Maybe you’ve seen the news about ACU that is all over the web. The university is the first in the nation to commit to giving an iPhone or an iPod touch to every incoming freshman.
Want to know how this might change the learning environment? (I certainly do since my class has 300 freshmen!) Check out this incredible video, made by ACU undergrad Matt Maxwell. Check here (where you can download the video or follow links to YouTube.)
If you’re a high school junior or senior or (more likely) the parent of a HS jr or sr and would like to know more about this, please just drop me an email. (You can get the email at gina@highlandchurch.org.)
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Here’s the prayer from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime 
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who cares for us: Preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from me the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
My son, who is finishing his sophomore year at ACU is trying to figure out how to withdraw and re-enroll as a freshman so he can get an iPhone, too. (I’m assuming that the school has no intention of paying for the phone plan though. Which isn’t inexpensive.)
Wow - some of the people in that film should consider moving to Hollywood and pursuing a film career (especially that iPhone setup girl) - that was great!
that’s one way to get a student to bring an apple to class
I’m a total Mac fanatic, but, erm, yeah. I’d be more impressed if this was actually an ACU initiative, instead of a targeted marketing move by Apple. ^_^
I’m not overly impressed with the iPhone, honestly. It’s not much of a phone, it’s less of a computing device, it’s certainly not a handheld… it’s kind of an iPod with a bad camera. (And, as I said, I’m a Mac geek - I’m typing this from my MacBook while listening to my iPod and I have Apple stickers plastered all over my Toyota.)
I’m just not convinced of its usefulness in the education market, that’s all. And, as others have said, the data plan alone (an AT&T, the sole current carrier for a non-jailbroken iPhone) is $20 - and that’s not including the minutes where one would actually use if one actually used it as, you know, a phone…
I’ll be interested to see how many teachers will soon be calling for the head of Steve Jobs on a fruit-colored platter, that’s all. ^_^
Disclosure: Raving Apple fan, great idea, will add to the recruitment of students, applause. Expensive Lost Leader at the same time, if your selling a $100,000 education packages, it will WORK!
Future Gadget Rush
Picture this, lines and lines of students all lined up anticipating the opening of ACU, sleeping for 2-3-4 days, taking lessons from the students that camped out at the opening of Cracker Barrel (wear appropriate clothing) the weather here is violate at times, extremes, abrasive storms, Wind, DUST lots of DUST, Yes ACU is on a Hill so its not some Best Buy with nice protective brick walls, we are open space baby, its rough out here— as freshman they’ve been promised an iphone or an ipod touch. Gadget craving from birth, right after milk gadgets are second, they anxiously await the opening door where as soon as they sign the pack of financial aid forms (all 100 of them) the last form reads:
“if you miss or ever late to chapel we take it away for a week, you have NO excuse now, NONE, we WILL text you to remind you”
As an employee of AT&T Mobility, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the United States, I’m please my company will be getting the business from ACU. As a private citizen, I really have to wonder what good this will do the students. If they already have service with AT&T they’ll just have to activate their number on the iPhone and add a data package. If they have service with another carrier, they’ll either need to port their number in to AT&T to use on the iPhone (possibly incurring early termination fees with their old carriers) or else not use the iPhone. Maybe we’ll be seeing a flood of iPhones on E-Bay come Fall semester.
Mike,
ACU may be first–I don’t know because the March 1st Daily Oklahoman reported that Oklahoma Christian makes switch to MacBook from Dell laptops and the “In addition, incoming OC students will be given their choice of an iPhone or an iPod touch music player.”
All full time students receive a laptop computer as part of a mobile computing initiative launched in 2001.
David D.
Call me old-fashioned. I’d stick with my $200 eBay Palm TX PDA.
‘Cause I have as many versions of the Bible on it as I want without need for wireless access to BibleGateway.Com.
Sure, I love Macs, too. I’m a 1984 convert to them.
But the iPhone has a generation or two yet to go before I’m sold.
Signed,
Witless Old Geezer
ACU, now OC… You don’t HAVE to be CofC to get a free iPhone, but it sure helps!
I’m just trying to figure out who’s throwing the money out for these promotions — Apple? AT&T? The schools in question?
And I’m also wondering if Pepperdine or Lipscomb will be the next to go!
Signed,
An iPhone-totin’, Mac-lovin’, Windows-repairin’, Pepperdine Alum.
As an ACU parent with over-tuition-fatigue — barf me. Nothing is free - ACU will charge you for this just like everything else they can get their purple mitts on. Amazing to me that we discuss the over-the-top, consumer-driven Christianitized world we live in - then we glorify the purchase of a $600 phone - not including the service.
