College of Science and Technology Spring 2022 Newsletter

MESSAGE FROM THE

College Dean

The fall semester for the College of Science and Technology continued its dedicated efforts to strengthen our focus on excellence and

growth. With the upcoming split of the college scheduled for June 1, 2022, names for the new colleges have been determined: the College of Engineering and the College of Science and Mathematics. The national search for the founding dean of the College of Engineering is underway and slated for completion in the coming weeks. I look forward to working with the founding dean as a partner to continue to build and strengthen the STEM programs at Tarleton.

In the Fall, 2022 semester, COST launched several initiatives focused on improving the success of students in our academic programs as well as students enrolled in STEM courses as part of their academic program from other colleges on the Tarleton campus. For example, Mrs. Hannah Grant-Smith is leading efforts to expand the science clinic and working with the team in the School of Engineering to establish an engineering clinic. Both clinics are focused on providing free drop-in tutoring to students in a variety of first- and second-year courses. Led by Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry, our new associate dean for COST, we launched the STEM Scholars program as an academic learning community that provides resources and programming that support student academic growth and success while building a sense of community among the students. The STEM Scholars program was supported by a grant from the President’s Fund for Excellence for this inaugural year.

In January, COST partnered with the Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development to host a grant writing workshop focused on preparing grant proposals to the National Science Foundation. There were 16 project teams consisting of 36 faculty in attendance. Additional efforts to support faculty pursuit of resources for their research agendas through grant proposals is being planned.

The College also continues its investment in scientific instrumentation and equipment through a variety of programs. During the past two years, COST has allocated more than $700,000 towards the purchase of instrumentation and equipment for use in our research and teaching labs.

As we continue to look to the future, we are excited about the trajectory of Tarleton State University and the role that the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering will play in that future. Great things are happening!!

Sincerely,