• Both advanced and novice cross-ex high school debaters can join us for our CX camp, June 9-15th to learn more about the strategies of cross-ex debate and do research in the upcoming TFA/NFL topic for 2013-2014.

• Students who compete in Individual Events can join us for our IE Camp, June 16-22nd, to learn from the ACU Speech coaches and students the strategies for being successful in Prose, Poetry, Original Oratory, Extemporaneous Speaking, Dramatic and Humorous Interpretations. This camp will conflict with National Forensic League Nationals. This camp is for those who don’t qualify for NFL Nationals, but want to in the future.

• Homeschool parliamentary and policy debate has become a new and exciting field of debate. ACU is uniquely prepared to help train HS homeschool debaters during our Homeschool Camp, June 23-29th. Many of our current debaters are alumni of homeschool programs and are uniquely aware of the challenges facing these debaters. Our campers will be able to train along with these students and our coaches in a Christian environment.

All of the students who attend the debate camps will receive one-hour of college credit for each camp, assuming satisfactory work during the camp. This credit is transferable to any university in the nation as elective credit.

Who teaches the Summer Academy classes?

The Summer Academy classes are taught by ACU professors, all of whom are full- time faculty at ACU and have received the terminal degrees in their respective fields. Each class is also assisted by Summer Academy counselors – qualified ACU students who help campers with their hands-on projects and serve as 24/7 chaperones throughout campers' time on campus. For more information on each member of the Summer Academy faculty and the classes they teach, you can visit Session I and Session II.

What college credits do campers receive for Summer Academy classes?
In Session I (June 9-22) students can choose one class from the following list:

• Digital Logic: 4-hour credit, an introductory engineering course. Must be taken with Engineering Lab elective.
• Introduction to Human Nature: 3-hour credit for PSYC 120, a freshman-level introductory psychology course
• American History II: 3-hour credit for HIST 222, a sophomore-level history course 
• The Ethics of Jesus: 3-hour credit for BIBL 101, a freshman-level Bible course 
• Computer Science 115: 3-hour credit for CS 115, a freshman-level Computer Science Course

Students in Session I can also choose one elective from this list, each class provides one-hour of elective credit:

• Engineering Lab (Zero-hour credit, required with Engineering course)
• Photography 
• Creative Writing
• Filmmaking 
• Graphic Design

In Session II (June 23-29) students must choose from one of the following classes for one-hour worth of elective credit:

• Digital Media: students will learn the basics of using digital multimedia to tell their own personal story using the resources in the AT&T Learning Studio.

• Entrepreneurship: through a case-study model, students will learn the basics of entrepreneurship and how to create their own business.

• Monastic Camp: led by Professor Jerry Taylor, students will learn the history behind the new Christian Monastic movement and about its teachings in simplicity, faith and thoughtfulness.

• PianoFest: Students who are interested in advanced piano training can learn under Drs. Pauline Bjorem and Kay Williams.

In Session III (July 8-26) all students will take ART 101 with Jack Maxwell at the ACU Study Abroad facility in Oxford.

Who is eligible to attend?

Students who complete the application process by May 15, 2013, and who receive a letter of acceptance from the director of Summer Academy. Students applying for Summer Academy II (one-week session) must be entering 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade in Fall 2012; Students applying for Summer Academy III (three-week session in Oxford, UK) must be entering 11th or 12th grade in the Fall of 2013 or be 2013 graduates of High School.

We recommend that all applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or above, and test scores (if applicable) equivalent to a PSAT Math score of 50 or above and a PSAT Reading score of 50 or above (composite ACT score of 22 or above, and composite SAT score of 1530 or above). If a student has not taken any standardized tests, the GPA alone will suffice for application.

How many campers may attend Summer Academy?

• Summer Academy I (two-week session) is limited to 80 students (20 per class).

• Summer Academy II (one-week session) is limited to 100 students (20 per class).

• Summer Academy III (three-week session) is limited to 15 students.

Where do Summer Academy campers stay?

