WT Posts Across the Board Increases in Undergraduate Enrollment for Fall 2024

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - Despite national hurdles for prospective students applying for financial aid, West Texas A&M University saw an overall increase across the board in undergraduate students for the fall 2024 semester, newly released figures showed.

Over the past several months, the federal government rolled out a new way for students to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, but a number of technical glitches over the summer caused delays in filing for countless students around the country. FAFSA is required for numerous federal grants and loans, as well as aid and scholarships at state and private institutions.

"In a year of unprecedented challenges and delays with the FAFSA, many colleges and universities across the nation were not able to award financial aid in a timely manner, causing their enrollment numbers to decline," said Mike Knox, vice president for enrollment management. "At WT, we were able to better help our students navigate those challenges, and I think we see that reflected in our undergraduate numbers."

The overall undergraduate enrollment is up slightly less than 1 percent from fall 2023. Both sophomore and senior enrollment rose more than 1 percent year-over-year, and freshman and junior enrollment also rose by 0.2 percent.

The 12th class day is when Texas' public universities traditionally report enrollment in the fall and spring semesters.

WT's overall enrollment essentially remained steady from fall 2023, falling by only six students to 9,055.

WT officials attributed the rise not only to the University's diligence in helping students fill out their FAFSA in a timely manner, but also to several innovative strategies designed to increase enrollment.

"We are committed to doing all we can to partner with students and their families to take advantage of the excellent educational opportunities WT offers, including no-cost-to-student textbooks in most classes and a new embedded associate degree program," WT President Walter V. Wendler said. "We are continually exploring innovative ways to redefine excellence through teaching, research and service."

Buffs taking classes in the fall semester are the first to take advantage of no-charge-to-student textbooks and other educational resources in all core classes.

The no-charge-to-student pledge first was made in January by President Wendler. In May, University officials announced a deal with major publishing houses Cengage and McGraw Hill that will provide students digital textbooks and ancillary materials, including digital learning platforms, mobile apps and more.

Students can save $800 per semester or more, depending on their major.

WT also launched its first embedded associate degree this semester, with seven more planned to launch in the spring. This is the first such adoption of embedded associate degrees in Texas and one of the first in the nation.

Students can earn an associate degree in mathematics en route to completing a bachelor's degree, following the recent approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

In February, The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved a plan that establishes eight new degree programs: associate of arts degrees in liberal arts and humanities and multidisciplinary studies, and associate of science degrees in business, education, health sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences.

The latest enrollment figures also show an increase in doctoral students, up 18.4 percent over the previous year. WT offers doctoral programs in educational leadership and agriculture.

More than 48 percent of WT undergraduates are first-generation college students, about 61 percent are Pell Grant-eligible, and 23 percent are online-only.

WT saw a 152 percent increase in high-school students enrolled in the Pre-University Program and dual-credit hours, showing a commitment to outstanding younger students eager to begin earning college credits.

Eleven departments across all six of WT's Colleges also saw overall increases in enrollment.

The Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences rose again over 2023's historic high numbers; with 1,144 students, it is WT's second-largest department behind the Department of Marketing, Management and General Business in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. Elsewhere in the Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Department of Chemistry and Physics rose by more than 15 percent.

Both the Amarillo National Bank School of Accounting, Economics and Finance and the Department of Computer Information and Decision Management in the Engler College of Business saw growth - by nearly 7 percent and by nearly 1 percent, respectively.

The Department of Engineering and Computer Sciences once again saw an increase for the College of Engineering, rising nearly 12 percent over 2023. Overall, the College saw nearly 9 percent growth.

Also seeing upticks: the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences; the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, the School of Music and the Office of General Majors in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities; and the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

WT remains committed to being regionally responsive to the needs of the people of the Texas Panhandle, as laid out in the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

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