And, I didn’t see the link where ACU axed 9 professors - one of which was in the middle of her dissertation. You can read about that here:
http://media.www.acuoptimist.com/med…-3229039.shtml
Three cheers for the Purple and White - credit or debit?
Mike,
Thanks for shairng that wonderful prayer with us all.
I believe that is so important the praise God for his creation for the seasons of life that he blesses us with and the beaty of the day. I love this wonderful prayer. It is very moving and touching. I feel God is glorified.
LINK
is the full link. According to this article, only four professors are said to be losing their jobs, with the possibility of more.
I love my iMac, too. But this iPhone thingy at ACU just doesn’t feel right for some reason. Could it be that the university is getting caught up in techie euphoria, like many of our megachurches, but renting out its soul in the process?
qb
Thanks for the corrected link qb. I’ve heard more than 4 - but, again, they aren’t saying are they? In the fall - ACU’s frosh class was below 1,000 for the first time in a long time. And the number I heard that dropped out at some point in the first semester approached 100. Wondering if other cofc universities are dealing with the same issues? I would think yes.
As a parent who footed the bill for two years for one child to attend ACU, I can certainly understand why many would not be returning. The cost of higher education is high, but going to ACU or any other private institution is way out of reach for many middle class Americans.
I know, I know, I have been given the speech many times about quality education and what is important. But my girls have certainly proved that with the right instruction at home, applying yourself to the task and working while attending college can get you through with good jobs in the end and more importantly, happy results in life!
I would be a very angry parent if I knew my child was considering ACU because they wanted an IPhone! Life is broader than that! Get real and understand who really is paying for the phones!
This is a good idea, the selection of the device is not that important, it is just a tool, but just a few days ago my brother emailed me about the new ways that he is using his iphone. This is a good sign in keeping with the times.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Thank you for the prayer, Mike. It expresses my heart too, and I think it may do the same for other so I have shared it with friends.
My daughter graduated from ACU in 1997 but I would discourage her from going there today. In my opinion, it has become much to liberal.
Clint, you made me LOL.
Maybe ACU is first for iPhones, but I’m not sure I’d say they were first to the concept.
Oklahoma Christian has been giving (well, required renting) laptops to every freshmen for the last 7 years. This year they are switching to MacBooks, and they are doing something with iPhones and iPods as well (though I’m not sure exactly what).
Could make the classroom a lot more interesting. Or could make the students a lot less attentive… :-p
Sometimes when I hear the word liberal, I think of the liberality of our God and Father who is the same yesterday, today and forever. How humbling to ponder His nature and realize that I am not as liberal as I want to be. He teaches me to be liberal as He lavishes His love upon me, showing me that I must lavish love upon others. He teaches me to be more liberal as He overflows my cup, teaching me to give munificently. He shows me His liberal nature as he showers me with blessings so that I can bless others, as He shows me mercy morning after morning so that I can learn to be quick to show mercy too. He gives liberally of His peace that passes all understanding, so that I can face the harsh world with an outstretched hand of peace toward my enemies. His desire for justice and His care for the downtrodden and poor show me how to have more liberal desires and more liberal cares. His unbelievable gift of His One and Only Son to save the whole world gives me a glimpse of just how liberal He is and teaches me that I too must love His mission to the whole world enough to sacrifice my own will to be like Him. But, sadly, this liberal mindset is not the way I am naturally. That means that I must allow Him to transform me into a more liberal person in order to be like Him and in order to do His will and not my own. And this also means that I must leave the things of God to Him; leaving salvation to Him and judging to Him.
Amen, Kathy-thank you for sharing!!
is there an age limit to being a freshman? i never went to college, and i think i would like to go … this idea intrigues me. my daughter has been considering lipscomb, but i think she will be a freshman at auburn this year. lipscomb hasn’t offered any assistance even though my wife is the secretary of our church. now if she were a minister …
i thought were all ministers? … oh well …
Free iPhone, huh? That’s nothing. I tried to get FHU to give away free Open Forum sessions on 8-tracks about ten years ago.
Here we go! Liberal, conservative…nausea.
The Bible Department is getting more “progressive” in its teaching. Being part of the leadership in our church and having interviewed NUMEROUS ACU bible grads I can tell you I have been extremely underwhelmed with many student’s grasp of scripture. Grace? Not a problem, they got that part down. Where to go in scripture when a 16 year old comes to them and says she is considering having sex with her boyfriend? Insert cricket chirping noise here. What scriptures speak to the Holy Spirit’s impact on our lives? Insert cricket noise again. We get a lot of “I’d have to study that” answers for a lot these questions.
