Texas Tech University

According to the school, a new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions. Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, pushing the university closer to the ultimate goal of attaining Tier One status. Texas Tech's total research expenditures continue to rise. The largest student enrollments occurred in the fall semesters of 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively—numbers like that cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students.

Quality students need a top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators. In 2013, ten faculty members were awarded grants from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, the most in the university's 90-year history. Through the Fulbright program, these educators have been bestowed the opportunity to work side-by-side with researchers worldwide, promoting educational collaboration. Texas Tech also has three National Academy members on faculty at the Whitacre College of Engineering. This honour is considered one of the highest among professional engineers. One of the National Academy members was also appointed as the new holder of the Jack Maddox Distinguished Engineering Chair in Sustainable Energy.

Texas Tech is constantly reaching necessary benchmarks to make it even more of a national presence in research. In May of 2012, the university met the criteria to receive a share of Texas's National Research University Fund (NRUF). Inclusion in the fund moves Tech closer to attaining Tier One status. New research partnerships create unparalleled academic collaborations for the university to make strides in many areas.

Since 1970, Texas Tech has been a trailblazer in wind science. The university created the National Wind Institute (NWI) to support better interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities in wind science, engineering, and energy. The institute combines the former Wind Science and Engineering research centre (WISE) and the Texas Wind Energy Institute. Texas Tech also houses newly commissioned turbines at the Department of Energy/Sandia Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWIFT) Facility. The SWIFT facility is only one of its kind globally and gives the U.S. a significant advantage in reducing wind energy costs.

Texas Tech has one of the largest petroleum engineering departments in the nation and, in 2014, opened the Terry Fuller Petroleum Engineering Research Building. The $20 million project houses 40,000-square feet of formal teaching environments with hands-on applications and modern research facilities. University researchers have developed innovative ways to stimulate natural gas and oil well production through hydraulic fracturing (fracking.) Texas Tech's Office of Technology Commercialization has filed two patent applications to protect these methods. It is actively working with oil and gas companies to use these improved rock fracturing techniques.

Texas Tech is a leader in community outreach and engagement. The university and the Lubbock Independent School District, along with multiple community partners, celebrated a $24 million Promise Neighborhood grant from the U.S. Department of Education. There are only seven Promise Neighborhood grantees across the nation, and the East Lubbock Neighborhood consortium will receive funding over five years.