Mission and Vision at Grand Canyon University

Vision
Grand Canyon University is a premier Christian university educating people to lead and serve.

Mission
Grand Canyon University prepares learners to become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators and responsible leaders by providing an academically challenging, values-based curriculum from the context of our Christian heritage.

The curriculum at GCU is designed to prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed in the contemporary job market. Students are challenged to develop these tools and to push their intellectual limits in order to become successful in their careers.

In addition, the curriculum fosters personal discovery so that students realize within themselves the elements of compassion and accountability. A uniquely important element of the GCU mission statement is the defining attribute of its Christian heritage. The GCU community defines its culture by the way its members reflect a committed relationship with Christ and creates the GCU experience in a manner that reflects His teachings to support students and graduates through a successful life journey.

These normative Christian values are integral to the development, maturity, and education of ethical and morally respectable citizens who continue on the path of life-long learning. Each element or objective of the GCU mission statement is uniquely addressed in the GCU curriculum and by the GCU culture, which shapes a rich learning environment from which students graduate with professional and life skills. 

When learners graduate from GCU, our expectation is that they will be global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders. 

Global Citizens

Are those who learn with empathy, avoid ethnocentrism and embrace the reality that people are different with different perspectives on history, religion, value systems and many other aspects of life and living. Global citizenship means that by understanding others one can understand himself or herself. 

Romans 10:12b "The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."

Critical Thinkers

Are those who work to master clarity and logic in thought by asking questions and pursuing knowledge to avoid delusion and blind acceptance of ideas, to reduce vulnerability and to work to find solutions rather than dwell on problems.

2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

Effective Communicators

Are those who work toward and develop excellence in proficient language use, understand how the written word impacts others intellectually and emotionally, and are challenged to employ new venues or modes of communication. 

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord."

Responsible Leaders

Are those who are grounded in the reality of the world, accept the consequences of choice and strive unselfishly to help others meet their highest potential through servant leadership.

Matthew 20:26 "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."