Abilene Christian University

ACU's History

1906

A.B. Barret and Charles Roberson were riding in an exceedingly buggy close to Barret's point Denison, Texas, on their thanks to a gospel meeting once Barret initial same to Roberson, "Let's build a college in West Texas."

That was in 1903. In 1905, Barret, an instructor at Southwestern Christian school in Denton, was finally ready to build a website survey.The Church of Christ in Abilene was growing solidly, and when Barret preached there in Dec 1905, members in agreement to assist support the project. Barret shortly moved  west and traveled by buggy along with his partner and friends to lift additional support.

Col. J.W. Childers, a frontrunner within the Abilene church, in agreement to sell Barret some land he closely-held west of city and subtracted concerning $2,000 from the worth of the land on the condition that the varsity would be named in his honor. The Childers Classical Institute opened its doors within the fall of 1906 with twenty five students registered for categories.

The 5 acres occupied by the institute enclosed the recent Childers mansion, a two-story frame house used because the president's home and girl's dormitory. Boys boarded privately homes approved by the president. associate degree eight-room administration building was created on the location for $8,000.

Only the eleven primary and secondary grades were offered that initial semester. school courses weren't authorised for eight years. By the tip of the primary year eighty five students were registered.

Childers' initial years were tough for everybody, significantly the scholars. Cold lecture rooms, jam-pawncked living conditions and a water shortage necessitated toil and ingenuity on the a part of everybody. the varsity went through four presidents throughout those early years: Barret, H.C. Darden, R.L. Whiteside, and James F. Cox, World Health Organization served another term as president from 1931-1940.

To complicate matters, Col. Childers employed associate degree professional to gather on a note he had maintained on the land and mansion. the varsity had to borrow cash at fifteen % interest to pay the debt, creating it tough to fulfill operational expenses.

1912

A good bourgeois was required and located in Jesse P. Sewell, World Health Organization became the president in 1912. Sewell declined the supply of a salaried position as president, opting instead to run the varsity as if it were a private mercantilism. Sewell definitely did not get wealthy within the deal, however the faculty benefited from close to $60,000 given to the varsity by the Sewells throughout his 12-year presidency.

With Sewell's new approach came a brand new identity for the varsity. Since its starting the Institute had been normally remarked as Abilene Christian or the Christian school in Abilene. once Sewell became president, the varsity began exploitation the name Abilene Christian school in its catalog and alternative written materials.

Lawrence Smith explained that the first deed to the Childers land needed that the varsity be named when the commissioned military officer. Childers' heirs vulnerable to sue if the name were modified. In 1920, the varsity paid the family $4,000 and formally modified its name to Abilene Christian school.

Sewell's leadership brought the faculty out of debt. The field was enlarged by four new brick buildings, associate degree enlarged administration building and 6 frame structures, associate degreed an enhanced enrollment of concerning three hundred students throughout his final term. Sewell's reign additionally resulted in enfranchisement as a {junior school|college} in 1914 and as a senior college in 1919.

1924

Batsell Baxter became the young school's sixth president once Sewell resigned in 1924. Baxter initiated additional relaxed restrictions on the social privileges of scholars, and student activities and organizations enhanced in importance.

Continued growth demanded more room, and in 1927 the Board of Trustees appointed a committee to analyze new locations for the varsity. town created a gorgeous supply of 2 sections of land and $50,000 for building, to that the Abilene Chamber of Commerce responded by raising $75,000 to assist keep the faculty from moving. With this contribution, the faculty trustees conceive to purchase 680 acres on a hill one mile northeast of Abilene referred to as the Hashknife Ranch. near  residents given seventy five further acres.

1929

Life on the first field continued  as was common whereas construction began on Capitol Hill. Then on Jan. 28, 1929, the recent administration building caught hearth. Smith, then associate degree worker within the business establishment, served as fire chief and taught the firemen to soak the southwest a part of the building therefore the records may well be saved. a personality's chain was assembled to maneuver the library books, and a few holdings were salvaged, however most of the building was gutted.

