President's Report 2021-2022

TARLETON RISING

It didn’t happen overnight, this rise to the top. It started in slow motion. Now the throttle is wide open.

We’re igniting lasting scholarship, fueling life-changing research and turbo-charging economic growth. All at rocket speed.

Opportunity is rising. More than 15,000 students call Tarleton home in fall 2022 — nearly a 14 percent increase in three years. They come from across the street and around the world.

Discovery is rising. Faculty trailblazers and student explorers are boosting quality of life. Research funding is at an all-time high.

Learning is rising. Fourteen new market-responsive majors have been added since 2019 (six in fall 2022). Watch for more.

Reputation is rising. Athletics. The arts. Innovation. Instruction. We belong with America’s great public universities.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS. TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

ris·ing

rī-zi adjective

1. Ascending or advancing. 2. Developing or emerging. 3. Increasing in power or influence.

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PRESIDENT

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

Never have we experienced a year like this one. In every measure of impact, Tarleton State University is soaring.

We have gone far beyond what some thought possible, and with grand academic adventures yet to explore.

We could choose to idle, but we’d much rather power on. It’s what John Tarleton would have us do. It’s what our farsighted friends compel us to do. It’s what our students and alumni expect us to do. Our region and state require it.

Today’s challenges cannot be solved with yesterday’s thinking. We must not just enter the future, we must create it.

Tarleton Texans are succeeding at record levels as we maximize their success. Different by design, we’re meeting them at their point of need. We’re building world-class places, incorporating innovative instruction and amplifying financial support.

One of the nation’s fastest growing regional universities, we’re outpacing our peers as the first-choice destination for anyone seeking a university degree. Fall 2022 enrollment hit an all-time high just north of 15,000 students, and the Class of 2026 is the largest and most diverse and academically well-prepared group of incoming first-time students in our 123 years.

Expert researchers — faculty and students — continue to develop solutions that address critical challenges, as befits our elevated status of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Membership in the impactful Association of Public and Land-grant Universities underscores Tarleton’s place among the top schools in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Our fresh 10-year accreditation (with no recommendations for improvement) by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges shows Tarleton light years ahead in providing life-changing educational opportunities. And Tarleton Forward 2030: Our Future-Focused Strategic Plan is a launchpad to becoming the premier comprehensive regional university in the country.

We eclipsed our largest-ever comprehensive capital campaign ($100 million) two years ahead of schedule and set a new target of $125 million that coincides with our 125th anniversary in 2024. Taking the next steps excites me as we build on this momentum and soar even higher.

Unprecedented benefactor support and the dedication of our alumni, students, faculty and staff make possible these accomplishments and those you’ll experience in this report. I love working alongside each of you as we push the boundaries of what’s possible and reveal new galaxies in higher education.

Dr. James Hurley

LEARNING

ON THE RISE

Bright minds don’t just go to Tarleton. They take Tarleton with them. They spearhead businesses and lead nonprofits, care for the sick and educate young people, preserve natural resources and fight cybercrime, and excel in the arts and athletics.

Distinguished faculty define the forefront of invention and inspiration. They embolden Tarleton Texans to go farther than they think possible and elevate the university to an educational powerhouse.

They’re rocket fuel, these scholars, igniting positive change, scaling the unknowns and boosting quality of life for us all.

SACSCOC has confirmed the rocket’s rise, handing Tarleton a fresh 10-year accreditation with zero recommendations for improvement and no negative findings. Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges signifies that Tarleton has the programs, resources and services to advance discovery and inclusion through scholastic excellence.

True to its 123-year commitment to academic might, Tarleton has introduced 14 new market-responsive majors since 2019 (six in fall 2022) — including legal studies, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and communication sciences and disorders — to connect students to growing professional fields in North Central Texas.

Final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will add a PhD in animal and natural resource sciences to Tarleton’s 100-plus degree options. This will be the first doctoral program for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the fourth for the university. Tarleton’s doctorate of educational leadership, an EdD, debuted

Tarleton’s Mayfield College of Engineering is no ordinary academic facility. Cutting-edge research and industry-standard equipment provide unique learning opportunities for students, attract top academic talent and fortify partnerships with industries and corporations.

A Tarleton education begins in the classroom, but it never stops there. We meld theory and practice and research to prepare students for today’s workplace and markets yet imagined.

in 1998; a PhD in criminal justice began in 2019; a PhD in counseling is slated for 2023 (one of eight in Texas).

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners has reaffirmed certification of the business programs at Tarleton. Endorsement by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International places those programs among the top 5 percent of business colleges worldwide. The longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, the AACSB connects educators, students and entrepreneurs to create the next generation of leaders.

Tarleton’s nationally recognized School of Engineering — more than 1,000 students strong — is now a stand-alone college named in honor of longtime benefactor and retired Lockheed

Although engineering technology has been integral to Tarleton since 1917, the university didn’t have a bachelor’s in engineering (physics) until 2000, followed quickly by computer science and environmental engineering. Academic programming has accelerated since then, with the addition of a master’s program in computer engineering in 2020 and another in mechanical engineering last fall. New undergraduate degrees are planned in aerospace and industrial distribution, as well as master’s programs in construction science and civil and environmental engineering.

Texas A&M-RELLIS has invited Tarleton to offer several engineering programs in Bryan, and expanded offerings can be found in Fort Worth. Doctoral programs in computer science and mechanical engineering are on the horizon.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects engineering jobs to increase 7 percent by 2026. Texas ranks second behind only

Left: Tarleton Texans learn by doing, and undergraduate research abounds. Students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources explore everything from alternative feed for cattle to glaucoma treatments in swine as a model for humans. Above: Opportunities for hands-on physiological and clinical learning put Tarleton’s School of Kinesiology majors at the head of the hiring list.

