As West Texas A&M University prepares to open its spring semester on Jan. 11, registration is still open and the University remains committed to serving its students on an individual basis.

“Following CDC guidelines and the best advice from experts as vaccines become more widely available, we have renewed optimism about our spring semester and how we will continue to resume normal campus life,” said University President Dr. Walter Wendler. “As we do, we will continue to respond in every way possible to the specific needs and hardships of our students and their families.”

Spring athletics will resume, though in front of reduced crowds, with plans to expand crowds for athletic events as the semester progresses.

“The university will run a full athletics schedule this spring, with 11 teams competing for Lone Star Conference and NCAA championships,” said Michael McBroom, director of athletics. “More than 80 basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball and track contests will be hosted on the WT campus from February through May.

“Although capacity will be limited in most venues, full- and part-time enrolled students will have first priority to receive available tickets for each game,” McBroom said.

Other activities across campus will begin to return, as well. The University is making plans for in-person commencement ceremonies in the spring that will include all students who graduated in 2020 (whether in May, summer or December). More details will be forthcoming.

“Our plan is to introduce changes for the spring slowly based on results of the vaccine rollout and recommendations of health professionals,” Wendler said. “We continue to ask the Buff community to follow safety guidelines to continue to mitigate the spread of the virus: wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands, staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, and other commonsense guidelines.”

It’s not too late to enroll, said Jeffrey Baylor, executive director of admissions.

“We know that families and prospective students still are being cautious about making plans, but the time has never been better to become a Buff,” Baylor said. “We are trying to meet students’ needs wherever they are.”

As previously announced, application fees are waived through July 31, including for students still wishing to sign up for Spring 2021 classes.

Students who enroll now for classes in the spring also can apply for CARES Act grants. In May, $2.8 million was made available to WT for direct relief grants for eligible students, and as the spring semester approaches, more than $1 million is still available.

“These funds are designed to address immediate needs of our students — food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare and more,” said Randy Rikel, vice president for business and finance. “The grants are easy to apply for and can help address many immediate, coronavirus-related needs of our students.”

Undergraduates also may be eligible for The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents’ Scholarship Fund, a $100 million scholarship program that was approved June 15.

Students must be Texas residents and enrolled full time as undergraduates, either as a freshman or a transfer student. They also should come from low-income backgrounds, be first-generation college students or come from underrepresented geographic areas. A preference will be given to underrepresented populations to ensure the diverse student body more closely reflects the state’s demographics.

Beyond the spring, undergraduate students who plan to begin their studies in Fall 2021 can apply for the WT Merit Scholarship Program. The newly overhauled program will increase the number of qualifying students and raise the amount given to up to $8,000 per qualified student per year. Qualified students are guaranteed that, as long as they meet credit-hour and GPA requirements, they will receive the merit scholarship for four years or until they complete a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

Other scholarship opportunities are available, as well. Contact Financial Aid at 806-651-2055 or wtamu.edu/financialaid for information.

Campus life in the spring will follow COVID-19 safety precautions, consistent with guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control, the State of Texas, The Texas A&M University System, Randall and Potter counties, the cities of Amarillo and Canyon, and the Bi-County Health Department.

In 2020, WT was named one of the Top 10 safest campuses in the country and the safest in Texas.

SSC, the University’s custodial partner, will continue to effectively and frequently clean working and common spaces during each working day.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors all are required to wear face coverings unless in a private office or residence hall room. Hand sanitizing stations are located around campus, and signs are posted around the University to remind staff and visitors to observe safety protocols.

In addition, COVID-19 testing is available weekly. Nearly 5,000 tests have been performed on campus since July. Quarantine housing is available on campus for students who test positive and are unable to return home.

WT began its Fall 2020 semester with 10,169 students, the largest enrollment in the school’s history and a nearly 1 percent increase over 2019.

WT is committed to serving both the campus and the community, as detailed in the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

-West Texas A&M University