RAISING ITS RATES
Tuition to Rise Nearly 6 Percent for 2013-14 by Mark Smith
While on-campus undergrads will have to pay $1,760 more to attend ACU next school year, the tuition hike is less severe than it has been in 15 years. Tuition for the 2013-14 academic year will rise 5.9 percent from $26,770 to $28,350, or $790 per semester. The overall cost for students on campus will increase five percent, or $880 per semester, which is the university’s lowest percentage price increase since 2000. Room and fees account for the additional $90; Meal plans will remain the same price. Last year, instead of a percentage hike, the university went from an hours-based tuition cost to a block tuition model, which gives students the opportunity to take from 24 to 36 hours in one school year for the
same price. Kevin Campbell, chief enrollment officer, said nearly 20 percent of students took full advantage of the new block tuition. “The great thing about that is they have reduced the cost of their degree,” Campbell said. “It’s playing out just the way we hoped it would.” Students who take full advantage of annual block tuition can save more than $17,500 in their undergraduate career. Campbell said the university’s administration will continue to do its best to keep costs down for students. “Students can expect administration to continue to be diligent in trying to keep costs down,” he said. “We’re looking for savings across campus and will pass them down to the students.”
University to Mandate Sophomores, Freshmen to have iPads in 2013-14 by Mark Smith iPhones are out. iPads are in. The university’s Mobile Learning initiative is moving into Phase II. Beginning in the fall, all incoming students will be required to have iPads for use in the courses. ACU will only distribute iPads to students; iPhones and iPod Touches will no longer be options. Dr. Robert Rhodes, provost, said the need to give out smartphones has greatly decreased since the beginning of the project. “We started out with the iPhone because it was the most available and highest quality instructional tool,” Rhodes said. “Now, it no longer is. The iPad is
a higher level device.” iPads will help students take advantage of the latest innovations in and great volumes of electronic textbooks. “The apps and instructional support available are rich with the iPad,” he said. “The electronic textbook market has grown.” Many students will be concerned with the high price tag of the iPads, but Rhodes said since they will be required, they would be covered by financial aid. Electronic textbooks will typically be less expensive than hard copies. “We’re able to offset the cost for students while they’re here to have access to less expensive electronic texts,” he said. ACU will offer the iPad mini,
Continued on Page 3
Photo by Stephen Reyes
Oh, Baby Give Me One More Chance by Gabi Powell ACU’s Student Social Work Association and The Swing Cats teamed up Friday for a night of danc-
Ruth Oldham, or “Miss Ruth,” as many students know her, has taken a leave of absence from her role as a food service worker and dining room attendant in the World Famous Bean. While the family has yet to release details of her condition, ACU dining employees said she was at one point hospitalized due to an infection but they do not know whether she has been released or is at home. Gina Juarez, human resources administrator for ACU dining services, said Oldham hasn’t been able to work in more than
a month. “Her intentions are definitely to come back. The students are her motivation,” Juarez said. Oldham, 86, has been a full time employee at the Bean for more than 27 years and is well recognized for her service by many students. “You can tell she really wants to serve the students and has a servant heart,” said Emily Ricker, junior family studies major from Goodletsville, Tenn. Several years ago, business students sold t-shirts dedicated to her for their Venture Out project. Last week, students signed a banner that was displayed in the
VOLUME 101
Abilene Christian College, Abilene Texas March 6, 2013
Springboard Ideas Challenge is back and offering another chance for aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams. The challenge, which primarily reaches business students, is open to all full-time students with hopes of one day starting their own business. It targets a wide range of people within 19 different counties of the Big Country region with both its student and community competition levels. Aubrey Kunkel, (‘12) from San Antonio, serves as the assistant director for the student programs for the Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy. “We want everyone to be involved as an entrepreneur. Anyone can be an entrepreneur, anyone can have a business idea,” Kunkel said. “It doesn’t have to be someone that’s working in business because business ideas have such a great
span through many different industries.” Each participant is first required to submit a written mini-business plan detailing the basic information of the envisioned business. Then, participants will be chosen to move on to the next phase, a presentation in front of the judges’ panel. Winners are selected and announced at a separate award dinner, where they create a live exhibit for their business plan. Early admission costs $10 and ends March 6. After that, regular admission is $20 per submission and closes on March 27. Participants may register online and then pay at the competition, by mail or delivery. All ideas must be submitted for review by April 3. The live judging part of the competition will take place in the Hunter Welcome Center on April 20. On April 23, the awards dinner in the Hunter Welcome Center will conclude the challenge. Cash prizes are awarded to
