SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 382 WHEREAS, Students, faculty, and staff from Tarleton State University are gathering in Austin on March 24, 2015, in celebration of Tarleton State University Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, In 1899, the school was established as John Tarleton College with an endowment from a Stephenville landowner; it was incorporated into the Texas A&M University System in 1917 and served as a two-year institution until 1959, when it extended its curriculum to the junior and senior levels; the present-day name was adopted in 1973; and WHEREAS, Tarleton State University today has campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, and Midlothian, and its enrollment surpasses 11,000; it offers nearly 100 bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as a doctorate in education, and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 20:1; while benefiting from the resources of a major public university, students also enjoy the personal attention, warmth, and faculty interaction typical of a smaller college; and WHEREAS, Long known for excellence in agriculture, Tarleton State University has the third-largest agricultural program in the nation among non-land-grant universities, and it is among the top producers of agricultural education teachers for Texas schools; its education graduates have an impressive 98 percent certification pass rate; and WHEREAS, Tarleton's research centers include the Southwest RegionalDairyCenterandtherenownedTexasInstitutefor Applied Environmental Research, which plays a leading role in national and international scholarship on water quality issues; further demonstrating institutional strength in the sciences, the school's Rocket Club has won top-five honors in two international competitions sponsored by professional associations; moreover, the institution's state-of-the-art observatory is the largest in the state dedicated to undergraduate education and research; and WHEREAS, A forward-looking institution with a long history and rich traditions, Tarleton State University continues to provide its students with an outstanding education and a solid foundation for achievement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby recognize March 24, 2015, as Tarleton State University Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to all those participating in this event. Estes ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 16, 2015. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate