Abilene Christian University
Type | Private |
---|---|
Established | 1906 |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ |
Endowment | $374 million[1] |
Chancellor | Royce Money |
President | Phil Schubert |
Provost | Robert L. Rhodes |
Academic staff | 200 |
Students | 4,427 |
Location | Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
Campus | Urban, 208 acres (84 ha) |
Colors |
Purple and White[2] |
Athletics | NCAA Division I – Southland |
Nickname | Wildcats |
Mascot | Willie the Wildcat |
Affiliations |
CCCU NAICU[3] |
Website |
www |
Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private non-profit university in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute. Abilene Christian University's fall 2014 enrollment was 4,427 students of which 777 were graduate students.
History
Abilene Christian University grew from an idea held by A.B. Barret and Charles Roberson to form a school in West Texas. The Churches of Christ in Abilene agreed to back the project. J.W. Childers sold Barret land and a large house west of the town and lowered the price with the stipulation that the school would be named in his honor. Childers Classical Institute opened in the fall of 1906, with 25 students.[4] It initially included a lower school starting in the seventh grade.[5]
When Jesse P. Sewell became president of the institute in 1912, the school began using "Abilene Christian College" on all its printed material. In 1920, the school paid the Childers family $4,000 and formally changed the name.
The Optimist, the university's student-produced newspaper, was founded in 1912. The Prickly Pear, the school yearbook, was founded in 1916. The JMC Network, a converged student media operation, was created in 2008 to produce all student-led news media. The campus literary-arts magazine (now The Shinnery Review, formerly The Pickwicker) has been in production since 1933.
In 1927, with the help of a $75,000 contribution from the city of Abilene, the board of trustees purchased 680 acres (280 ha) northeast of Abilene. In addition, residents donated 75 acres (30 ha) of adjoining land. The new campus opened in the fall of 1929.
From the time of its founding to the present, the university has been governed by a board of trustees made up of members of the Churches of Christ. Abilene Christian University has historically been the largest organization in the United States that has time set aside each class day for chapel. Chapel attendance is required, absent an approved exemption, and those students failing to meet the requirement over a period of more than one semester may be subject to suspension.[6]
Abilene Christian College first received school accreditation in 1971 when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[7]
Amberton University, previously Amber University, was created as an extension campus of Abilene Christian University. It was launched in Mesquite, Texas in 1971, moving to Garland, Texas in 1974. It became a separate institution as Amber University in 1982, and was rechristened Amberton University in 2001. Like Abilene Christian University, Amberton remains affiliated with the Churches of Christ.
On February 22, 1976, the name was changed to Abilene Christian University. The university celebrated its centennial in the 2005–06 school year. In July 2015, the university signed a lease for an expansion campus located in Addison, Texas.[8] Called ACU Dallas, the new campus began offering several new graduate programs, including an MBA and Ed.D. in organizational leadership.[9]
The school established an NPR station, KACU, in 1986. Initially, the community was concerned that the school might use the station for proselytizing, and for the station's first 10 years, an advisory board composed of community members served to monitor the station against this possibility.[10] On October 18, 2008, the school hosted a live broadcast of NPR's long-running "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show from the campus' Moody Coliseum.[11][12]
Presidents
- Allen Booker Barret (1906–08)
- H. C. Darden (1908–1909)
- Robertson Lafayette Whiteside (1909–1911)
- James F. Cox (1911–1912)
- Jesse Parker Sewell (1912–1924)
- Batsell Baxter (1924–1932)
- James F. Cox (1932–1940)
- Don H. Morris (1940–1969)
- John C. Stevens (1969–1981)
- William J. Teague (1981–1991)
- Royce Money (1991 – May 31, 2010)
- Phil Schubert (June 1, 2010–present )
Accreditation
ACU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. ACU's business programs are professionally accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). ACU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). ACU Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The ACU School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Traditions
- The Prickly Pear. Beginning in 1916, this was the title for Abilene Christian University's (formerly Abilene Christian College) yearbook. The name was taken from Opuntia, a species of cactus native to the Abilene and West Texas area, commonly referred to as "prickly pear". The Prickly Pear ceased publication in 2009.[13]
- Sing Song. Since 1956, this annual competition in mid-February has featured student groups of 30–100 people, singing themed a cappella medleys, usually satirical. Originating as a fundraiser for the school, the modern event has developed into a major show for which each group assembles costumes related to their act's theme, such as Peter Pan, the British Royal Guard, Coca Cola, Adam and Eve, or forest fires. Often the costumes involve a mid-performance quick-change to a second costume — such as the 1987 acts in which grapes turned into raisins or bananas peeled to reveal Carmen Miranda — or elaborate choreography within the risers, as when the 1983 freshman class act recreated a Pac-Man screen and manipulated their costumes so that the character appeared to move around the screen.[14][15][16]
- Summit. Referred to as Lectureship until the 2008 school year. Begun in 1918, this annual program gathers thousands of attendees for lectures and workshops on religious topics connected with a biblical theme that changes each year. After many years of following directly after Sing Song, the lectureship moved in 2006 to a September event, in part to spread out the events that bring the most visitors to campus and also to take advantage of the more stable autumn climate, as winter storms and rain had hindered attendance on multiple occasions.
