Weatherford College is burgeoning into a season of unprecedented growth. With nearly 8,000 students, this historic academic institution was built in 1869 and stands as the oldest continuous community college west of the Mississippi River. It is also the single largest economic driver in Parker County.
In recent years, the college has garnered attention by adding five bachelor’s degrees, developing strategic graduate partnerships with other esteemed institutions, and boasting an annual budget in the realm of $100 million.
Much of this success has come in tandem with its president, Dr. Tod Allen Farmer, a graduate of both Weatherford High School and Weatherford College. Dr. Farmer is a first-generation college graduate who attributes the trajectory of his life to the school.
“Weatherford College forever changed my life for the better,” he recalls fondly.
After earning degrees from Tarleton State University and a doctorate from the University of North Texas, Dr. Farmer worked in the Texas A&M University system for over a decade. His most recent position was a coveted spot as the Tarleton State University Chief of Staff and a tenured graduate professor in the field of educational administration.
“I was approaching retirement eligibility,” he explains. “I thought that coming home to Weatherford College for a few years would provide me with the opportunity to give back to an institution that had given me so much. My colleagues thought that I was absolutely crazy to give up a tenured position in one of the most respected university systems in the country to come to a community college. I can now say it was one of the greatest decisions of my life.”
It was a move that has greatly impacted the community of Weatherford. Dr. Farmer has championed first-time college attendees and those who might not have been able to afford college otherwise—perhaps glimpsing a bit of himself in these students.
“A staggering 88% of our students now receive grants or scholarships,” he shares. “Our bachelor’s degrees cost less than half the price of the most affordable university-based bachelor's programs. I am passionately committed to providing our students with the opportunity to earn a high-quality degree at an affordable price.”
During his eight-year stint as president of Weatherford College, Dr. Farmer has incorporated the current state maximum of five bachelor’s degrees. The school has also added high-tech workforce and allied health programs, including cardiac sonography, cyber security, robotics, and automation engineering. And the expansion will continue.
Over the next decade, Dr. Farmer and his team intend to petition the state to remove their cap on degree count. This plan to dramatically expand educational opportunities for students would also increase the supply of highly qualified workers required by the thriving Parker County business community.
“I am especially excited about our graduate degree partnerships with prestigious universities from across the country,” Dr. Farmer discloses. “Students may now earn master’s degrees and even doctorates without ever leaving Weatherford. For example, through a partnership with The University of Texas at Arlington, bachelor’s students may earn a PhD in Nursing from UTA without ever leaving Weatherford. Additionally, our newest partnership with The University of North Texas Health Science Center allows our joint students to become physicians in a total of seven years.”
It’s a remarkable feat. But, for Dr. Farmer, the greatest accomplishment of all comes from the caliber of his team and the individuals graduating from the college.
“Weatherford College is a place where ordinary people do extraordinary things,” he says. “One cannot truly understand just how unique this special place is until you become a part of our family. If a student is willing to work hard, that student can change their life at Weatherford College.”