Dear Tarleton State Family,
Happy New Year! Kindall and I are excited to welcome you back for the start of what promises to be a memorable spring ahead.
This fall was historic in many ways, as we kicked off our 125 Years of Excellence celebration honoring the rich history of Tarleton State University. Throughout the festivities, the remarkable pride our Texans have in this incredible place we call home has been on full display. It’s only fitting that we continue our year-long celebration by beginning the new semester on a Purple Thursday.
Some highlights of our unforgettable fall included record enrollment, a generous $12.5 million lead gift from Dr. Joe Long to help launch our new College of Osteopathic Medicine, the grand opening of the Interprofessional Education Building in Fort Worth and the unveiling of the Texan Rider statue. In the first year following the NCAA Division I reclassification process, Texan football went 10-4 overall, highlighted by defeating Drake 43-29 in the FCS playoff debut for the program.
With student success in mind, we also introduced key initiatives such as the exam certification reimbursement program, the 125 Guarantee award and our master’s degree educational assistance program.
As we strive to become the premier comprehensive university in the nation, our student-centered focus will remain on access, opportunity and affordability.
Looking ahead to the spring, Founder’s Week is set for April 7-12. This week will feature some of our most cherished traditions, including Silver Taps, May Fete, Oscar P’s Birthday Bash and Spring Concert, the crowning of Lord and Lady Tarleton, and the annual Purple and White football game.
Earlier this week, the 89th Texas Legislative Session began. We have a bright outlook this year after seeing the second-highest percentage growth in funding across the System during the previous session.
Multiple construction projects are rapidly progressing as well, and we look forward to celebrating more grand openings this year. Some of the facilities that are scheduled for completion over the course of 2025 include the state-of-the-art $125 million Event Center and an $80 million Health Professions Building. Additionally, we’ll add a Buffalo Wild Wings and the new Texans Campus Store on the first level of our parking garage.
Our physical growth allows us to provide transformative impact in areas of need like healthcare, research and teacher education. While we have made tremendous progress, our journey is just getting underway.
In the words of Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, this is the Golden Age of Tarleton State University.
Welcome back, Godspeed, and may you forever Bleed Purple!
Dr. James Hurley
President