Editor’s note: Welcome to On Campus: A roundup of what’s new and notable across Tarrant County’s colleges and universities.
Texas Wesleyan University is applying to join the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II, the university announced this week, marking a step up for the school.
The 2028-29 school year will be the private university’s first year of competition as an NCAA Division II school if accepted. Texas Wesleyan currently competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
The move is both strategic and well-timed, athletics director Ricky Dotson said in a news release.
“Our programs reflect sustained competitive success, strong academic performance by our student-athletes and an institutional commitment to excellence that aligns with NCAA Division II values,” he said. “We are well positioned organizationally, competitively and culturally to take this next step.”
In the NAIA, Texas Wesleyan has won 20 conference titles across all sports since 2018. The school’s football team made the NAIA playoffs in both of the last two years.
The school’s geographic location played a role in the decision to seek admission to the NCAA, according to the news release. NAIA teams are scattered across the country, requiring extensive travel.
The NCAA’s Division II has 15 Texas teams. Joining would reduce travel, better student-athletes’ experiences and grow fan engagement, the release said. It would also enhance requirement, the release added.
TCC named All-Star College of the Year by Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County
Tarrant County College was named the All-Star College of the Year by Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County on Feb. 11 at the employment program’s first State of the Workforce Address.
The award applauded the college for its workforce development work, partnerships with employers and for supporting the talent pipeline, according to a news release.
Chancellor Elva LeBlanc said in the release that the college was honored to be the recipient and that it is a reflection of their “strong collaboration” with industry and Workforce Solutions to support student success.
“When education and workforce partners align, opportunity grows for students, employers and the entire region,” she said.
The college currently offers 67 associate of applied science degrees, 126 certificates and 14 occupational skills awards.
UTA social work dean begins SSWR presidency
Kirk A. Foster, dean of the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, became the president of the Society for Social Work and Research at the beginning of February.
The organization, made up of more than 2,000 members, aims to support research in the field.
“I hope my presidency is defined by a continued focus on rigorous, impactful social work research,” Foster said in a news release. “This includes supporting high-quality scholarship, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening the ways social work science contributes to understanding and addressing complex social challenges.”
His appointment is an asset to the university because it will showcase UTA’s own research and initiatives in the field, the release added.
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
The Report’s higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Fort Worth. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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