Student Engagement and Success from Student Affairs

The Division of Student Engagement and Success from Student Affairs creates communities that provide a sense of belonging and engages students to be successful. To achieve this mission, Student Engagement and Success from Student Affairs provides outstanding programs and services for students in the following departments: Assessment & Strategic Initiatives, Campus Recreation, Dean of Students Administrative Office, Lance Zimmerman Department of Campus Life & Family Engagement, Residence Life, Rodeo Activities, Student Counseling Services, Student Government Association, Student Health Services, Student Resources and Basic Needs, Student Media, and University Police.

Assessment & Strategic Initiatives

Assessment & Strategic Initiatives promote holistic student success by contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment for departments within the Division of Student Engagement and Success. In addition, the department of Assessment & Strategic Initiatives assists with University-wide assessments such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Administered assessments provide stakeholders with data to make evidence-based decisions in order to offer relevant programs and services. 

Campus Recreation

The Department of Campus Recreation provides a variety of recreational experiences that inspire student and lifelong well-being. The Department of Campus Recreation has 6 major program areas that provide quality services to the Tarleton State University community. These programs include Intramural Sports, Fitness, Outdoor Adventure, Sport Clubs, Aquatics, and Informal Recreation.

• The Campus Recreation Center is a 70,000 square-foot facility, housing a weight room, climbing wall, three racquetball courts, men’s and women’s locker rooms, outdoor pursuits equipment check-out, three basketball/volleyball courts, three badminton courts, and two classrooms. The second floor includes two group fitness rooms, cardio machines, a three-lane track, and the administrative office suite. 
• The Aquatics Center is a 10,000 sq. ft. facility which includes a 168,000-gallon indoor lap pool with 8-lanes, each 25-yards in length. This Aquatics Center also has a 62,000-gallon outdoor leisure pool that includes cabanas and a tanning area. The outdoor pool activities include water basketball and water volleyball. This facility has a wet classroom and locker rooms. Memberships are available for students, faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, spouses, and community members.
• The Vance Terrell Intramural Complex is equipped with all-purpose fields to serve Intramural and Sport Club events. Intramural Sports programs played at this facility include flag football, and soccer. Sport Club matches hosted at this facility include rugby, lacrosse, and soccer.
• Fitness/Wellness programming is available to meet the fitness and wellness needs of Campus Recreation students and members. Examples of wellness include Group Fit classes, weight room and cardio areas of the facility, personal training services, and wellness workshops.
• Tarleton Challenge Course is an energizing ropes course learning experience through a combination of high and low elements conducted by trained facilitators. Participants enjoy safe, fun, unique, and innovative opportunities to promote group and personal growth and team-building, as well as communication and trust.
• The Esports Lounge is a facility managed by Campus Recreation and is located in the Thompson Student Center. The lounge has 10 Esports stations and is used for open recreation and Esports Club practices and competitions.

For more information visit  www.tarleton.edu/campusrec or call 254-968-9912.

Dean of Students Administrative Office

The Dean of Students Administrative Office is committed to student success by advocating for students navigating personal and educational challenges. We support a respectful and safe campus environment, holistic wellness, and our students’ connection to and belonging on campus and in our larger community. Essential support is provided to students in the following areas: student conduct, Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) team, student concerns & grievances, prevention programming, coordination of foster care and parenting initiatives, and absence requests. All students are expected to act with integrity, excellence, and respect while attending Tarleton State University and to follow the Student Conduct Code. Our office is committed to student success and dedicated to helping students find answers and resolutions to their concerns both within and outside of the classroom.  For additional information and support visit: https://www.tarleton.edu/deanofstudents/. You may also contact us by email deanofstudentsoffice@tarleton.edu or phone 254-968-9080.

The Lance Zimmerman Department of Campus Life & Family Engagement

The Division of Student Engagement and Success includes the Department for Campus Life and Family Engagement to involve, connect and enrich the experience for all students and their families. 

While academic success is the highest priority, participation in co-curricular opportunities enrich the student experience while enhancing social development, leadership skills and other career readiness competencies that support student marketability post-graduation. The Lance Zimmerman Department of Campus Life & Family Engagement adds an important dimension to the university experience. Through involvement and connection with the Center for Leadership and Service, community event attendance, membership in recognized student organizations, fraternity, sorority engagement, Tarleton Activities Board participation, students experience increased student success. As students get involved on campus, they build a portfolio of experiences that demonstrate skills gained, outside the classroom, through their Texan Trail Transcript.  

The Lance Zimmerman Department of Campus Life & Family Engagement also supports family connection and communication through Tarleton’s family portal, CampusESP. Each of these initiatives help students find their place, build a network amongst their peers and customize their experience to develop marketable skills that carry them beyond Tarleton’s gates to successfully enter the job market.

