WT to Offer First Embedded Associate Degree in Fall 2024

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

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University will launch its first embedded associate degree in the fall, part of the University's ongoing efforts to combat student indebtedness.

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.

THECB and SACSCOC approval is still pending for the remaining seven degrees but is expected in time for the degree programs to launch in the spring.

Fall 2024 classes begin Aug. 26.

This is the first such adoption of embedded associate degrees in Texas and one of the first in the nation.

"WT is leading the way in finding new avenues to help our students," WT President Walter V. Wendler said. "It's still part of our ultimate goal and mission as a university for our students to complete a bachelor's degree. But we understand that students may have life events that require them to pause their education. That's why we believe these embedded associate degrees will be helpful now and in the future."

Students will not enroll in an associate degree program, so the plan is not meant to compete with community colleges. Rather, the degree will be automatically awarded to them once they meet the requirements. They will be mailed a diploma, but they will not take part in graduation ceremonies. These degrees will not be awarded to students who already hold an associate degree.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, people with associate degrees earn almost 14 percent more in average weekly earnings. Those holding an associate degree are 38 percent more likely than those with a high school degree to be in a management, professional or other related job.

The New York Times reported that about 37 percent of students who enrolled in four-year institutions in 2013 and took on student loans didn't graduate within six years. The rate jumped to 75 percent for students at private institutions. Without a degree, those students often struggle to repay their loans and end up mired in debt.

The embedded associate degree plan is another example of WT's commitment to reducing student debt. A recent study shows that the average debt for WT graduates has dropped 23 percent over the past seven years.

WT officials say the new associate degree plans will support the University's efforts in student retention in two ways.

First, students who feel they need to pause their education will be encouraged to see how close they are to completing the embedded associate degree. If they can finish that degree before pausing, they likely will be able to earn higher salaries in the workforce. They also will have completed the University's core curriculum, so it would be easier for them to return to WT in the future.

Plus, students often struggle between their sophomore and junior years, said Dr. Chris Thomas, vice president for student affairs.

"By creating a midpoint benchmark, we hope students will see what progress they've made and will be encouraged to continue on to complete their bachelor's degree," Thomas said.

WT also expects the embedded associate degree will aid in recruitment, attracting students who are interested in achieving both an associate and a bachelor's at the same school.

The eight embedded associate degrees represent each of WT's six Colleges: the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Paul & Virginia Engler College of Business, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Students will be required to reach 60 semester credit hours to earn the embedded associate degree - 42 hours of core curriculum courses and 18 hours aligned with their major.

WT's embedded associate degree plan aligns with THECB's "Building a Talent Strong Texas" initiative and its 60x30TX plan to have at least 60 percent of Texans attain a postsecondary credential by 2030.

Providing regionally responsive academic programs is a key mission of 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 is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. 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 about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including 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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