A Message from Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., Welcoming MSU Texas

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June 8, 2021

Dear Texas Tech University System family, friends and alumni,

For nearly two years, one of our most significant priorities has been growing the Texas Tech University System family through pursuing a partnership with Midwestern State University, a long-established, independent public higher education institution headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas.

This has been a thorough and thoughtful process that received an overwhelming positive response from our stakeholders and ultimately required official legislative action to formalize this fitting partnership.

I write to you today to share the good news that Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 1522, authorizing the transfer of MSU Texas to the TTU System, effective Sept. 1, 2021.

We are so grateful for the vision and support from the entire TTU System, the MSU Texas faculty, staff, students and alumni and our elected officials who made this partnership a reality. I would like to thank MSU Texas President Suzanne Shipley, the MSU Texas Board of Regents led by Chairman Caven Crosnoe and our TTU System Board of Regents for their collaborative efforts throughout this process. I also want to express gratitude to Governor Abbott, and to State Representative James Frank and State Senator Drew Springer, who authored and sponsored the legislation that made this achievement possible.

This historic accomplishment grows the footprint and impact of our collective system, which gains a tremendous partner in higher education with MSU Texas. Founded in 1922, MSU Texas has evolved into a comprehensive public university, enrolling almost 6,000 students and offering more than 60 majors, several pre-professional programs and, as part of the Lone Star Conference, 13 NCAA Division II athletic programs.

MSU Texas will become our fifth member institution since the TTU System was founded, joining Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. The addition of MSU Texas furthers our collective mission of educating future generations of leaders and advancing higher education, health care, research and community outreach across the state. With a commitment to offering an affordable, accessible and exceptional educational experience to its students, MSU Texas possesses values that closely align with the culture of our system and our universities.

Over the summer, our teams at the TTU System Administration and MSU Texas will be working together to make this transition as smooth as possible.

We look forward to officially welcoming the MSU Texas community to the TTU System family and building on this partnership in the years to come. Thank you to everyone who has played a key role in achieving this partnership.

Warmest regards,

Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Chancellor
Texas Tech University System