MW welcomes GCU

[ltcpilot]

Grand Canyon University joins Mountain West in all sports except football which they currently do not field. Both basketball and baseball have gone to NCAA tournament multiple times the last 4 years.

 

https://gculopes.com/news/2024/11/1/general-gcu-accepts-invite-to-mountain-west-conference.aspx

 

Below is the list of sports they currently field. Welcome to the Mountain West Conference.

 

GO FALCONS -Rick'77 

[The Barber]

Wow.  

I read some concerns about academics.  They are for profit.

But they are in a great location in Phoenix.

[OrediggerPoke]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:19 PM, The Barber said:

Wow.  

I read some concerns about academics.  They are for profit.

But they are in a great location in Phoenix.

They were just fined $38 million by the Department of Ed for lying to prospective students about costs and job prospects.  Largest fine ever I believe from the agency.  

[Aztecsu]

Like it or not GCU is ascendant in BB and their students show up with a lot of passion. Viewers don't care about for profit or not, they just want to be entertained. And if the WCC was willing to add them, no reason the MW shouldn't. Is there any chance they try and field a FB team?

[The Barber]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:30 AM, OrediggerPoke said:

They were just fined $38 million by the Department of Ed for lying to prospective students about job prospects.  Largest fine ever I believe from the agency.  

Not sure what to think, other than the MWC is probably desperate for a school in a quality, regional market, that has fan support.

There simply aren't enough options in the Mountain and Pacific time zone.

But their enrollment, like Liberty University, is massive.   I doubt their academics are great -- they must have a ton of online students.

 

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

1949

2013

Private For-Profit (Non-denominational)

103,427[a]

$21.6

Antelopes

[The Barber]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:30 AM, Aztecsu said:

Like it or not GCU is ascendant in BB and their students show up with a lot of passion. Viewers don't care about for profit or not, they just want to be entertained. And if the WCC was willing to add them, no reason the MW shouldn't. Is there any chance they try and field a FB team?

A Grand Canyon vs UNLV rivalry would be fun to watch.

Las Vegas vs Phoenix.

They'll probably also have a lot of NIL money.

[OrediggerPoke]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:34 PM, The Barber said:

Not sure what to think, other than the MWC is probably desperate for a school in a quality, regional market, that has fan support.

There simply aren't enough options in the Mountain and Pacific time zone.

But their enrollment, like Liberty University, is massive.   I doubt their academics are great -- they must have a ton of online students.

 

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

1949

2013

Private For-Profit (Non-denominational)

103,427[a]

$21.6

Antelopes

Over 100,000 online ‘students.’ Actually putting that you received an ‘advanced degree’ from there on your resume causes many employers to shred the application.  Someone spending money for that ‘advanced degree’ from there probably isn’t the type of person you want making decisions for your company.  

[The Barber]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:37 AM, OrediggerPoke said:

Over 100,000 online ‘students.’ Actually putting that you received an ‘advanced degree’ from there on your resume causes many employers to shred the application.  Someone spending money for that ‘advanced degree’ from there probably isn’t the type of person you want making decisions for your company.  

Probably depends on the major.

You think an employer cares if a school teacher got a Master's degree at Grand Canyon?

What about someone getting a nursing degree there?  Who cares?

 

Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a wide range of degree programs, including bachelor's degrees, graduate programs, and online degrees: 

 

 

• Bachelor's degrees

  In Fall 2023, the top five majors for traditional campus students were:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pre-Licensure) 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Management 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising

   

  Online degrees

  GCU offers a variety of online degrees, including:

  • Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Health 

[TSpoke]

Gross

[OrediggerPoke]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:39 PM, The Barber said:

Probably depends on the major.

You think an employer cares if a school teacher got a Master's degree at Grand Canyon?

What about someone getting a nursing degree there?  Who cares?

