Acton has its roots in the entrepreneurship curriculum developed by the Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (FEE). Founded by Jeff Sandefer, FEE was created to publish entrepreneurship cases and notes as well as develop entrepreneurship curriculum to be used at schools across the United States.
Acton founders, Jeff Sandefer, Phil Siegel, Vaughn Brock and Jack Long began their teaching careers at the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, Jeff Sandefer was ranked one of the top ten entrepreneurship professors in the country by BusinessWeek. In early 2002, Jeff, Phil, Vaughn and Jack left UT and in 2004, Acton graduated its first class of Acton Scholars.
Acton is offered through Hardin-Simmons University which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association of Colleges of Business School Programs (ACBSP).
Acton begins a new chapter in its history with the building of a new campus on the shores of Town Lake in Austin, Texas.