Archive for March, 2026

Did you know that there are students on campus who are experiencing food and financial insecurity? There is certainly a need on campus, and the Social Work department has an answer to this need. The Social Work department houses the Carry-Out Community, which provides food and hygiene items to any and all students who may need it. Carry-Out Community is restocked every couple of weeks based solely on donations they have received through ACU Gives. Staff Senate is inviting all ACU Staff to participate in a drive to keep the Carry-Out Community stocked up. The drive will take place from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 27.

The following items are most needed: Hygiene items: Shampoo and conditioners (for various hair textures), Deodorant, Body soap, Feminine hygiene products, Toothpaste, Floss, Toothbrushes, Travel kleenex/tissues Food items: Individually wrapped Granola/protein bars, Trail mix, Fruit strips/leathers, Dry pasta, Pasta sauce, Canned beans, Canned chicken breast, Broth, Mac & Cheese boxes and cups, Tuna meal kits, Other high protein and fiber items You can also make a monetary donation using this link. These funds will be used to purchase perishable items, such as eggs, milk, yogurt, frozen meals, etc. Almost every building on campus has a collection box for this drive. Contact your building manager for details or reach out to Amanda Spell or Lisa Jones for collection sites.

Summer URCI Travel Grants Apply for a URCI travel grant to fund summer travel to present research, participate in juried shows, or perform at external conferences and competitions. The committee that reviews the applications is looking for clearly articulated project descriptions that emphasize the research/creative project’s relevance and the ways in which the project and conference travel will enhance undergraduate students’ academic progress. Link to the application is here. The application deadline is Monday, April 13th at 5pm. Learn more! Undergraduate Research, Creativity and Innovation Festival: April 6 and 7 URCI Excellence in Oratory Contest Experience some of the best speeches delivered on campus by students at the URCI Excellence in Oratory Contest on Monday, April 6, at the Packer Forum in the ACU Library. This year’s contest kicks off at 5:45 pm. See the URCI festival website for the full schedule of April 6 and April 7 events here. Attend a Session! We need you to be an audience member at the URCI festival on Tuesday, April 7! Would you commit to attending at least one session at this year’s festival? Giving students a supportive audience helps them gain valuable presentation experience and feel appreciated for their efforts. Please register to attend the 2026 URCI Festival here. The URCI festival is quickly approaching and we are in need of more judges to volunteer. If you are willing to serve in this way, please contact Dr. Randall Fowler or Dr. Autumn Sutherlin.

Staff Senate is partnering with the Medical and Counseling Care Center to bring Tyson Alexander back to share valuable insights on helper well-being. You won’t want to miss it, and lunch will be provided. Sign up today. Staff Senate Training: Helper Well-being April 2, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Here is the Link to the registration form

With the busy traveling time among us, please keep in mind that ACU has a telemedicine option available. ACU partners with Teladoc to provide telemedicine to all employees and dependents enrolled on the medical plan. Getting sick is never convenient, but telemedicine provides more convenient, quicker access to a medical professional for common conditions. Teladoc allows members to access a doctor from your home, office, or anywhere – 24/7/365. To access Teladoc, you will visit Teladoc.com or the Teladoc app.

Voting is now open for the Staff Senate 2026-28 term! Staff Senate representatives help advocate for staff perspectives and contribute to initiatives that support our campus community. Please take a moment to review the nominees and submit your ballot here. Voting will close on March 28.

ACU IT is hosting its next surplus computer auction on Saturday, April 11 in Hart Auditorium. The auction begins at 1 p.m., but doors open for bidder registration at 11 a.m. Follow our Facebook page for additional details. We’ll have numerous computers, including Dells and Macs, desktops and laptops. We hope to see you there.

Plan to join your colleagues for university updates on Wednesday, March 18, at noon or 4 p.m.  At noon, we will meet in person in the Hunter Welcome Center’s McCaleb Conference Center. At 4 p.m., we will meet virtually so that faculty and staff working remotely or traveling can participate. Remote employees can access the virtual meeting here and will need to sign in to Zoom with their ACU account.

We’re in the process of selecting judges for the 70th annual Sing Song, and we’d love to have you join our team! We’re looking for judges for costumes and set/props. These will be judged on Friday, March 27 at 8pm. All judges will receive 2 complimentary tickets to any performance (including those you aren’t judging) and refreshments during the show. If you are interested in serving as a judge for Sing Song 2026, please fill out this form before Monday, March 23. Please be advised, if you currently have a family member competing in Sing Song 2026 or graduated college in 2022 or after, you are not eligible to be a judge.

Ready to grow your financial know-how? Visit the University Credit Union blog for savvy articles on savings, borrowing, retirement planning, security tips, emergency planning, and more. Get started!

ACU’s United Way Campaign is underway, and faculty and staff are invited to join in supporting our Abilene neighbors. United Way partners with local nonprofits to address critical needs in education, financial stability and health, investing more than $1.9 million last year in organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Abilene, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Big Country CASA, the Red Cross of Abilene and many others serving our community. During campaign week (March 23–27), employees who submit a pledge will be entered into daily prize drawings, including Wildcat baseball experiences, ACU Dining coupon books, Sing Song tickets and more. Here is the link to the pledge form. The campaign runs through March 30, and every gift makes a difference—even $5 a month can help provide vital support to those in need. Completed pledge forms can be emailed to uw@groupmail.acu.edu or returned to Human Resources in Hardin Administration Building.