- Spring Break Campaigns. Hundreds of students participate each year in missionary or community-service programs of 7–10 days in various parts of the United States and, some years, other nearby countries, a tradition that began with alumni Max Lucado in 1976.[15][17]
- Wildcat Week. Formerly called Welcome Week, this event for the integration of incoming first-year and transfer students provides small-group study programs, social activities, and information fairs in the week preceding the beginning of the fall semester.
- Homecoming. Like most residential U.S. universities, the campus hosts a celebration each fall for alumni to return for a parade, class-year and organizational reunions, and musical theater.[15]
- Chapel. ACU is one of the few Christian colleges that maintains daily required chapel for all undergraduate full-time students. Chapel is a 30-minute praise and worship time, usually with a featured speaker. The whole campus stops classes and activities for chapel.
Abilene Christian University Press
ACU is one of only seven faith-based institutions with a press.[18] ACU Press, founded in 1983 to print books about Churches of Christ theology, is now a member of the Association of American University Presses, printing books about Christian Higher Education, West Texas History and Christian Living as well as theology.[19] Along with its trade imprint, Leafwood Publishers, the press publishes an average of 36 titles per year. Among its notable authors are Rubel Shelly, Rick Ostrander, Darryl Tippens, Edward Fudge, Larry M. James and Walt McDonald.
ACU ConnectEd: Mobile Learning Initiative
On February 26, 2008, ACU announced that all incoming freshman classes would receive a free Apple iPhone or an iPod Touch. This decision was the result of a study to find out the viability of iPhone and iPod for academic purposes. ACU was reported as the first university in the nation to embrace this opportunity to further education through the use of the new generation of smartphone technologies.[20] In February, 2009, ACU hosted more than 400 academics and technologists from 31 states and 8 countries for its first ConnectEd Summit[21] on mobile learning. Attendees representing more than 90 schools participated in workshops designed to foster mobile learning programs on their own campuses.
In August 2008,[22] Campus Technology magazine named ACU "Innovator of the Year" in the mobile learning category for this "ACU Connected" initiative. On February 27, 2009, ACU received the award for Institutional Excellence in Information Communications Technology[23] from ACUTA and on March 4, 2009, Alcatel-Lucent named ACU a Dynamic Enterprise Award winner and awarded ACU with its first Analyst Choice Award[24] for its ACU Connected initiative. On June 13, 2009, the New Media Consortium presented ACU with one of three Center of Excellence[25] awards at its annual summer conference for ACU's efforts in mobile learning.
Athletics
Formerly a charter member of the Division I Southland Conference, Abilene Christian joined the Lone Star Conference (LSC) of Division II of the NCAA in 1973, but have since rejoined the Southland Conference as of 2013. In 2007, the conference included 33 ACU current and former student athletes in its 75-member all-sports team commemorating the conference's 75th anniversary.[26] Through 2009, ACU is fourth in NCAA history in team national championships won with 57, trailing Division I schools UCLA, Stanford, and USC, and tied with Division III school Kenyon College.[27]
In 2012 Abilene Christian had received NCAA permission to compete in Division I FCS and was under consideration for reattachment to the Southland Conference.[28] On August 25, Abilene Christian's Board of Trustees accepted Southland's invitation to rejoin the Conference effective with the start of the 2013 academic year.
