(ACU) A Capella Chorus: Begun in 1932 by the late Dr. Leonard Burford, the A Capella Chorus is dedicated to the study and performance of the finest choral literature of all musical eras. A Capella meets four hours each week. They also take one extended tour and give four major concerts each year. Auditions are held each spring and are open to all students. Remaining vacancies are filled in a general choral audition during fall registration for transfer students, incoming freshmen, and students changing their majors to music. Auditions consist of a brief warm-up, sight-reading, and singing of an easy, familiar song.
Advertising/PR Club: This organization gives advertising and public relations students the means to gain insight into their career field while developing their professional skills. Participants attend PRSA seminars and conferences.
Alpha Chi National Honor Society: Alpha Chi is a general honor society that admits students from all academic disciplines. Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of an institution’s juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Alpha Chi has approximately 300 chapters and inducts more than 11,000 members annually.
American Marketing Association/ACU chapter: The mission of the Marketing Club is to provide students with a network that explores the field of marketing with a Christian perspective. The organization equips students to become successful marketing professionals through development of integral skills,association with marketing professionals, and involvement in marketing practices. The organization does pro-bono marketing projects for local non-profits.
Big Purple: The Big Purple is a dynamic and exciting ensemble comprised of both music and nonmusic majors. The Big Purple is one of the largest co-ed organizations on the ACU campus. The band is a vital part of the ACU Opening Assembly each year, performs at all home football games, and often, away games throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The Big Purple also presents exhibition performances at invitational and UIL marching contests.
Broadcast Education Association: Broadcast Education Association is an organization of students interested in working toward a career in electronic media including television, video production, radio, web design, and scriptwriting. The ACU chapter focuses mainly on video production. The chapter also meets regularly for media-related social events and attends regional and national conventions.
Chemistry Club: The Chemistry Club is designed to increase interest and foster a greater sense of community among chemistry majors. Activities typically include the Chemistry Circus for Homecoming, a spring trip, and departmental Chapels. Involvement is open to all who are interested in chemistry.
Christian Medical Dental Association: CMDA is an association for pre-health science majors. Each month participants hear from doctors and dentists who share their faith and their experiences as medical professionals.
Forensics Team: Forensics Team students of ACU travel around the country competing in speech and debate team tournaments while representing the University.
Health and Human Services: The purpose of the Health and Human Services organization is to inform pre-professional students about the requirements and expectations of entering a graduate school program.
Honors College Senate: The Honors College Senate was formed to provide honors students with opportunities for service, social interaction, and spiritual development. Any students who either (a) is in the ACU Honors Program, (b) has a 3.2 cumulative GPA, or (c) is an incoming freshman is eligible for membership in the honors College Senate. We organize annual events such as the Masquerade and the Murder Mystery Dinner, and we plan smaller activities such as “Movie Night with a Prof” and “Deep Dish Philosophy.”
Kappa Tau Alpha: Kappa Tau Alpha is a national honor society for journalism and mass communication majors. The organization inducts members every April.
Lambda Pi Eta: Lambda Pi Eta is the ACU chapter of the national organization which promotes scholarship and honors in the field of communications.
Mu Phi Epsilon: Mu Phi is an international professional music fraternity aimed at promoting and developing the artistic interests and talents of aspiring musicians. Mu Phi creates an
incentive for greater professional accomplishment, fosters ideals of service to the school
and the community, develops relationships and friendships with others of similar
interests, develops an awareness that artistic gifts are to be shared, and fosters an
understanding of the role of arts throughout the world. Mu Phi activities include holding
social events, partnering alongside the music faculty to recruit and organize professional
recitals, and promoting artistic awareness among students and faculty. Membership is
open to anyone who has completed at least one semester of freshman-level theory.
Mu Sigma: Mu Sigma is an organization open to all students interested in mathematics. The club’s purpose is both to promote the mathematical disciplines and to use mathematical talents to serve the university.
NSSLHA: The ACU Chapter of NSSLHA provides Communication Science and Disorders majors the opportunity to learn about current advancements in the field, enhance their academic knowledge, and network with other students with similar interests. The organization participates in various community service projects such as game days with senior citizens at University Place, Service Saturdays, and the Autism Walk. Members attend professional conferences and the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association Conference.
The Optimist: This student newspaper is published twice every week to bring the students the latest in ACU news and sports. Established in 1912, The Optimist has become a notable component of ACU student life and was recently selected as the best university newspaper in Texas against competition that included schools such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas.
Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing Student Nurses' Association: The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing NSNA exists to assist nursing students in learning the skills of self-governance and professionalism. Leadership experiences in NSNA enhance the success of graduate nurses in professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association.
