(325) 674-2173 sitc@acu.edu

Student Organizations

ACM SIGCHI

SIGCHI is the leading organization for students and professionals who are interested in the study of human-computer interaction. The ACU chapter of SIGCHI welcomes students who want to learn more about making usable technology. It also offers students the opportunity to conduct research in this field.

The ACU SIGCHI Chapter is sponsored by Professor James Prather.

Springboard Ideas Challenge

If you are interested in starting your own business, or making your software idea a successful business venture, participating in the Springboard Ideas Challenge is a great place to start.

Each year, ACU’s Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy hosts a business plan submission competition in the Spring. Many of our past students, like Chad Hutchins (Computer Science, ‘08), and Asa Kusuma (Computer Science ‘12), have won the competition with their technology-based ventures.Learn more about the Springboard Ideas Challenge.

Projects and Activities

  • Project Minerva
  • Programming contest
  • LAN parties
  • Web developmentProgramming languages
  • RoboticsGuest speakers
Digital Entertainment Technology Club

The Digital Entertainment Technology (DET) Club welcomes students interested in learning more about video game development, film production, animation, or any other form of digital entertainment or digital media to expand their resources as they enter the film & game industries. For more information visit our DET blog. The ACU DET Club is sponsored by Dr. Brian Burton.

Projects and Activities

  • Project Minerva
  • ACU Virtual Campus
  • Virtual and Augmented Reality
  • Global Game JamGuest speakers
Film Fest

Abilene Christian University’s FilmFest is a student film festival designed to give those interested in film production and the motion picture and entertainment industries a creative outlet at ACU and inroads into the industry through alumni and industry professionals that serve as judges for the event. If the film industry is something that interests you, this is a great way to start getting involved even while in college. To find out more about how technology and film intertwine learn about our Digital Entertainment Technology Degree.

SITC Research Fellows

A great way to prepare for graduate school is to start being involved in research during your undergraduate years. Because of the smaller size of our programs and our emphasis on undergraduate education, our students are able to work on research side by side with their professors. This not only allows for students to have a job on campus but also obtain research experience prior to their graduate school years. If you would like more information on available SITC Research Fellows positions, please email: sitc@acu.edu

Wildcat Software

Wildcat Software is a student-run, staff-mentored software development company. Students employed by Wildcat Software have the opportunity to work for real employees on a variety of tasks, including mobile app, web, or software development. This opportunity gives students the opportunity to gain experience with customer interface and understand the process of managing deliverables.Since 2014, Wildcat Software has successfully completed four projects and is currently growing with six additional projects at various stages of development. Employing seven students, Wildcat Software combines depth of knowledge with breadth of skills.Students are encouraged to find technologies from outside their classes to perform their work in, and are also the primary contact point with the client. This allows the students a greater breadth of knowledge than what they would just get from classroom experience and provides real-world, hands-on experience working with clients. Students have done development work in Python/Flask, Objective C/Swift, and are going to explore C#/ASP.NET on future projects.

This is in addition to their exposure to JQuery/Javascript, PHP, and C++ in their coursework.Students that have sought jobs, either full-time or internships, have reported very positive responses from interviewers, with one student reporting that Wildcat Software is what set him apart from the competition, not only from a qualifications standpoint, but also from being prepared for the rigors of industry.

Faculty have also reported that Wildcat Software students will bring up interesting perspectives during class discussions, allowing for a wider breadth of knowledge that is relevant to several classes.

 

Projects and Activities:

iOS app for Gift Clarity

Canvas plug-in

ACU’s Students Association vote.acu.edu system

Women in Technology

Women in Technology is a student organization for our female SITC members. This group meets monthly to hear from industry professionals and young alumni about their experience in the industry, trends in the field, or best practices.

Projects and Activities

  • Project Minerva
  • Programming contest
  • LAN parties
  • Web development
  • Programming languages
  • RoboticsGuest speakers