Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. Located just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Tarleton offers programs including agriculture, nursing, music, medical technology, mathematical data mining, and teacher education programs. The university's public school improvement programs are active in over 50 area school districts. In fall 2012, the university enrolled over 10,000 students for the first time.
Academics
John Tarleton Agricultural College was founded in 1899 with an endowment from settler John Tarleton. The college became a member of the Texas A&M University system in 1917. In 1949 it was renamed Tarleton State College then became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959 and gained status as a university in 1973. In 2003 it began offering doctoral programs.
Located one hour from Fort Worth in Stephenville, Texas, Tarleton serves as the educational and cultural flagship of the Cross Timbers Region. With a population of around 17,000, is included in Norman Crampton's The 100 Best Small Towns in America published by Prentice Hall.
A new 70,000-square-foot (6,500Â m2) sports recreation center, complete with weight rooms, track and gym, opened in fall 2007. The two-story building holds four racquetball courts, a weight room, cardio equipment as well as multi-purpose rooms, classroom and office space. The new facility is also home to a climbing wall and an "outdoor pursuit" area, allowing students the opportunity to sign up for such outdoor items as kayaks, tents, and camping equipment.
A new $13 million, 42,000-square-foot (3,900Â m2) dining facility opened in Fall 2008. For student convenience, the new building is an extension of the student center and has two floors, a convenience store, executive meeting rooms and a cafe with a wireless network.
Other recent additions include a new $30.8 million science building complete with a 64-seat planetarium and a new observatory at Tarleton's Hunewell Ranch, which houses a fully robotic 32-inch-diameter (810Â mm) research-grade telescope. The old science building went through an extensive $13.5 million renovation and expansion upgrading laboratories and classrooms. Tarleton's recent progress also includes a remarkable expansion and renovation of the Dick Smith Library and comfortable new housing facilities.
Students come from around the worldâ€"26 countries and 49 states in the United Statesâ€"to attend Tarleton. Students have the opportunity to choose from 65 undergraduate, 21 graduate, two associate degree programs and one doctoral program.
The largest non-land grant agriculture university in the United States, Tarleton is a leader in teacher education. It has one of the largest and oldest public school improvement partnerships in the United States, benefiting more than 50 area school districts. The university also is a national leader in educating agricultural education teachers.
Data mining and data warehousing research at Tarleton is improving crop insurance for farmers. At the Center for Agribusiness Excellence (CAE), researchers seek to improve the integrity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency’s delivery of services to farmers. Data mining research has identified patterns and schemes for cheating the system that are then reported to the Compliance Branch of the agency. In addition, systematic mistakes causing farmers’ claims to be underpaid are reported for corrective action. To date, more than $300 million in cost savings has been attributed to CAE research.
Bachelor's degrees in nursing, environmental engineering, engineering physics, international agriculture, interdisciplinary business, and communications, as well as a master's degree in environmental science and a doctoral degree in educational administration, have been added to the curriculum.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently approved an Associate of Applied Science degree and Advanced Technician Certificates in both Medical Laboratory Technology and Histotechnology for Tarleton (April 2004).
A doctoral degree in educational administration and online master's degrees programs are offered. GetEducated.com named three of Tarleton's online master's programs as Best Buys for affordability and quality: Tarleton's online MBA (regionally accredited); its master of science in information systems; and its master of science in human resources (which placed first).
Tarleton was recognized for its Tarleton Model for Accelerated Teacher Education (TMATE), which received special notice from the Association of Teacher Education for program excellence. Through the TMATE program, Tarleton is the provider of alternate teacher certification for Fort Worth ISD.
The Computer Information Systems Department was selected by the International Data Processing Management Association as the outstanding four-year program in North America in 1989, 1996 and 2003 making Tarleton the first university to be a three-time award recipient.
Tarleton's Laboratory for Wellness and Motor Behavior houses a unique training machine called "The Psycle" for individuals with quadriplegia, paraplegia, hemiplegia, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, or other mobility impairments that require special training. Research showing the importance of moving paralyzed body parts is ongoing.
The Department of Animal Sciences oversees the Tarleton Equine-Assisted Therapy (TREAT) program that is designed to utilize horseback riding as a form of physical, emotional and recreational therapy. Hippotherapy (physical therapy on horseback using the horse as a therapist) has developed as a medical field recognized by most major countries.