Again, one man’s experience. The Bible graduates from some of the other Christian Colleges seem to be better prepared for ministry.
Chris,
What other schools would you recommend.
I second clint’s question Chris. While I bemoaned ACU’s monetary stances earlier - I would state my experiences in being part of mulitple minister search teams are the polar opposite of yours.
Mike,
I pray that God will bless your class at ACU, you as a minister and the Highland Church. May God’s riches blessings fall on you brother!
How can a teacher with 300 students really get to have the close relationship with the students that ACU promotes in its marketing stance of a small teacher:student ratio? Especially in a Bible class?
I know times have changed at ACU, but it seems with its special emphasis as a university with an emphasis on Biblical teaching and theology that having one teacher for 300 students is somewhat over the top, and contradicts ACU’s administrative marketing statements.
I read ACU’s press statement for Business Wire from the link you referred us to, and in that press release, they do not even include Biblical/theological studies amongst its list of ‘strong academic programs include…’ which is supposed to be one of the strong selling points setting apart an education at ACU from any other university. Perhaps parents might look into other Christian universities such as Rochester College, or by other Christian denominations, like Furman (http://www.furman.edu/main/aboutfurman.htm) , for an equally excellent Christian university educational experience. Its campus is certainly more beautiful than ACU’s (another mention in this press release), which has been upgraded recently despite the university’s $3-million shortfall, declining enrolment, and serious faculty cutbacks. (Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and learning to appreciate West Texas beauty is rather like acquiring a taste for very fine wine.)There’s also a little white lie in claiming to attract ‘about 4,700 students’ – a bit of a number stretch, no?
I appreciate all you do to teach and entertain 300 freshmen in one Bible 101 class, and the lesson planning that must take. I just do not see how ACU’s administration would place such a low premium on hiring the amount of Bible faculty needed to make that instruction as beneficial or meaningful if it were committed to keeping a smaller teacher:student ratio. I fail to see how issuing ‘free’ iPhones/iPods is going to make Bible 101 anymore meaningful to incoming freshmen.
Will ACU offer free courses on how to keep these kids from going into debt with all the extra gadget charges it requires them to use as ‘tools’ for learning? They’re going to need it!
‘About Abilene Christian University
ACU’s innovative, diverse learning environment attracts about 4,700 students from nearly every state and 60 nations to its beautiful 200-acre Texas campus. Strong academic programs include business, pre-med, theatre, physics, psychology, education and information technology.’
Deb - the 300 student class is a freshman Bible class for non-Bible majors. It’s been in the 250+ student range for 25 years. This class was taught by Paul Faulkner for years. I know of no other classes with such an enrollment - not even close. There are a few required Freshman courses that are large, but not this size to my knowledge. It’s my perception you’re assuming every class is 300 strong - which is not remotely accurate. Most, not all, freshman prefer the larger Bible class size - and, again, it’s been that way for along time.
I’m sure the 4,700 number includes post grad. students as well. If you recall the campus from even 15 years ago, you’d agree it’s beautiful today!
College of any kind is expensive. Lower priced alternatives such as the UT and A&M systems have exploded in the past decade in terms of cost. I would agree that ALL college students need primers in debt mgt.
I’m no expert - such an ACU parent. I’m sure others have more accurate info.
Thanks, KentF, you’ve been very kind to help explain. I do remember Faulkner’s and Brecheen’s class when I was at ACU and the fact that it was so popular I always got defaulted to Dr Speck’s classes (for 3 semesters). I also took Dr Ivey’s astronomy class and Dr Fulk’s film class. Such terrific professors and exciting teachers, although one did not appreciate as much creative thinking outside the box as the others.
It’s hard to believe that some classes have a bigger attendance than my church today. Wow! But at least the kids get to have fabulous instruction from Mike and others. I did not mean to imply that the teaching would be any less. I guess I am questioning why ACU admin and PR did not mention one of the best areas of scholarship it offers its students, both under-grad and post-grad. And that is its Bible, theology, and missiology studies — and defingin strengths marking it differently from other liberal arts universities.
I feel for you as a parent of a college student. I know the costs for higher education are spiralling to the heights, and somehow there needs to be some reform to fix the serious disconnect between learning and gaining knowledge and expertise for career fields and the costs required for today’s students to achieve their best. How did they come to omit these disciplines in their marketing strategy?
