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1951

The school received word on December 6 that the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools had granted it full accreditation status.

KACC radio station went on the air with its inaugural broadcast.

1954

The Summer Workshop for Bible teachers was begun.

1955

The school responded to the enrollment boom by creating the departments of agriculture (1944), industrial arts, psychology and journalism. In 1955, ACC also created the graduate school, which was administered by Dr. Walter Adams for the first 3-4 years, who served concurrently as dean of the college.

The postwar prosperity allowed several new buildings to be constructed to accommodate the increasing student body, which passed the 2,000 mark in 1955. Between 1940 and 1961 five dormitories, a science building, a president's home, a cafeteria and both wings of the administration building were completed.

1956

ACC celebrated its 50th birthday. The featured event was a musical production of the school’s history written especially for the occasion by Lewis Fulks, June Bearden and Robert Page entitled, "A City Set on a Hill."

Bobby Morrow, an ACU alum, won three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Robert D. "Bob" Hunter was employed as director of special events. Hunter's ideas included having Sing Song every February, having Homecoming Musicals, forming the President's Circle, lobbying for the passage of the Tuition Equalization Grant Program, and having an Outstanding ACC Alumnus of the Year.

1957

Morris recommended that a planning committee be appointed. The following February the board of trustees appointed a master planning council "to study academic, financial and plant problems facing the college."

ACU sophomore sprinter Bobby Morrow was named Sportsman of the Year for 1956 by Sports Illustrated magazine over New York Yankee centerfielder Mickey Mantle, World Series hero Don Larsen, Notre Dame all-America halfback Paul Hornung, boxing heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, and pro football MVP Frank Gifford of the New York Giants.

1959

The Wildcats played their first football game in Shotwell Stadium.  A crowd of 4,200 watched the 13-12 win over Trinity in 48-degree weather with rain.