- The men's track and field program has won 32 NCAA National Track and Field Championships: 19 NCAA outdoor and 13 indoor.[27]
- The women's track and field program has won 22 national championships: 12 indoor and 10 outdoor.[27]
- The Wildcats were NAIA national football champions in 1973 and 1977.[29]
- Before the NCAA invalidated its 2007 season, nine ACU football players were included in the LSC's 75th-anniversary list of top players in conference history.[26] The school's 2007 victories were vacated by the NCAA in 2009. The NCAA charged "two assistant football coaches helped a pair of players find an English correspondence class to take, enroll in the same course, allowed them to use the coaches’ school computers for writing papers and paid to mail the assignments."[30] The school had scored more than 40 points in 11 of its 13 games and more than 50 points in 7 games and 70 or more points in two games including a 73–76 three overtime loss to Chadron State in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
- In 2008, the Wildcats "set a record for points in an NCAA (football) playoff game, beating West Texas A&M 93-68 in the second round of the Division II playoffs."
- Ove Johansson kicked the longest field goal in college football history (69 yards) in 1976, 6 yards longer than the current NFL record. As of 2009 it remains the longest field goal ever kicked in any level of football competition and is an unbroken world record.[31]
- Olympic athletes from ACU include Bobby Morrow, three-time 1956 gold medal winner; Earl Young, 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 relay; Billy Olson, who made the 1980 and 1988 U.S. teams but did not compete in 1980 due to President Carter's decision to boycott the Games; Yolande Straughn, who competed in 1988 for Barbados; and
- James Browne, 1988 competitor for Antigua.[26]
- ESPN and NFL Network analyst and author Sean Adams is a former NCAA All-American athlete for ACU.
Social clubs
The school has a number of student organizations called "social clubs" that are equivalent to a fraternity or sorority on other college campuses; chapters of national Hellenic societies, however, are not permitted. The main goal of these social clubs is to help in service to the surrounding communities and the school itself.[32] Clubs also participate in intramural sports and Sing Song.
Current social clubs
There are a total of six social clubs for both men and women.[33]
Men's social clubs
|
Women's social clubs
|
Rankings
University rankings | |
---|---|
National | |
Forbes[34] | 513 |
Global | |
Regional | |
U.S. News & World Report[35] | 17 (West) |
Master's University class | |
Washington Monthly[36] | 255 |
- Ranked 5th on Guide to Online School's "2012 Online College Rankings".[37]
People
Alumni
- Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental Airlines
- Bill Blakeley, former basketball coach at the interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1992–93)
- Grant Boone, sportscaster with the CBS Sports Network.
- Jeffrey S. Boyd, Justice of the Texas Supreme Court,[38][39] 2012 –
- Kent Brantly an American doctor with the medical mission group Samaritan's Purse.
- James Browne, Olympic long jumper from Antigua
- Nelson Coates, Emmy-nominated film production designer[40][41][42] and the first alumnus to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences[43]
- Randall "Tex" Cobb, professional boxer, actor
- Bonnie Curtis, film producer
- Chris Christian, record producer, recording Artist, songwriter
- Jody Dean, news anchor of KTVT-TV, Dallas, Texas
- Holly Dunn, country music artist, painter
- Ronnie Dunn, singer and songwriter – one half of Brooks & Dunn
- Grant Feasel, former center in the NFL for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1994–95)
- Greg Feasel, former offensive tackle in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; currently Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the Colorado Rockies; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (2004–05)
- Don Finto, Pastor and author in Nashville, Tennessee
- Edward Fudge, theologian
- Tashaun Gipson, Professional Football Player
- Janice Hahn, member of the United States House of Representatives and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman
- James Hill, professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks
- Micah P. Hinson, singer and songwriter
- V. E. Howard, Church of Christ clergyman who started the radio International Gospel Hour, based originally in Texarkana, Texas[44]
- Robert Dean Hunter, vice-president emeritus of ACU; member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 71, (1986–2007)
- Ove Johansson, Swedish-born American football fieldgoal record setter, father of Annika Johansson
- Annika Johansson, stage actress, daughter of Ove Johansson
- Daniel Johnston, singer and songwriter – attended ACU in his first year of college
- Robert Kelley, 11th president of the University of North Dakota.
