Originally published December 11, 2011, in the Chicago Tribuneāslight modifications have been made. As we start the school year, amid a storm of moral relativism, fear and doubt, this may be as appropriate for the autumn and the start ofā¦
Originally published on December 4, 2009, as the first in a series of thoughts regarding the intersection of faith and reason in university life. Slight modifications are made here. In this age of shifting morality and the seeming absence ofā¦
Ā This reflection represents a collaborative effort with the Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Neil Terry, and myself to communicate cost and quality differentials for on-campus and online study at West Texas A&M University.Ā It was first published on Augustā¦
Originally published March 18, 2014. While some specifics have changed, the general ideas are more important than they were in 2014. Ā Good universities take risks because they must change.Ā New ideas are risky business. Risk and progress are siblings. And donātā¦
In the coming weeks, I will share a few pieces from the past with slight modifications. This piece was originally posted March 30, 2015. Overwhelmingly, the more thanĀ 7,000 state lawmakersĀ nationwide attended and graduated from public universities. Again overwhelmingly, these electedā¦
In the coming weeks, I will share a few pieces from the past with slight modifications. This piece was originally posted August 19, 2010. Some things change little in a decade.Ā The purpose of any university is to help peopleā¦
The rate of change required to sustain organizations in post-COVID-19 America is extraordinary. Things were tough in the ’90s, but a “walk in the park” compared to the past 18 months. John P. Kotter opined in a 1995 Harvard Businessā¦
Self-reliance, free will, critical thinking and control over oneās destiny are the essence of human purposeāa nearly valiant purposeāin achieving satisfaction following accomplishment. This is not to be confused with selfishness. Universities should help students mobilize these resources powered byā¦
Regions breed individuals with some common traits that generally represent all. People generate an identity, whereāsubject to environmental conditions, personal predilections, and aspirations of heart and soul, they have a shared experience and perspective. Regions in a state or nationā¦
In the Texas Panhandle, self-reliance, a sense of control for personal destiny and a commitment to hard work governs and guides. There is an abiding belief that this cord of three strands is strong and presents the opportunity for aā¦
Texas’ Most Conservative 21st-Century Public University The Texas Panhandle owns a value system that serves as a benchmark for many of its citizens, even in its imperfection. And this region is WT’s home. Former University President Joseph A. Hill illuminatedā¦
The Core Curriculum at universities (not to be confused with “Common Core“), sometimes called general education requirement, is determined by faculty and legislative leadership. Unfortunately, some students, parents, and even faculty and university leaders see these courses as what aā¦
Originally posted on July 8, 2014, tuned up, and worth a second look nearly a decade later. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.Ā No bureaucracy in public service or private enterprise ever starts out as anything but aā¦
Previously published but updated here as the council is still worthwhile.Ā High School Graduates ā In a few months, millions of people like you, full of hope and anticipation, will transition from high school to college. Privilege may have providedā¦
Texas SB1295 recognizes the need for financial support and incentives for comprehensive regional universities that meet performance targets. Itās on the way to Governor Abbottās desk. In all its forms, post-secondary education is a powerful force in improving job opportunities,ā¦
Previously published but updated here. What a year. Old council sometimes retains its value. Dear Graduating Senior, I am begging your pardon for a somber reflection amidst the joy of the near completion of high school ā not to beā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Sixth in a series on Regional Universities Some university leaders have had a transformative impact on their institutions and, in turn, the larger community.ā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Fifth in a series on Regional Universities. Universities have significant economic impacts on the cities and regions in which they are located. The sizeā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Fourth in a series on Regional Universities. The location of any University, its place, is important for every institution. For a comprehensive regional universityā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Third in a series on Regional Universities. Comprehensive Regional Universities (CRU) are the quiet centerpiece of the Texas higher education constellation. Often founded asā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Second in a series on Regional Universities. Borrowing from a working paper, “A Regional Research University” West Texas A&M University’s commitment is to serveā¦
Walter Wendler, West Texas A&M University President and John Sharp, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor First in a Series on Regional Universities Regional universities in the U.S. educate 70% of the nearly 17 million students pursuing an undergraduate degreeā¦
Modified from a column published onĀ October 25, 2015 Organizations train leaders, for better or worse.Ā Various enterprisesĀ are hotbeds for positive leadership training: manufacturing, public service, retail, professional services and universities provide examples. Effective leadership causes people to change their perspective, beā¦
