Abilene Christian University history

When Jesse P. Sewell became president in 1912—following Barret, H.C. Darden, R.L. Whiteside and James F. Cox—he developed a new approach to managing the institution, declining a salary in order to run the school as a personal business enterprise.

The Prickly Pear, the school yearbook, was founded in 1916.

Begun in 1918, this annual program gathers thousands of attendees for lectures and workshops on religious topics connected with a biblical theme that changes each year.

In 1920, the school paid the Childers family $4,000 and formally changed the name.

When Batsell Baxter took over for Sewell in 1924, he shifted focus to the student experience.

1 "20th Annual Announcement" "Session of 1925-26"

The school expanded rapidly, and by 1927, the Board of Trustees decided to explore new locations for the campus.

5, 1929, the new campus opened with eight buildings: an administration building, two residence halls, an education building that housed the elementary and high schools, a dining hall, a gymnasium, an auditorium and a house for the president.

The campus literary-arts magazine (now The Shinnery Review, formerly The Pickwicker) has been in production since 1933.

Cline Paden (1947), Church of Christ missionary, founder of Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock

Abilene Christian College first received school accreditation in 1951, when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

No intercollegiate sports program in the state of Texas – at any level – can claim as many NCAA national championships as the Wildcats, who have won 64 team titles since 1952.

Bobby Morrow, Olympic sprinter, winner of three gold medals in the 1956 Games

Earl Young, 1960 Olympic gold medal winner in 4X400 relay

In 1962, the Board of Trustees adopted the enterprising Design for Development plan on the recommendations of a four-year master planning council.

Abilene Christian College first received school accreditation in 1971 when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

22, 1976, to adopt the name Abilene Christian University, following the recommendation of a committee chaired by trustee Jack Pope, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

ACU Press, founded in 1983 to print books about Churches of Christ theology, is now a member of the Association of American University Presses, printing books about Christian Higher Education, West Texas History and Christian Living as well as theology.

The school established an NPR station, KACU, in 1986.

Bill Blakeley, former basketball coach at the interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1992-93)

Grant Feasel, former center in the NFL for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1994-95)

As ACU approached a century of excellence, it experienced a record year: In 2000–01, 4,761 students enrolled, annual financial aid reached $40 million and its $142 million endowment was ranked among the top 10 percent nationally.

13, 2001, the new $17 million Williams Performing Arts Center opened with 92,000 square feet of teaching and performing space for music and theatre.

Williams Performing Arts Center, built in 2003

Greg Feasel, former offensive tackle in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; currently Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the Colorado Rockies; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (2004-05)

The university celebrated its centennial in the 2005–06 school year.

Students added to the university’s legacy by participating in an international Wildcat Week of Service over Spring Break, and the 2006 Centennial Graduation Celebration featured a Commencement address delivered by ACU alumnus and best-selling author Max Lucado.

In 2007, the conference included 33 ACU current and former student athletes in its 75-member all-sports team commemorating the conference's 75th anniversary.

On February 26, 2008, ACU announced that all incoming freshman classes would receive a free Apple iPhone or an iPod Touch.

On June 13, 2009, the New Media Consortium presented ACU with one of three Center of Excellence awards at its annual summer conference for ACU's efforts in mobile learning.

On August 25 Abilene Christian's Board of Trustees accepted Southland's invitation to rejoin the Conference effective with the start of the 2013 academic year.

2014 - Renamed Abilene Christian School to signify unity as pre-k, elementary, middle and high schools are all on one campus

In July 2015, the university signed a lease for an expansion campus located in Addison, Texas.

Wildcat Stadium, ACU’s first on-campus football venue in five decades, held its opening Gameday in 2017.

In 2018, the Robert R. and Kay Onstead Science Center, formerly the Foster Science Building, opened for classes.

In 2019, ACU became the first university in Texas to be designated an Adobe Creative Campus.

In 2020, ACU expanded its Study Abroad program in Oxford, England with the purchase of a Victorian-era property to house students and faculty.