Opening of the new field was regular for Sept. 5, 1929. to fulfill the point the contractor place 3 shifts to figure. New facilities enclosed associate degree administration building, 2 dormitories, associate degree education building that housed the elementary and high faculties, a eating hall, a president's home, a gymnasium associate degreed an area. solely six weeks later, the stock exchange crashed on "Black Thursday," Oct. 29, 1929. the Great Depression plunged the faculty deep in monetary debt.

Loans unbroken the varsity from closing every semester, and salaries were cut in 1930. President Baxter and Dean James F. Cox took fifteen % wage cuts. college salaries were cut ten %. successive year, all salaries were cut in 0.5.

Financial struggles worsened within the early Thirties, and by 1933 several bonds were returning due. John G. Hardin, additionally a significant helper of Hardin-Simmons University, helped alleviate several of the growing monetary pressures with a present of $160,000 in fetters. Later the varsity borrowed $40,000 additional from Hardin to retire some pressing notes.

Under Baxter's leadership, and later throughout the presidency of James Cox, the faculty survived the Great Depression.

1940

Don H. Morris, then head of the speech department, took workplace as president in 1940. A thin student population through war II was followed by new enrollment will increase when the war. Housing expose the largest downside. Barracks from near  Camp Barkeley, deactivated by the U.S. Army within the spring of 1946, were moved  to Capitol Hill to deal with students and supply further room and workplace house. the faculty was formally authorised Dec. 6, 1951, by the Southern Association of schools and faculties.

The postwar prosperity allowed many new buildings to be created to accommodate the increasing student body, that passed the two,000 mark in 1955. Between 1940 and 1961, 5 dormitories, a science building, a president's home, a eating house and each wings of the administration building were completed.

In 1957, Morris suggested that a designing committee be appointed. the subsequent February the board of trustees appointed a master designing council "to study tutorial, monetary and plant issues facing the faculty."

1962

From among board members, the planning board, administration, faculty, alumni and students, twenty four people were appointed to the council, that then established ten subcommittees to review specific areas or issues. Four years later, in April 1962, the "Design for Development, Abilene Christian school, 1962-72," was adopted by the board of trustees.

Those ten years made $10.8 million in gifts and brought several changes to the field, together with Brown Library, McGlothlin field Center, Moody stadium, Gibson Health and education Center, Sherrod Residential Park, the Don H. Morris Center, A.B. Morris Hall, Smith-Adams Hall and Sikes Hall. In his final chapel speech Sept. 27, 1973, Chancellor Morris same, "This isn't any normal school."

1969

Morris became chancellor in 1969 once Dr. John C. Stevens, historian, war II man of the cloth and former Abilene town councillor, was named president. Stevens' 12-year term was marked by upgrades to field housing, improvement within the school's assistance program for its students, and additional enrollment gains. Air Combat Command had registered three,000 for the primary time in 1965, and it passed the four,000 mark in 1977.

1976

"ACC" formally became "ACU" February. 22, 1976, by vote of the Board of Trustees. A committee chaired by trustee Jack Pope, justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, suggested the modification. Trustees, underneath the leadership of Ray McGlothlin, Jr., nem con approved the new name.

1981

ACU's endowment grew from $18 million to $56 million within the presidency of Dr. William J. Teague, former assistant to Morris and company and university government World Health Organization came back to ACU to succeed Stevens as president in 1981. the last decade of the Nineteen Eighties made $78 million in gifts to the university, and decide Ely Blvd. was moved  east to accommodate construction of latest buildings for Bible and business administration.

ACU extra its faculty of Nursing in 1981, and in 1986 the NPR affiliate KACU-FM was launched. Teague had same in his speech, "One individual with conviction will and will build a distinction in our world."

