STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University has been chosen the newest member of the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities, putting the school among an elite group of public research universities and land-grant institutions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“The APLU designation underscores Tarleton’s place among the nation’s top public universities,” said Tarleton President Dr. James Hurley. “Our commitment to academic excellence, innovative research and student success perfectly complements the APLU mission to improve lives and livelihoods through a university degree.”
APLU’s 225 university members enjoy a collective enrollment of five million undergraduate and 1.3 million graduate students. The schools annually award 1.5 million degrees and conduct $50 billion in university research.
Founded in 1887, the APLU is the oldest higher education association in North America. It works with members to enhance the public good by:
- Expanding educational access and improving student success to deliver tomorrow’s innovative workforce.
- Advancing research to improve society while fostering economic growth and addressing global challenges.
- Building healthy, equitable and vibrant communities.
“I look forward to collaborating with Dr. Hurley and the entire Tarleton community,” said APLU President-elect Dr. Mark Becker. “They understand the need for educational opportunity, and they tirelessly promote its achievement.”
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes every APLU member institution. Tarleton earned the elevated Carnegie designation of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity in 2021 and was the only school in the A&M System to receive the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s Community Engagement Classification in 2020.
“What a gratifying honor,” Dr. Hurley said, “and it wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated faculty, staff and administration moving this remarkable institution forward. We will strive daily to justify the trust that APLU membership reflects.”
“This prestigious membership endorses Tarleton’s longstanding commitment to educational access and opportunity,” added Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “The APLU shouts quality and class, and that’s good company to be in.”
