Research, Program Growth at WT Made Possible by One West Campaign

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

CANYON, Texas - Three newly named colleges. Two newly christened schools. Three newly established institutes. And one long-sought-after institutional goal.

Donations earmarked for academic programs and research during West Texas A&M University's historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign have made wide-ranging impacts on the University.

The campaign, which funds the long-term goal WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, officially will wrap with a donor celebration Thursday, at which the history-making campaign total will be announced.

The groundwork was laid for the campaign in 2017, when Paul Engler and the Engler Foundation made an $80 million gift to WT, $24 million of which was counted in the campaign. The public launch was held in September 2021, with an original goal of $125 million, which was reached just 18 months later. A second goal of $175 million was reached in September 2025.

In all, 13,377 different donors made a contribution to the campaign.

One of the campaign's three overarching priorities was programs, through University and college priorities. Nearly $50 million has been donated specifically to support this priority.

Program gifts have been made to each of WT's six Colleges: the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Paul and 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 and Humanities, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Major Gifts Name Colleges

With the Engler gift, two colleges were named: The Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences and the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business.

That was followed in March 2022 with a $5 million gift from Terry and Dyke Rogers to name the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.

The gifts provided funding for professorships, scholarships and program funding for various offerings in each of the colleges.

The One West campaign brought WT's total of named colleges to four; prior to the campaign, only the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities was named.

"Dyke and Terry Rogers engaged their passion for education by naming the foundational College at WT, the College of Education and Social Sciences," WT President Walter V. Wendler said. "WT waited for 112 years for someone to name the bedrock school that has always been an essential part of who we are as a University. Ultimately, Dyke and Terry have changed the course of WT's history."

Expanding Programs Through New Schools

Amarillo National Bank made a $3 million gift in February 2023 to establish the ANB School of Accounting, Economics and Finance . And in March 2024, Amarillo philanthropists Laura and Joe Street made a $2.5 million gift that provided their name to a newly elevated Street School of Nursing.

"With the naming of a school in honor of the largest family-owned bank in the U.S. comes the responsibility to exercise judicious stewardship, a responsibility that my colleagues and I take very seriously," said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Engler College of Business. "This gift demonstrates strong confidence in our students' excellence, the innovative spirit of our faculty and staff, and the vision and determination to make the program among our state and nation's best."

The gifts provided operational support, scholarships, professorships and graduate assistantships, elevating the stature of both programs.

Research Growth Through New Institutes, Programs

A momentous $20 million gift from Cheryl and Alex Fairly in October 2023 established The Hill Institute , a scholarly institution that focuses on the promotion of Texas Panhandle values.

An anonymous $5 million gift in September both pushed the One West campaign past its $175 million goal and established the new Panhandle Institute for Engineering Research . Most recently, a $5 million gift from High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation established a new Health Institute in its name at WT.

"The HPCM gift will have a significant impact on this region in helping WT and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences be responsive to the needs of the Panhandle, not just in education but in the overall health of our residents and communities," said Dr. Holly Jeffreys, dean and Ware University Distinguished Professor. "Our proactive and collaborative approach will enhance efficiency and effectiveness throughout the Panhandle and simultaneously serve as a robust educational model for other regions across the state and country."

Plus, a $2.1 million gift from Natrelle and former WT President Russell Long established a new companion animal science program for students planning on a career in veterinary medicine or in a host of other pet-related careers.

Such gifts led to WT being classified in August by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Research College and University, or RCU. The new designation identifies research happening at colleges and universities that historically have not been recognized for their research activity.

WT spends approximately $10 million per year on research activities and currently offers two doctoral degrees: one in agriculture and one in educational leadership.

"Acquiring Carnegie ranking as a research university was a goal of our long-range plan," WT President Walter V. Wendler said. "But WT is not just a research university, WT is a Regional Research University. The research conducted by our faculty and students focuses on issues, problems and opportunities which are specific to the people, communities, businesses and industries of the Panhandle and West Texas."

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M 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 boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

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