1991

Enrollment rebounded within the Nineteen Nineties throughout the presidency of Dr. Royce cash, Bible faculty member and authorised family expert World Health Organization took workplace Gregorian calendar month one, 1991. ACU attracted students from all fifty states and sixty nations and endeavored to require its place as a statesman in Christian teaching. cash acknowledged that ACU isn't the church, however he extra, "ACU can stay loyal to the Biblical and historical principles that have distinguished our non secular history."

To fund its growth in tutorial quality and image, serve its record numbers of scholars, and solidify its monetary foundation, ACU received gifts in development campaigns amounting to $30 million throughout "Advancing the Changeless" in 1993-96 and $114 million in "To Lead and To Serve" in 1996-2000.

2001

During the 2000-01 year, a record 4,761 students registered, assistance annually for ACU students reached $40 million, and ACU hierarchic among the highest ten % of establishments within the nation in endowment with $142 million. The university adopted "Change the World" because its theme as it began plans for its a centesimal year in 2005-06. A record 943 bachelor's, master's and scholarly person degrees were awarded at could, August and Dec commencement ceremonies.

2002

Faculty members Dr. Michael Sadler (physics) and Dr. mythical being Morris (McNair Scholars) received the sixth and seventh William Fulbright scholarships in university history from the U.S. Department of State.  Dr. John C. Stevens, chancellor old and president in 1969-81, attended the gap of the U.S. Army Chaplain's repository in Columbia, S.C., Sept. 27.  Dr. Stevens is pictured leading U.S. troops within the center of the globe War II ending parade down the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, Aug. 29, 1944, in one amongst the foremost celebrated military pictures in history.

2003

Classes opened Jan. thirteen within the new Williams humanistic discipline Center, a $17 million facility with ninety two,000 sq. feet of house for the Departments of Music and Theatre.

2004

Twenty-four students from the Republic of Madagascar arrived on field Aug. thirty four as participants in ACU's Madagascar Presidential Scholarship Program. The program was supported unitedly with Madagascar president brandy Ravalomanana.

2005

ACU formally began its long Centennial Celebration Aug. twenty two with the Centennial Convocation. This assembly enclosed the annual Parade of Flags, a speech by Dr. Royce cash, the inaugural presentation of “Centennial Fanfare,” commissioned by M.L. Daniels, and therefore the nationalistic “Ceremony of Allegiance.” Events continued  throughout the 2005-06 year as ACU mirrored on its initial century and looked ahead to its second.

Highlights of the Centennial enclosed the revealing of The ACU Century, a book concerning the university's history, at the JMC pressman Awards Dinner Oct. 13; a Centennial Speaker Series together with Robin Roberts, Pat Summerall and Kathleen Norris; the Centennial Historical Walking Tour, with exhibits around campus; and 3 Centennial Commencements in Dec 2005 and will and August 2006.

2006

The Centennial Celebration continued  with Sing Song: "The fiftieth Show" February. 17-18 and a bunch of alternative speakers and events on field. The 88th Annual Bible berth happened for the last time in February (Feb. 19-22), before transitioning to a September date (Sept. 17-20). The university control its one hundred and first gap Assembly Aug. twenty eight in Moody stadium, and formally over its Centennial Celebration many weeks later, on Sept. 11, with the Second Century Convocation.

2008

A group of ACU directors and friends, together with president Dr. Royce cash, traveled to Madagascar for a special commencement exercise, observance the twenty four Madagascar Presidential students World Health Organization arrived on field in 2004.

More than 900 coming into freshmen at ACU received associate degree Apple iPhone or iPod bit, as a part of the university's mobile learning initiative. the scholars used the devices in school and out of sophistication to explore new ways that of connecting learning to technology.

ACU's squad, diode by head coach Chris Thomsen, attained the Lone Star Conference Championship for the primary time since 1973. back physiologist Scott won the Harlon Hill Trophy, the best honor in NCAA Division II soccer.

2009

The 57,000-square-foot Hunter Welcome Center, named in honor of Dr. Bob Hunter and his partner, Shirley, was dedicated February. 21.

