WT Classes to Resume Aug. 25; Welcoming Activities Slated for New, Returning Students

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Several weeks of engaging activities will greet new and returning students for the fall 2025 semester at West Texas A&M University.

Classes resume Aug. 25 on both the Canyon campus at Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center.

Following the official Move-In Day on Aug. 21, new and transfer students will take part in Buff Branding activities Aug. 21 to 23.

“The start of the fall semester is the greatest time of year,” said Dr. Chris Thomas, vice president for student affairs. “It is full of hopes, dreams, fears and excitement about all that is possible. Seeing students back on campus after the summer is a wonderful sight. They bring a joy and energy to WT that is impossible to beat.”

The traditional welcoming event, part of the students’ orientation experience, is designed to equip students with what they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom, said Amanda Lawson, senior director of orientation and academic success.

“We understand that all students—whether they’re an extrovert, an introvert or a little of both—may feel anxious or nervous about starting classes, so our Buff Branding events are designed to answer their questions, set their expectations and officially brand them as members of the Buffalo family,” Lawson said.

Students will be officially greeted during the first two days of classes by faculty and staff volunteers, who’ll help guide them to classrooms and answer any last-minute questions.

Students may participate in several events through the University’s Start Strong Initiative, which offers intentional programming designed to help students with their social adjustment to college life.

Student organizations and other groups will host a variety of welcome events, including a movie night at Cornette Library, a tour of Canyon and visit to the weekly farmers market, and a Back-to-School Job Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28 on the Charles K. and Barbara Kerr Vaughan Pedestrian Mall.

Those activities culminate in the first West Is Best Fest, set to run from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 3 along 26th Street. The students-only carnival will include DJs, a Ferris wheel, food trucks, a giant slide and $1,000 in prize giveaways, all leading up to the first home WT Football game of the season on Sept. 4.

In addition to activities, students will be welcomed back to campus with important new upgrades to several buildings.

The University Dining Hall is undergoing a $3.1 million upgrade, adding new serving lines, equipment and six entrée stations—all expected to open in September.

Three residence halls received about $2.6 million in upgrades. Cross and Jones Halls each now offer super-single rooms, with one bed, desk, armoire, and side table in each unit, offering maximum space for students to create their own living environments. Cross Hall also received new elevators, and Shirley Hall has new lighting, freshly painted rooms, new water fountains and other upgrades.

Engaging and retaining the best students is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $165 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—