Western Texas College
 | |
| Type | Community college |
|---|---|
| Undergraduates | 3,164 |
| Location |
Snyder, Texas, USA 32°40′44″N 100°54′50″W / 32.678768°N 100.913936°WCoordinates: 32°40′44″N 100°54′50″W / 32.678768°N 100.913936°W |
| Website | Official Website |
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Western Texas College (WTC) is a community college founded in 1971 and located in Snyder in Scurry County, Texas. In addition to the main campus there are two downtown Snyder locations. College on the Square focuses on adult and continuing education. The Opportunity Center focuses on workforce training and job skills improvement. With an enrollment of approximately 2,300, Western Texas College has an extensive Distance Learning department, provides dual credit courses to 43 area high schools, and provides college-level coursework to inmates in three prisons in the West Texas area.
As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official Western Texas College service area encompasses Borden, Dickens, Fisher, Jones, Kent, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, and Stonewall counties.[1]
Courses of study
Western Texas College offers four two-year college degrees—the Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree, the Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree, the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree, and the Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) Degree to students who complete graduation requirements. Hour requirements for Associate of Applied Science Degree will vary with program.[2] Students may also earn certificates of completion in less than two years for several Career and Technical programs.
Career and Technical Degree and Certificate Programs include:[3]
- Early Childhood Education
- Electrical Distribution Systems
- Information Technology Business Management
- Petroleum Technology
- Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Welding
In addition, Western Texas College offers an Associate of Science degree in Wind Energy. This academic program seamlessly transfers to the Wind Energy Program at Texas Tech University.
Sports
Western Texas College is part of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 5. Competing athletic teams include:[4]
- Baseball
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball
- Cross Country
- Men’s and Women’s Golf
- Rodeo
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Sports Facilities
The Coliseum
Western Texas College assumed ownership and operations of the Scurry County Coliseum in 2008. Renamed "The Coliseum," the 3,400-seat arena received a facelift thanks to a $500,000 donation from wind energy company, Invenergy. In addition to all college basketball home games played on Invenergy Court, The Coliseum is host to many annual events, including the Western Swing Festival (June of every year) and the White Buffalo Bikefest (August of every year).
United Field
Home of the Lady Westerners softball team and host to tournaments for high schools and colleges.
Westerner Field
Home of the Westerner baseball squad and local and regional baseball tournaments, including the annual Snyder High School tournament. The Westerners had their first winning season in the '10-'11 year posting a 37-17 record.
Soccer Complex
The WTC Soccer Complex includes a full size regulation soccer field and three practice fields. Plans include adding a 400-meter track to the complex. In addition to home games for the WTC Men's and Women's soccer teams, the field hosts many local soccer events for Snyder schools.
WTC Campus Expansion
The WTC campus expanded by nearly 100 acres after Texas clothing and boot magnate James Cavender donated property adjacent to the campus. This property currently houses the WTC Soccer Complex, Cavender Energy Field lab, and a rugged outdoor Cross Country track used for local and regional cross country track events.
Notable alumni
- J. D. Sheffield, physician and medical director in Gatesville and a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Coryell County, began his higher education at WTC.
References
- ↑ TEX ED. CODE ANN. § 130.210 : Texas Statutes - Section 130.210: WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA
- ↑ Western Texas College catalog (2013/2014), p. 12
- ↑ Western Texas College catalog (2013/2014), p. 35
- ↑ WTC Athletics