High winds and heavy rains didn't stop pilots from coming out for the 19th annual Big Country Balloon Fest at Red Bud Park this past weekend. Sixteen pilots from around the country came to Abilene for the festival. Two or three launched their balloons on Sunday, but many remained grounded because of the weather conditions. Mark Ibbotson, ... [Read More…]
SA finalizes fall group budget
The Student's Association met with members from numerous on-campus organizations to finalize its fall 2013 budget on Wednesday. This year 62 groups requested a combined total of $125,945.15. The Student's Association was is allocated $90,000 for the fall semester and $42,808.50 of it went to the student groups. The remaining balance of the fall ... [Read More…]
Students from Africa create new OME organization
African Student's Association is now an official student group at ACU. Meetings begin this fall. About 20 students met last April to elect officers and plan for the upcoming year. Soo Hun Yoon, biochemistry major from Freetown, Sierra Leone (West Africa), was elected president of the ASA. He came up with the idea for the organization at the ... [Read More…]
Dept. of Language adds new Korean course
Korean language classes began this semester. The course is a new addition to the Department of Language and Literature. Dr. Harland Rall, assistant professor of Language and Literature, is the language coordinator for Dialektos. "Dialektos is a name we gave to the language program for non-traditional languages on campus," Rall said. "It ... [Read More…]
Occupational therapy masters program begins degree accreditation process
A program for a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is in the process of being approved for the summer of 2014. The Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition is currently accepting applications. Since there is no specific corresponding bachelor's degree, any student with the prerequisite science courses can apply, said program ... [Read More…]
Summit theme focuses on the ‘Margins’
Seven theme speakers, three featured guests, and more than 100 session leaders are scheduled to lead ACU's 107th annual Summit from Sept. 15-18. Theme speakers will include Jonathan Storment, preaching minister at Highland Church of Christ, and Larry James of CitySquare in Dallas. "They'll be talking about the theme 'Margins,' which is taken ... [Read More…]
Faculty finds pros and cons of new OpenClass
After the campus-wide switch to OpenClass last semester, faculty and staff are adjusting to the new advantages and quirks of the system. The decision on the new learning management system was made by a committee formed specifically for the task. ACU's contract with Blackboard expired in July, said Dr. Mindi Thompson, director of distance ... [Read More…]
Fall Chapel theme spread out, moved to Cullen
Despite rumors that the weekly Chapel schedule will be changing, only two minor changes are happening this year, said Mark Lewis. First, the dates for departmental Chapels have been altered. "Over the past several years, we have done three departmental Chapels every semester," said Lewis, assistant dean for spiritual life and Chapel ... [Read More…]
Moody floor, sound system updated
Moody Coliseum has been significantly upgraded over the summer with a new floor and sound system. The changes came after renovations last spring to facilitate handicap access. With the switch from the Lone Star Conference to the Southland Conference and NCAA Div. I and the introduction of new sports logos, the Department of Athletics decided to ... [Read More…]
Keeping Abilenians busy
Many people have silently agreed with the shirts and bumper stickers that read "Keep Abilene Boring." One of the recurring lamentations heard at ACU is the lack of interesting things to do over the weekends or, for local students, over the summer. Weekends are manageable with homework, but dying of boredom over the summer can become a real threat ... [Read More…]