ACU Profile

Abilene Christian University is that the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, international leaders, giving associate degree exceptional education to concerning four,600 students annually from nearly each state and forty three nations. This non-public, comprehensive university, based in 1906 in Abilene, Texas, offers seventy one baccalaureate majors in additional than a hundred twenty five areas of college boy study additionally to its graduate programs. Abilene may be a friendly town of 117,000 people, situated concerning a hundred and fifty miles west of the Dallas/Fort price space. As an academic center for an outsized region, Abilene provides cultural, diversion and support programs and services unremarkably related to cities double its size.

Our Mission

Our mission is to coach students for Christian service and leadership throughout the planet. 

 

Our Promise

ACU may be a spirited, innovative, Christ-centered community that engages students in authentic religious and intellectual growth, arming them to create a true distinction within the world.

Our 21st-Century Vision

By 2020, ACU can become the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, international leaders.

Our spiritual Heritage

Established by members of the Churches of Christ, ACU maintains a robust relationship with these severally ruled congregations round the world. Since its beginning, the university has welcome all students of character and skill WHO worth the university’s robust Christian surroundings and exceptional learning surroundings. needed daily chapel and needed Bible courses contribute to the open acknowledgment of Christian religion as a vital facet of the lives of most ACU students.  All college, staff, directors and members of the Board of Trustees ar Christians.

Quick Facts

    Selective, private, master's-level university based in 1906 in Abilene, Texas

    Graduates accepted into medical faculties at a rate quite double the national average

    Graduates accepted into law faculties at a rate of quite ninety %

 one in every of solely six church-affiliated universities that have a journalism program authorized  by ACEJMC  

    Undergraduates enclosed in important college analysis comes

    Majority of scholars actively volunteer within the community

    All-Christian college in person curious about students' studies and lives

    Students could make a choice from seventy one baccalaureate majors that embrace quite a hundred twenty five areas of study, twenty five degree programs and one student program

    Career network of eighty six,000 ACU alumni in each state and 109 countries

    Annual enrollment of concerning four,700 students from across the U.S. and concerning forty nations

 sixty four national athletics team championships

    Beautiful, 250-acre, trendy field a hundred and eighty miles west of Dallas/Fort price space

Our Students and college

 

About 4,600 students, as well as 800 graduate students, come back to ACU from nearly each state and forty three nations. we've got a various and international surroundings, that we have a tendency to believe enriches student learning. Our students ar served by quite 245 regular college members WHO specialize in high-quality teaching, scholarship and repair. quite ninety seven % of tenure-track college hold terminal degrees. The student/faculty quantitative relation is 15:1. the college and directors ar actively concerned as leaders and presenters in several national skilled associations, and ACU is a lively member of the Council for Christian schools and Universities.

The university includes the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, Education and Human Services; the grad school; the Graduate faculty of Theology; the college of data Technology and Computing; the college of Social Work; and a college of Nursing. sophisticated lecture rooms, laptop labs within the residence halls, full wireless web across field, and ACU’s innovative mobile-learning initiative guarantee our students ar ready for the fast technological world of nowadays.

The university offers generous benefit scholarships to incoming students with exceptional tutorial records and incontestible leadership skills, and ACU attracts a number of the nation's brightest students WHO wish to check during a Christian surroundings. Students have found that the little categories instructed by gifted, caring college members offer them a plus after they hunt for jobs once graduation or apply to graduate faculties. as a result of ACU's professors understand their students therefore well and sometimes function mentors, they're able to offer glorious references to medical faculties, law faculties, graduate programs and future employers.

Exceptional teachers

At ACU, students expertise some rare opportunities to organize for his or her future careers. within the physics program, college boy students frequently participate with college members at national physical science laboratories and build national and international displays. Most universities solely permit graduate students to participate during this high-level work. within the journalism program, students manufacture a twice-weekly newspaper that has received All-American honors per annum since 1975.

Communication majors frequently win national discussion competitions against giant, prestigious universities. English students win extremely competitive writing competitions. Business majors jaunt Colorado for a novel leadership institute. the faculty of Business Administration is authorized  by the celebrated Association to Advance collegial faculties of Business.

