Representatives from AT&T and the Abilene community are invited to join the ACU family in celebrating the grand opening of the AT&T Learning Studio with a ribbon cutting ceremony Feb. 28.

The 2:15 p.m. ribbon cutting will mark the official completion and opening of the much-anticipated AT&T Learning Studio, located on the third floor of Brown Library.

Kyle Dickson, director of the digital media center, said he believes this is an energizing time to be at ACU.

“I feel like this is a natural extension for ACU and the project we’ve been so involved in for the last several years,” Dickson said. “We’re trying to create the tools that we’ll use to teach students and help in learning for the future.”

Before the ribbon cutting, students can get a sneak peak of the AT&T Learning Studio from 7-9 p.m. at the Red Carpet Premiere on Feb. 24. There will be food and prize give-aways.

Dickson said he wanted to make sure students were welcomed into the space.

“The premiere will let them see what rooms, equipment and staff will be available to support them in creating messages with a global impact.”

The AT&T Learning Studio is equipped with high-end iMac computers, supporting software for web development, design and media creation. The center includes a main media lab, small group rooms and several studio rooms, with high-quality audio and video equipment for recording podcasts or practicing for speeches and interviews. Media specialists also will be at hand to answer all users’ technology questions.

Students also will have the opportunity to check-out audio and video equipment for personal use, in addition to campus projects.

“We recognize students are learning many things beyond the curriculum of the class,” Dickson said. “The Learning Studio is designed to help students in building confidence using digital media, so personal projects are welcomed.”

David McMichael, senior English major from Abilene, works in the Digital Media Center and said he is excited for the new third-floor renovation.

“The location is better,” McMicael said. “The new space upstairs is going to look a lot better and will be inductive to creative thought processes. There’s much more space to utilize the technology.”

Students will have the opportunity to interact with the featured technology this spring as the studio plans to house tutorial classes and focus groups.

“Partnering with AT&T is a big deal,” McMichael said. “Working with a big company like AT&T legitimizes what we’re trying to do here at ACU.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony is in conjunction with the ACU Connected Summit 2011 on Feb. 28. Conference visitors will have the opportunity to tour the AT&T Learning studio and hear more about ACU’s push for educational innovation.

The studio will be open for daily use beginning March 2.