Eighth and final in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle Over the past seven weeks, various intersecting aspects of the Texas Panhandle and West Texas A&M University have been communicated in the ‘Heart and Soulā¦
Seventh in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle West Texas A&M University is focused on big ideas. Communities of the Texas Panhandle sharpen this focus. The Panhandle is a big place, with challenges and opportunitiesā¦
Sixth in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle In traveling the Texas Panhandle, I sensed in many communities a genuine, thoughtful loyalty to people and place. I am not naĆÆve and know that in towns,ā¦
Fifth in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle It is difficult to separate the faith of people in the Texas Panhandle from daily life, the way of American frontiers for centuries. The lives of earlyā¦
Fourth in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle When people think about public space in and around cities and towns, notable parks in metropolises come to mind. Some examples include Griffith Park in Los Angeles,ā¦
Third in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle The concept of belonging to something larger than self in the Texas Panhandle and the power of sustaining oneself, family and extended community is as old asā¦
Second in a series on the Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle The concept of patriotism is recognized as a love or devotion to oneās country. I believe patriotism is cultivated from a love embodied in a family andā¦
Family and the University If a university is to be successfulāeffective in serving those who choose to study thereāit must appreciate the place that hosts it. In the coming weeks I will reflect on the relationship between West Texas A&Mā¦
As the impact of COVID-19 grows with corresponding actions that limited or halted face-to-face instruction in public schools across the nation and world, many parents opted into homeschooling. Homeschooling is not a new phenomenon in America, but the trend acceleratedā¦
Reading the Chronicle of Higher Education on January 6, 2021, I came across an advertising banner that gave me pause. It read, āA College Lifeline: Higher Education for incarcerated and rural students – and why it matters.ā I downloaded thisā¦
Sixth in a series on COVID-19 and studying in Spring 2021 Originally published on September 29, 2018, slightly modified here The roots of higher education in the United States are knotted into purpose and place.Ā From a functional standpoint, almost allā¦
Fifth in a series on COVID-19 and studying in spring 2021 Originally published on December 31, 2013, and slightly modified here Ā As the effects of COVID-19 impact nearly every decision made regarding long-term investments, a college education is no exception.ā¦
Third in a series on COVID-19 and studying in Spring 2021 Provisions are being made for students, faculty, and staff to return to West Texas A&M University this spring. Beginning last summer, to meet diverse needs of faculty and students,ā¦
Second in a series on COVID-19 and studying in Spring 2021 The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was instituted to provide assistance to individuals and families suffering through the economic trials of COVID-19. I will not rehearseā¦
As we begin the holiday season, a time of thanksgiving for many, even in the midst of trepidation and gloom, thoughtful people will look ahead. Choices regarding college attendance in the spring are more important than ever before. A fewā¦
Originally published April 13, 2015, and modified for another look. Universities and the people and organizations that support them require the exercise of free will that promotes personal and shared responsibility. Responsibility is the nucleus of Adam Smithās Theory ofā¦
West Texas A&M University will host a virtual graduation in December ā a decision reached only after much discussion and heartfelt deliberations. Details regarding the event will be released soon. I know that many faculty, staff, students and families willā¦
Seventh and final in a series of how universities can help build character. The character of a university, or any organization, comes from vision and mission cemented by distinguishing core values. West Texas A&M University has identified six core values:Ā ā¦
Sixth in a series of how universities can help build character. The idea of engagement carries with it a number of meanings. At a state-supported institution, we have a responsibility to promote effective citizenship. A citizen belongs to something largerā¦
Fifth in a series of how universities can help build character. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. If you hummed that along in your head, you probably know where this is going. Respect is a commodity. It is traded like baseball cards. It’s a giveā¦
Fourth in a series of how universities can help build character. University innovation is often, and appropriately, viewed as the work of faculty and students fueling discovery through individual scholarship, research, and creative activity. Universities must innovate corporately, too. Resourceā¦
Third in a series of how universities can help build character. WT values the practical framing of intellectual work. Being pragmatic does not mean big ideas or the big picture are avoided. When carried out faithfully, being pragmatic is aā¦
Second core value in a series regarding character Service presents itself in many ways at public universities. Members of university communities understand the three-legged stool of responsible teaching, scholarly work and service. I recently reflected on the power of customerā¦
Core Value One Second in a series of how universities can help build character. Academic freedom is a defining core value at WT. Last week the U.S. Department of Education tried to clarify a burgeoning cadre of rules and regulationsā¦