- H. Jeff Kimble, William L. Valentine Professor and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology
- Johnny Knox, professional football player for NFL team Chicago Bears
- John Layfield, professional wrestler
- David Leeson (1978), co-winner of 2004 Pulitzer Prize (previously nominated in 1986, 1990, and 1995)[45] and winner of the Edward R. Murrow and National Headliner Awards[46]
- Clint Longley, former NFL quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers
- Max Lucado, best-selling Christian author
- Danieal Manning, professional football player for
- Stephen Mansfield, an American author who writes about men's issues, leadership, history and modern culture. His books have appeared on the New York Times best-seller list.
- Barry McCarty, National radio host and former President of Cincinnati Christian University
- TJ McCloud, singer-songwriter, former member of Stephen Speaks
- Bobby Morrow, Olympic sprinter, winner of three gold medals in the 1956 Games
- Cleo Montgomery, professional football player (also "Cle" or "Cleotha")
- Wilbert Montgomery, professional football player
- Billy Olson, Olympic pole vaulter (1988 Summer Olympics, U.S. team for boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics); held several world records, including first 19-foot indoor pole vault — vaulted for AHS and ACU[47][48][49][50][51]
- Cline Paden (1947), Church of Christ missionary, founder of Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock
- Gerald S. Paden, Church of Christ missionary and minister, younger brother of Cline Paden
- Johnny Perkins, professional football player
- Ted Poe, former Harris County, Texas, judge; member of the United States House of Representatives
- Jack Pope, lawyer, judge, and Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice, 1982–1985
- Big Pokey, Rapper
- David Sampson, President and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
- Daryl Richardson, professional football player for the New York Jets
- Bernard Scott, professional football player
- Jack Scott, California state senator; chancellor, California Community College System
- Joe Shirley(1978) President, Navajo Nation,
- Jeev Milkha Singh (1996), professional golfer from India[26][52]
- Paul Stelzer, Co-Director of the Heart Valve Center and a senior surgeon in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, and a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, whose experience with the Ross procedure is considered among the most extensive in the world.[53]
- Gilbert Tuhabonye, Burundian Championship runner and genocide survivor, author
- R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University
- Thomas B. Warren, Minister, Restoration Theologian, and Religious Philosopher
- Aaron Watson, country music singer
- Zane Williams, Texas Country Artist
- Allen Wilson, football coach
- Earl Young, 1960 Olympic gold medal winner in 4X400 relay
- Cindi Love, entrepreneur and LGBT advocate
Faculty
- Everett Ferguson, Patristics scholar and noted author
- Douglas A. Foster, Professor of Church History, editor of the Stone-Campbell Encyclopedia
- Gary D. McCaleb, vice-president of ACU, professor of management, and founder of Center for Building Community; former mayor of Abilene
- Michael A. O'Donnell, (former) Professor of Family Studies and Founding Executive Director of the Southwest Center for Fathering
- John B. Weaver, Dean of Library Services and Educational Technology, Professor in the College of Biblical Studies.
Campus
-
Zona Luce Building - original 1929 school house, now home of the Nursing department.
-
ACU Police Headquarters on Campus Court
-
Sewell Auditorium - built in 1929, original home of daily chapel
-
University Church of Christ on EN 16th St
-
McDonald Hall for freshman women
-
Nelson Hall for freshman women
-
Gardner Hall for freshman women
-
Sikes Hall for sophomore women
-
Williams Performing Arts Center, built in 2003
-
Williams Performing Arts Center glass atrium
-
A view of the WPAC and the Business Building from across the pond
-
Moody Coliseum, home of daily chapel and Sing Song, as well as sporting events and concerts
-
Brown Library
-
ACU Tower of Light and Bible Building Atrium
Notes
References
- ↑ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Colors of Master Logo - Office of University Marketing". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ↑ "NAICU – Member Directory". Naicu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Texas State Historical Commission. "Abilene Christian University, Texas State Historical Marker".
- ↑ The Childers Classical Institute: Catalog 1906–1907. Abilene, Texas: Taylor County News Press. 1906. p. 17. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ↑ "MWF Moody Chapel". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Archived October 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Abilene Christian University campus to open in Addison". Acu.edu. 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "New Abilene Christian University campus planned for DFW area | News – Home". Ktxs.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Brian Bethel. "Local NPR station turns 20, looks to hi-tech future," Abilene Reporter-News, June 2, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ↑ "Austin360 bets" (upcoming events column), Austin American-Statesman, September 3, 2008: "Garrison Keillor and 'A Prairie Home Companion' are coming to Abilene in October for a live performance. Tickets are now on sale and expected to sell quickly. Public radio station 89.7 KACU, AbilenePublicRadio and Abilene Christian University are hosting the event ... ."
