Undergraduate Enrollment

5,856

Points of Distinction

• Georgia O’Keeffe was head of the art department from 1916 to 1918
• Largest history museum in Texas, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
• New facilities include the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex and the Stanley Schaeffer Agricultural Education Learning Laboratory

West Texas A&M University rises like an oasis in the state’s Panhandle Plains region. More than 7,500 students attend the university, which was founded in 1910 to provide a liberal arts education to residents living in the northernmost area of Texas. WTAMU offers 60 undergraduate programs in five colleges. Undergraduate enrollment is highest in the College of Business, and the university’s engineering program continues to receive national notice. In fact, the administration plans to expand the engineering department’s facilities in the near future. WTAMU also has three Washington, D.C., internship programs that place students at the White House, in Congress, and at the State Department.

The Pedestrian Mall is a highlight of the 176-acre main campus for its striking marble sculpture of a buffalo (the university mascot) and its calf by New Mexico artist Doug Scott. Buff Hall, a residence complex, is one of UTEP’s newest campus buildings. A renovation of the Classroom Center will equip the facility with state-of-the-art teaching technology and an expanded advising center when the project reaches completion by fall 2009.

WTAMU sponsors more than 125 student organizations. Academic in-terests, Greek organizations, and specialty clubs are all represented on campus, from the Agribusiness Club to the Panhandle Storytelling Guild. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and its exceptional collections bring a steady stream of visitors to the campus. Hiking in nearby Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a favorite student excursion, and Amarillo’s live music scene also beckons.