STEPHENVILLE, Texas — A new residence hall and expansion to the Dick Smith Library were each approved for Tarleton State University by The Texas A&M System Board of Regents today.
Substantial growth in the student population over recent years served as a catalyst for the two projects.
“As we strive to maintain Tarleton State as a first-choice destination, building up our residence hall capacity and providing additional academic resources for all to utilize is paramount,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. “These two new spaces will help to further enhance the university experience for our Texans.”
With today’s approval by the regents, planning for the new $120 million residence hall can now move into the design phase this spring, with a 2025 goal set for the start of construction.
Multiple styles of rooms are expected to be included with approximately 1,000 beds. Upon project completion, 12 on-campus housing options will be available to students. Additionally, the university is updating its campus master plan to include up to 3,000 additional beds in the coming years.
Construction on the Dick Smith Library expansion is scheduled to begin later this spring. The additional space will total around 10,000 square feet.
The expansion will be a 24/7 space dedicated for student use. Individual study rooms, collaborative study rooms, instructional space, meeting rooms and multipurpose space are all slated to be included.
A prominent entrance to the library building from Texan Trace will also now be available from the west side.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.