Please feel free to contact us at student involvement@tarleton.edu or (254) 968-9490.

Residence Life

Work performed by staff in Residence Life transforms students through a community experience that promotes intentional connections to peers, faculty, staff, resources, and invaluable learning experiences.

Tarleton State University offers at least 12 residential communities that provide a wide variety of room designs and price points to meet the needs of our diverse student body. Each residential community offers a unique and comfortable environment for students. Residence hall rooms are equipped with bedroom furniture, cable TV (TV not provided), and Internet/WIFI as well as a combination refrigerator/freezer with a microwave unit. Apartments are similarly equipped but without microwave units and some contain in-unit laundry equipment (Texan Hall). Laundry facilities are offered in each residence hall. Hall staff members live on-site and among the residents to provide students with the assistance needed to succeed socially and academically.

Effective August 2023 students classified as first-time in college have a one-year on-campus residency requirement. Regardless of the on-campus room/building assignments, residents are required to purchase a meal plan. First-year students must select at least a 12-meals/week meal plan. Visit https://www.tarleton.edu/housing/meal-plan-details.html for specific information regarding meal plans. 

On-Campus Housing Requirement

Residing on campus creates an environment where students experience more success. Therefore, Tarleton supports an on-campus living requirement of:

One (1) academic year for:

• all “First Time Freshman” students who are younger than 21 years of age, prior to the start of the first registered semester.

As a resident of campus housing, a student must have a meal plan for use in University dining facilities. The housing contract occupancy period is the entire academic year, which includes both the fall and spring semesters.

A student may request an exemption to the campus residency requirement for one of the following reasons:

• The student graduated from high school at least two years prior to the start of the semester.
• The student will be 21 years of age or older prior to the start of the semester.
• The student is a married student or a single parent with at least one dependent child.
• The student currently resides in and will continue to reside, in the established primary residence of a parent or legal guardian (or other family member) within 60 miles of the Tarleton State University Stephenville Campus.
• The student will reside with a sibling who is a registered student at Tarleton State University and will reside at the address that is located within 45 miles of the Tarleton State University Stephenville Campus.
• The student is a transfer student with 60 or more successfully completed transfer credit hours that are not AP/Advanced Placement and/or dual credit hours.
• The student is taking eight credit hours or fewer as a part-time student.
• The student has a financial hardship.
• Acceptance to Texas A&M University in College Station after enrollment in Tarleton State University's Program for System Admission (PSA). 

A student may request an exemption to the campus residency requirement by submitting the Off-Campus Request Form. To access this form, students log into the Housing link through DuckTrax on MyGateway. Each Off-Campus Request should be carefully reviewed for required documentation as part of the submission process. 

It is recommended that students not arrange to live off-campus until the Off-Campus Request Form with supporting documentation has been reviewed and approved by the Department of Residence Life staff. Submission of the Off-Campus Request Form can only occur through the housing portal, which is accessed by the student. For more information about exemptions to Tarleton's Campus Housing Residency Requirement or the Off-Campus Request Form, call the Department of Residence Life at 254-968-9083 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Housing Application

Housing application information is available online at Apply for Tarleton Housing. Students may complete their housing application through their "student" tab found after logging in through MyGateway. A $100 non-refundable application fee must be submitted with all applications. Applications are processed for assignment in order of the date they are completed. A housing application is not complete until the $100 non-refundable application fee has been submitted and the student has been admitted to the university. Contact the Department of Residence Life at 254-968-9083 or visit www.tarleton.edu/housing for more information.

Meningitis Vaccine

Texas Legislative Bill 4189 requires each student assigned to live on-campus to provide proof of a meningitis vaccine obtained no less than 10 days prior to the first day of class. For more details about this requirement, go to www.tarleton.edu/admissions/bacterial-meningitis.html or call 254 968-9125.

Rodeo Activities

The Office of Rodeo Activities provides students the opportunity to remain involved in rodeo activities at the intercollegiate level as they study for their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Tarleton State University is a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and competes in the Southwest Region as one of the largest teams in the nation. The Tarleton Rodeo team provides students with the opportunity to be a part of and participate in events such as the Halloween Rodeo, 10 NIRA-sanctioned rodeos, and various fundraising events. Interaction with the Stephenville and surrounding communities allows students to meet with potential future employers once they complete their degrees. Scholarships are available for rodeo athletes based on success both academically and in the arena. For more information go to www.tarleton.edu/rodeo or call 254-968-9187.