Summer Academy campers will be housed in the ACU residence halls, under the supervision of Summer Academy counselors and the Summer Academy director. Campers will be assigned a roommate. Male and female campers will be housed in separate areas.

During the weekend excursion (Summer Academy I only), campers, faculty, and the Summer Academy director will stay in hotels along the excursion route. Roommates will be assigned by the director; male and females will be housed separately.

Who will my camper room with?

Campers are housed in university residence halls. If desired, campers may request a specific roommate on their camp application. This request does not guarantee the requested roommate a space in camp. The request will be honored if both campers request each other. If no request is made, roommates will be assigned a roommate during the weeks before camp starts. Roommates will be assigned based on age and similar class choices.

What if my camper gets sick?

Licensed health-care professionals are on duty daily serving the camps in case of illness and nearby Hendrick Health Systems medical center is used for emergencies. Any camper who is diagnosed with a contagious or communicable illness while at camp must be withdrawn from camp immediately for the safety of all campers.

What if my camper must take medication?

Campers must provide a detailed and signed medical form when they apply for camp. Campers requiring medication must provide written instructions to the camp staff at check-in. Required medicines will be dispensed by a First Aid Certified staff member or licensed health professional, according to the provided schedule.

No camper is allowed to self-medicate prescribed substances.

What if my camper must cancel his/her reservation for camp? Will I receive a refund?

Upon admission, students must pay a $100 deposit in order to secure their reservation at Summer Academy I and II. Full tuition refunds, including deposit, will be made to students who cancel their Summer Academy reservation at least 30 days prior to the start of their session. Students who cancel less than 30 days prior to the start of their session will receive a refund of their tuition, less the $100 deposit.
Students applying for Summer Academy III must pay a $250 application fee. This fee is non-refundable under any circumstance. Students enrolling in this camp will be required to pay their balance at specific times prior to the start of camp. Students canceling during this period will receive refunds for their balances as permitted by the Study Abroad office. Please call the Study Abroad office for details.

When and where can my camper check in?

No supervision is provided for early arrivals; please plan for each camper to arrive during the check-in times only. On the Sunday of each camp session campers may check in the Commons of Zellner Hall (entrance facing the library) between 2-4 p.m. To make arrangements for late arrivals please call the camp office at 325-674-2409.

When and where can I pick up my camper?

At the end of each camp, campers can be picked up at Barrett residence hall at the time noted in the pre-camp information. No supervision is provided for late pick-ups; please plan for each camper to be picked up at the appropriate time.

Will my camper be able to call home?

We are aware that many campers regularly carry cell phones. Campers are allowed to make calls from their personal phones during free time and in residence halls.

During the trips in Sessions I and III, we will encourage students to call their parents when we arrive at each location, and at times during the trip to keep them up to date on our progress.

Here are our guidelines for cell phone use:

To honor our commitment, we encourage campers to limit their cell phone use. For those who feel they must bring a cell phone to camp, we require that the cell phone be left in their bags, with the ringer on silent (not vibrate, silent) during daily camp activities. Campers may only use their phones during the breaks between classes and activities. Students will not be allowed to take phone calls or text during class, meals nor during any activity time. We also ask students to respect their peers’ study space, no calls will be allowed in the residence halls after lights out or before breakfast.

Here are the main guidelines:

• Do not use your phone, unless it is an emergency.

• If you must use your phone, please take the call or the text to a quiet area where

  you will not be bothering anyone else.

• Keep all communication short, no more than 15 minutes between activities, class

  or meals.

• If a camper uses his/her cell phone excessively or violates any of these

  guidelines, it will be taken up by a staff member and returned at lights out.

Can I visit my camper while at camp?

Visitation during the week of camp is strongly discouraged, as it tends to distract from the camp experience.

What is Abilene Christian University?

ACU is a vibrant, innovative, Christ-centered community that engages students in authentic spiritual and intellectual growth, equipping them to make a real difference in the world. ACU is recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges by Princeton Review, Forbes magazine and U.S. News and World Report, who has also named ACU the "No. 1 Up-and-Coming University in the West." ACU is known internationally for its leadership in using mobile technologies to enhance education.