The Optimist
Extending a five-game losing streak, with losses to the University of Texas at Arlington, Utah Valley University, Seattle University, Utah Tech University and Tarleton State University, the Wildcats lost to Grand Canyon Thursday night in three sets.
New head track coach Miles Smith: ‘Abilene Chose Me’
1 day ago · A historically rich track and field program is moving forward with an eye to the past. This summer, ACU hired Miles Smith as the 22nd head coach of the program. “I didn’t choose ACU,” Smith said. “Abilene chose me.” Coming from Purdue University, where he was an assistant sprint coach, Smith’s teams were filled with […]
News Archives - The Optimist
Oct 22, 2024 · The Department of Psychology received a $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. ACU is the only Texas university to receive the Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant and one of 30 in the country.
Wildcats defeat Southern Utah Thunderbirds in final home game
1 day ago · In the final home game of the season, ACU defeated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 28-25. The Wildcats had a dominant offensive performance putting up 445 total yards on offense. Maverick McIvor, graduate quarterback from San Angelo, finished the game with 22 completions for 306 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth game of the […]
College of business administration appoints new dean
1 day ago · After a national search that attracted over thirty applicants, Mike Willoughby was selected to start as the new dean of the College of Business Administration (COBA) on Jan. 2, 2025. “I was a late participant in the process after it became apparent the expansive requirements of the position would likely be most effectively accomplished by […]
NEXT Lab receives approval for construction of molten salt reactor
Sep 27, 2024 · The National Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued the university a construction permit to build a liquid-fueled molten salt reactor (Natura MSR-1), which makes it the first university reactor approved in more than 30 years and the first reactor licensed by the NRC in American history. Dr. Kim Pamplin, NEXT Lab director of chemistry, said the […]
ACU heads to Vegas for challenging mid-major tournament
ACU (2-1) heads to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Vegas Four Tournament on Nov. 21-23 at the Dollar Loan Center to take on Wright State (2-1), Weber State (1-2) and the University of California-Riverside (1-1) in back-to-back-to-back days. Head coach Brette Tanner’s Wildcats head to Vegas following a 104-46 win over crosstown foe McMurry, a […]
Endowment, other factors boost ACU on Forbes ranking
Aug 29, 2024 · ACU received an A on the Forbes 2024 college financial grade list, which highlights the financial stability of private universities in the nation. The Forbes 2024 college financial grades list was released earlier this month. Nearly 900 private universities were ranked, and ACU was in the top 50. Forbes calculates each college’s GPA by using […]
ACU achieves record enrollment - The Optimist
ACU hit record total institutional enrollment for the fourth consecutive year, buoyed by growth in the number of students enrolled at ACU Dallas. Total enrollment is 5,334 students, 3,554 of which are students enrolled on the Abilene campus, according to the email sent Wednesday by Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university. Of the entering […]
ACU heads down I-20 for matchup against longtime rival
ACU (5-3, 2-0) is set to face the Tarleton Texans (5-3, 2-1) at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville. A Wildcats win would be the first time since 2018 the team has acquired six wins. Last week, ACU fell short to North Dakota with a final score of 34-31. Quarterback Maverick McIvor, […]