New Faith-Based Colleges Proposed in Arizona

Arizona is currently considering four different proposals for private Christian colleges, with the aim to attract and retain the state’s best students.

Compared to other states, Arizona offers few choices for higher education, with three major public universities, one main private university (Grand Canyon University), and several small ministry-based schools with enrollment that generally does not exceed 500.

Although Grand Canyon University was established by the Southern Baptist Convention, it is now a private school that does not affiliate with any one religion, although the school promotes conservative Christian values.

Some claim that the lack of choices in terms of private institutions results in the loss of thousands of students who leave to attend universities in other states. The state, however, has the capacity to support new colleges.

The four proposals include two Catholic colleges and two Christian colleges. The Phoenix Diocese hopes to build a Catholic college and is currently looking for funding. Garry Greenberg has proposed to build the College of John Paul in the Desert, a traditional Catholic school that would be located in Florence.

Ed Johnson, a former president of a Presbyterian college in Kansas, is leading a proposal for the College of the New West, a Christian college to be established in Phoenix. Florence College has been proposed as a Judeo-Christian based institution in Florence. Matthew Holland, one of the organizers, plans to begin enrolling students by Fall 2006.

Both Florence College and the College of John Paul have acquired land in Florence through donors. However, all four proposals are seeking funds to build the colleges. Those involved predict that the establishment of the proposed colleges will benefit the state by providing better education opportunities for its students.