- ↑ Archived recording of October 18, 2008, A Prairie Home Companion broadcast from ACU's Moody Coliseum
- ↑ "The Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian College, 1916" "The Prickly Pear, 1916", 1916
- ↑ No author. "Seniors' Sing Song to unite work, fun," The Optimist (Abilene, Texas), Vol. 73, No. 38, Ed. 1, February 7, 1986, page 1.
- 1 2 3 "ACU Today | The alumni magazine of Abilene Christian University". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "Sing Song | Abilene Christian University". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "Spring Break Campaigns » About". Blogs.acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "ACU Press, Leafwood Navigating Book Publishing Tides". ACU Today. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ↑ Directory 2013. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 2013. p. 21. ISBN 978-0945-103295.
- ↑ "ACU first university in nation to provide iPhone or iPod touch to all incoming freshmen". Acu.edu. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "ConnectEd Summit 2009". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "2008 Campus Technology Innovators: Mobile Learning". Campus Technology. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "ACU's innovation celebrated by ACUTA". Acu.edu. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "Alcatel-Lucent Dynamic Enterprise awards honor organizations using communications to improve learning, share knowledge, save power and improve driver safety". Alcatel-lucent.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "NMC News | The New Media Consortium". Nmc.org. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- 1 2 3 4 "Wildcats lead way as LSC honors all-time top performers," ACU Today, Summer 2007, p.32. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- 1 2 3 Archived June 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Briggs, J. (2012-01-18). "Market size to provide boost for UIW's Southland hopes". My San Antonio. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "ACU Today | The alumni magazine of Abilene Christian University" (PDF). Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "NCAA penalizes Abilene Christian – Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas". Timesrecordnews.com. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Curtis, Jake (2008-10-17). "How Swede it was". SFGate. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "Local Fraternities and Sororities". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "Social Clubs, Student Organizations". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ↑ "America's Top Colleges". Forbes. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Regional Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2016. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ↑ "2015 Master's Universities Rankings". Washington Monthly. 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ↑ "2012 Online College Rankings". Guide To Online Schools. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ↑ "Gov. Perry Appoints Boyd to the Supreme Court of Texas". Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "Jeffrey Boyd Appointed to Texas Supreme Court". Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "Antwone Fisher : About The Cast". Cinema.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ "More Gutenberg Recipients". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Nelson Coates in Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Sara Morris. "Christian perspective and talent help ACU grad excel in Hollywood," Abilene Reporter-News, July 22, 2009, page Z-5.
- ↑ "Verna Elisha Howard (1911–2000)". therestorationmovement.com. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ↑ Jay DeFoore. "Leeson, Diaz Meyer Of DMN And LAT's Cole Win Photo Pulitzers," Photo District News Online, April 5, 2004. Retrieved Aug. 6, 2007.
- ↑ ACU press release."Pulitzer Prize-winning alumnus David Leeson wins Murrow, Headliner awards," July 19, 2004. Retrieved Aug. 6, 2007.
- ↑ "Information about Abilene Christian University". Acu.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Ted Dunnam. "Coaching by Hood vaulted ACU over top," Abilene Reporter-News, June 25, 2000.
- ↑ All-Time U.S. Rankings — Men’s Pole Vault, ranked #1 in the world for 1982.
- ↑ Frank Litsky. "Billy Olson is inching ahead on way to a 19-foot vault," The New York Times, February 22, 1982, page C6, column 1 (late city final edition).
- ↑ Al Pickett. "Abilene has produced more than its share of stars," Abilene Reporter-News, December 24, 1999.
- ↑ "Carry on, Jeev," The Telegraph (Calcutta, India), November 4, 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ↑ Archived August 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
Bibliography
- Stevens, Dr. John C., No Ordinary University: The History of a City Set on a Hill, Abilene, Texas: Abilene Christian University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-89112-031-9.
External links
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Coordinates: 32°28′10″N 99°42′29″W / 32.46944°N 99.70806°W