First in a series of how universities can help build character. Critical thinking skills, long held to be the nucleus of a strong liberal arts curriculum, are essential. A number of institutions receive acclaim for their ability to teach criticalā¦
Tenth and final in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. Universities propel students, families and communities toward economic prosperity and intellectual liberty. WT has pursued this mission since 1910; training teachersā¦
Eighth in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. A recent NICHE study found after surveying 20,000 students, 78% said in-person classes were appealing, and 29% found online courses appealing. The findingsā¦
Seventh in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19 Written a number of years ago and updated for its value as we return to campus. A culture is created and sustained byā¦
Sixth in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. Regarding athletics, my goal as a university leader is to support student-athletes, first, and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics, second. The individual andā¦
Fifth in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. Little is more crippling to an individual or an organization than fear. It petrifies people into indecisiveness. It spawns endless self-doubt that metastasizesā¦
Fourth in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. Itās a shotgun wedding of sortsāfamilies driven to home schooling by a virus. On the planet, 1.5 billion kids are being home-schooled, accordingā¦
Third in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. This reflection represents a collaborative effort with the Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Neil Terry, and me to communicate cost and qualityā¦
Second in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. A valuable part of attending a university for many college students, particularly those in their late teens or early 20s, is the experienceā¦
First in a series on the reopening of West Texas A&M University in the midst of COVID-19. In the coming weeks, I will address a number of issues regarding our return to campusāthings such as residential life, classroom and communityā¦
The concept of ānew normalā is wearisome. Enterprises of every kind falter assuming there was an old normal. Normalcy is an innovation-robbing concept. In February, I reflected on demographics and their impact on shaping a regional research university like Westā¦
People working in higher education, whether in the classroom, research lab, dance studio, library, and various business support offices or even maintaining buildings and grounds, are all involved in customer service. Many resist seeing students as customers; however, students payā¦
West Texas A&M University is becoming a regional research university. Defined in WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World,Ā it means in part, āOur focus will be on community life, schools in rural settings, enriched enterprise, beef, rural healthā¦
This draws from a series of reflections on excellent teaching published a decade ago. The COVID-19 crisis has created unimaginable hardships for individuals, families, small businesses and international behemoths. Crisis knows no boundaries in how it impacts people and theirā¦
Excellent staff are important at any time in the life of any enterprise. In a crisis, purposeful people, excellent people, allow organizations to thrive. I didnāt say survive because many organizations will whimper out of the COVID-19 doghouse and simplyā¦
When the economy heads south, the time may be right for completing an unfinished undergraduate degree or working on a graduate degree either online or on campus. There are a number of reasons that such action makes sense. For recentā¦
The 24-hour news circuitry is alive with concerns about COVID-19, its impact on people and the economic crater left in its wake. No segment of the American economy or enterprise, the faith life of Americans, or any other aspect ofā¦
Sixteenth in a series on what to look for in college. On February 2, 2017, I visited Canyon High School. A group of 600 students attended. Canyon ISD covers over 700 square miles of ground. With the onslaught of theā¦
Fifteenth in a series on what to look for in college. Charles Spurgeon, the great nineteenth-century preacher and orator rightly observed, āSkillful mariners sail by all winds, and we ought to make progress through all circumstances.ā Like so many communitiesā¦
Fourteenth in a series on what to look for in college. During the āYour Community, Your Universityā Tours, visits to high schools in the Panhandle and South Plainsādaytime visits while school was in sessionāhad a larger number of students present.ā¦
Thirteenth in a series on what to look for in college. At 37 degrees 27 minutes 12 seconds north latitude, Booker is the northernmost municipality in Texas. Booker used to be in La Kemp, Oklahoma, but in 1917 moved southā¦
Twelfth in a series on what to look for in college. Pampa, Texas, is the county seat of Gray County in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Its population of just under 18,000 people is supported by agriculture, ranching, someā¦
Eleventh in a series on what to look for in college. Looking for a college? Gruver, Texas, can teach us something. A small but remarkable community in Hansford County, Gruver is home to about 1,200 souls. The community wanted toā¦
This was originally released in September 2014.Ā Given the challenges that universities are facing with the COVID-19 pandemic that may extend well into the future, the times are a barometer of purpose.Ā I walked into a room full ofā¦
In January 2019 the median household income in the United States was $63,688, a 0.3% increase over the December 2018 estimate. The growth rate of the median household income is substantial; however, according to Seeking Alpha, purchasing power for certainā¦
