Upcoming Events
Designations of Excellence
As Tarleton State University continues advancing as a premier comprehensive university, there are several “Designations of Excellence” we have been working to achieve. The Lozano Long Division of Global, Community and First-Gen Initiatives is proud to help lead and collaborate to the attainment of these exemplars of distinction.
Website Language Assistance
The Division of Global, Community and First-Gen. Initiatives in partnership with the Office of Marketing and Communications, is proud to announce the availability of a language translation option on the Tarleton State website.
By clicking the purple button on the university’s landing page, the feature allows the user to toggle to different languages using the “Google Translate” service. Clicking the button a second time refreshes the page back to English.
First Scholar Institution
Last year, Tarleton State University was one of 54 institutions nationally to be designated as a First Scholars Institution. Powered by NASPA and the National Center for First-generation Student Success, this designation recognizes institutions of higher education that advance practices which yield exemplary first-generation student success. Upon meeting milestones in the First Scholars phase, Tarleton State will now be seeking the highest first-generation distinction eligible to earn, the Champion Campus designation.
Military Friendly® Campus
A part of Tarleton State’s strategic plan, silver-level Military Friendly® Campus designation was attained this year, signifying the university’s investment in initiatives that improve the lives of veterans. Military Friendly® is a standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating an environment that encourages military community to realize their academic goals. The term “military community” includes active-duty service men and women, those in the reserve and guard, veterans and military family members.
A military-invested campus identifies and remove barriers to the educational goals of veterans to create a smooth transition from service to college to graduation, through support programs for student veterans based on their needs. (Selber, C; Benn, S; Chavkin, N; “Making the Campus Part of the Mission: Training Faculty and Staff to Support Student Veteran Success” The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, Fall 2021, V24 N2, Veteran Friendly Campuses, Vacchi & Berger, 2014, p. 124).
New Developments
Our Impact is Worldwide
The Lozano Long Division is committed to empowering international students by providing support services and fostering a welcoming campus community. Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment that facilitates academic and personal success for all students.
We serve students representing 34 countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
What’s up with Campus Climate?
Tarleton believes value-laden, supportive campuses provide a meaningful, positive impact on students’ ability to meet their academic goals. Tarleton continues its diligent work to lessen barriers faced by students in order to contribute to higher education’s work in addressing societies’ greatest needs by equipping current and future Tarleton Texans to be leaders in a global and transnational work force. At the core of our dedication to student success, is our profound commitment to excellence.
A Campus Climate Survey is a powerful tool to explore and understand the perceptions and experiences of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Identifying our strengths while understanding areas for growth is fundamental to the success of the Tarleton Forward 2030 Strategic Plan.
In the Fall of 2022, Tarleton’s first University-supported Campus Climate Survey was conducted. A total of 2521 responses (N=2521) were recorded for the Student Climate Survey for a response rate of 18%. The Faculty/Staff Campus Climate Survey recorded 591 responses (N=591) for a response rate of 46%.
Passport Initiative
Informing the Division’s programs and services, the Tarleton National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE) 2021 administration, indicated Tarleton students ranked lower in participation of the High Impact Practice (HIP) of Global Initiatives and Services in comparison with Texas Peers, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Comparison and Aspirant Peers, and the Public Carnegie Peers. Further, the largest gap was between our Texas and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Comparison and Aspirant Peers.
Tarleton respondents who were first-generation indicated they have or plan to participate in Global Initiatives and Services at a rate of 4% while Non-first-generation students indicated they have or plan to participate at a rate of 6%.
Thus, the Division has launched the Tarleton Passport Project to foster higher levels of global engagement for all Tarleton students with particular emphasis for first-generation college students.
The Student Global and Community Connections office, within the Division of Global, Community and First-Gen Initiatives, has established program dates to assist students in navigating the complex process of obtaining their United States Passport.
In addition to assisting students at every level of the process, The Lozano-Long Division offers study abroad scholarship funding which will assist students with the passport application fee as well as assisting in the expense of study abroad/study away experiences.
To learn more, please contact Shaquinnsha Hilliard, shilliard@tarleton.edu, or Christine Pruitt, cpruitt@tarleton.edu.
Limited English Proficiency Plan
Tarleton has developed this Limited English Proficiency Plan to help identify reasonable steps for providing language assistance to persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) who wish to access services provided. As defined Executive Order 13166, LEP persons are those who do not speak English as their primary language and have limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English. This plan outlines how to identify a person who may need language assistance, the ways in which assistance may be provided, staff training that may be required, and how to notify LEP persons that assistance is available. In order to prepare this plan, the system used the four-factor LEP analysis which considers the following factors:
- The number or proportion of LEP persons in the service area who may be served by Tarleton.
- The frequency with which LEP persons come in contact with Tarleton services.
- The nature and importance of services provided by Tarleton to the LEP population.
- The interpretation services available to Tarleton and overall cost to provide LEP assistance. A summary of the results of the four-factor analysis is in the following section.
Here we GROW Again: Welcome Study Abroad
We are thrilled to have integrated Study Abroad into our division to empower Tarleton students with the global competencies needed to succeed in today’s interconnected world. Our immersive programs combine academic excellence with practical experience, preparing students for meaningful careers and contributions to global challenges.
Visit the Study Abroad page for more information on travel, scholarships, and upcoming trips.
MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Sherri Benn
Vice President for Global, Community and First- Gen Initiatives
Dr. Sherri Benn is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of success working in post-secondary education and non-profit industries. She currently serves as Tarleton State University’s Vice President for The Lozano-Long Division of Global, Community and First-Gen Initiatives, which supports students from 50 countries, 48 states, and 234 Texas counties. Dr. Benn leads and supports the university’s strategic charge to advance community values across all aspects of Tarleton’s multi-campus institution through mission-focused partnerships that promote work, service and leadership readiness for success in a global economy and transnational workforce.
As a seasoned transformational leader, Dr. Benn integrates collaborative solutions to achieve student-centered success based on administrative expertise gained through 20+ years of building, leading and managing complex, diverse, outcomes-oriented teams, departments, units, divisions, state associations, and community organizations. Dr. Benn has served on local, state, and national boards and has developed international partnerships. She has served in a variety of leadership roles ranging from associate dean to vice president. Dr. Benn is a UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education, Goldman School of Public Policy Executive Leadership Academy Fellow.
Dr. Elizabeth Wallace
Assistant Vice President of Global, Community, and First-Gen Initiatives
Jenny Watts
Executive Director for TRIO Programs and First-Gen Initiatives
Dr. Dana Fitzpatrick
Director for Civic and Community Connections
Elizabeth Gorman
Director for Student Accessibility Services and 504 Coordinator