Texas Tech University in Abilene Adjusts Offerings to Meet Student Needs
December 21, 2009
By: John Davis
Students can access credit hours for several other master’s degree programs through
Texas Tech’s University College.
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 ofthe Department of Computer Science, (806) 742-3527, or joseph.urban@ttu.edu.