STUDENT SUCCESS

Wildcat Care Fund Established

The Wildcat Care Fund was designed to provide short-term monetary support to online students facing needs that directly impact their education. Whether supporting the purchase of necessary items such as prescription eyeglasses, a month of Wi-Fi charges or textbooks, this fund provides financial assistance to address immediate barriers so students can pursue their degrees with as few disruptions as possible. Since its creation earlier this year, the Wildcat Care Fund has raised over $2,400 to serve students across our online campus – all through the generous help of our ACU Dallas faculty, staff and growing alumni family.

Learn more at acu.edu/give.

Launch Of Student Engagement Office

Focused on helping students achieve their professional goals before graduation, the Student Engagement Office works diligently to bring career-readiness resources, professionalization and networking opportunities to our students. LaShae Grottis, ACU Online’s student engagement manager, sees the work of online student engagement as primarily one of collaboration.

“One of the ways we engage with students is to work alongside them in their career exploration and development as they make decisions about their future,” Grottis said. “We can assist students in many aspects of their careers, from reviewing resumes to providing job search tools to helping them decide what jobs to pursue after graduation.”

Under Grottis’ leadership, the office has begun to offer students free services like Handshake, SkillsFirst and PathwayU, all of which are geared toward providing job and internship postings, assisting in resume and cover letter creation, and helping undeclared undergraduate students narrow their major. Over the past year, the office has also developed a mobile application, ACU Engage, which will launch this fall.

Through the ACU Engage app, students are immersed in a structured sequence of experiences in which they can earn badges. If a student works through every suggested level of ACU Engage by the time they graduate, they will have achieved competency in Self-Development and Professionalism, Communication, Critical Thinking and Applied Problem-Solving, Teamwork and Vocational Formation. These competencies are designed to set students up for success upon graduation.

Expansion Of Student Wellness Office

Servicing our students’ mental health and wellness has become one of ACU Online’s prime initiatives. Under the direction of Abbey Green (‘18), ACU Online’s student wellness manager, the expansion of our wellness program has allowed students to speak with a licensed social worker to discuss any limitations they might be facing physically, emotionally, mentally and financially.

Since its opening during Fall 2022, over 400 students have been referred and received assistance for various needs.

Currently, the Student Wellness Office provides advocacy and resources to students experiencing various challenges, as well as facilitates the accommodations process for students with documented disabilities via the Alpha Scholars program. In the future, the Student Wellness Office hopes to expand its services as our student population and needs continue to grow.

In Pursuit Of Education

ACU employees have the unique benefit of pursuing degrees and certificates to further their education, professional skills, leadership development and technical expertise. Through the Employee Tuition Benefit program, 122 ACU employees have returned to the classroom tuition-free. ACU is exceptionally proud of all the employees who have decided to continue their education with ACU Online. They represent the driven, thoughtful and hard-working individuals who have helped us grow and thrive. These three recent graduates are just a few examples of the many employees who pursue an ACU degree alongside their work responsibilities, family commitments and life changes.

As the smiling office manager for ACU Dallas, Dawn Parker (‘23) not only completed her Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies, but also was the first student to enroll in a bachelor’s program with ACU Online. Starting her academic journey on ACU’s residential campus in late 1979, Dawn pushed through several boundaries and obstacles over her lifetime to eventually complete her long dream of being a college graduate. Dawn is a perfect example of pursuing your goals no matter your age.

“My online education with ACU has been a growth experience personally, spiritually, and professionally,” Dawn expressed. “I am thankful for the opportunity to complete my degree, which would have never happened without the ability to complete it online. I am proud to finally be an ACU alum!”

Recently promoted as the associate director of enrollment for ACU Online, Eydie Robinson (‘23) graduated with her Master of Business Administration. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Eydie has worked at various universities in enrollment management and advising roles. Eydie is excited about her new position and the opportunity to support her specialized team as they help ACU Online and its students continue to grow.

“One of the most outstanding achievements I’ve accomplished is completing my MBA degree, and having the flexibility to do that while working full-time here at ACU,” Eydie remarked. “It was indeed a blessing! I was able to continue life, including being a mother to three, and I could apply what I learned from my courses in my current role. Of course, my days started a little earlier, and my nights were a little longer, and there were even some sacrifices I had to make, but it was all worth it, and I do not regret it, not one bit.”

Born and raised as a Wildcat, April Young (‘16) graduated with her Master of Science in Organizational Development and is currently the assistant director of alumni and university relations. Focused on building a stronger alumni base across the state and university-wide relationships, April has worked in the alumni office on ACU’s residential campus for more than five years. She has already started to use her master’s to extend and enrich the mission of our university.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have two degrees from Abilene Christian University, much less have the opportunity to work full-time for this incredible institution and earn my master’s degree in Organizational Development simultaneously,” April said. “I am grateful to my supervisor who supported me along the way, as well as my professors who gave encouragement and grace. I would not have made it through without everyone’s support!”

Professional & Educational Excellence: Employees in the Classroom

Undergraduate: Six enrolled students and three graduates

Master’s: 36 enrolled students and 52 graduates

Doctoral: 18 enrolled students and seven graduates

Equipping Church Leaders With Two New Certificates

Focused on equipping church leaders and servant-minded individuals, ACU Online has released two congruent, 16-hour online undergraduate certificates for those looking to make a greater impact in their congregations. Through the Certificate in Church Leadership: Foundations and Certificate in Church Leadership: Praxis, students are challenged to guide and serve people toward their greater purpose while deepening their own professional and spiritual development.

Within the Certificate in Church Leadership: Foundations coursework, students raise their awareness of the greater needs within their churches, seek to increase their understanding of biblical interpretation and its effect on congregational dynamics, and explore leadership strategies and spiritual disciplines to sustain faithful service. Designed to be a continuation of their training, the Certificate in Church Leadership: Praxis builds upon the previous knowledge gained to give students guidance on preaching, teaching, pastoral counseling, mission and vision.

Taught by a diverse array of passionate scholar-practitioners, each certificate provides students the opportunity to become better pastors and teachers. Interested students are encouraged to partner with their local church to see if they would sponsor one-third of the tuition. If a church sponsors a student pursuing either certificate, ACU has committed to matching this scholarship, which would bring the potential cost down to only $2,100.

“As the landscape for Christian ministry employment is changing, the need for more affordable and accessible formal education for church leaders becomes imperative,” said Dr. Tiffany Dahlman (‘22 D.Min.), assistant professor and program director for the Bachelor of Science in Christian Service and Formation, Certificate in Church Leadership: Foundations and Certificate in Church Leadership: Praxis.

These certificates equip the next generation of Christian leaders with the practical skills to lead their congregations well, particularly focusing on preaching, teaching and counseling for today’s contemporary culture.

Learn more at acu.edu/online

Acu Online Offers Alumni Tuition Discount

Once you’re a Wildcat, you become family. ACU is committed to helping its alumni worldwide continue their education by offering a special 20% tuition reduction on online graduate programs to those who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s from ACU. More than 130 alumni in the past year alone have used this benefit to pursue a graduate degree. Returning to the classroom has never been easier with our wide selection of graduate programs consisting of six master’s degrees, two doctoral degrees and nine graduate certificate programs. Continuing their education at ACU with a graduate degree helps our alumni increase their earning potential and reach their career goals faster.