Mission Statement
Weatherford College embraces a culture of excellence, fostering the success of all of its students and enriching the communities it serves through innovative, affordable, and accessible learning and cultural opportunities.
Expanded Mission and Purpose Statement
As a publicly supported, comprehensive community college, Weatherford College primarily serves the needs of the citizens of its service area through teaching, public service, and learning and cultural experiences.
Weatherford College offers courses pursuant to a spectrum of educational goals:
- Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees
- Associate of Arts degree
- Associate of Science degree
- Associate of Applied Science degrees
- Field of Study transfer majors
- Core transfer curriculum
- Workforce training
- Adult literacy and other basic skills
- Personal enrichment
Weatherford College maintains a culture of caring that encourages student pursuit of educational excellence. The College offers counseling and guidance to help students identify and attain their personal goals.
Weatherford College requires professional development of all full-time employees and encourages research to seek out, develop, and implement methods to improve student learning. Weatherford College also conducts research to ensure that the College offers programs that contribute to the cultural and economic wellbeing of the service area citizens.
Weatherford College fosters a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. The college embraces continuous improvement through systematic and regular planning, execution, assessment, and improvement.
History
Weatherford College, established in 1869, is the oldest continuing public community college west of the Mississippi River. The college celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019.
During the first 20 years of its existence, WC was controlled by the Phoenix Masonic Lodge. The Masons of Texashad been interested in education of the youth of Texas and Parker County for many years. For this reason, the committee recommended to the members of the Lodge in March of 1869 that a brick structure 50 x 75 feet and two stories high be constructed for the use of both the lodge and a school. The building was estimated to cost $12,000 and was to be named the Weatherford Masonic Institute.
Despite a very optimistic beginning, Phoenix Lodge soon was beset with financial problems, which would continue into the next 20 years. On May 23, 1885, Phoenix Lodge sold the Masonic Institute to M. C. Brown, and he leased the building to the Methodist church. The Trustees changed the name to Cleveland College in hopes that it might influence U.S. President Grover Cleveland to provide some financial support. It was noted that his support consisted of only 1,000 bound copies of the Congressional Record.
Meanwhile, at its annual meeting in 1873, the Weatherford District Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South had passed a resolution authorizing the formation of a high school for Granbury and the authority to erect a three-story stone building to house the school. This school, too, was faced with financial difficulties, and in order to increase revenue, junior college courses were added, and Granbury College was born September 1881. David S. Switzer was elected president. The only Methodist Junior College in West Texas and very popular with the people of Granbury, the college grew in the next five years. However, in January 1887, the main building and all its contents were destroyed by fire.
Granbury College immediately initiated a rebuilding program, but because of severe drought, the money was not available. With no funds for rebuilding or to retire the mortgage, President Switzer recommended that the College look for a new home.
One of the interested citizens of Granbury reported that a friend of his from Weatherford had called and told him the college property in Weatherford was for sale. Mr. Brown had been unable to make payments on his note for Cleveland College, and the college had reverted back to the Phoenix Lodge. This citizen committed to use his influence to move Granbury College to Weatherford “if the citizens of Granbury would purchase the property and furnish a certain amount of money sufficient to repair the present building for school purposes.”
Within four days, the citizens of Granbury complied with his request, and the Weatherford District Conference of the Methodist Church purchased the property, immediately changing the name from Cleveland College to Weatherford College. Thus ended the existence of Granbury College and its 16-year history. However, it was renewed under the name of Weatherford College as its president and faculty became Weatherford College’s first president and faculty.
Weatherford College existed as a Methodist college from 1889 until 1901 when it became a training school. It was officially called the Weatherford College Training School for Boys, and later, upon the admission of girls, was changed to Weatherford College Training School. In 1921, Weatherford College was reorganized and became a junior college, offering college transfer courses once again.
In December 1943, Weatherford College was merged with Southwestern University in Georgetown. This relationship continued until June 1949 when WC was released to the county of Parker. The State Board of Education approved the creation of a junior college district on July 11, 1949. This action allowed the College to receive financial assistance from the State of Texas.
The College officially serves the citizens of Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood, Jack and Wise counties.
Weatherford College currently has Education Centers in Mineral Wells and Granbury, and the new campus between Decatur and Bridgeport which opened in the fall 2012. Additionally, expansion into Eastern Parker County is in its early planning stages with the WC Board of Trustees approving in 2008 the purchase of 30 acres adjacent to the property bought by the Aledo ISD. A WC branch campus could be built on that site in the future.