WICHITA FALLS, TX — Wayland Baptist University has reached a significant milestone as its Wichita Falls off campus instructional site commemorates 50 years of service to the local community and Sheppard Air Force Base.
A ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating a half century of educational service and community partnership, is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Wayland’s Call Field location, 4110 Call Field Road.
Jerry Faught, Executive Director and Campus Dean at WBU-Wichita Falls, plans to speak before the ribbon is cut, reflecting on the history of the off campus instructional site and its future. Underlining the strong community ties WBU has fostered through the years, Gold Coat Ambassadors and staff from the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce plan to be on hand for the ceremony.
Wayland’s Wichita Falls off campus instructional site began in 1974 at Sheppard Air Force Base, launching innovative programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education, tailored for active-duty military personnel, veterans, and community members. Through the decades, the site has expanded its academic offerings and facilities, responding to the evolving needs of its students and embracing the shift toward online education while maintaining robust in-person instruction at the Call Field location.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also acknowledge former and current staff members who have contributed to the campus’s success, including Dr. Elane Seebo, former director of the Wichita Falls campus. A light lunch will be served following the ceremony, providing an opportunity for attendees to reminisce and celebrate the campus’s achievements and enduring legacy.
“We are immensely proud of our longstanding history here in Wichita Falls and are committed to continuing our tradition of excellence and community service,” Dr. Faught said. “As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to building on our recent gains in enrollment and expanding our reach to new student populations.”
Wayland’s Wichita Falls site has awarded approximately 5,400 undergraduate degrees and close to 1,000 graduate degrees in its 50 years, standing as a testament to its impact on the educational landscape of Texas.
Although Wayland began offering law enforcement classes in Lubbock several years earlier, the Wichita Falls site at Sheppard Air Force Base was the first external program campus for Wayland and truly a pioneering effort for the university as one of the first institutions to offer a program on a military installation. It was the beginning of a Wayland system that now also includes on-site classes in Lubbock, Amarillo, and San Antonio in Texas, as well as Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii. These are in addition to traditional classes at the home campus in Plainview as well as online classes offered globally.
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