Texas Tech University in Abilene Adjusts Offerings to Meet Student Needs

Due to changing student needs, officials at Texas Tech University at Abilene announced Monday (Dec. 21) that the branch will no longer offer classes with face-to-face instruction for master’s degrees in computer science and software engineering, or the doctoral degree in computer science. However, students still will be able to access credit hours for a master’s degree in software engineering and several other master’s degree programs through Texas Tech’s University College, formerly the College of Outreach and Distance Education. Joseph Urban, chairman of the Department of Computer Science, said the site currently serves 11 students and houses five faculty members and three full-time staff members. In addition to teaching class in Abilene, the five faculty members have taught Texas Tech computer science graduate and undergraduate students in Lubbock through the distance-learning link. “We will develop individual degree plans to ensure that the students currently enrolled in Abilene will have the opportunity to complete their degrees in a timely fashion,” Urban said. “Our faculty members will return to Lubbock. The Master of Science in Software Engineering degree program is still available in Abilene through the distance-learning program.” Along with the master’s in software engineering, Abilene’s distance-learning programs will include:

• a master’s degree in systems and engineering management
• a master’s degree in software engineering
• a master’s degree with any departmental option in the engineering college
• a graduate certificate in wind energy with either managerial or technical track

For Texas Tech administrators, this was a very hard decision, said Matt Baker, dean of University College. “We explored what was economically feasible with the primary goal of serving our students,” Baker said. “We feel it is ultimately the right one for the people of the Abilene community and the greater Texas Tech community.” Texas Tech University, the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA) and Abilene Independent School District’s first class of its New Tech High School have a contractual agreement to operate out of the downtown site, located at 302 Pine St. Texas Tech is committed to this agreement through the end of the AISD school year. In addition, this decision will not impact Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center operations, which have shared space in the Abilene facility. Texas Tech University at Abilene is a teaching facility and research site that opened in 2002 as a partnership between the DCOA, the city of Abilene, local foundations and Texas Tech. CONTACT: Matt Baker, dean of University College, (806) 742-7202 ext. 254 or matt.baker@ttu.edu. Joseph Urban, chairman of the Department of Computer Science, (806) 742-3527, or joseph.urban@ttu.edu.