Phi Eta Sigma: Phi Eta Sigma is a first-year student honors society that recognizes academic achievement of a 3.5 GPA or higher in the first two semesters at ACU. The organization participates in an annual national convention and serves the community through participation in Habitat for Humanity.
Pi Alpha Theta: Pi Alpha Theta is the ACU chapter of the national history honor society. Pi Alpha Theta is a professional society whose mission is to enhance the study of history through the encouragement of research, effective teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among aspiring historians.
Pi Sigma Alpha: Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honor society for political science students. Pi Sigma Alpha seeks to promote excellence in the study of political science through a variety of programs, some of direct benefit to student members and local chapters and others benefitting more generally the profession of political science. These programs provide awards, scholarships, and lecture funding, and other benefits for members, chapters, and political scientists and political science programs.
Pope Fellows: The Jack Pope Fellows Program awards scholarships to outstanding Abilene Christian University students who intend to pursue careers in public service. The Program was established by the Trustees of Abilene Christian University to honor Judge Jack Pope, the former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Jack Pope Fellowships are awarded on the basis of merit to Abilene Christian University students who will be college juniors in the following academic year. Students selected as Fellows must exhibit outstanding potential for leadership in government and related public service. The Jack Pope Fellows Program is interdisciplinary, and applicants are drawn from all majors and fields of study offered at Abilene Christian University. Jack Pope Fellows will be required to complete a 24 hour public service minor. Courses are designed to prepare students for a career in public service. Leadership in the public sector is strongly emphasized in numerous seminars and workshops held in connection with the Jack Pope Fellows Program.
Pre-Law Council: The purpose of the Pre-Law Council is to facilitate the students at ACU who plan to pursue a law degree after graduation. The organization participates in various law-related conferences.
Psi Chi: Psi Chi is a national honors society that acknowledges the academic achievements of psychology majors.
The Shinnery Review: The Shinnery Review is a student-run literary magazine at ACU. Since the 1930s the publication has appeared once a year as a journal containing poems, short stories, creative nonfication, photos, and artwork by undergrads and graduate students. The highlight of the year is the Black Tulip in April, a poetry-reading and jazz party where the magazine makes its debut. The Shinnery Review is open to any ACU student who wishes to work organizing sales and planning events. Weekly meetings occur throughout the school year.
Sigma Phi Omega: The purpose of Sigma Phi Omega is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, and excellence in gerontology and aging services, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical experience in these areas.
Sigma Tau Delta: Sigma Tau Delta confers distinction for high achievement in English Language and Literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies and promotes interest in literature and the English language.
Sigma Theta Tau: The purpose of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society is to provide leadership opportunities and encourage scholarship in nursing practices, education, and research.
Society for Human Resource Management: The national SHRM student program began in 1965 to promote mutually beneficial interaction between HRM students and practitioners. Membership offers students the opportunity to supplement their classroom education with real-world knowledge and hands-on experience. In the ACU chapter, students participate annually in the Texas SHRM student leadership conference, the HR Southwest conference, and field trips. The chapter is sponsored by the local professional HR chapter (Big Country Society for Human Resource Management.)
Society of Physics Students: SPS is an international professional association that is open to anyone interested in physics. There are over 650 active chapters involving approximately 6,000 students. SPS exists to help students develop into contributing members of the professional community, as well as to develop communication, leadership, and networking skills. SPS also focuses on teaching students how to present scholarly work in professional meetings and journals and offers a variety of service and outreach opportunities. Research opportunities, scholarships, internships, and awards are made available through membership in the association. The local chapter holds meetings, annual elections, and receives literature from the national organization.
Society of Professional Journalists: SPJ produces and sells the Hello Book to raise funds to send journalism majors to regional and national conferences and competitions. The club also conducts regular professional development meetings and assists organizations such as UIL and national SPJ in judging contests.
Student Dietetic Association: The Student Dietetic Association aims to lead the future of the field of dietetics and nutrition while glorifying Christ. The organization is affiliated with the Big Country Dietetic Association, Texas Dietetic Association, and the American Dietetic Association.
Student Social Work Association: The purpose of the Social Work Association is to unite social work majors as brothers and sisters in Christ, to support one another in prayer, to provide them with opportunities to learn and serve through seminars and community service projects, to promote social work as a profession on camps and in the community, and to integrate social work and Christian values. Past activities have included the Teddy Bear Round-Up for children who lost their parents on September 11th, clothing drives, social work information booths in the Campus Center, Service Saturdays, and Date Rape Awareness Nights. For more information contact the Social Work Department located in room 109 of the Administration Building.
Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE): UPE was formed for the promotion of high scholarship and original investigations in the various fields of the computing and information disciplines.
W-Club: The W-Club seeks to inspire young women to maturity as Christians and to recognize those who have rendered outstanding service to Abilene Christian.
