Origins of WT 125
West Texas A&M University aspires to be a Regionally Responsive Research University. As this plan was developed, over 300 people from campus, the Amarillo and Canyon communities, the extended Texas Panhandle and the state and nation came together to talk about the future of the University. In numerous small group meetings, a multitude of topics were deliberated. Out of those conversations came a view of the future for West Texas A&M University. This work will be realized at the 125th anniversary of service, which will be celebrated in the year 2035. Our University has been charged by The Texas A&M University System to attain doctoral status in the near future by developing doctoral degrees and graduating 20 doctoral candidates per year on a consistent basis. We take this charge seriously and are working to attain that status by first serving locally. This means, without equivocation, our advanced study programs will never neglect the importance of the fundamental understanding of the human condition as expressed in areas of study like literature, history, humanities and social sciences along with areas of study in life sciences, natural sciences and computational competence—all of
which are deemed to be the foundation of human existence.
Ultimately, the quality of this institution will be determined not by four-year graduation rates, six-year graduation rates, success in professional and vocational testing or any system of measurable inputs or outcomes. The best measure of WT’s success is taken at the regional level, where lives are changed and in turn impact other lives. The University’s reputation will grow in proportion to its impact on the lives of Panhandle residents. West Texas A&M University in the near and distant future will be wholly committed to serving students in attaining their life ambitions. The benchmarks are only a means to help us understand how we serve. We are aware, however, of the limitations of many measures held in high regard by others. Each student must be treated as an individual since differences in life experiences and preparation demand a more precise and personal measure. For example, imagine a 34-year-old working parent of two children who has decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree. If that person takes eight years to complete the degree, while maintaining a parenting role and full-time job, today’s policymakers judge this a failure. But in fact, this is a great success.
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