California in engineers employed, making Tarleton’s Mayfield College of Engineering a launchpad for proficient engineering, technology, construction and computer science professionals.

A rebranded College of Health Sciences is addressing one of the region’s most pressing needs — increased access to quality healthcare. The university’s century-old School of Kinesiology and nationally recognized School of Nursing join the inaugural School of Health and Service Professions in a strategic realignment. The goal: prepare top-shelf healthcare professionals to help rural residents enjoy longer, healthier and more productive lives.

In its special session last fall, the 87th Legislature approved $65 million to construct a College of Health Sciences building on the university’s Stephenville campus and $25 million to expand Tarleton-Fort Worth. A $2 million appropriation in spring 2021 will develop new physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant programs, among others.

Make no mistake, Tarleton State University is on a trajectory to greatness.

They’re rocket fuel, these scholars, igniting positive change, scaling the unknowns and boosting quality of life for us all.

OPPORTUNITY

ON THE RISE

For 123 years the university has remained true to the vision of its founder and benefactor, John Tarleton, to be a first-choice destination for all students. All means all. We are a close-knit family rooted in the spirit and history that make us different by design.

Tarleton Texans raise the standard for extraordinary. Many (50 percent) are reaching new heights as the first in their family to attend college. Some are legacy students following in the footsteps of their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents as proud defenders of the purple and white. Others graduate from the only high school in their rural county, transfer from large urban community college districts or come from distant lands.

They all love Tarleton — its people, its traditions, its commitment to triumphs in and out of the classroom. Enrollment numbers prove it.

Records have improved each semester for the past three years, and fall 2022 saw another all-time high exceeding 15,000 students — up nearly 14 percent from 2019. The Class of 2026, approaching 2,500, is the largest and most diverse and academically well-prepared group of incoming students in Tarleton history. Ninety-six percent are Texas residents, giving the university bragging rights for a student body with the third highest number of Lone Star counties (233) represented.

Almost 40 percent of all Tarleton Texans report an ethnicity other than white. Hispanic students account for 22.4 percent, moving the university closer to becoming an Hispanic-Serving Institution. Eighty-five percent of all students receive some form of financial assistance, and almost 40 percent are Pell Grant eligible.

Left: With enrollment approaching 2,200, Tarleton-Fort Worth serves a varied student population of working adults, community college graduates and returning students. If growth continues as expected, the campus could enroll 10,000 by 2030. Above: Thousands of successful Texans know that a diploma, a gown and a tasseled cap are just the beginning of a rise to the top.

More than a bold idea, the one Tarleton family cultivates a diverse population filled with ardent ambition and daring dreams. Everyone is valued and supported.

Dozens of programs ensure Texan success, including support for first-generation and transfer students; advanced hands-on learning opportunities; supplemental instruction, mentoring and tutoring; integrated intercultural experiences; student advocacy; counseling and health services; disability resources; and initiatives focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum.

Because Tarleton prioritizes a high-quality education over the ability to pay for it, partnerships with regional school districts and two-year colleges — Distinguished High School Partners and Distinguished College Partners — ensure that no talent is left behind. Both programs provide guaranteed scholarships for students meeting qualifications. Almost 220 high schools and 36 community college campuses participate, with others expected this year.

A celebration last fall commemorated Tarleton’s pioneering partnership with McLennan Community College in Waco. The two have shared space for more than 20 years in MCC’s University Center, creating seamless degree paths for students to begin at McLennan, then transfer to Tarleton to

complete their bachelor’s. They save dollars and class hours, and can stay close to home. Two decades ago Tarleton’s MCC enrollment was less than three dozen. Today it’s just short of 1,000, with more than 4,000 graduates since the collaboration began.

Similar to an earlier agreement with Southwestern Oklahoma State University, high-achieving science, biology, chemistry and engineering students at Howard Payne University are guaranteed acceptance to Tarleton’s master of science in environmental science program. Students are eligible for scholarships their first semester.

Tarleton is well aware that its bright future of possibility and promise hinges on more than academic partnerships, more than record-breaking enrollment, more than a diverse population. Unlimited opportunity and unhindered access demand an inclusive, shared culture where every member of the Tarleton family listens, thinks and acts out of respect so that all thrive.

Diversity is the mix. Inclusion makes the mix work.

Left: Ensuring the success of first-generation Tarleton Texans (50 percent of fall 2022 enrollment) is critical to the strength and health of the region. Support begins before they ever see the campus and continues long after graduation. Above: If a picture is worth a thousand words, President James and First Lady Kindall Hurley have written a library. Passionate that higher education should be accessible to anyone who wants a university degree, they are known for engaging students and advocating for their success. Selfies with Tarleton Texans happen all the time.

That’s the foundation for Tarleton’s new Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and International Programs. Cross-divisional partnerships and initiatives are removing barriers that impede academic, personal and professional success and fostering an environment of open dialogue and increased understanding.

DEII peer educators are leading the charge, community service activities are opening the door to new understanding, and there are designated spaces and times for important conversations about how the university family lives, works and learns together.

The higher we rise, the loftier the target for those who yearn to fly.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

DISCOVERY

ON THE RISE

They’re setting new standards of scholarship, incubating new technologies and building for the world a better future — all the while challenging themselves and others to go even higher and accomplish even more.

Their efforts have earned Tarleton the elevated designation of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, putting the university among only 132, or 4 percent, of schools across the country so recognized.

Criteria for the designation consider the number of research/scholarship doctorates awarded annually and a threshold of $5 million in discovery expenditures. Tarleton has graduated more than 130 doctoral students and spent some $60 million in faculty-led research over the past five years.