Student Counseling Services

Student Counseling Services provides mental health and wellness support to the Tarleton State University student body. We offer a variety of services to meet the wide array of our students’ needs, from mental health training, collaborative outreach, and wellness workshops to a variety of clinical services including counseling groups, single-session individual appointments, and brief, individual counseling. Our clinicians are generalist counselors who are licensed to practice in the State of Texas. When a higher level of care or specialization is necessary, we coordinate and/or refer to appropriate providers. We provide consultation to our campus community, work collaboratively across departments and divisions, and promote resiliency, connection, hope, and healing across our community. Student Counseling Services is committed to providing quality care that meets the needs of a dynamic, ever-changing university community. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 254-968-9044 or stopping by the Wellness Center on the Stephenville Campus or the counseling center on the first floor of the Ft. Worth Learning Center (entrance by the flagpoles). All counseling services are confidential within the limits outlined by Texas Law and professional ethics. For more information go to www.tarleton.edu/counseling or call 254-968-9044.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association is the representative voice of Tarleton students and it is directly responsible for bringing the interests and concerns of students to the attention of the administration and university community. Within SGA is the Freshman Representative Council designed for new incoming students to begin their leadership journey.  For more information, go to the Student Government Association website: www.tarleton.edu/sga.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services provides health care services to students enrolled at Tarleton State University including the Stephenville, Fort Worth, Midlothian, RELIS-Bryan, and Waco locations.  The student health fee covers office visits. Reasonable fees are charged for treatment, injections, tests and medications. Identification card presentation is required with each visit.

Services provided include prescription and over-the-counter medications, treatment of minor/acute illnesses and injuries, suturing of simple lacerations, removal of simple skin lesions, services of a medical doctor or Advanced Practice Provider, administration of allergy injections as directed by the student’s allergist, consultations regarding any health problems (including referrals), blood pressure checks and the continuation of health care following surgery or illness as directed by a physician.

Students who have graduated from a public school in Texas should have current immunization status. The State of Texas requires students who will be living on campus for the first time to show proof of vaccination against Bacterial Meningitis. The vaccination for Bacterial Meningitis must be received at least 10 days prior to moving on campus. Tuberculosis (TB) testing, tetanus, meningitis, influenza and hepatitis B vaccines are available at the Student Health Center. Physical exams and women’s health exams are also available for a reasonable fee. Health literature is available for personal and educational purposes.

All x-rays, laboratory tests, and medical services conducted outside of the Student Health Center are performed at the student’s expense. Student Health Services is an advocate for the physically disabled. The university offers students a comprehensive injury and sickness insurance plan through the Texas A&M System to cover students beyond the resources of Student Health Services. For more information, call 254-968-9271 or go to www.tarleton.edu/healthservices.

Student Resources and Basic Needs

Student Resources and Basic Needs, including the Purple Pantry and CCAMPIS Program, is transforming generations by empowering students to meet their basic needs in order to increase retention and help more Texans graduate with excellence and career-ready skills. The Department of Student Resources and Basic Needs will collaborate to empower and support students facing obstacles across all of our campuses. Obstacles might include issues with rent, childcare, transportation, food, academic materials, etc. We value holistic goodness, retention, and graduation, especially from underrepresented populations, such as first-generation students. We will regularly assess and measure our progress and celebrate student successes. Our end goal is to provide students with a thriving learning environment in which they can graduate and have opportunities that will provide them with economic mobility and security. If you would like to donate to the Student Resources and Basic Needs Gift Fund, please click on the link below and then click on “Donate to Student Resources & Basic Needs”. Your funds will be used to empower students moving forward by assisting with their needs today. If you have physical donations you would like to bring to the Purple Pantry, please drop them off in Suite 212 of the Student Center, Monday-Friday 8-5.

Student Resources & Basic Needs

Student Media

The department of Student Media guides the production of JTAC News, the official Tarleton State University student newspaper; the Grassburr, the annual yearbook for Tarleton State University; and manages the on-campus print shop, The Source. The department drives marketing and communication efforts for the Division of Student Engagement and Success. Student Media enhances the Tarleton State University student experience through student-driven multimedia and providing quality publications through the use of student values and ideas while providing a creative outlet for free expression. As a student-focused and student-driven department, Student Media offers Tarleton State students various opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop critical personal and career skills, and create powerful portfolios. For more information, email studentmedia@tarleton.edu or visit www.tarleton.edu/studentmedia. Learn more about JTAC News at www.jtacnews.com.

Follow @tarletonstudent for more on events and wellness on campus!

University Police Department

The safety and security of the campus community is the number one priority of the University Police Department. Staffed by fully licensed police officers, the department operates around the clock and every day to ensure a positive environment for students to live, learn and interact. Additionally, the department offers safety escorts across campus vehicle jump-starts for dead batteries and will unlock your car if your keys are locked inside. Call 911 for emergencies or 254-968-9001 for anything else. We are always just a phone call away.