Campuses
Texas Tech University is the largest institution in the Texas Tech University System, with an enrollment of more than 41,000 students. Its main campus is located in Lubbock, Texas, and the university operates several other locations throughout the state, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco, El Paso, Junction, Fredricksburg, Marble Falls, and Amarillo. Texas Tech University also has a campus in San Jose, Costa Rica as well as the Texas Tech University Center in Sevilla, Spain.
With a population of more than 260,000, Lubbock is in the heart of the South Plains of West Texas. The city is a major regional hub for many industries with year-round dynamic events and attractions, including a celebrated music scene, vibrant arts community, and eclectic food.
History
Texas Tech University was created by legislative action in 1923 and has the distinction of being the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of Texas.
Originally named Texas Technological College, Texas Tech opened in 1925 with six buildings and an enrollment of 914 students. Graduate instruction began in 1927 in the School of Liberal Arts. A Division of Graduate Studies was established in 1935, which became known as the Graduate School in 1954.
By action of the Texas State Legislature, Texas Technological College formally became Texas Tech University on September 1, 1969. At that time, the schools of Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, and Home Economics also became known as “colleges.” Architecture became a college in 1986. Two colleges changed their names in 1993 to reflect the broadening fields each serves: the College of Agricultural Sciences became the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, and the College of Home Economics became the College of Human Sciences. The Honors College was established in 1998, and the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts opened in 2002. Media & Communication became a college in 2004.
The legislature authorized funds in 1965 to establish the Texas Tech University School of Law. The first class of 72 students enrolled in 1967. The law school was approved by the American Bar Association in 1970 and is fully accredited by the Supreme Court of Texas (1968) and the Association of American Law Schools (1969).
In 2019, the Texas Legislature appropriated $17.35 million to Texas Tech University and directed the institution to undertake the steps necessary to open the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). Located in Amarillo, the SVM welcomed its inaugural class in the Fall of 2021.
As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Texas Tech began competing in the Big 12 Conference in 1996 after a 35-year membership in the Southwest Conference.
Texas Tech was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1928 and has been accredited continuously since that time.
The following have been presidents of Texas Tech: Paul Whitfield Horn (1925-1932), Bradford Knapp (1932-1938), Clifford Bartlett Jones (1938-1944), William Marvin Whyburn (1944-1948), Dossie Marion Wiggins (1948-1952), Edward Newlon Jones (1952-1959), Robert Cabaniss Goodwin (1960-1966), Grover Elmer Murray (1966-1976), Maurice Cecil Mackey Jr., (1976-1979), Lauro Fred Cavazos (1980-1988), Robert W. Lawless (1989-1996), Donald R. Haragan (1996-2000), David J. Schmidly (2000-2002), Jon Whitmore (2003-2008), Guy Bailey (2008-2012), M. Duane Nellis (2013-2016), and Lawrence E. Schovanec (2016-present).
Financial Support
Texas Tech University is a public institution that receives a portion of its operating funds from the Texas State Legislature as well as student tuition and fees. State-appropriated funds are made available for the construction and renovation of academic and general buildings from the Higher Education Fund and the Capital Construction Assistance Projects funding. State-appropriated funds are also used to provide salary support for faculty and staff. State-appropriated funds are not used to support auxiliary departments such as residence halls, intercollegiate athletics, health services, the Student Union, or the University Recreation Center.
Student tuition and fees, along with gifts and grants from private individuals and organizations, provide critical additional funding to support scholarships and fellowships, faculty research, student services, student activities, and campus facilities.
Organizational Structure
A nine-member Board of Regents governs Texas Tech University, Angelo State University, Midwestern State University, and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centers in Lubbock and El Paso. The Governor of the State of Texas appoints the Regents to six-year terms. The terms of office of three Regents expire every two years. The university’s governance, control, and direction are vested in the Regents, who appoint a Chancellor to carry out the System’s policies as determined by the Regents. The Chancellor appoints a president for each institution in the System. The presidents are chief executive officers of their respective institutions and are responsible for the strategic operation of each institution.
Texas Tech University is home to the Graduate School ; School of Law; School of Veterinary Medicine; University Studies ; Honors College ; Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources ; Huckabee College of Architecture ; Rawls College of Business ; Whitacre College of Engineering ; Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts ; and the Colleges of Arts & Sciences , Education , Health and Human Sciences , and Media & Communication . Each college is administered by a dean and consists of many instructional departments or areas.
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