NUMBER 42
Garrett Appoints Interim Dean, Williams to Lead Search Committee son’s permanent replacement. Williams said the committee will review and select applicants who Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president for stu- are best qualified for the job description. dent life and dean of students, will leave ACU at Meyer said Dr. Allison Garrett, executive vice the end of this week to move on to a similar posi- president of the university, asked her to take the tion at Faulkner University. Dr. Jan Meyer, exec- interim position late last week. Garrett told Meyer utive director of the Center for Christian Service that Meyer could expect to be in the interim posiand Leadership, will serve in an interim capacity. tion between 6 and 12 months, depending on the Anthony Williams, chief business services offi- search committee’s progress. cer, will chair a search committee to find Thomp“The search takes as long as it takes,” Meyer said. “I’m up for the duration.” Meyer said she’s already worked in many different areas Bean, wishing her a quick recovof Student Life, so she’s familiar er. ACU dining employees will with the office and its responsideliver it to her soon. bilities. Every day Oldham would “Most of the things asked arrive on campus via Abilene of the vice president or dean of by Linsey Thut CityLink Bus. students, I have been connected “I would always see her comA group of ACU students with in the past,” Meyer said. “I ing and going in her wheel- brought awareness to the “End feel pretty confident that I have chair,” said Aubree Selinger, It Movement” by participating in some experience with any issues junior family studies major from the national Stand for Freedom that come up. It’s the unknown Grapevine. event Monday and Tuesday. that gives me a bit of pause.” Her main duties included The “End It Movement” is Continued on Page 3 cleaning off tables, attending to sponsored by the Internationthe dining room area and serving al Justice Mission to bring students in any way she could. awareness to the 27 million She worked about 30 hours a people currently in slavery, a reweek. cord-breaking number according ACU dining employees do not to enditmovement.com. know when she plans to return. College students across the nation took a “Stand for Freedom” by standing for a combined total of 27 hours and getting stuby Mark Smith dents to sign petitions. Three down. One more to go. Megan Thurman, freshman For those of you who don’t youth and family ministry and missions major from Cedar Park, already know about our “Throwwinners of the competition. The decided to bring the event to back Series,” this is our tribute college level has three different ACU’s campus after she learned to the first 100 years of the Opcategories, including the grand of the issue at the Passion Chris- timist and those who produced it prize, 2nd prize, 3rd prize, and tian Youth Conference in Atlan- each year. value award. The community ta. Thurman and the hundreds Last Wednesday’s issue was competition has a grand prize, of other college students who designed to look like the first edi2nd prize, 3rd prize, values attended were introduced to vic- tion of the Optimist from back in award, and small biz award. 1912. Friday’s issue was designed tims of human trafficking. M.C. Jennings, student deto look like the issues from the Continued on Page 4 velopment coordinator for the 1920s-30s. The logo at the top of College of Business Administhat front page was used for 21 tration, has watched many stuyears, almost double the length of dents rise up to the challenge. time of any other logo. “When people partake in an Today’s issue is a throwback Christians should stop using opportunity like this it makes to 1949-53, when the publicaGod’s name in vain – page 6 them much more marketable to tion used an interesting logo employers,” Jennings said. “It’s Ag students clean Cedar Creek design that could be placed all a great chance to jump in with Trail – page 4 over the page. Don’t forget to both feet, gain learning expericheck the Opinion page for some Social clubs to elect new officers ence and build up a resume.” of our favorite excerpts from the after spring break – page 3 More information about 1940s-50s. the competition and require- Eric Overland – page 5 You’ll notice the photo on the ments is located at www.acu. front page continues to get a litedu/springboard. Anyone with Girls’ basketball team wins tle bit bigger, but still doesn’t LoneStar Conference championfurther questions can email compare to our usual page deship – page 8 griggscenter@acu.edu. sign today. Friday’s issue will lead us Alex Carpenter wins St. Edwards Invitational – page 7 into spring break with the last edition of the series. After break, we’ll be back to normal.
by Mark Smith
Students Stand for 27 Hours to Raise Slavery Awareness
Throwback edition 3 of 4
Business Competition Gives Students Chance to Win for Ideas by Brittany Jackson
Continued on Page 3
The
Miss Ruth Takes Leave of Absence by Madeline Orr
ing and fundraising. Second Chance Dance, only the second ACU-affiliated dance, collected around 300 new toiletry items as the admission price to donate to victims of domestic violence. Jennifer Carpenter, senior social work major from Fort Worth and vice president of SSWA, esti-
INSIDE
Abilene Christian University