By Jared Fields, Managing Editor

Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, announced the 21st Century Vision on Tuesday and began by talking about the undefeated football team and a flywheel, comparing their momentums to that of the university’s going into the next decade.

“I would suggest to you all that ACU has been building up for a century accumulating momentum,” Dr. Money said. “The 21st Century Vision is designed to tell us which way to ‘push’ for the next decade.”

Money said the vision will include three parts: to produce leaders who think critically, globally and missionally; to build distinctive and innovative programs; and to expand ACU’s educational reach nationally and internationally.

Money said he wants the university to become a significant voice in the broader Christian community and in higher education circles, in particular niches to become a leading Christian university taking faith-based, quality education to the world and to be known as an innovative leader in higher education throughout the world.

Where student outcomes are concerned, the vision focuses on the broadening of a student’s knowledge and experience. It states the outcomes will be to have a broad, deep foundation in liberal arts and sciences; be exceptionally competent in their disciplines; learn to work well in teams, handle rapid change, think critically, live missionally; and to think globally.

After laying out ACU’s new vision, Money said the next steps will involve conversations, both formal and informal, and reviewing five-year plans of departments and operational areas.

“For now, we’ll use the 21st Century road map to help us push in the same direction,” Money said.

Money closed by talking about the university’s current status, saying he thinks ACU has the strongest faculty, students, reputation, alumni and financial position the school has ever had.

“What we’re trying to do in the vision is to say ‘here’s the skeleton’ and we put the flesh on as we’re able to do that together,” Money said. “I think what it implies is that we will have not just an increased nationally reputation, but that it will be genuine.”

Measuring the outcomes will be difficult, but Money said measurements should be made of things that are measurable.

“But in terms of outcomes [what matters is] are we who we say we are and are we producing what we say we are producing,” Money said.