West Texas A&M University’s 12th-class-day fall enrollment figures show a historic high, fueled by an increase in online students, graduate students and transfer students.

Initial numbers as of Sept. 9 show that the University is beginning its Fall 2020 semester with 10,169 students, the largest enrollment in the school’s history and a nearly 1 percent increase over 2019. The numbers are an improvement over several years’ worth of flat or slightly rising numbers, outside of a previous record enrollment in 2017.

“When we started making and remaking plans in March, as the full scope of the COVID-19 pandemic was just making itself known, public predictions for fall enrollment were dire,” said University President Dr. Walter Wendler. “Many were predicting sharp drops in enrollment — a trend that worsened by the summer. But our entire team worked together for months to make sure WT would emerge from this in a strong position.”

President Wendler set out three principles from the start of the crisis, said Dr. Brad Johnson, vice president for strategic initiatives.

First, students, faculty and staff must be given maximum flexibility to cope with the pandemic’s impact on their lives, drawing on the University’s strength as a pioneer in online education since 1997 and offering in-person, online and hybrid classes that suit the needs of students and faculty. Second, the University’s mission and educational endeavors must continue, so restoring teaching and research activities must be the goal. And third, the University would start the fall term with at least one more student than the year before — a “plus-one” mentality that reflects both the necessary flexibility in enrollment and a positive, forward momentum, Johnson said.

The number of students taking all courses online stands at 40 percent, a surge of 6 percent over 2019.

The College of Engineering had the biggest overall percentage increase at 3.8 percent, followed by the Paul Engler College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences at 3.4 percent. The biggest headcount increase is from the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business with 78 students, increasing total enrollment from 2,850 to 2,928. The second biggest increase in headcount is the College of Education & Social Sciences at 57, increasing total enrollment from 1,838 to 1,895.

On par with the University’s numbers as a whole, the number of non-white students increased by 1 percent over 2019, another indicator of the solid progress made this term and is reflective of and responsive to the populations the University serves.

The number of students who are eligible for academic-based scholarships rose 4.6 percent over 2019, indicating that more students of high academic achievement have entered WT this fall than last year.

Campus housing is at 85 percent capacity, which reflects the decision to hold back a number of residential hall rooms to house any students who might need to be quarantined.

The 12th class day is when Texas’ public universities traditionally report enrollment in the spring and fall semesters.

“We are way too early to declare victory for the university in this current crisis,” said Dr. Neil Terry, executive vice president and provost. “However, the term has started well, and so far, our faculty, staff and students have succeeded in minimizing the spread of the virus.”

WT offered the Buff Guarantee, which gave students a 100 percent refund of any tuition, fees, books, and room and board if they withdraw from the University on or before Aug. 23. Stringent safety measures — including face mask requirements, social distancing, increased cleaning and more — were put in place weeks ahead of the start of the fall semester.

And in place of traditional recruitment efforts last spring, which had to be curtailed in light of the pandemic, WT found new avenues in which to pursue students.

“We increased our marketing efforts to show potential students around the region the myriad of ways that WT could serve them,” said Jeffrey Baylor, executive director of admissions. “Whether they were first-time university students who wanted to stay closer to home because of the pandemic or they were adult learners hoping to expand their employment opportunities, we wanted them to know that, despite the new world we’re all living in, WT is always a smart choice.

“In the end, the results we have seen reflect the tireless efforts of faculty and staff across campus to ensure students’ access to the excellent education offered at WT,” Baylor said.

WT also has put increased focus on helping students to start at community college, which encourages students who might otherwise incur college debt to save money by earning an associate degree before transferring, Johnson said. New transfer student enrollment increased by 4.9 percent this fall.

Increased recruitment efforts in the Graduate School also is reflected in the record enrollment figures. Graduate students overall are up 3.5 percent and new graduate students are up 6 percent.

“We have been committed to flexibility throughout this pandemic, recognizing that students and families are facing nearly unprecedented circumstances,” said Dr. Angela Spaulding, vice president of research and compliance and dean of graduate school. “But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to the academic and health needs of our students, or our student-centered approach to providing resources that help working professionals continue their educational journey. Those philosophies are reflected, I think, in these record numbers.”

The enrollment figures show how WT is regionally responsive to the needs of the people of the Texas Panhandle, part of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

-West Texas A&M University