Category: Features
ACU enrollment tops 7,000, hits record for 8th year in a row
More than 7,200 students enrolled at Abilene Christian University this fall, marking the university’s largest-ever student body and an eighth consecutive year of record enrollment. The student total of 7,274 reflects an increase of 787 students or 12% over last year, 37% over the past five years and 60% over the past 10 years. A … Continued
DOE taps ACU, Natura to receive critical nuclear reactor fuel
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a plan to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Abilene Christian University and its partner, Natura Resources, for their cutting-edge nuclear research. This crucial fuel allocation will support the university’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab in the development of a next-generation molten salt reactor. ACU’s research … Continued
Texas legislature funds water desalination through Texas Tech, ACU, Natura Resources partnership
A recent appropriation from the Texas Legislature, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, focuses on water desalination and directs research funding to Texas Tech University to help accelerate their research partnership with Abilene Christian University and its molten salt reactor project, sponsored by Natura Resources. In January, ACU entered into a memorandum of understanding with Texas … Continued
FilmFest connects students with industry professionals
This spring, a record number of students shared short films at the historic Paramount Theatre downtown as part of Abilene Christian University’s 21st annual FilmFest. Narrative and animated films from 16 teams showcased student storytelling and creativity from across campus, with awards presented in 15 categories. For the second year, an award was given for … Continued
10 Questions with JMC grad and history buff Regina Burns
Although Black History Month is February, for ACU alumna Regina L. Burns (’83) it has become a year-round passion. Her fascination with key figures in Black history was sparked in the 1990s, while she served as news director for a country music station in Memphis, Tennessee. She was asked to produce a radio documentary about … Continued
ACU achieves elite academic recognition with Carnegie Research 2 status
Abilene Christian University has earned Research 2 (R2) status in the latest update from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education – a milestone that reflects ACU’s intentional commitment to research growth and academic excellence. The prestigious R2 designation places Abilene Christian among top research universities in the nation, recognizing high spending and doctorate … Continued
AI Research at ACU, funded by Google: Transforming Computer Science Education
As a high school student, Gweneth Barbre was intrigued by psychology, design and computer science and she knew she wanted to explore the interaction between people and computers. So she looked for a university with a similar research focus and opportunity. Less than a year later, as a freshman computer science major at Abilene Christian … Continued
Senior Capstone is crowning experience for ACU undergraduates
From filmmaking in Cambodia to studying Native American pictographs with multispectral imaging, ACU students are putting their knowledge into practice every day. Experiential learning – or learning by doing – is an important part of an ACU education and is built into the curriculum for all undergraduate majors from their freshman through senior years. Their … Continued
ACU alum Halbert honored at NY cancer foundation gala
The New York Cancer Foundation honored an Abilene Christian University alumnus whose pioneering work in precision medicine helps patients receive better quality care through individualized treatment. David Dean Halbert (’78) received the Courage and Grace Award at the fourth annual Raising Hope Gala in New York City. The award was presented by Dr. Jeffrey Vacirca, … Continued