example, student retention—a measure some value highly— should never be misinterpreted to mean our educational efforts are of high quality just because student retention is good. A quality education will result in improved retention, but the reverse is not always true. The way that students are nurtured, the number effectively placed for employment or graduate/professional study and performance on professional examinations for certification all indicate quality in other dimensions. These dimensions are themselves indicators of the University’s aspiration to make WT a place known for a pervasive commitment to student achievement. 7. SERVING OUR CORNER OF TEXAS Vibrant universities become so by serving well at the local level. Our mission at West Texas A&M University is to diligently address the needs of the people, communities, institutions and enterprises of the Texas Panhandle. The top 26 counties of Texas makeup our corner of the world. As part of The Texas A&M University System, the Morrill Act that established the land grant universities in America is in our DNA. The act was passed in response to the demand created by the Industrial Age for educated people to serve the agricultural and mechanical needs of a growing nation. When West Texas State Normal College was founded, our commitment was to educate teachers who would educate the citizens of this region of Texas. A teachers college coupled with a commitment to practically minded, land-grant inspired service is a powerful testament to who we were and what we will become. The challenge today is to capture and define the idea of a Regional Research University built on a foundation of service to the place we call home. WT will lead in extending and amplifying what it means to be service-oriented in the 21st century through actions consistent with the ideals of the Morrill Act. As members of The Texas A&M University System we share those ideals. in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. 2
8. PARTICIPATORY DECISION MAKING Those affected by the plan and process should be directly involved in the decision-making that produces the plan. While it is impossible to include everyone, it is possible to include representatives of those affected. For example, students involved in course work throughout the University can be effectively represented in the planning process through the agency of dedicated faculty and staff. The key players in the planning process sought participation from their constituencies to the broadest extent possible. As the plan unfolded, this input guided the effort to serve all. 9. A FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATION West Texas A&M University should be known as an efficient organization. Many sources indicate that resources for administration are effectively distributed at WT when compared to other institutions. Increasing competition from private, for-profit universities and demands for efficiency from Austin and The Texas A&M University System mean we must become even more adept from an administrative standpoint. Necessary bureaucratic procedures should be transparent and easy to negotiate, not an obstacle to success. People, rather than organizations, should be responsible for making decisions. We will do all that we can to create channels of responsibility and to have decisions made by people at the lowest, most appropriate levels that add value. The best universities are responsive to change and are adaptable, agile and able to provide support and assistance for the knowledge work of the institution. 10. RISK-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS The best universities of the 21st century will encourage informed risk-taking. Taking risks may produce failure, but from failure, comes discovery. The most profound ideas, the
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