This fall’s invitation to join the prestigious Association of Public and Land-grant Universities underscores Tarleton’s place among the top schools in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It’s an offer Tarleton didn’t expect until 2026 as outlined in the university’s 10-year strategic plan, but the tenacity of faculty, staff and administration made it happen now.

An uncompromising commitment to transformative research, academic might and student success perfectly complements the APLU mission to improve lives and livelihoods through a university degree. Tarleton is reaching beyond its gates to fuel regional economic growth and benefit the greater good.

A team led by Dr. Eunsung Kan is developing a biochar-assisted phytoremediation system to improve water quality during dairy manure application in three Texas counties, including Erath, home to Tarleton’s Southwest Regional Dairy Center — the only operational teaching and research operation of its kind in the state.

Every day Tarleton’s expert faculty and exceptional student researchers pursue fresh knowledge, solve real world problems and move life-changing breakthroughs from the lab to the marketplace.

The inaugural PERS (President’s Excellence in Research Scholars) Research Symposium — the most attended event of its type in Tarleton history — provided $817,000 to propel 51 student-led research projects from vision to proof of concept in early 2022. Phase Two (an additional $1 million) supports 41 new projects involving 100 students and 68 faculty members.

Among other topics, student explorers and faculty trailblazers are probing plant-based materials to remove microplastics from water; innovative sustainability practices for dairy farms; enhanced rural communications and healthcare; and pollinators and food production.

They’re exploring the use of microbial enzymes found in soil to rid the environment of pesticides and other toxins. They’re surveying threatened turtle populations and collecting tissue samples for genetics work. They’re informing decision-making on complex issues related to crime prevention and the criminal justice process.

Wherever it starts — in a lab on campus, in a field in rural Texas, on the Guadalupe River — Tarleton research finds the same destination: the real world. The results speak for themselves.

Tarleton joins the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and the University of North Texas at Dallas for an interdisciplinary project, funded by the National Science Foundation, that examines how virtual-meeting platforms influence social and cognitive well-being. And Tarleton’s Southwest Regional Dairy Center is part of a $65 million U.S. Department of Agriculture collaboration to maximize climate-smart practices and develop new markets for Texas commodities.

Thirteen Tarleton research centers and institutes are cultivating connections with industry, government agencies and numerous higher education institutions to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

Above: Dr. Billy Gray demonstrates how to calculate the break-even point of a new technology. The lecture was recorded via one of the many lightboards available in Tarleton laboratories. Below: Tarleton researchers are turning DNA samples into part of the solution to save map turtles (Graptemys caglei) , which are found only in the Guadalupe River.

Whether weighing publications, presentations, patents or sponsored funding, Tarleton’s research, innovation and economic development endeavors rival those of the nation’s finest universities.

Tarleton’s Center for Agribusiness Excellence has saved the U.S. Department of Agriculture almost $1.7 billion and generated some $80 million in research funds since its founding in 2020. CAE utilizes superior analytic techniques — machine learning, advanced statistical algorithms, geospatial analysis — for the federal crop insurance program.

Research by the Institute on Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking leads the way in emancipating the world’s most vulnerable. Based on that research, the institute provides training and service learning to practitioners working to combat gender-based violence.

Created by the Legislature three decades ago, Tarleton’s Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research continues to play a vital role in developing water quality models and testing around the world. TIAER projects span 35 U.S. states and Canada, and include partnerships with China, Ecuador, Ethiopia and New Zealand.

Because the stakes are high and the issues critical, the university's Faculty Development and Research Initiative is providing more time for Tarleton professors to transform new knowledge into

groundbreaking solutions by leveraging high-achieving graduate students for instructional capacity. There’s always something new to discover, another idea to investigate.

Whether weighing publications, presentations, patents or sponsored funding, Tarleton’s research, innovation and economic development endeavors rival those of the nation’s finest universities.

The next great engineers, educators, healthcare professionals, creatives, scientists, communicators and entrepreneurs will come from Tarleton State University.

And Tarleton will be the premier comprehensive regional university in the country. Count on it.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

ACHIEVEMENT

ON THE RISE

Tarleton’s

fixed

1899,

Tarleton Texans pursue the unknowns, the what-ifs and the never-been-dones. Their success is our greatest influence. That’s the drive for keeping our historic pledge to help every student reach full potential. That and our deep sense of belonging.

Academic and career communities. Tutoring and mentoring. Leadership and service. Student organizations and club sports. Heritage and history celebrations. All are part of the promise.

Academic and Career Engagement communities help Tarleton Texans get it right, right from the start. Organized by meta-major, ACE communities connect first-time-in-college students by interest and career goals. Instructor mentors create student-centered classroom communities, and students who reside on campus live with peers enrolled in related degree programs. Career coaches share occupational information, and paid peer mentors check in with ACE students weekly.

Success metric: 75 percent of students in Tarleton ACE communities return for year two. Fueled by a two-year grant from the Greater Texas Foundation, the program began in fall 2021. Tarleton President James Hurley has committed additional funding through May 2025.

Another complement to Tarleton’s guarantee to reduce barriers and increase achievement — a $1.97 million U.S. Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions Program Grant — is expanding tutoring services, applied learning experiences, internships and job placement assistance, and it’s enhancing the university’s student-to-advisor ratio. To be distributed over five years, the grant supports Texan Smart, an educational focus on student financial wellness.

An innovative, holistic approach to student well-being, TexConnect, was created to do just what it says — link Tarleton Texans with resources to not only survive but thrive. Student needs, everything from transportation to shelter to food, are handled case by case to ensure top individualized care.

Tarleton students learn together and work together and serve together. From the first day of school, they know they’re part of the Tarleton family.

commitment to student achievement is as

as the North Star. It has been our core mission since

and we are supremely passionate about it.

