KACU will celebrate its 30th birthday as a National Public Radio affiliate this year.

Nathan Gibbs, assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications and general manager at KACU, discusses changes that have been made throughout the past few years.

Gibbs said, “There used to be music on during the day, and I changed that out for hosting national news shows, a news and talk program.” As an assistant professor of the JMC department as well as the manager at KACU, Gibbs said he felt that he had to serve both the community as well as educate the students who worked at KACU.

The national news show benefitted the student workers by forcing them to write more and work for a set amount of time. The students are now put under more pressure and gain a better work experience, which is the change Gibbs wanted for KACU workers.

Zane Goggans, Director of Operations at KACU, was an announcer for four years when he attended ACU. “The best experience of my college career was here at KACU; I learned a lot being here,” Goggans said.

Since the changes have been made, Gibbs said there has been positive feedback when talking to people that donate in the fundraisers for KACU. “The trend we have seen more than anything else has been ‘Thank you for making the change. I am going to increase my donation because I like what you did,’” said Gibbs. As a whole, there has been positive feedback from surveys of the general public as well as an increase in the donations coming into KACU. Gibbs said, “Across the board, it is really impressive how well it worked, and we are very happy about it.”

There will be a 30th birthday celebration held at The Mill, at which Gibbs will announce future podcast for KACU. Gibbs said that in future years, he hopes to increase local public service at the station.

To hear KACU, you can tune in to 89.5 FM or listen online.

“You learn every time you listen,” said Gibbs.