WTAMU partners with Weatherford College to offer students easier access to graduate school

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

West Texas A&M University announced it has partnered with Weatherford College to give undergraduate students an easier pathway to WT's graduate school. The signing agreement was made Wednesday afternoon at the WT President's Office Suite, located on the third floor of Old Main.

During the memorandum signing, Weatherford College President Tod Farmer and WT President Walter Wendler each spoke of the new opportunities and benefits that the agreement would mean for each campus and their students.

"This helps reduce the cost of college to students; we are doing everything we can at WT to keep costs low. Of the 38 colleges and universities in the state of Texas, we are one of the most cost effective, but we cannot go any lower with our costs, and partnerships with colleges like Weatherford allow a more cost-effective education to students before transferring to WT," Wendler said.

The agreement will create easier access for students graduating from Weatherford College's Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in the Organizational Leadership Program to apply and transfer to WT.

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West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler and Weatherford College President Tod Farmer shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding, granting Weatherford undergraduates easier access to WT's graduate program, Wednesday afternoon in the WT President's Office Suite.
West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler and Weatherford College President Tod Farmer shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding, granting Weatherford undergraduates easier access to WT's graduate program, Wednesday afternoon in the WT President's Office Suite.

"We both have a great respect for the high quality education being available at an affordable price; that makes us natural partners. ... We view this is a natural progression for our students who want to earn graduate degrees from a world-class institution at an affordable price," Farmer said.

Weatherford College was founded in 1869 and is the oldest community college west of the Mississippi River. Through this newfound partnership with WT, during the students' transition, they will also have access to individualized application support, as well as financial aid and scholarship counseling.

Founded in 1910, WT is the oldest public institute of higher learning in the Panhandle. It currently offers more than 40 graduate degrees from a variety of fields, including two doctoral degrees in each of its five colleges, as well as its agriculture and educational leadership programs. The university was also recognized by the U.S News and World Report this past January with the Best Graduate Program Rankings for six of its graduate programs.

"This is an opportunity for our best and brightest to come to a great institution and take the next step in their educational journey, and hopefully they can in turn give back to society and make meaningful contributions," Farmer said.

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Weatherford College President Tod Farmer speaks about a new memorandum of understanding with West Texas A&M, which grants Weatherford undergraduates easier access to WT's graduate program, Wednesday afternoon in the WT President's Office Suite.
Weatherford College President Tod Farmer speaks about a new memorandum of understanding with West Texas A&M, which grants Weatherford undergraduates easier access to WT's graduate program, Wednesday afternoon in the WT President's Office Suite.

This new agreement is one of many agreements that WT has made with community colleges across the state, including Amarillo College, Clarendon College, and Frank Phillips College.

"I think universities and community colleges work best when they serve the student first. ... We want to serve those individuals in the city, as well as those outside of the major urban areas, and the way we do that is working partnerships and integrated educational opportunities like the one with Weatherford College, where students can stay at home and work where they went to school, then engage with WT through an online experience. I think it's a very powerful combination," Wendler said.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: WTAMU partners with Weatherford College in graduate program transfer