Above: Greek Life provides multiple opportunities for campus involvement, leadership development and community service. Tarleton is home to 18 fraternities and sororities, with almost 1,000 members. Right: Regardless of the path they choose, Texan cadets leave Tarleton prepared to serve as effective front-runners in a world where commitment, perseverance and teamwork can make all the difference.

No student should have to abandon the higher education dream when confronted with a personal challenge.

More than 150 student organizations bring thousands of possibilities for students to find their place at Tarleton, and substantive leadership and service opportunities provide personal development and community involvement.

Part student military organization and part leadership training (including a minor in leadership studies), the Texan Corps of Cadets is the nation’s only such group not associated with a senior military college. Started in 1917 when Tarleton became a founding member of The Texas A&M University System and re-established in 2016, the corps has more than doubled its enrollment over the past six years.

Following graduation, many Texan cadets commission through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps as officers in the Army — a partnership dating back more than 100 years — or in the Air Force or Marine Corps. Others follow a civilian track called Texan Leader, with no military obligation.

Each fall, cadets join the entire Tarleton family to help area residents with everything from cleaning windows to lawn and garden work. The student-led, student-initiated Round Up enlists some 800 Texans who complete more than 100 service projects, sacrificing nearly 3,000 hours to help

our community. Tarleton Serves, another student-sponsored effort, helps with projects like the university’s annual 9-11 remembrance.

Philanthropy and leadership are mainstays of Greek Life, too, with members of Tarleton’s 18 fraternities and sororities dedicated to the greater good through support and service for nonprofits. Greeks make up more than 75 percent of Texan Reps, Alumni Ambassadors and leaders for orientations and camps.

Several heritage and history months — sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and International Programs — amplify the contributions different cultures and social identities make that enrich the Tarleton family. Purple Table Talks, also arranged by the division, provide opportunities for respectful dialogue on myriad topics.

Organized intramurals, club sports and cutting-edge physical training play out at the Tarleton Rec Center. Add trained and empathetic counselors, vital health services and professional on-campus childcare, and you have the human touches that make Tarleton a home base for humanity’s potential.

There may be a thousand approaches to student achievement, but at Tarleton no doubt exists about its priority — No. 1. That’s not changing.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

There may be a thousand approaches to student achievement, but at Tarleton no doubt exists about its priority — No. 1. That’s not changing.

PLACES

ON THE RISE

With the help of our major philanthropic partners, The Texas A&M University System and the Texas Legislature, we’re building world-class facilities to support the best teaching, research, culture, competition and service. We’re creating classrooms, laboratories, and living and activity facilities that push the university experience into the stratosphere.

Standing proudly on a hill, the Central Administration Building in Fort Worth foreshadowed a new era when it opened as Old Main in 2019, establishing a foothold for success on a parcel of donated land. Now a second building

is rising from the prairie on Tarleton’s 80-acre campus along the Chisholm Trail Parkway.

With more than 100,000 square feet of classroom and specialized lab space, the $66 million Interprofessional Education Building will address the region’s most pressing need — increased access to quality healthcare and education.

The A&M System approved design plans in February, with move-in set for 2024. Construction dollars come from the Permanent University

Tarleton is more than just a place. It is home to exciting other places that invigorate learning, inspire community, empower discovery, ignite spirit and celebrate history.

A second structure on Tarleton’s Fort Worth campus, the Interprofessional Education Building, will expand offerings that address the region’s growing need for healthcare experts and educators. Move-in is set for 2024.

Fund and are part of a system-wide capital plan the Board of Regents approved in 2019.

At the groundbreaking in March, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said the state-of-the-art facility “will absolutely recruit researchers who will tackle the medical and educational challenges of our time — this is how we make a difference.”

More room in Fort Worth means expanded offerings in occupational and physical therapy, speech-language pathology, psychology, nursing, kinesiology, medical

laboratory sciences, teacher education and physician assistant programs.

With an enrollment near 2,200, Tarleton-Fort Worth offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to a diverse student population of working adults, community college graduates and returning students. If growth continues as projected, the campus could enroll up to 10,000 students by 2030.

Design is underway for the $110 million Convocation and Event Center in the heart of Tarleton’s Stephenville campus.

Seating 7,500, the multipurpose center will sport NCAA Division I basketball facilities and room for academic symposiums, conferences, conventions and concerts. University convocations, commencements and student activities will have a permanent indoor home, and Stephenville will enjoy increased revenue from community and regional events.

Tarleton’s first parking garage at North Saint Felix and West Washington streets is in design, creating more spaces for students and employees and making it easier for visitors to attend campus events.

Expansion of the Dick Smith Library on the Stephenville campus will add 9,000-10,000 square feet of space for an around-the-clock study area.

Reopening the Child Development Center in the renovated Moody Hall provides on-campus childcare for faculty, staff and students, and Tarleton’s Center for Child Well-being has relocated there.

The former Hydrology Building has been reimagined as home to athletics administration and a success center for student-athletes,

Right: The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in spring 2022 approved a $110 million capital project request to design and construct the Convocation and Event Center in Stephenville. Below: Tarleton’s Aquatics Center opened in summer 2022, featuring indoor and outdoor pools. The facility will lure NCAA Division I meets to the university.

reflecting Tarleton’s commitment to help Texans reach their full academic potential.

The much-anticipated Aquatics Center with its outdoor multifunctional pool made a big splash with students and the community when it opened just in time to beat the summer heat, and an indoor pool with bleacher seating will bring NCAA Division I meets to Stephenville.

