Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan said Fredericksburg is a good match for wine and hospitality management and that investments in those areas will be studied. — Standard-Radio Post/Ken Esten Cooke
By Ken Esten Cooke —
Texas Tech University Chancellor Robert Duncan visited Fredericksburg on Friday, Jan. 15 to learn about the system’s regional sites and the Hill Country market.
Duncan met with representatives at Hill Country University Center from Texas Tech University-Fredericksburg’s campus departments, such as fine arts, and with program leaders, such as those in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
“I can’t tell you how impressed and inspired I am to see what this community has done for this campus,” Duncan told a crowd of about 100 people at a meet-and-greet on Friday evening. “I talked to a group about how the Texas Tech system has been able to capitalize on the education initiatives and utilize the resources of our communities. We don’t have a Dallas or Houston or a San Antonio with the big population base, but we have to pool our populations to be able to accomplish good things, and we’ve been able to do that. Fredericksburg and this campus plays a part in that idea of expanding education to all students in the Texas Tech system.”
Duncan praised locals who spearheaded the effort to build the Hill Country University Center, many with no connections to Texas Tech.
“These are people in the community who believe education is the best investment for a community,” he said. “I thank those who are involved and giving to the foundation. It shows your commitment to young people. And we’re committed to this region.”
Duncan sat down with the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post to talk about the university’s efforts here.
Q&A
What brings you to town?
I try to get around to all our campuses. This campus is a unique opportunity for both TTU and the Hill Country and the programs we provide here, and there is some uniqueness and opportunity in what can be done. We’re here talking ideas, talking growth, talking the future and also expressing our commitment to these campuses.
What are some of those short- and long-term goals for this campus?
Long term, these types of programs typically are supported strongly by the community like this program has been. We want to continue to inspire that growth through community investment in the program, as well as our commitment to ensure that the funding sources we have available support what we’re doing here and help it continue to grow.
I like to talk about commitment with respect to our health science centers, in that our health science centers had to utilize community-based models and community resources to help build those programs.
... and shorter-term?
Likewise, whenever you’re building these types of programs, typically the community, even though they may not be Texas Tech persons, they invest in what Tech can do for the community. Those partnerships are very important. The state of Texas has been more forward thinking than other states in investing in higher education. Generally, the legislature has supported it. If we want to grow and exceed the expectations people had when they started these programs, we need to be able to find people who want to invest. Our goal is to grow this program.
How can regional campuses stay focused on growth?
It’s not just in the legislative process, but growing it through investment and those who have an interest in what we’re doing and having them invest. You know, an endowment is a powerful thing. And if you had the right endowment here, that’s how we can grow this program and perpetuate this program.
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