ACU wants to bring Ben Rector to Abilene.

Amanda Pittman, ACU marketing manager, said the university has invited the Nashville-based singer and songwriter to come perform for students.

“We are still negotiating with his agent, and we don’t have a signed contract yet,” Pittman said.

The effort to bring more entertainment to campus started with a survey sent out this summer. The survey asked students what type of performers they would like to see come to Abilene and how much they would be willing to pay.

Last semester, under the direction of Jason Groves, chief marketing officer, a team was assembled to help address the student body’s desire for more entertainment.

“Students’ Association, the alumni office and the office of university marketing have all been involved in the planning,” Pittman said.

Rodney Johnson, executive president of SA, said they have been working on getting a contract with Rector for a solo concert since November. Now, they are hoping to bring Rector with his entire band.

“We sent the survey out, and Ben Rector is just where we landed because he was an up-and-coming name, as well having a good following at ACU,” said Johnson, senior marketing major from Odessa. “He was affordable and just fit all of our standards.”

Johnson said this effort is just one of many to bring more entertainment to ACU and make the campus more vibrant.

“And that’s not just with concerts “” comedians or TED conferences are helping us to be more interactive,” he said. “ACU is stepping up its efforts to entertain its students. We shouldn’t have to go to Dallas every weekend to go to a concert.”

The tentative concert would most likely take place later in the semester.

“We would like to make the announcement about date and location when we have a website that students can go to to purchase tickets,” Pittman said.