Baseball and softball facilities were enhanced prior to the 2022 campaigns. Hellas Matrix Turf was installed on the playing fields and in all bullpen areas. A 10-foot Champion Wall in the outfield and six-foot vinyl-coated chain-link fencing down the foul lines surround the baseball field. The center field wall was extended to 16 feet for the batter’s eye, and both venues received LED lighting to improve visibility and meet NCAA regional broadcast requirements.

Additional bleacher seating at the Doty Rodeo Complex, the new headquarters for Tarleton rodeo, will accommodate 1,000 fans. From the barns to the arenas, this exceptional facility perfectly complements the top rodeo program in the country.

Tarleton track and field is set to receive a permanent home ahead of the 2022-23 season. With eight lanes and

certification by World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, the facility ensures the university’s eligibility to set world records and host professional and international events. The multiuse infield will be the new home for Tarleton intramural sports.

The Memorial Stadium north end zone is being enclosed and stands are being added to increase capacity to nearly 24,000. Existing field suites have been augmented and relocated to the south end zone. The expansion enhances a $26 million facelift, finished in 2018, that added reserved seating on the west side, a high-tech video board and a lighting system that meets broadcast requirements for nationally televised football games.

Great learning requires special places. Great students and faculty deserve them. We will build more.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

RECOGNITION ON

From athletics to the arts, rodeo to rockets and innovation to instruction, Tarleton is pushing boundaries to promote the finest examples of student success, transform the national fabric of higher education, and create a place of prominence among America’s great public universities.

Transition to the Western Athletic Conference in NCAA Division I is increasing national recognition for student-athletes and academic programs. It extends the university’s geographic reach, supports enrollment growth, boosts the value of a Tarleton degree, improves diversity and expands community connections.

Tarleton Texans enjoyed an undefeated conference season in women’s tennis, bringing home the university’s first NCAA D-I team championship; faced two of the nation’s No. 1 seeds in this season’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament; and received Tarleton’s first D-I postseason invite, to compete in the 2022 National Invitational Softball Championship. This fall, attendance skyrocketed — more than 43,000 — when the Texans took on TCU, their toughest football opponent in school history, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

And they did it all while achieving the highest Academic Progress Rate (987) of any school in NCAA history reclassifying to D-I.

Tarleton made its NCAA debut in women’s soccer in August coached by three-time D-I conference Coach of the Year Pete Cuadrado. Recruiting and training began in spring 2021 to complete a roster featuring some of the nation’s top young talent.

Men’s golf, gone since 1995, returns with Chance Cain leading the revival. He comes to Tarleton following six years as the assistant coach at Utah, where last spring the Utes snapped a 29-year postseason drought with a berth in the NCAA West Regional.

Tarleton’s inaugural NCAA Division I women’s soccer team of 22 players (16 freshmen and six D-I transfers) from five states and three countries first took the field in fall 2022 with an exhibition match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. We won.

While Tarleton’s roots go deep in local soil, its importance encircles the globe.

THE RISE

From poetry and fiction to photography and music, Tarleton’s Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas attracts artists from across the state and beyond for a high-energy four-day festival, always the weekend after Labor Day. This year’s Langdon Review is Volume 19.

Tarleton rodeo earned its 36th and 37th national titles at the 2022 College National Finals Rodeo in Wyoming. The men’s rodeo

team won its fourth national championship, and senior criminal justice major Walt Arnold captured an individual title of his own (CNFR Steer Wrestling Champion).

The finals featured the top 12 finishers in each event from the week’s competition. Five Tarleton cowboys made the finals, and all posted top-10 scores and times.

Tarleton President James Hurley, far left, congratulates the men’s rodeo team on its fourth national championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. Bottom row from left: head coach Mark Eakin, team roper Brett Stuart, steer wrestler Walt Arnold and coach Casey Sisk. Top row from left: tie-down roper Brayden Roe, saddle bronc riders Brody Wells and Cash Wilson, and steer wrestler Ty Allred. Photo courtesy of the Casper Star-Tribune.

Saddle bronc rider Cash Wilson won the short-go with his CNFR personal best of 82. He finished as reserve champion in the average with a four-head total of 308.5. Steer wrestler Ty Allred took fourth in the finals, saddle bronc rider Brody Wells was fifth, and tie-down roper Brayden Roe was 10th.

Tarleton rodeo has enjoyed a winning tradition since 1947, with eight national team titles and 29 individual national championships.

A 19-member team of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science students brought home

first-place honors in the Design Division of NASA’s annual Student Launch Initiative earlier this year. The team won the Experiment Design Award for the most creative payload concept while maximizing safety and science. Sixty teams from 22 states, including Puerto Rico, participated.

The academic lifeblood of the university, Tarleton faculty continue to excel and inspire. Just two examples: Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and her team of student researchers have garnered world acclaim for their all-natural way to remove microplastics from water, reducing the likelihood that those pollutants will be consumed or harm sensitive ecosystems. And Dr. Alex del Carmen is revered as an international authority on race and crime, with an emphasis on racial profiling in law enforcement.

Another professor, Dr. Daniel Marble, is setting a high bar with recognition for his accomplishments. He recently was named a Piper Professor, one of the most prestigious awards for teaching excellence in the state, and a Texas A&M System Regents Professor.

Tarleton faculty and students are writing for the university greatness in the stars. You don’t need a telescope to see it.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE

RISE.

Tarleton is pushing boundaries to promote the highest examples of student success and create a place of prominence among America’s great public universities.

CONNECTIONS

ON THE RISE

They’re calling for answers and discoveries, for instruction and training, for leadership and support. We’re sharing ideas and multiplying the benefits to heighten living standards, empower a future-prepared workforce and advance the regional economy.

