Service learning – a hallmark of the Abilene Christian University experience – is one of the many reasons U.S. News & World Report has again recognized ACU among the nation’s best in its 2025 rankings.
For the sixth consecutive year, ACU earned top marks in the “Programs That Enhance Student Experience” category, ranking in six of eight benchmarks focused on student experience and student success. Notably, ACU was the highest-ranked Texas university for service learning, placing No. 7 in the nation.
But service learning at ACU is more than just a ranking – it’s a hands-on way for students to transform classroom knowledge into real-world impact.
Last year, 138 students, along with nearly 30 faculty and alumni, participated in service learning projects across 20 countries, from Japan to Nicaragua. This year, students continue their outreach in places like Brazil, Peru and Denver, Colorado.
With majors ranging from finance to nursing, students apply their skills in meaningful ways, offering expertise, gaining cross-cultural experience and deepening their faith. For some, it’s their first time traveling abroad, stepping into new cultures and environments. Others serve locally, addressing challenges in their own communities.
“The bravery of these students reminds us all that we are called to live out God’s Kingdom in ever-diverse contexts,” said Dr. Zane McGee, director of the Halbert Center for Missions and Global Service.
ACU students have made a difference in communities worldwide, including:
- Brazil – With annual credit card interest rates exceeding 300% in recent years and roughly 80% of Brazilian households carrying revolving credit card debt, ACU’s Dukes School of Finance partnered with SerCris, a ministry training school, to offer financial literacy workshops. Watch a video documentary by ACU multimedia major Tyler Rog.
- Uganda – Students from the departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kinesiology and Nutrition, and Social Work partnered with Hope Speaks to provide health services. Watch a video documentary by ACU journalism graduate Emily Shafer.
- Poland – Lynay students and faculty have hosted sports and VBS-style activities for Ukrainian refugee children. Read about one of their trips.
- Ghana – Pre-law students assisted in justice reform, while the Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy supported startups in collaboration with Ateiku Christian Ministries.
- Nicaragua – Students from Agricultural and Environmental Sciences developed vertical gardens for local communities.
- Guatemala, Peru, and Denver, Colorado – Nursing and pre-health teams worked alongside healthcare providers to provide support and deliver care.
- Dominican Republic – The ACU baseball team partnered with former player and Dominican native Rolando De La Cruz, working with local churches in community service. Read about their trip.
Throughout these experiences, students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication served as embedded reporters, creating documentaries to show the impact.
For Lacy Dowdy, a 2024 finance graduate who served in Brazil, the experience was a unique blend of faith, academics and service.
“I want to go into personal financial planning as my career,” Dowdy said. “So having the opportunity to go with ACU and experience Christian financial planning in a completely different culture and environment was something that broadened my horizons and gave me an experience few others in my field will have.”
That kind of integration – faith, learning and service – is what defines ACU’s approach to education.
“Our message to students is clear,” McGee said. “God doesn’t call everyone to be an international missionary, but he does call every believer to use their talents for his mission.”
– Robin Saylor
Feb. 26, 2025