Change in universities, especially those well established and funded through public resources, is a challenge. Yet, as the nature of students changeāand they have changed dramatically, it is incumbent that universities become more flexible, responsive to different types of learners,ā¦
Dual enrollment, or dual credit, is the process whereby students in high school enroll in college courses that count for both high school and college credit. These programs are heavily subscribed to in various parts of our state and nation.ā¦
The U.S. birth rate is at its lowest recorded level. Since the 2008 economic recession, fertility rates have decreased by nearly 20%. The population of students for universities to draw from is shrinking. At the same time, the age ofā¦
I will not pretend to know the answer to this question for every individual; however, two ideas are repeatedly reinforced to me. First, students are interested in getting a job. A university that neglects this will falter. Second, students areā¦
No matter the size of the university or college, its mission, its status as public or private, flagship or regional, intercollegiate athletics plays an important role in how the institution is perceived. For almost 150 years, intercollegiate athletics has createdā¦
Organizations flourish or perish based on big ideas that address issues of importance. Enterprises thrive through big ideas alone: their lack is toxic. Sony, Kodak, Apple, Disney, Walmart, and universities respond to big ideas shaping organizational culture. Snuffing out ideationā¦
Universities face issues spawned during the past half-century that will cripple effectiveness if unaddressed. The standing and ranking perception of campuses will always be important. The best campuses will attend to excellence in teaching and scholarly work, affordability and rigorousā¦
Ninth in a series on what to look for in college. Seventy percent of college students graduated with debt last yearāon average $30,000. Some will repay that debt with Social Security checks voluntarily or through garnishment. Of Americans over 60,ā¦
Eighth in a series on what to look for in college. Borden County School District in Gail, Texas, on the edge of the Caprock Escarpment, is cut in two by the Colorado River. Borden County is the fourth-least populous countyā¦
The Nifty Fifty/Fifty Enrollments at universities around the United States are shrinkingādown 1.7 and 1.8 percent this year and last. Masterās and comprehensive universities, private liberal arts colleges, rural universities and a multitude of others that are not state flagships,ā¦
Seventh in a series on what to look for in college. Patton Springs ISD in Afton, Texas, had 96 students for the 2017-2018 school year. It is small. It is oldāestablished in 1910, the same year West Texas A&M Universityā¦
Sixth in a series on what to look for in college. Abernathy, Texas, is a small town just west of I-27, an old stop on the Santa Fe when it was the way to get from Lubbock to Amarillo. Itsā¦
Fifth in a series on what to look for in college. According to The History of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity to the Present Time, Rabbi Judah said, “He whoĀ teachethĀ not his son aĀ trade,Ā does asĀ ifĀ heĀ taught himĀ to be aĀ thief.ā This proverbialā¦
Fourth in a series on what to look for in college. Cotton Center, one of the smallest independent school districts in the Texas Panhandle or the South Plains, has a total enrollment from pre-k through grade 12 of 100 students.ā¦
Second in a series on what to look for in college. Tahoka, Texas, the county seat of Lynn County, is a small town of 3,000 souls. In spirit, it is bigger than the South Plains skies that crown it. Maybeā¦
First in a series on what to look for in a college.Ā Ā What should students and families look for as they consider college? In the coming weeks, insights from the South Plains of Texas will be shared. New Home, Texas,ā¦
The passing of T. Boone Pickens, with his colorful relationship to West Texas A&M University, affords consideration of two great Panhandle pioneers. J. A. Hill became president of West Texas State Teachers College in 1918, having joined the campus inā¦
Buffalo Stadium on the campus of West Texas A&M University SirĀ William HerschelĀ wrote in 1802, āIf, on the contrary, two stars should really be situated very near each other, and at the same time so far insulated as not to beā¦
Posted last year on the occasion of summer graduation. The advice is still sound. West Texas A&M University had its summer graduation last week, as did many universities around the nation. People are always willing to give advice to recentā¦
Regional Universities are the core of educational opportunity for many students who choose lower-cost, locally-focused study opportunities. These same universities provide regional economies with a shot in the arm. They not only promote new businesses serving campus students, faculty andā¦
āJohnny, have you seen my backpack?ā āMom, I told you to keep track of your school stuff.ā My junior year in college, there were approximately one hundred students studying architecture in my class. I remember two of those students wereā¦
There are more than 4,000 postsecondary institutions of higher education in the United States. Of those, more than 400 are regional universities. Regional universities, West Texas A&M University for example, contribute to local economies, cultural and civic life inā¦
Corporations, public and private; bureaucracies, large and small; and families, whether two or 100 members, rise and fall based on mission acuity. A few things irrevocably impede mission attainment, and fear of change tops the list. Unwillingness to change –ā¦
[Fourth in a series about WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.] Universities desire to keep alumni close by. Graduates are a testimony to an institutionās progress and effectivenessāor not. More Harvard graduates live in Boston than any otherā¦