When Quanah in Hardeman County wanted to boost tourism, enhance workforce development and improve community services, Tarleton Texans were there. After meeting with municipal leaders, a team of 15 policy studies students worked a semester to identify solutions. Their research led to recommendations from federal and state programs, other organizations and foundations.

The students experienced the satisfaction of using their skills to lift a community, and Quanah found resources to put itself back on the map and on the move.

In another project, five Tarleton students, four faculty members and a half-dozen community partners joined forces to ensure that rural Texas residents had credible information to make informed healthcare decisions related to COVID-19. Billboards seldom reach country roads, social media is slow or absent, and clinics and hospitals can be scarce. Tarleton’s Rural Communication Institute and grants from the Texas Department of State Health Services made information booths, library events, outdoor health fairs and community conversations possible.

Connections with business and industry partners like Saint-Gobain Abrasives and TechFW provide true-to-career learning opportunities and internships that prepare Tarleton Texans to stay in the state and energize its economy.

Tarleton turns challenges into opportunities, chooses results over apologies, and imagines possibilities where others see limitations. Regional communities, developing businesses, educational groups and research centers all want to connect.

The project ended in May but is expected to have long-lasting impact as a prototype for sharing disaster preparedness facts and figures in areas lacking communication technology.

Representing the most rural parts of the state, if not the nation, the Small Business Development Center at Tarleton is quickly becoming a leader in birthing micro ventures. The U.S. House Committee on Underserved, Agricultural and Rural Business Development invited Director Bill Leaverton to the U.S. Capitol this summer to share the SBDC’s achievements.

Achievements like a small-town childcare center that took seven months to develop because webinars and Zoom meetings need internet access, and none was available. Training workshops, technical assistance and counseling took place face to face or by telephone. Once opened, the center injected $260,000 into the local economy, created eight jobs and, perhaps most important, put rural parents back in the workforce.

Tarleton’s connection with the Tarrant To & Through Partnership (a coalition of school districts, colleges, universities, employers and community organizations) is providing clear pathways and bright futures for Tarrant County students — specifically Fort Worth and Crowley ISD graduates. Those who pledge to pursue a higher education may receive a tuition-only scholarship at Tarleton for up to eight semesters or the completion of a degree. The scholarship covers any remaining tuition costs

An immersive, full-year residency program ensures future elementary educators are classroom ready on day one of their careers.

Pell Grants and other federal, state or institutional aid have been applied.

High school students in some 50 North Central Texas school districts are earning Tarleton credit for precalculus and college algebra classes before they graduate through a connection with OnRamps, a program that increases access to high-quality learning for students and teachers across the state.

Students take the university-level math courses over a traditional school year, receiving the high school portion of their instruction from their high school teacher and the university portion from a university instructor of record. As part of the deal, Tarleton provides professional development to help teachers broaden their content knowledge.

A $247,134 grant from the Sid Richardson Foundation is helping Tarleton further scale up its successful teacher residency program to a full year from a single semester, benefiting future educators, their mentors and partner school districts. The grant provides

after

We’re sharing ideas and multiplying the benefits to heighten living standards, empower a future-prepared workforce and advance the regional economy.

salary for a site coordinator and stipends for teacher residents and mentor teachers.

Tarleton’s year-long residency model began in spring 2020 following grant support from University School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation to place classroom-ready educators in Granbury and Huckabay elementary schools. The program now includes public schools in Stephenville, Glen Rose, Fort Worth, La Vega and Waco. Uplift Charter Schools in Fort Worth joins this fall.

A partnership with TechFW, a leading technology incubator and accelerator, is matching Tarleton Texans with start-up companies for 100-hour internships, imparting real world experience and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Located in Fort Worth, the nonprofit has helped launch and strengthen emerging enterprises since 1988.

Tarleton technology and engineering students are solving true-to-work challenges and graduating most employable thanks to long-standing internship opportunities with Saint-Gobain

Abrasives in Stephenville. Some have job offers before they receive their diploma.

After this spring’s horrific events at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tarleton’s Institute for Predictive Analytics in Criminal Justice connected with The Violence Project (a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center in Minnesota) to review 178 mass shootings occurring between 1966 and 2021. The thoughtful, multilayered analysis includes recommendations for prevention.

Connections bridge the gap. Connections promote the good and advance learning. They often lead to better outcomes. And we all fly a little higher.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

GIVING

ON THE RISE

Regardless of why or when

give, Tarleton’s philanthropic visionaries ensure the university’s ability to uplift its students, turning a dream school into an alma mater and potential into reality.

Tarleton Texans are driven to succeed, and when state and federal financial aid falls short, many obtain student loans or work a job, sometimes two, which diverts attention from their education. Increasing support is critical to keeping them in school and upwardly mobile.

In addition to scholarships, Tarleton relies on private support to fully develop academic and athletic programs, advance research and innovation, recruit and retain distinguished faculty, and construct and update campus facilities.

The theme of our largest-ever comprehensive capital campaign — Forward Together: Investing in Today’s Students for Future Success — says it all: Generous benefactors take Tarleton beyond the gravitational pull of higher education as usual.

After passing its initial $100 million goal two years ahead of schedule, Tarleton announced a revised target of $125 million to commemorate the university’s 125th anniversary in September 2024. That announcement came at the 2022 gala, An Evening in Purple. President James Hurley debuted the comprehensive campaign at his inaugural gala in 2020.

Dr. Teresa “Terry” Lozano Long told her husband, Joe, after they married in 1958 that if they ever made enough money, they should help the people of Texas.

Longtime Tarleton friends Joe R. and Dr. Teresa Lozano Long donated $2 million in spring 2021 to support underrepresented students. The Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and International Programs — named in their honor — celebrates their philanthropic commitment to higher education.

they

Generous benefactors

They have helped, numerous times, and they did it again with a $2 million gift to support Tarleton’s underrepresented students. The Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and International Programs is named in their honor.

