In July the Amarillo EDC approved an expansion grant for West Texas A&M University. The University will receive more than $2 million over the next five years to support its new downtown Amarillo extension campus. The grant will pay for five years of rent and the first year of operation expenses for the new location on 10th and 11th floors of the Chase Tower, which rises 31 stories at 600 S. Taylor St.
"We're extremely pleased with the support we've received from the Amarillo community for this project," WT president Dr. J. Patrick O'Brien said."This grant allows us to provide a first-class operation with comparable services to what is offered at our main campus."
"This is an ideal situation for Amarillo," said Buzz David, president and CEO of Amarillo EDC. "The activity this center will bring dovetails nicely with our redevelopment efforts in downtown."
The Chase Tower space is being renovated to contain 10 classrooms, a computer lab, a student study, lounge area and nine offices. West Texas A&M will offer 31 graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses this fall from the center. The courses are business- and education-related classes, geared toward working professionals.
The University currently has 400 students enrolled and expects to enroll 460 students by this fall. Staff will move in on August 1st and classes will begin on August 25th. West Texas A&M University in the Chase Tower
