Abilene Christian University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private Christian research university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute, it began with just 25 students and initially included a lower school starting in the seventh grade. In 1912, under the leadership of Jesse P. Sewell, the institution began using the name Abilene Christian College in its printed materials, officially adopting the name in 1920. Over the decades, ACU developed a rich student media tradition, establishing its newspaper, The Optimist, in 1912, its yearbook, The Prickly Pear, in 1916, and its literary-arts magazine in 1933, now known as The Shinnery Review. The university received accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1951. In 1971, ACU launched an extension campus in Mesquite, Texas, which later became a separate institution known as Amberton University, still affiliated with the Churches of Christ. On February 22, 1976, Abilene Christian College officially changed its name to Abilene Christian University. The institution marked its 100th anniversary during the 2005–06 academic year. In a move to expand its educational reach, ACU signed a lease in July 2015 for a new campus in Addison, Texas. This campus, known as ACU Dallas, began offering a variety of graduate programs, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in organizational leadership. Today, ACU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 institution, signifying high research activity and doctoral degree production. The university continues to serve as a hub for Christian higher education in West Texas while expanding its influence and offerings across the state and beyond.