Welcome Wildcats!

Wildcat Week

Wildcat Week is how ACU welcomes you home. A unique experience for our first-year students and our current students, the community and excitement you experience is difficult to put into words. Your new home awaits you.

A wide view of the stage and crowd during the Wildcat Week concert.
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This is it!

Wildcat Week is the official welcome to the Wildcat family for you and your family. From the day of Move-in when you make campus your new home to the Goodbye Blessing with everyone gathered, this is a time filled with fun, preparation and discovery.

Go Wildcats!

What is Wildcat Week?

After you have completed Orientation, all new Wildcats will need to attend Wildcat Week. Wildcat Week is our extended orientation program that provides students with opportunities for spiritual growth, academic success and social excellence, while making Abilene their new home.

What To Expect

Wildcat Week is when your ACU experience lights up! Discover Abilene and take a deeper dive into all of the many programs available at ACU. Immerse yourself in our unique traditions such as Candlelight Devo as you make your transition into a full-time college student.

  • Dive into five days of hands-on learning activities
  • Enjoy amazing meals
  • Connect with new friends
  • Prepare for class
  • Soak in your first Candlelight Devo
  • Share a hug at the Goodbye Blessing
Two new Wildcats pose with hands making a W-C at an evening mixer lit by string lights in purple and white.

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Important Dates for Fall 2027

  • August 17
    Move-In
  • August 17-21
    Wildcat Week
  • August 23
    First Day of Class

Example Wildcat Week Schedule

  • 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
    Move-in (Residence Halls)
  • 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    Wildcat Week Check-In (Student Life Den, McGlothlin Campus Center, lower level)
  • 5-6 p.m.
    Goodbye Blessing (Moody Coliseum)
  • 8-8:30 p.m.
    Wildcat RoundUP (Campus Mall)
  • 8:30-9:15 p.m.
    Welcome & How to be a Wildcat! (Moody Coliseum)
  • 9:15-10:30 p.m.
    Candlelight Devo (Beauchamp Amphitheatre)
  • 10:30 p.m.
    Residence Hall Meet-up (Residence Halls)
  • 7-9:30 a.m.
    Breakfast (The Bean)
  • 8-9 a.m.
    Late Wildcat Week Check-in (Campus Center)
  • 8-10 a.m.
    English Essay Testing (Hart Auditorium)
  • 8-10 a.m.
    CLEP Testing and Placement Exams
  • 9:30-10 a.m.
    ACU Leads (Moody Coliseum)
  • 10:00-10:35 a.m.
    ACU Compass & WW Badge (Moody Coliseum)
  • 10:45-11:15 a.m.
    Follies & Rec Fun with Ruthie (Moody Coliseum)
  • 11:00a.m.- Noon
    Lunch and Mentor Group Time (The Bean)
  • Noon- 1:00 p.m.
    Lunch and Mentor Group Time (The Bean)
  • 2-5 p.m.
    GPS Testing, Free Time/Explore Abilene (Rec Activities, Zoo, Maxx Air, Yoga with Ruthie, Bingo or rest & unplug)
  • 5:30-7:00 p.m.
    Dinner with Mentor Groups (Bean or Abilene Locations)
  • 7-10:30 p.m.
    Movie @ the Paramount (Paramount Theatre)
  • 6:45-7:30 a.m.
    Sunrise Devo (Outside Steps of Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building)
  • 7-9 a.m.
    Breakfast (The Bean)
  • 8-9 a.m.
    Late Wildcat Week Check-in (McGlothlin Campus Center, lower level)
  • 8-10 a.m.
    CLEP Testing and Placement Exams
  • 9-11:30 a.m.
    Mentor Group Olympics (Various Locations)
  • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Police Cookout & MG time (GATA Fountain and locations)
  • 1-2 p.m.
    Navigating Your Spiritual Journey (Moody Coliseum)
  • 2:30-4:00 p.m.
    Open Houses
  • 4-5 p.m.
    ResLife Women’s Mandatory Meeting (Womens Halls) Chapel on the Hill (Bullock) Hart Auditorium (Sikes) BSB 114 (Nelson) Critical Convos for at ACU (Moody and Various Locations)
  • 5-6 p.m.
    ResLife Men’s Mandatory Meeting (Men’s Halls) Chapel on the Hill (Bullock) Hart Auditorium (Mabee) BSB 114 (Edwards) Critical Convos at ACU (Moody and Various Locations)
  • 6-8:00 p.m.
    Dinner (The Bean)
  • 8:00-10:00 p.m.
    ACU Fest (GATA Fountain, Campus Center Mall)
  • 10:30-11:30 p.m.
    Late Night Worship (Moody Coliseum)
  • 7-9 a.m.
    Breakfast (The Bean)
  • 8-10 a.m.
    CLEP Testing and Placement Exams (Hardin Admin Lab 118)
  • 10-11 a.m.
    Praise Day Friday/Olympic Results (Beauchamp Amphitheater)
  • 11 a.m.- Noon
    Cornerstone Lunches (Bean and Locations)
  • 1-2:30 p.m.
    Department Meet & Greet (Various Locations)
  • 3- 5:30 p.m.
    Explore Abilene/ Free Time (Rec activities, Paint & Brew, Puppies & Pals, Color Wars, Esports tournament(?) or rest & unplug)
  • 6-7:30 p.m.
    Stadium Roundup (Tailgating Field at Wildcat Stadium)
  • 7:30-8:30 p.m.
    Gameday 101 (Anthony Field)
  • 9-11:00 p.m.
    Silent Disco (Wildcat Stadium Club Level)
  • 7-9 a.m.
    Breakfast (The Bean)
  • 10-Noon
    Wildcats Pay it Forward
  • Noon-2 p.m.
    Roommate Lunch (The Bean or Abilene Cuisine)
  • Noon-4 p.m.
    Downtown Day (Downtown Abilene)
  • 2-4 p.m.
    ACU Volleyball vs. Angelo State
  • 8-10:00 p.m.
    Concert (Moody Coliseum)
  • Directly after concert
    Onward… Wildcats (Beauchamp Amphitheater)

