A blog on the latest news and events for ACU faculty and staff
Do you know any graduating seniors who plan to attend graduate school at ACU? Encourage them to apply for the V.W. and Loreta Kelley Alumni Endowed Scholarship! The Alumni Advisory Board awards this scholarship to a select number of seniors for graduate study. Applications are now being accepted through Feb. 4. Learn more here.
The safety and well-being of our community is top priority. We want to remind our campus community that pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks. Drivers should slow down and be alert to pedestrians. Pedestrians own the crosswalk until they have safely crossed the street. We also want to remind those who use the crosswalks to check their surroundings before stepping into the street. Never assume a driver can see you. In today’s environment, where distractions are more prevalent than ever, we all need a reminder to pay closer attention to our surroundings. To help in this effort, we have launched the Watch for Wildcats crosswalk safety campaign in partnership with ACU’s Student Government Association. In addition to other student focused communication, you will see signs posted at higher-traffic crosswalks encouraging safe crossing. The university continues to work with the City of Abilene on other possible safety measures. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
From Risk Management: If you operate vehicles for university business, please read and follow the University Driver Policy. The policy requires that departments maintain a list of their Routine Drivers (as defined in the policy) and share it annually with the Office of Institutional Compliance and Risk Management. Routine drivers must have a motor vehicle record check (MVR) conducted each year, and they must complete an online driver safety training course every five years. Risk Management can provide links for both and can review MVR or training history if needed. Moreover, all trips with passengers must submit a passenger list to Risk Management before departure. The passenger list must include each traveler’s first and last name, cell phone, and emergency contact information. The list may be emailed to risk@acu.edu or sent via text to 325-232-1741. If you have any questions, please contact Risk Management at risk@acu.edu.
With the busy traveling time among us, please keep in mind that ACU has a telemedicine option available. TimelyCare telemedicine is available for all ACU faculty and staff. Getting sick is never convenient, and finding time to get to a doctor can be hard. TimelyCare allows you to access a doctor from your home, office or anywhere — 24/7/365 — and is a convenient and cost-effective way to receive health care for common conditions. TimelyCare’s licensed providers can diagnose any non-emergency medical condition with a short phone visit or secure video visit. They can also prescribe medication and send prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice. Access TimelyCare by visiting timelycare.com/acu.
Applications and abstracts for the 2022 Undergraduate Research, Creativity & Innovation Festival at Abilene Christian University are due on Friday, January 21st by 5 p.m. The URCI Festival is planning to be live and in-person on Tuesday, April 12, 2022! Students may present oral presentations, artistic performances, or posters in several categories. Oral presentations and artistic performances are 12 minutes with 3 minutes for questions, and posters of research and creative products. This year the creative arts category will focus on digital, vocal, theatrical, and creative expression, including the Images of Aging photography contest. Students who present their work compete for Outstanding Presentation Awards. Click here for Information and Guides. Festival proposals should be submitted at URCI Abstract Submission Submissions may be made for Images of Aging through the following link: Images of Aging Submission Images of Aging submissions are due Feb 18, 2022. If you have questions, you may contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at orsp@acu.edu or the Office of Undergraduate Research at uresearch@acu.edu.
The Light in the Piazza Directed by Adam Hester Musical Direction by Chris Hollingsworth “The Light in the Piazza” whisks audiences away to Italy to experience a soaring tale of passion, forgiveness, and love. Margaret Johnson travels to Tuscany with her daughter Clara. When a handsome young Florentine captures Clara’s heart, Margaret must decide if she’ll risk revealing truths that could threaten her daughter’s happiness. Hailed as “astonishing,” “intensely romantic,” and “breathtaking,” “The Light in the Piazza” is a beautiful and memorable night of theatre. February 17-19, 25-26, 2022 Fulks Theatre 7:30 p.m. Click here for tickets.
Your Women’s Basketball Team is at home TOMORROW at 1 pm in the Teague Center! Take the afternoon off and come over to the Teague Center to support your Women’s Basketball Team before you take off for Christmas!
With the university closed for the holidays Dec. 24-31, Advancement Services wants you to know that any checks postmarked by Dec. 31 will still be gift receipted as 2021 gifts. If you would like to make an online credit card gift, go to www.acu.edu/giveonline. When offices re-open, please deliver any donations you have received as soon as possible to Administration Building, Room 300, or mail to Gift Records, ACU Box 29132. May your Christmas and New Year be richly blessed!
The Honors College invites all ACU faculty members to submit proposals for Honors colloquia to be offered during the 2022-23 academic year. Colloquium offered by the Honors College are opportunities for ACU professors to teach within their areas of research specialization as well as other areas of interest and engage with the university’s top undergraduate students in an intimate seminar setting. If you are ready with a colloquium idea, please submit your proposal. We would like to have all submissions by Jan. 14, but priority will be given to proposals received before Jan. 1. Want to know more about Honors Colloquium? Click here. If you are interested and want to discuss it further, contact Jason Morris (morrisj@acu.edu, x2830) or Susan Fikes (sef20a@acu.edu, x2728) with any questions.
Our nation endured another tragic school shooting in Michigan recently, bringing this year’s total to 29 school shootings.
ACUPD would like to remind all faculty, staff and students that we have a plan in place to handle emergency situations. We work with the Abilene Police Department and the Abilene Fire Department to prepare for these types of emergencies, and we practice safety procedures with our staff through discussions and emergency exercises. While no amount of planning can guarantee a tragedy will not occur, our highest priority is keeping our campus community safe. It is equally important that we help prepare you for a critical incident.
An excellent training video has been produced by The Ohio State University Police Department. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch it and discuss it with others. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lt. Bucky Wright at bww20a@acu.edu or 325-674-2305.
