INNOVATIVEACU
getGO app accelerates adoption of QR codes on campus and how so many are involved to accomplish its 21st-Century Vision.” His new role, which consolidates leadership of the alumni relations and annual giving offices, began June 1. Fisher's experience in strategic planning, management, networking and fundraising helped seal the hiring decision of his alma mater. Prior to his work at ACS, he was elementary principal at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth. “He truly believes in the kingdom work ACU is doing, and he brings the wisdom and experience we need to go to the next level,” says Phil Boone (’83), ACU’s vice president for advancement. 䊱
Blackboard award salutes ACU’s mobile-learning innovation In June, ACU’s Connected program was named a winner of the Blackboard Catalyst Award for Mobile Innovation, recognizing members of the education community who are using mobile technology to create a positive effect on students’ educational experience. Blackboard winners are helping define the emerging field of mobile technology for use in and beyond the classroom, and have committed themselves to formalizing, implementing and measuring the impact of mobile learning at their organizations and/or creating a truly unique campus service via a mobile platform. “This recognition helps confirm that ACU’s decision to accelerate our mobile-learning program to the entire campus last year was the right one,” said George Saltsman (’90), executive director of the university’s Adams Center for Teaching and Learning. Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of students and learners. 䊱
New scholarship endowments Recently created endowed scholarships at ACU include: • Dr. Lee Roger Knight Endowed Scholarship for Pre-Med Majors • James William “Sparky” Sparks Endowed Scholarship • Alexander and Elfrieda Oz Endowed Scholarship • Phil and Rachel Gage Endowed Music Scholarship • Randall W. Truxall Endowed Scholarship • Martha and Tommy Morris Endowed Basketball Scholarship • Barbara and Randy Nicholson Endowed Athletic Scholarship • Pauline Chamness Aven Endowed Scholarship • Dr. T.N. “Tim” McLeod Endowed Scholarship • Pam Money Endowed Scholarship
As the number of mobile devices on campus continues to grow, ACU faculty, staff and students are finding more ways to incorporate them into campus life. Recently, black-and-white oversized barcodes have appeared at various locations on campus, often accompanied by a short URL. They are QR codes (short for quick response codes), and they provide a lot more information than the average barcode. QR codes are used for encoding data in two-dimensional spaces, such as in the pages of magazines, in store windows and in museum exhibits. They were originally used to track auto parts, but have become popular for much broader, often commercial purposes (particularly in Japan and Europe). ACU has developed getGO, its own QR reader app – one of the fastest available for mobile devices – and provided it free to students, faculty and staff. It is available to external audiences at the App Store for $1.99. “This app allows you to connect quickly to ACU’s digital resources. Just scan these codes with your device camera, and make quick connections to videos, interactive online content, and other resources,” said Joshua Tooley (’02), ACU HelpDesk manager. Alongside each QR code displayed across campus, there
is a short URL connecting users to the same information as the QR code. “We’re seeing people use them in all kinds of ways,” Tooley says. “Users who scan the QR codes with their devices can get discounts on products, take surveys, get more information about events on campus. They also can post to Facebook about whatever event or item the code relates to. QR codes give you the opportunity to provide people with an instant interaction with whatever you’re doing. It’s a great, convenient way for folks to communicate with their customers.” So far, Tooley says, the biggest users of custom-made QR codes are campus offices such as Chapel, the Career Center and Student Life, which are using them to advertise events, administer surveys and keep students talking about their events. This spring, ACU’s academic departments used a QR code to send students to an electronic course evaluation system, eliminating the need for the old, paper-dependent system. When school starts in the fall, ACU’s technology staff will encourage students to create their own codes to advertise events on campus. To learn more about QR codes and how ACU is utilizing them, or to create your own code, visit go.acu.edu. 䊱
• Burke Warren Lewis Endowed Scholarship • Timothy and Dede Brown and Katherine and Brett Mach Endowed Scholarship “Hazel and Jack” sweeps 2011 FilmFest awards Best Picture, Best Director and Best Producer honors went to “Hazel and Jack,” which dominated the seventh annual FilmFest competition for ACU students. Directed by Lawson Soward and produced by Caitlin Bradford, “Hazel and Jack” was one of several film products shot using 5D digital SLRs donated by Canon through the new AT&T Learning Studio. Judges included Dusty Bennett (’03), president and producer of Takeoff Productions in New York; Randy Brewer (’93), owner of Revolution Pictures in Nashville, Tenn. (see pages 12-13); and Kris Young, screenwriting teacher at UCLA and the LA Film Studies Center. AC U TO D AY
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Summer 2011
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