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- Research conducted and published by faculty at West Texas A&M University
- Posters from the annual Cornette Library Faculty Research Poster Session and Research Fair.
- Open Educational Resources at West Texas A&M University
- Documentation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent Submissions
Local Direct Democracy and Ballot Roll-off in the Age of Trump: Untangling the November 2020 Amarillo Propositions
(2021-11-12) Dave Rausch; Mary Rausch
In November 2020, voters in Amarillo, Texas, were asked to decide three ballot propositions in addition to casting votes for President, members of Congress, and members of the Texas Legislature. The three propositions were a $275 million bond issue, a proposal to lengthen the terms of members of the city council from two years to four years, and to change the number of city council meetings required per year. Two of the propositions failed to gain majority support while one of the propositions was approved by voters. This paper examines the relationship among the vote for President, ballot roll-off, and the failure and success of the ballot propositions. The present research is the start of an investigation that will conclude with an examination of the cast ballot records when they become available to the public.
Thinking a Ranch Backwards: The History of the Barrel and Indian Creek Ranch
(Center for the Study of the American West, 2023-05-27) Marin Bullock; Alex Hunt
The Barrel and Indian Creek Ranch (BICR), as it exists today, has about 150 years of history as ranching country, but did not always exist in its current form. Instead, the ranch’s history partakes of the larger trend, having been first part of a massive, ill-defined range and then subject to breakups and patchwork ownership over the years. In fact, Barrel and Indian Creek began as part of the great JA Ranch, product of the 1877 partnership between John George Adair and Charles Goodnight. But while we will come to this legendary partnership, we took the approach of moving backward, historically, in tracking the shifting terrain of ownership of what has come to be known as Barrel and Indian Creek Ranch. Therefore, this reverse-history will begin with the contemporary scene.
Environmental crisis in the Panhandle of Texas: The tale of Buffalo Lake
(Center for the Study of the American West, 2022-05-22) Erasme da Cruz
Buffalo Lake, once an artificial oasis in the semi-arid region of the Panhandle of Texas enjoyed by a multitude of people and animals alike, has been a dry lakebed filled by weeds instead of water for several decades. Nowadays known as Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, this area represents a nearly forgotten reminder of the negative impact that unchecked human activity can have on the environment. My research revealed that few papers tackled and raised enough awareness about this issue, serving as a cautionary tale. The demise of Buffalo Lake is not an isolated event. Throughout the world, several bodies of water continue to be affected by anthropogenic factors. Therefore, I use a series of newspaper clips and scientific papers spanning from 1939 to 2013 to bring attention to the matter. I argue that the history of Buffalo Lake represents the perfect storm of pollution, lack of accountability, the economy versus the environment debate, overconsumption of water as a resource, and climate change. These aforementioned factors ultimately led to the loss of what could have remained a vibrant and essential recreational facility in West Texas but now lays bare.
When the Faculty Feels Like Family: The Role of the Principal-Teacher Relationship in Rural School Improvement
(December 2023) Wheeler, Danella Kay 1974-; Bigham, Gary; Bigham, Gary; Hindman, Janet; Nix, Jerry V.
The research focus of the scholarly delivery is the principal-teacher relationship in rural schools during times of mandated school improvement. The first scholarly deliverable is a case study that can be used for teaching doctoral or master’s candidates in the field of educational leadership. The title of this article is “When a Teacher Chooses Non-Compliance: Harnessing the Power of the Principal-Teacher Relationship”. This case study uses the story of a new rural school principal’s conflict with one of her teachers to highlight the importance of building trust and using effective communication to strengthen the principal-teacher relationship. The final scholarly deliverable is an empirical article titled “When Faculty Feels Like Family: The Role of the Principal-Teacher Relationship in Rural School Improvement”. This article details how two rural Texas principals used positive relationships to garner academic growth on their campuses.
Reaching Adult Learners Located in Rural and Remote Areas through Community College Branch Campuses in Texas
(December 2023) Walton, Ilene J. 1964-; Hindman, Janet; Hindman, Janet; Johnson, Brad; Nix, Jerry V.
Due to the need for more qualified and credentialed employees, Texas introduced a new funding model that encourages community colleges to seek new ways to provide the local workforce with credentials of value (McGee, 2022, McGee, 2023). Community colleges are being asked to expand their educational focus to include all working-age adults, often called nontraditional students or adult learners. Through a strategic plan, community colleges may use their branch campuses in rural and remote areas to meet the challenge of educating adult learners proposed in the new funding model. This qualitative research used narrative inquiry described by Connelly and Clandinin (2006) and thematic analysis methodologies and approaches recommended by Braun and Clarke (2023) to identify ways community college branch campuses might recruit, educate, and provide credentials of value to adult learners in rural and remote areas, to meet the growing needs of the expanding Texas workforce outlined in the 2023 higher education funding model. This study identified barriers and aligned various ways by which branch campuses might effectively serve adult and nontraditional students in rural areas.