Midwestern State, Weatherford College Sign Partnership Agreement

Students finishing their studies at Weatherford College won't have to travel far to complete a bachelor's degree. Midwestern State University is now offering classes at the Wise County campus.

Administrators from the two institutions marked the new partnership with a press conference June 14 at the Weatherford College Wise County campus. The agreement is aimed to ease the transfer for students moving from WC associate degrees into selected baccalaureate programs at MSU by allowing students to earn both degrees on the same campus. The agreement also provides residents of Wise County access to both a quality community college and a quality university.

"Weatherford College is honored to partner with Midwestern State University, and we are looking forward to many successful years together at our Wise County Campus," said Weatherford College President Dr. Kevin Eaton. "I would like to thank Judge Clark for opening the dialog between WCWC and Midwestern State. I give him all of the credit for bringing this idea to fruition. "

MSU will offer upper level teacher education and respiratory classes this fall. The partnership will also provide an online adult completion program for individuals with workforce education, vocational-technical training and/or professional experience in occupational fields. Courses will be delivered in a combination of formats including face-to-face, interactive television, online and hybrid. As the market and partnership evolves, additional programs and course delivery options will be offered.

"Our goal is for our institutions to partner in the same physical space to offer place-bound students new opportunities," said MSU President Suzanne Shipley. "Working adults and students with family responsibilities can complete these career-oriented degrees to attain professional advancement.  Our collaboration will lead to a more educated workforce graduating with lower debt than is common with a traditional educational pathway."

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently launched its 60x30TX higher education strategic plan to help boost the state's focus on job creation and economic development. The overarching goal of the plan is that by 2030 at least 60 percent of Texans age 25-34 will have a degree or certificate. As such, the WC and MSU partnership will allow for greater participation in the goals by providing high-quality programs for educationally underserved adults and developing practices to encourage individuals with more than 50 semester credit hours to return and complete a degree or certificate.

Another of the 60x30TX goals is that undergraduate student loan debt will not exceed 60 percent of the first-year wages for graduates of Texas public institutions. By sharing locations Weatherford College and Midwestern State will extend their notable affordability plans to the students. Students taking two years at WC and two years at MSU at the shared location could save as much as $10,000 in their first two years.

Midwestern State University, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, is recognized as a public liberal arts university with strong programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences as well as accredited professional programs in mechanical engineering, social work, nursing, radiologic science, respiratory care, athletic training and business, among others. Midwestern State is the only Texas university to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC). Students at Midwestern State choose from more than 60 majors.

Established in 1869, Weatherford College is the oldest continuing community college in the southwest. WC serves Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood, Wise and Jack counties with four campuses locations and a variety of credit and continuing education courses including agriculture, behavioral science, health science, public safety and education.

To learn more about admission and program offerings, contact the MSU Office of Admissions at 800-842-1922.