Concerts? Friends? Puppies? Peek into Wildcat Week at ACU

Wildcat Week is the official welcome to the Wildcat family for you and your family. From the day of Move-in when you make campus your new home to the Goodbye Blessing with everyone gathered, this is a time filled with fun, preparation and discovery.

Wildcat Week Frequently Asked Questions

Wildcat Week is an extended orientation experience designed to prepare students for their transition to Abilene Christian University. It is an exciting experience for all new students that encourages you to engage in the Wildcat community. During Wildcat Week, you will build friendships with future classmates while experiencing the traditions of ACU, learning what it truly means to be a Wildcat.

Wildcat Week registration happens in person on Tuesday, August 17, 2027 in McGlothlin Campus Center – Student Life Den (basement). All students must check in in order to participate in Wildcat Week activities. You will get your schedule, name tag, and Wildcat gear!

Check back here soon to find your designated check-in slot!

Yes, transfer students are required to attend. We host Transfer Only events and groups for transfer students during Wildcat Week.

Wildcat Week takes place on campus and all over the Abilene area. ACU realizes that we leave an incredibly beneficial footprint on the city of Abilene.

Wildcat groups are designated according to your Cornerstone class. This will not only be your group for Wildcat Week, but these students will be your classmates for the 1st semester. Your group will consist of 30 new students and 5 upperclassmen (a Peer Leader and Wildcat Leaders). Together, your group will be eating meals, discussing the essentials of college life, and participating in fun activities. This also means you won’t be able to request to be in the same group as some of your friends, so enjoy getting to meet your fellow Wildcat classmates.

Yes, Wildcat Week is a mandatory program for all first year students.

There is no cost! Wildcat Week is free for all new ACU students.