Grand Canyon University Multicultural Office
We're here to help.
Grand Canyon University is a Christian institution that embraces a biblical worldview which outlines a responsibility to fulfill the Great Commandments which, simply stated, are “to love God and to love our neighbor.” The Multicultural Office looks to provide the university and our community with the support and inclusion that is expected in today’s society.
GCU values the pursuit of truth and finds great understanding in the convergence of viewpoints, backgrounds and ideas. Therefore, we provide an environment where learners can openly discuss and debate to gain understanding. As part of our United by Purpose initiative, the Multicultural Office promotes the importance of positive community impact and encourages others to get involved.
Contact Us
We are here to provide a means of connection and communication to all so that our vibrant campus community feels engaged and heard through methods of programming and dialogue.
For questions regarding campus programming, please contact the Multicultural Office at MulticulturalOffice@gcu.edu. To report issues of discrimination or other community impact instances, please contact the Equity Office at EquityOffice@gcu.edu.
The mission of the Multicultural Office is to love and serve the GCU community by upholding our Christian perspective to treat every individual with respect and compassion and to provide a means of connection and communication for all. We carry out this mission through events and programming dedicated to multiculturalism.
We welcome students from all walks of life, which has contributed to a growing diversity within our population. Our diversity encompasses a multitude of dimensions, including age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, gender, veteran status and more. We believe that all people, without exception, bear the image of God and have been designed to reflect His love and creativity. Our Christian perspective compels us to treat every individual with respect and compassion. All members of the university community will be welcomed, valued and provided safety in this community.
Finally, diversity not only enriches the educational endeavor, it is critical to it. It can help us prepare for the varied world in which we reside. Maintaining a diverse environment requires a measure of tolerance and understanding commensurate with the dignity and value of all human life.
In sum, GCU values diversity because it values every student and employee entrusted to its care.
Core Values
Education
Collaboration
Advocacy
Competency
Listen to our new podcast called “DiversiTea” where we discuss culturally relevant topics and the importance of embracing cultural diversity.
At GCU, we have a vibrant community that thrives on diversity. We strive to unite individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures and life journeys. Embracing our differences, we cultivate an environment where every person is esteemed and appreciated. Diversity is not only acknowledged but celebrated at GCU, creating a space that mirrors the compassion and love embodied by Jesus.
Together, as a unified student body, we stand as one in Christ, embracing the spirit of unity that defines our institution. Unity Week at GCU is a time to celebrate our collective strength and solidarity as one Lope community.
The transformation of West Phoenix has inspired and touched thousands of lives. The revitalization project by GCU proves that the diversity of our neighborhoods leads to a better community impact.
GCU has an unprecedented commitment to our community that is expressed on a daily basis through a myriad of programs that reflect the university’s true spirit. We are committed to our Christian values and the principle of loving our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). God has blessed this university so that we can be a blessing to others.
We will continue to pour ourselves into the diverse community surrounding our campus through the following programs that are transforming this neighborhood on a daily basis:
The GCU Learning Lounge is open daily to provide complimentary one-on-one academic assistance to K-12 students in our neighborhood.
Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity has resulted in repairs for dozens of neighborhood families. Our goal is to rehabilitate 800 homes in our community through this comprehensive partnership.
The Canyon Rising Scholarship program provides local high school students with full-tuition scholarships to attend GCU.1 Many of these students are first generation college goers who never believed they would have the opportunity to attend college. Our goal is to raise enough funds to provide 200 full-tuition scholarships per year, with a total of 800 total students attending each academic year under this program.
We are in the third year of a partnership with Sigma Pi Phi Boule fraternity to provide student scholarships, mentoring and professional speaker forums for our students.
We have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last five years into a crime safety initiative that has resulted in a reduction in crime in our neighborhood.
Since 2004, when the university faced financial challenges, we have generated many full-time, part-time and student-worker positions. A significant number of these roles have been occupied by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds residing in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
We have created 10 businesses to date that are located on our campus or in our neighborhood that are creating jobs and generating a positive economic impact for our community.
These businesses include:
Using an equivalent of 88,800 square feet of storage space on campus, GCU has provided over $10.1 million worth of household goods to families in need as part of a partnership with CityServe and its collaborative network of faith-based nonprofits, corporate, retail, farm and food supply partners, as of August 2023.
GCU’s Department of Spiritual Life has over 440 student leaders working to ensure the spiritual growth and well-being of the Lope family. Together, Local and Global Outreach offer over 190 student leader positions, as of the 2022-23 academic year.
The multicultural lounge is a space within the Multicultural Office that is open to all students. The purpose of the lounge is to be a space where any student can come and feel welcome. Any student that visits the lounge may have an opportunity to meet one of the 15 student leaders that serve in the Multicultural Office. It is also a place where students can interact with other students who may have different cultural backgrounds. Stop by the multicultural lounge, located on the first floor of Building 25 (Kaibab), to experience some of the diversity on campus.
Explore a vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations and enlightening events throughout the year with the Multicultural Office. Join us in embracing diversity and fostering unity by visiting our event pages to stay updated on our upcoming cultural experiences and events.
1 This is a need-based scholarship program for eligible Arizona students entering GCU for the first time. There are a limited number of scholarship awards available for this program. There are two types of Canyon Rising Scholarship awards. Both scholarship types cover the full cost of tuition and fees (excluding parking and health insurance) and the second type also covers food and housing. These scholarships are renewable for up to eight semesters and are not subject to the University CAP policy. GCU accepted students who meet the criteria for the Canyon Rising Scholarship award will be automatically reviewed for consideration by a selection committee and will be notified of the award no later than July 1, 2024.