Texan Think Tank

Texan Think Tank: Enhancing Tarleton State’s Transfer Experience

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and sometimes dream of making it on Shark Tank?  Here is your opportunity to test the waters! What if the Emmy award-winning Shark Tank TV show came to you in a Tarleton version? It is. “We proudly introduce you to the Texan Think Tank.”

As part of Tarleton State’s participation in a national study, faculty, staff and students, individually or in teams, have a chance to get rewarded for enhancing the university’s transfer experience.

More than 4,700 Tarleton State Texans are transfer students, meaning they earned college credit somewhere else before enrolling here. Most, 41 percent, come from Tarrant County College and McLennan Community College. Others transfer from Weatherford, Navarro, Blinn and Ranger. A few have completed military and technical coursework.

Tarleton’s commitment to the success of all students has been a top priority for every one of the university’s almost 125 years. There are things we do well — we know that — and things we can do better.

Here’s what you need to know.

• Proposals may be submitted by completing the Texan Think Tank Proposal Form and attaching the supporting excel proposal (Texan Think Tank Proposal).
• Proposals Will be accepted until November 15.
• A cross-functional team will review all proposals and select finalists who will proceed to the next round of “Texan Think Tank.”
• Finalists will prepare a presentation and additional information about their proposal for presentation to Executive Judges.
• The Executive Judges will be able to award funding as they determine is appropriate to finalists to implement the proposed change.
• Restrictions will apply to how the funding may be spent
• Restrictions will apply on how to approach implementation as we must comply with many state and federal guidelines for technology, security, and accessibility.
• We hope this will be the first of an annual effort to enhance student experiences at Tarleton.

Texan Think Tank Team

NACUBO is a national organization of College and University Business Officers. NACUBO received a grant to assist Higher Education institutions by creating new tools and methods to improve the delivery and funding of initiatives that enhance the student experience and outcomes.

The Tarleton team is led by our CFO and Executive VP, Lori Beaty. The Team includes:

• Dr. Javier Garza, VP of Enrollment Management
• Dr. Rachel Capua, VP of External Operations
• Dr. Zach Gorman, AVP of Strategy and Innovation and CIO
• Dr. Morgan Carter, AVP of Enterprise Data
• Dr. Shante Joseph, AVP of Business Services and Budgets
• Dr. Melissa Becker, Professor, Director of Extension and Off-Campus Education
• Dr. Rusty Freed, Dean of the University College
• Dr. Elizabeth Wallace, AVP of Global Communities and First Gen
• Jo Ann Kern, Director of the Office of Transformation Realization

For 2023, the Team has been reviewing data related to Tarleton Transfer Students (students who transferred to Tarleton from another institution with at least 12 credit hours excluding Dual Enrollment High School students).

We want to improve the Transfer Student Experience at Tarleton and ensure a consistent experience at each of our campuses.

We are currently running a survey of current and former transfer students to gather information on the services they have received at Tarleton, what has been beneficial, and what needs to be improved.

In parallel to our survey and research efforts, we also want to run a “Shark Tank” activity to solicit proposals from Faculty, Staff, and Students on how we can improve our Transfer Student Experience.

Tarleton has identified some funding we can use as awards to finalists to be judged by an Executive Panel. The finalists will present a business case and timeline for their proposed initiative and answer the judge’s questions about the proposal.

We also plan to have an award for People’s Choice to be voted on by Faculty, Staff, and Students.

Let’s hear some ideas to improve the Transfer Student Experience. Best proposals get funded.

Questions may be directed to TRO@tarleton.edu