The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research on the Tarleton campus plays a national leadership role in environmental issues related to water quality. This program provides the university, the dairy and beef industries, environmental control agencies and governmental policy groups with water pollution data for the 230,000-acre (930Â km2) Upper North Bosque River watershed.
In fall 2002 the W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas opened at a site located near Thurber, a ghost town located approximately 30 miles (48Â km) northwest of Stephenville and about one hour west of the DFW Metroplex. Funded through a $1.2 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and a private gift from Mrs. W.K. Gordon Jr. Center is located on 4.1 acres (17,000Â m2) near the site of Texas' first coal mine and adjacent to New York Hill along Interstate 20. The Center is dedicated to the preservation, research and recording of Texas industrial history including coal mining, brick making and oil and gas exploration.
Tarleton operates two radio stations. KXTR-LP 100.7 FM is a student-operated rock station, while KTRL 90.5 FM is a public radio station broadcasting news, classical music, and jazz. Both are operated by students of Tarleton State University out of the radio station located in the Mathematics building on the TSU campus. Tarleton State University is one of four universities in the state of Texas to own and operate two radio stations; the other institutions being the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas Tech University.
Most university activities take place on Tarleton's centrally located, 150-acre (0.61Â km2) main campus. A 700-acre (2.8Â km2) university farm and the 1,170-acre (4.7Â km2) Hunewell Ranch provide additional educational facilities. Tarleton also offers specialized programs at its Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center in Granbury and select programs and courses at McLennan Community College in Waco, Weatherford College in Weatherford, and in Fort Worth. Upper-level courses were offered at Tarleton-Central Texas in Killeen until 2009 when Texas A&M University-Central Texas was formed as a separate institution.
Location
Tarleton is located 65 miles (105 km) southwest of Fort Worth, Texas in Stephenville, the county seat of Erath County. With a population of 19,374, Stephenville provides a combination of small-town security and proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth. Most university activities take place on Tarleton's centrally located, 173 acre (700,000 m²) main campus. A 600-acre (2.4 km²) university farm and the 1,200 acre (4.8 km²) Hunewell Ranch provide additional educational facilities. Recently, Tarleton also began offering programs at its new Granbury location, the Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center.
Athletics
Tarleton State University athletics compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Lone Star Conference. Their admission into the conference in 1995 marks their second period of membership having previously participated from 1968 to 1975. They were a founding member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) in 1976 and remained in that league until 1990. From 1991 to 1994 Tarleton played as an Independent.
The names of the men's and women's teams are "Texans" and "TexAnns", respectively. Prior to becoming a four-year institution in 1961 they were known as the "Plowboys".
The basketball and volleyball teams play at Wisdom Gym. The football team plays at Memorial Stadium. The baseball team plays at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex. The softball team plays at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
Tarleton State University fields five Men's varsity sports and seven Women's varsity sports in the Lone Star Conference:
Music
The music program at Tarleton State University is fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of the Music (NASM). It is housed in the elegant Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center, one of the top performance venues among colleges and universities in the Southwest. This multi-purpose fine arts complex contains three theatres: a 243-seat recital hall, an 805-seat auditorium, and the workshop theatre. There is a 16 keyboard piano lab and computer lab. The instrument collection includes two nine-foot concert Steinway grand pianos, the Waggener Memorial Organ â€" a tracker two-manual pipe organ, a Richard Kingston harpsichord, and several Steinway grand pianos that are designated for piano majors to practice. The Music department at Tarleton State University currently offers two degrees which are B.A. in Music and B.M. in Music Education (with all-level certification). It currently offers one graduate degree (M.M. in Music Education). The program has over 150 full-time enrolled students with 80% of the majority being instrumental studies and 20% being vocal studies.
The Tarleton Band program offers many ensembles, which are open to both music majors and non-music majors:
The Sound and the Fury, The Texan Marching Band Foul Play Basketball Band Chamber Winds (audition required) Wind Ensemble (audition required) Symphonic Band Jazz Band 1 & 2 (audition required) Brass Ensemble Woodwind Chamber Ensemble Trumpet Ensemble Flute Choir
The band program is under the direction of Dr. Anthony Pursell.
Texan Corps of Cadets
The Texan Corps of Cadets was founded in 1917 when John Tarleton Agriculture College joined the Texas A&M University system. The Corps of Cadets was initially known as "Johns Army". The Corps of Cadets survived through the end of the 1950s. Until 2016 the school had only an Army ROTC program. However, in 2016 the Texan Corps of Cadets was brought back to the university under the direction of Commandant Col. (retired) Kenny Weldon.