 

Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a wide range of degree programs, including bachelor's degrees, graduate programs, and online degrees: 

 

 

• Bachelor's degrees

  In Fall 2023, the top five majors for traditional campus students were:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pre-Licensure) 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Management 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising

   

  Online degrees

  GCU offers a variety of online degrees, including:

  • Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
     
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Health 

Teachers going there makes some semblance of sense - they are usually already employed and are simply seeking to check off a box for an advanced degree so they can receive a pay raise in the public system of employee compensation which isn’t necessarily performance based.  
 

People going there for ‘advanced’ business degrees…are probably in for a rude awakening if they are trying to enter the workforce.  

[The Barber]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:43 AM, OrediggerPoke said:

Teachers going there makes some semblance of sense - they are usually already employed and are simply seeking to check off a box so they can receive a pay raise in the public system of employee compensation which isn’t necessarily performance based.  
 

People going there for ‘advanced’ business degrees…are probably in for a rude awakening if they are trying to enter the workforce.  

I agree.

Teachers makes sense.  And they probably just need an online, easy option.

 

Since they now have a non-football, WAC school joining (Grand Canyon), any thoughts if the MWC might look at adding any other non-football schools out of the WAC?

UT Arlington?

Utah Valley?

Tarleton St (already rumored for everything)

Cal Baptist?

[Brew_Poke]

What's done is done.

[OrediggerPoke]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:47 PM, The Barber said:

I agree.

Teachers makes sense.  And they probably just need an online, easy option.

 

Since they now have a non-football, WAC school joining (Grand Canyon), any thoughts if the MWC might look at adding any other non-football schools out of the WAC?

UT Arlington?

Utah Valley?

Tarleton St (already rumored for everything)

Cal Baptist?

Reports from McMurphy are conference only looking to add one more football only program and in discussions with Northern Illinois and Toledo.  

[UNLV2001]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:49 AM, Brew_Poke said:

What's done is done.

Yep - Admit, I wasn't all for this move, but now that it's done, it does get the MWC into PHX & the BB program should bring value 

Still wouldn't mind seeing NMSU added as final move for the near term 

[The Barber]

On 11/1/2024 at 11:52 AM, OrediggerPoke said:

Reports from McMurphy are conference only looking to add one more football only program and in discussions with Northern Illinois and Toledo.  

Outside, looking in, seems like a terrible idea for the MWC to add only 1, MAC school as a football only.

Neither has any sort of rivalry potential with the MWC.   You'd barely be a conference mate to them.

And they are far away.

But not sure the other options.  Tarletson State? -- yikes.   NMSU? -- not sure why, but not wanted.   Texas State? -- the PAC12 is desperate to backfill and wants them.

[SWspartan]

Welcome aboard Grand Canyon.  

[The Barber]

Grand Canyon has very nice facilities.

 

 

 

[InnZoneU]

Stupid AF.

That's all.

[OrediggerPoke]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:55 PM, The Barber said:

Outside, looking in, seems like a terrible idea for the MWC to add only 1, MAC school as a football only.

Neither has any sort of rivalry potential with the MWC.   You'd barely be a conference mate to them.

And they are far away.

But not sure the other options.  Tarletson State? -- yikes.   NMSU? -- not sure why, but not wanted.   Texas State? -- the PAC12 is desperate to backfill and wants them.

I think a Northern Illinois for football only actually makes the most sense of any available option from the MWC standpoint.
 

The increase in travel time and cost is minimal (if any) because it would only require a trip there every other year for the current MWC teams.  DeKalb is like 60 miles away from Chicago O’Hare.  It’s more accessible than Laramie to be honest…and it adds an additional time zone and region to sell to TV partners.  
 

Northern Illinois is also an established FBS program that has probably shown the highest commitment to football of any MAC team.  
 

From the Northern Illinois standpoint, a move from the MAC likely brings in more media revenue.  But it only makes sense if they end up with a good landing spot for their sports.  Frankly - the Missouri Valley conference would be better for travel for them than the MAC for Olympic sports being an Illinois centric league.  

[Antonio Diego]

So, are we inviting University of Phoenix, WyoTech and Western Governors University next!?!?!? Well Boise St was allowed to join. Guess it makes sense.