuse reports before killing of 10-year-old