The university includes the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, Education and Human Services, the grad school, the grad school of Theology, the college of data Technology and Computing, the college of welfare work, and therefore the faculty of Nursing. sophisticated lecture rooms, laptop labs within the residence halls, quick web connections, email access as associate degree incoming student and far additional guarantee our students ar ready for the fast technological world of nowadays.

Abilene Christian University is authorized  by the Commission on schools of the Southern Association of schools and faculties to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and student degrees. Contact the Commission on schools at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or decision 404-679-4500 for questions about the certification of ACU.

Academic Resources

Margaret and Woody Herman Brown Library is at the center of ACU's educational program. It includes the innovative Learning Commons, the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, the Writing Center, the Speaking Center, and therefore the AT&T Learning Studio. The university's Learning Studio and Learning Commons offer innovative areas for college kids to collaborate and acquire skills to use the most recent technology. ACU's triumph mobile-earning initiative helps guarantee newest technology is associate degree integral a part of every student's education.

Brown Library holds quite one.5 million volumes and one million microforms control by ACU and alternative members of the Abilene Library association. Students can also access quite twenty,000 journals.

ACU may be a library for U.S. Government Documents. The library's Special Collections department includes rare books and Bibles, manuscripts, and deposit materials. the middle for Restoration Studies, headquartered within the library, may be a magnet for church history students.

Distinctive tutorial surroundings

ACU places nice worth on the dynamic relationship that ought to exist between professors and their students. U.S. News & World Report honors ACU for its quality, worth and ranks it because the No. a pair of “Up and Coming” university within the West Region for 2015.

Many establishments trust extensively on graduate assistants. Not ACU. All our courses ar instructed by qualified college members. And once professors work on analysis comes, you'll be able to typically notice undergraduates by their aspect, a rarity elsewhere.

How will we understand this philosophy works? as a result of every year, a number of the nation's high businesses come back to our field to interview as a result of they understand ACU students have the education and preparation required to succeed.

Outstanding college. nice facilities. smart jobs and grad school. they are all the results of ACU's uncommon commitment to teaching and learning. ACU prepares its graduates for Christian service and leadership throughout the planet.

Student Life

As a residential field, ACU is alive with activities from concerts and comedians to night devotionals and poetry readings. several students participate in intragroup sports, wash room and women's social clubs, recess mission campaigns, and therefore the annual Sing Song performance event. virtually one hundred field organizations offer students several venues for involvement and leadership. ACU conjointly provides opportunities to check abroad in many completely different countries. The university is found in Abilene, Texas, associate degree All-America town of 117,000 individuals with a range of social, religious, athletic and cultural activities. Abilene may be a safe, fun place to measure – all the amenities while not the hassles of a mega-city.

Health, wellbeing and Recreation

The $21 million Royce and Pam cash Student Recreation and wellbeing Center may be a put concentration on field. Designed to encourage wellbeing of the complete individual - body, mind and spirit - it includes the ACU Medical and content Center and is that the home of a dynamic intragroup program with championship and recreational leagues for college kids of all interests and skills

Athletics

As a member of the NCAA Division I and therefore the South Conference, ACU competes in soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s race, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s lawn tennis, women's football and women’s softball. 

Successful Alumni

Graduates of ACU became popular Christian authors, ministers, members of Congress, state judges, big-city mayors, researchers, Hollywood pic producers, academics and superintendents, high Nashville musicians and music producers, distinguished university professors, business homeowners, across the nation famed physicians, Joseph Pulitzer Prize winners, and winners of honor, Telly, Dove, Grammy, discoverer of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. we have a tendency to believe our eighty six,000 alumni build a true distinction within the world in positive ways in which a day.

Contact Us

For additional data concerning attending ACU, decision fee 800-460-6228, write the workplace of Admissions at ACU Box 29000, Abilene, Texas 79699-9000, or send email to info@admissions.acu.edu.