At the naming ceremony, Joe Long reminded that diversity and inclusion informed the life of his beloved Terry — the first Hispanic to earn a doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin — and that she, too, was responsible for their generosity to Tarleton. She passed away in March 2021 at 92.

Naming Tarleton’s new rodeo facility to honor the legacy of Bob and Darla Doty became a reality in 2022, just months after the couple announced a $1 million contribution to support the nationally acclaimed program.

Bob and Darla joined Tarleton in 1994 — he as rodeo coach and she as a coordinator in Career Services — with common goals to inspire students, encourage volunteers and promote philanthropy while turning an already vaunted rodeo treasure into a perennial powerhouse.

Both are retired — Bob from coaching in 2008 and teaching in 2020, and Darla in 2015 as Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.

Children of the late Dr. Ken D. Dorris Sr. and his wife, Virginia, established a scholarship to honor their parents

Left: Tarleton named its new rodeo headquarters to honor career educators Bob and Darla Doty. They announced a $1 million contribution at this spring’s annual Tarleton Alumni Association reception at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Right: An $881,000 gift from alumnus Henry Hohenberger, center, will enhance experiential learning at the Tarleton Agriculture Center and provide scholarships for ag education majors. Accepting the donation are Tarleton President James Hurley, left, and Dr. Barry Lambert, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

take Tarleton beyond the gravitational pull of higher education as usual.

and support student rodeo athletes and those pursuing pre-veterinary degrees. Dr. Dorris, DVM, was a fervent supporter of Tarleton rodeo and spearheaded fundraising for the first scholarships for students competing on the team. He established Dorris Veterinary Hospital in Stephenville in 1968 and managed the practice for more than four decades.

Two-time Tarleton alumnus Henry Hohenberger this past summer made the largest cash gift ever to the Tarleton Foundation for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources — $881,000 to expand hands-on experiences for students at the Tarleton Agriculture Center. The endowment will provide working scholarships as well as scholarships for students who wish to become secondary school teachers focused on agricultural mechanics.

The sale of 1,166 acres of the Hunewell Ranch southwest of Stephenville funds a $5.4 million endowment for band scholarships, instruments and uniforms. Dennis G. Hunewell directed Tarleton’s esteemed Military Band for more than two decades, from 1920 to 1942.

Four new endowments, honoring College of Science and Mathematics faculty and leadership, are helping meet the demand for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates and bolster regional economic growth and innovation: the Pam and Mark Littleton Enrichment Endowment for Mathematics Education; the Timberlake Biological Field Station Research Support Endowment; the Lamar and Marilynn T. Johanson Biological Sciences Scholarship Endowment; and the Jimmy J. McCoy Physics Scholarship Endowment, honoring Dr. McCoy’s 50 years of service.

Tarleton’s benefactors know that when we rise, our students, communities and region absolutely do, too.

RECORD BREAKERS. ADVENTURE SEEKERS. CHANGE MAKERS. RISK TAKERS.

TARLETON TEXANS ARE ON THE RISE.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Lamar and Marilynn T. Johanson Presented Honorary Doctorates

Longtime public educators Lamar and Marilynn T. Johanson each received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Tarleton’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies. The couple have put their heart and soul into public education for more than six decades.

Dr. Lamar Johanson’s 40 years at Tarleton started in 1961 as an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences, the same year Dr. Marilynn Johanson was hired to teach vocational home economics at Hico High School.

Officially retired, the two continue their association with Tarleton, attending and volunteering at academic and athletic events. Both received the All-Purple Award, recognizing those who vigorously support Texan athletics. Dr. Lamar Johanson has been on the Texan Club board of directors since its inception in 1994 and continues to chair the Tarleton Athletics Hall of Fame nominating committee.

Tarleton President Hurley Receives 2022 NTC Education Award

Tarleton State University President James Hurley received the North Texas Commission 2022 Education Leadership Award. He was one of nine individuals and organizations the commission recognized in fall 2022 for their lasting impact on the region.

A public-private partnership established in 1971, the NTC works to ensure that state and federal policies promote strong local governments, support excellence in public schools, strengthen the skilled workforce pipeline and safeguard a thriving business environment.

In his nomination letter, John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, wrote: “From the moment James Hurley accepted Tarleton’s presidency, I knew that the university was destined to become a national prototype of student success and a regional engine of economic and cultural development. Because of his leadership, his heart, his dreams, Tarleton State University has a very bright future.”

Tarleton President James Hurley presents honorary doctorates of humane letters to longtime public educators and Tarleton benefactors Dr. Lamar and Marilynn T. Johanson during fall 2021 graduation celebrations.

Tarleton

Joins A&M Center

in Downtown Fort Worth

Tarleton will be part of the new Texas A&M System Research and Innovation Center in downtown Fort Worth (dubbed “Aggieland North” by Chancellor John Sharp).

The A&M System Board of Regents approved a five-year capital plan in 2022 that includes $85 million for a Law and Education Building in Fort Worth and another $85 million for an adjacent Research and Innovation Center. The campus will be built on several blocks next to the existing Texas A&M University School of Law building, which is scheduled to be replaced in 2024.

Construction of the Law and Education Building should begin next year, with costs covered by proceeds from the Public University Fund. The Research and Innovation Center will be built in 2024.

The facilities will create an urban campus designed to spur business development in one of the country’s fastest growing large cities.

“Tarleton already has an expanding campus in Southwest Fort Worth and a nationally acclaimed medical laboratory science program in the downtown Medical District, so our university is a perfect fit for this initiative,” said Tarleton President James Hurley. “We are excited to be part of this innovative collaboration.”