And while I do agree there are some beautiful campus improvements made over the last decade or so, I wish some of the money ear-marked for greener grass would have gone to bolster and support the tremendous teaching staff and musical artists found in ACU’s music department. They could really use more solid scholarship funding to recruit and retain dedicated music and performance arts students. But that is just my personal wish-list wistfully thinking out loud.
Thanks again. Blessings!
Thanks, KentF, you’ve been very kind to help explain. I do remember Faulkner’s and Brecheen’s class when I was at ACU and the fact that it was so popular I always got defaulted to Dr Speck’s classes (for 3 semesters). I also took Dr Ivey’s astronomy class and Dr Fulk’s film class. Such terrific professors and exciting teachers, although one did not appreciate as much creative thinking outside the box as the others.
It’s hard to believe that some classes have a bigger attendance than my church today. Wow! But at least the kids get to have fabulous instruction from Mike and others. I did not mean to imply that the teaching would be any less. I guess I am questioning why ACU admin and PR did not mention one of the best areas of scholarship it offers its students, both under-grad and post-grad. And that is its Bible, theology, and missiology studies — and defining strengths marking it differently from other liberal arts universities. How did they come to omit these disciplines in their marketing strategy?
I feel for you as a parent of a college student. I know the costs for higher education are spiralling to the heights, and somehow there needs to be some reform to fix the serious disconnect between learning and gaining knowledge and expertise for career fields and the costs required for today’s students to achieve their best.
And while I do agree there are some beautiful campus improvements made over the last decade or so, I wish some of the money ear-marked for greener grass would have gone to bolster and support the tremendous teaching staff and musical artists found in ACU’s music department. They could really use more solid scholarship funding to recruit and retain dedicated music and performance arts students. But that is just my personal wish-list wistfully thinking out loud.
Thanks again. Blessings!
(Sorry for this…I am still an eraser child at heart. My mind was obviously listening for dinner boiling over!)
Deb
Will explain that more later. i have 10 grad assistants who help with the class. i teach monday and wednesday and they meet in small groups on friday.
Am using a computer in Peru and am having trouble finding punctuation marks.
Look for a new posting in a couple days.
Mike
Does Mike ever comment or respond to other peoples comments?
I am starting to think why blog on a blog where there is absolutely no interaction with others. It is starting to be boring!
I want to challenge everyone to go through the posts and see how much Mike interacts with those who blog here.
Preacherman,
I concur. But maybe its just a forum for the laity.
But I also wonder why I need to respond as well.
No one changes their mind only barbed comments. I don’t want people to think like me unless they already do.
Maybe I would be wiser If I didn’t “need” to respond.
I’m sure that Mike Cope’s involvement with this blog comes and goes… He’s a busy guy with a lot going on; his article about Bart Ehrman (sp?) was top-rate and is obviously something that has picqued his interest… And his “Playdough” post has generated a lot of thought…
I actually think that it’s up to us contributors to create a challenging spiritual environment. Some of us do, some of us try to, and some of us are just ’snipers’ looking for some wayward soul to shoot down… And it will probably always be this way… ; - )
Clint and Kent F,
Haven’t checked the blog in a while, sorry. Like I said, one man’s experience. Our experience with the grads from Harding and OC has been better in this ONE area (knowledge and application of scripture). The ACU kids we’ve interviewed are not bad men and women, I hope you don’t think that. But honestly we may have to look at what our expectations are for a 23 year old, I admit that.
I left ACU with over 43,000 in student loans, I would hate to know what students like me leave with these days.
Thanks for the reply Chris and your perspective.
Preacherman - gotta disagree with you this time brother. I don’t see where Mike has to commit to come back and comment on his blog. He’s announced he’s taking a sabbatical — and I would hope we of all people would honor that. I’ve generally found the more Mike comments, the more readers demand of him to answer all types of questions and chime in on debates. My two bits.
I apologize for the comment.
Please forgive me.
preacherman,
Despite your apology I’ll go ahead and comment:
I agree, up to a point. I was actually thinking about how I never see comments from the blog author before I saw your comment. It does seem pretty odd.
Then again, he’s not obligated to interact with commentators. Sometimes I do on my blog, and other times I don’t. I don’t have a lot of time to spend online (I know, I blog a lot for someone with limited time) so that’s how it goes.
This is off-subject …what subject were we on?
Anyway, not to interrupt a sabbatical or anything, but it looks like someone’s having fun with the sidebar links.
Preacherman - In the first three or four years of this blog I responded much more. I found that I was spending too much time here. I’m sorry you find it more boring this way. But I have to find balance in my life. Thanks for expressing your thoughts about it, though. Mike