FORT WORTH, Texas \u2014 Tarleton State University leaders, faculty, staff and students joined The Texas A&M System and community leaders Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the eight-story, 228,000 square foot Texas A&M-Fort Worth Law & Education Building. The facility is the first academic building on the new 3.5-acre downtown campus and marks Tarleton State\u2019s continued expansion in North Texas through system partnership. Tarleton State\u2019s presence reflects the collaborative model behind Texas A&M-Fort Worth, which brings universities, state agencies and industry partners together on one downtown campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs North Texas continues to grow, Tarleton State University is expanding programs that align with the region\u2019s evolving workforce needs,\u201d said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. \u201cBiotechnology, biomedical science, medical laboratory science and histotechnology offer students strong career pathways while supplying employers with highly skilled graduates. Our partnership at Texas A&M-Fort Worth demonstrates what is possible when institutions work together to advance student success and regional growth.\u201d Occupying three floors of the building, Tarleton State will offer academic programs in biotechnology, biomedical science, medical laboratory science and histotechnology, with later plans to include graduate-level nursing and integrative biology. <\/p>\n
The university will also provide short-term, noncredit training through its Office of Extended Education and Workforce Development. \u201cThe Law & Education Building enables us to place high-demand health sciences and STEM-related programs in the heart of Fort Worth\u2019s new Switchyard Innovation District,\u201d said Dr. Rachael Capua, Vice President for External Operations and Dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth. \u201cThis location will give students valuable access to clinical, laboratory and workforce partners while helping address critical needs in a rapidly growing region.\u201d Tarleton State\u2019s presence in Fort Worth dates to 1978, when the university began offering medical laboratory science classes on West Myrtle Street. The university later operated at several locations, including the Richard C. Schaffer Educational Building on Enderly Place and the Hickman Building on Camp Bowie Boulevard, before expanding to Tarleton State University Fort Worth along Chisholm Trail Parkway. <\/p>\n
The ceremony also included a groundbreaking for Research & Innovation Building A, the second facility planned for Texas A&M-Fort Worth. The building is expected to support public- and private-sector research in engineering, aerospace, agriculture, health sciences and emergency response. Tarleton State plans to house its Institute for Biotechnology Research and Innovation there and expand medical laboratory science research.<\/p>\n