FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarleton State University’s thriving Fort Worth campus along Chisholm Trail Parkway celebrated the grand opening of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Building on Tuesday morning.
Featuring more than 100,000 square feet of classroom and specialized lab space, the new $66 million facility aims to increase access to quality healthcare and education in the region.
“This state-of-the-art facility will have an undeniable impact on the medical and educational professions in the region,” said Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp. “Expanding access to these key programs is essential. Today’s monumental achievement makes it clear that Tarleton State’s growing Fort Worth campus is prepared to meet the workforce needs of the thriving city it calls home.”
Classroom, laboratory and collaboration areas are housed in the IPE Building, along with high-fidelity simulation and clinical skills suites. These learning spaces will generate hands-on training opportunities and instruction for students. The building also houses a room providing seating for 250 guests to host community-wide events, workshops, lectures and programming.
“Today is an extraordinary milestone for Tarleton State University and The Texas A&M System,” said President Dr. James Hurley. “This new building will provide best-in-class teaching, learning and research spaces to continue our development of the Fort Worth campus master plan. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our legislators, the Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp, Mayor Parker and the City of Fort Worth.”
With the additional space, Tarleton State can expand existing offerings in nursing, nutrition science, communication sciences and disorders, kinesiology, psychology, teacher education, and medical laboratory sciences.
Increasing the supply of medical professionals in the region is critical.
“Our goal is to be a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare practitioners to Fort Worth and its neighboring communities,” added Dr. Hurley.
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are 391 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in Texas. Nationally, 76 million people reside in HPSAs.
Tarleton State recently announced a formal feasibility study and a search for the planning dean for a College of Osteopathic Medicine in Stephenville. Overall, Texas ranks 47th in patient-physician ratio, something which Tarleton State is equipped to address. The addition of the IPE Building will contribute to the university’s commitment to foundational healthcare professions.
“We are a university striving to enhance the quality of life while delivering a life-changing education,” said Vice President for External Operations and Dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth Dr. Rachael Capua. “This remarkable facility will allow us to expand opportunities for our students as we strengthen our commitment to bolstering interprofessional education and healthcare. We’re going beyond what is known to shape what is possible.”
Tarleton State has served the Fort Worth community since 1978 when Dr. Lamar Johanson developed and launched the medical laboratory science program in downtown. The program started with eight students and has evolved to become nationally ranked.
Classes started for those inaugural Texans on West Myrtle Street before moving to the Richard C. Schaffer Building on Enderly Place in the 1990s. Students then attended at the Hickman Building on Camp Bowie Boulevard starting in 2006.
As enrollment increased in Fort Worth, securing a permanent location to accommodate long-term growth was essential. The campus along Chisholm Trail Parkway welcomed its first facility — the Campus Administration Building — in 2019. The start of the expansion was made possible thanks to 80 acres of land donated by Walton Global Handlings Ltd.
This fall, Tarleton State introduced first- and second-year courses in Fort Worth for the first time, adding new course offerings for 24 undergraduate programs. Overall, more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are available for students from all backgrounds, including working adults, community college graduates and returning students.
“Tarleton State’s new IPE Building will be pivotal in addressing Fort Worth’s healthcare needs by expanding access to high-quality medical training and ensuring we have the skilled professionals to meet the workforce demands of the 12th largest city and fastest-growing city in the nation,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “This investment will not only transform the lives of students but will have a lasting, positive impact on our community for generations to come.”
Current enrollment at Tarleton State Fort Worth is approximately 2,600.
Construction dollars for the IPE Building came from the Permanent University Fund and are part of a systemwide capital plan approved in 2019 by The Texas A&M System Board of Regents. Perkins&Will was the architect and Holder Construction the builder.