The Texan Corps of Cadets offers students an opportunity to obtain a minor in Leadership Studies. All cadets live together in a residence hall at Tarleton called Traditions. All cadets wear their uniforms to class every day and must abide by the regulations set forth in the "Chisel".
Traditions
Oscar P.
Oscar P. was, according to legend, John Tarleton's pet duck who went everywhere with him. The two were so close that the duck is supposedly buried with Mr. Tarleton. During athletic events, a common sight is students chanting to raise the spirit of Oscar P.
Purple Poo
TTP â€" Ten Tarleton Peppers (1921) and TTS â€" Ten Tarleton Sisters (1923) are the two oldest spirit organizations on campus, also in the state of Texas, and are precursors of the Purple Poo, a secret organization which promotes school spirit. The members in this organization keep their identities secret by appearing in public in costume. The still-secret organization gathers to make "Poo Say" signs each Monday night. The "Poo Say" signs appear on campus every Tuesday morning and occasionally comment on campus political life and student life. The "Poo Say" signs are nailed to the trees on campus and most are designed to promote school spirit.
The Plowboys
The Plowboys, originally the mascot for Tarleton athletic teams, but more recently known as a spirit organization, are recognized by the purple and white shirts, cowboy hats and maroon chaps.
Texan Rider
Texan Rider is Tarleton's current mascot that at one time rode a horse during the football games (tradition was discontinued due to the renovated stadium), and is also recognized by his/her purple chaps. The Texan Rider has been the mascot of Tarleton since 1961 when the student body chose the Texans and TexAnns to represent its athletic teams.
Silver Taps
Silver Taps, a ceremony held to honor Tarleton's faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have died over the past year, is held in the spring during Founder's Week.
Special awards
John Tarleton Spirit Award
John Tarleton Spirit Award originated in 1988, and has since become the most highly coveted award at TSU, and is given to up to twelve students annually at the Leadership and Service Awards Banquet. Recipients are chosen based on campus involvement through organizations, special projects, and activities that contribute to the overall growth of the individual.
Homecoming
Yell Contest
Yell Contest â€" During the 1980s, the Student Government Association added the Yell Contest to Homecoming Week, and it quickly established itself as a traditional component of the celebration. Student Organizations perform step and dance moves to original chants and lyrics; a panel of judges selects the top three teams. The winning team has the honor of beating the drum immediately following the Plowboys. Initially held Administration Mall, the event moved to the Thompson Student Center amphitheater and is currently held in Wisdom Gymnasium. Winners of Yell Contest are split into Large and Small Division; Small Division has 20 or fewer participants and Large Division is split into 21 or more participants. The event was split into two divisions in 2006, whereas before, it was one competition with only one winner.
Notable alumni
- Ryan Bingham singer/songwriter, Grammy and 2010 Oscar Winner
- Ben Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1969â€"1973) and Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives (1965â€"1969)
- Richard Bartel, NFL quarterback
- DeWayne Burns (Class of 1994), Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Johnson and Bosque counties since 2015
- James Dearth, NFL tight end
- Keivan Deravi, economist
- William E. Dyess, survivor of the Bataan Death March during World War II
- Chad Fox, MLB player
- Steve Fryar, professional steer wrestler
- Bob Glasgow, Texas State Senator
- Rick Hardcastle, Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Wilbarger County
- Millie Hughes-Fulford, chemist and astronaut
- Jim Johnson, college athletics director
- Rufus Johnson, NFL linebacker drafted in the 6th round (pick 183) of the 2013 NFL Draft
- George Kennedy, actor
- Chris Kyle, U.S. Navy Seal
- Stacey McGill, Program Director, Trace Systems
- Michael J. Moncrief, member of the Texas House, judge, and former mayor of Fort Worth
- Hal Mumme, college football coach
- James Earl Rudder (1910-1970), commanding officer of the United States Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion in the D-Day landings, President of Texas A&M University
- Sam M. Russell, U.S. Representative serving 1941â€"1947
- Charlie Steen, geologist who made the first big strike of the 1950s uranium boom
- Charles W. Stenholm, U.S. Representative from 1979 to 2005
- Randy Winkler, NFL offensive tackle
- Marvin Zindler, investigative reporter for KTRK-TV
- Norman Shumway, father of heart transplantation
References
External links
- Official website
- Tarleton State University Athletics website
- Texas A&M University System