Southwest Regional Dairy Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Last October marked a decade of teaching and research at Tarleton’s Southwest Regional Dairy Center. The Texas A&M University system-wide dairy utilizes the distinctive external alliance of a private partner — 360 Ag Management, which owns and manages the facility’s cows — and supports researchers from Tarleton, Texas A&M and Texas A&M AgriLife.

Besides research projects, the center hosts courses in dairy production, lactation physiology, dairy farm evaluation and environmental stewardship.

Since 2017 almost 4,000 visitors have toured the facility.

Wind Ensemble Performs at TMEA Convention

Tarleton’s Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. David Robinson, performed at the annual Texas Music Educators Association convention in January 2022.

The invitation came after the ensemble, for the first time, was chosen through a blind audition in 2020. The convention went virtual last year, deferring Tarleton’s performance opportunity to this year.

Only three or four university concert bands are chosen to play at the TMEA convention. Those that are selected may not perform again for four years.

TIAER Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Created by the Legislature to address water quality along the North Bosque River, Tarleton’s Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research celebrated three decades of life-changing discovery in fall 2021.

For 30 years data collected for elected officials, government agencies and community planners has played a crucial role in developing water-quality models and testing throughout the nation and around the world.

TIAER’s research involves projects in 35 U.S. states and Canada as well as partnerships with China, Ecuador, Ethiopia and New Zealand.

More Food Choices, Kiwibots Come to Campus

Fall 2022 brought more nationally branded food choices to Tarleton’s Stephenville campus — Blaze Pizza and Auntie Anne’s — a new shopping option and a fleet of semi-autonomous robots making deliveries.

Patterned after an urban grocery, the Oscar P General Store offers quick snacks and on-the-go meals, fresh fruits and vegetables, deli items, dairy products and bread, among other items.

Appearing to be straight out of the future, Kiwibots deliver food from participating on-campus restaurants to residential, academic and administrative office destinations.

Tarleton is the first university in Texas boasting a fleet of Kiwibots to deliver food from on-campus restaurants to students, faculty and staff.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Tarleton Joins Student Success Initiative

Tarleton is one of just 19 U.S. institutions selected in fall 2022 to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Student Success Equity Intensive Cohort.

The program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to close equity gaps for Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income students.

Participants for the second national cohort were selected through a competitive application process. Tarleton is one of eight Texas universities chosen for the program. Seven of those schools are in The Texas A&M University System.

The two-year cohort experience provides customized support so that institutions can make data-informed decisions grounded in students’ realities. Campus leaders learn practices to keep race and income from being predictors of success.

Student Voter

Engagement

Earns Bronze Seal

Tarleton was awarded a Bronze Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2020 presidential election. The announcement came in November 2021.

Tarleton’s voting rate was almost 59 percent, up 16 points from the 2016 election.

Col. Doug Simon to Lead Cadets

U.S. Army Col. Doug Simon was selected Commandant of Tarleton's Corps of Cadets and Dean of its Leadership and Military College. He began his duties in summer 2022.

A member of the Minnesota National Guard since 1989, his higher education career spans more than 20 years as a faculty member at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he chaired the Department of Business and served on accreditation, strategic planning and institutional assessment committees. His diverse academic background includes teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in public and private law, leadership and public policy.

He served as the Operational Law Attorney for Operation Joint Force (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and Brigade Judge Advocate for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade for Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning a Bronze Star for his service in a combat zone.

Dr. Diane Stearns Named Provost

Diane Stearns, PhD, was selected Tarleton Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in spring 2022 following a rigorous national search.

She served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff from 2019 to 2021, then as a Professor in NAU’s Honors College.

Dr. Stearns joined the NAU faculty in 1997 as a chemistry Assistant Professor, working her way up to Associate Vice President for Research and, later, to Provost. She played a significant role in NAU’s work with the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative, addressing health disparities in diverse populations.

She is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., where she majored in chemistry. She holds a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

As Tarleton’s chief academic officer, Dr. Stearns will play an essential role in advancing excellence in teaching, research, undergraduate and graduate education, and in recruiting and retaining faculty.

TEA Commends Tarleton Teacher Preparation

Tarleton’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) received a commendation from the Texas Education Agency in spring 2022 for recruiting, preparing and supporting the certification of teachers in content-short areas.

The university was honored for its work in preparing students seeking Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) and Career and Technical Education certifications. Tarleton was one of 11 EPPs in the state to receive a commendation, and one of three to earn commendations in multiple areas.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Dr. James Hurley President and CEO

Dr. Diane Stearns Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Lori Beaty

CFO and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Dr. Credence Baker

Vice President for University Strategy and Chief of Staff to President Hurley

Dr. Sherri Benn Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and International Programs

Dr. Javier Garza Vice President for Enrollment Management

Dr. Rupa Iyer Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development

Dr. Karen Murray Acting Vice President for External Operations, Fort Worth

Dr. Diana Ortega-Feerick Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Lonn Reisman Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

Tony Vidmar Vice President for Institutional Advancement

DEANS

Dr. Ramona Parker Associate Vice President and Executive Dean College of Health Sciences

Dr. Nathan Heller (Acting) College of Graduate Studies

Dr. Michael Huggins College of Science and Mathematics

Dr. Barry Lambert College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Dr. Rafael Landaeta Mayfield College of Engineering

Dr. Eric Morrow College of Liberal and Fine Arts

Dr. Kim Rynearson College of Education

Dr. Chris Shao College of Business

On Ye Tarleton, On Ye Tarleton Strive for ideals high

Guard your standards, your traditions Raise them to the sky

On Ye Tarleton, On Ye Tarleton

Biggest and the best ...

www.tarleton.edu