Welcome back for the spring semester
Jan. 28, 2025 - 2:42 p.m.
Dear faculty and staff,
Welcome back to campus for the spring semester! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable winter break. As we embark on a new year, I wanted to share several important and exciting updates from across campus.
Enrollment update
Preliminary enrollment data indicates our fall-to-spring retention rate will reach 92.3% — its highest mark since 2016 — following a fall semester that saw the largest first-time undergraduate class in six years. Currently, spring semester credit hours are up 1.6% from 2024, while graduate headcount is up 2.7% and our first-time transfers are up 7%.
Additionally, we are seeing positive enrollment trends as we look to the fall semester:
Fall 2025 admits:
- Undergraduate: 8.9% increase (Coordinated Admission Program, or CAP, is not included)
- Transfers: 19.5% increase
- Graduate: 109.8% increase
Thank you for your continued efforts to make SFA a destination for student success!
Leadership update
Join me in welcoming Dr. Kent Willis to the role of senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement. A proud SFA graduate, Willis brings a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to our leadership team, and we’re excited to see the impact of his vision on our university’s future.
Purple Promise extended
Thanks to the second major investment by The University of Texas System Board of Regents, SFA’s long-running Purple Promise Guarantee Program will expand again this fall to provide tuition-free education to students whose families have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. The expansion of this program represents a transformative opportunity for students and their families to access higher education in East Texas.
Legislative session in progress
The 89th Texas legislative session is officially underway, and, along with our governmental relations team at the UT System office, we are actively advocating for SFA’s priorities. Our exceptional item requests this year include:
- $3.06 million for restoration of institutional enhancement funds
- $8 million for establishing a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology
- $8.5 million for nursing workforce initiative
- $10.5 million for entrepreneurship and workforce innovation
- $150 million for campus capital renewal and modernization
Construction Projects
Pineywoods Dining
The new dining hall, named Pineywoods Dining by a campuswide student vote, will be completed at the end of the semester. Stay tuned for information about the grand opening.
Forestry and agriculture building project launching soon
We are excited to announce that the $85 million project for the new Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture facility will begin this semester. The final design phase will be presented to the UT System Board of Regents in February for approval. The demolition of the current facility will begin shortly after. We will share more details about the project’s timeline this spring.
Admissions office renovation
Renovations to the Office of Admissions location in the Rusk Building are underway. These upgrades will enhance our ability to welcome prospective students and their families to campus. We look forward to unveiling a more modern and inviting space soon.
During the renovation, all admissions staff members are located in the Cole STEM Building, Room 213.
Campus operations
We are committed to continually evaluating our campus operations to ensure efficiency, sustainability and an exceptional experience for students, faculty and staff.
Our campus master plan is currently in progress, and we invite you to provide feedback and stay up to date by visiting sfasu.edu/masterplan.
Amazon Prime's 'The College Tour' coming to SFA
SFA will appear on Amazon Prime's "The College Tour," which showcases campus life through student stories. Students are auditioning for 10 spots in the episode. The crew will film on campus from March 3 through 7, and the episode is set to premiere in fall 2025. The episode will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Google TV, Niche and Nearpod, as well as "The College Tour" app and website, reaching over 60,000 high school counselors nationwide.
Get involved this semester!
Make sure to take advantage of the fantastic activities and events that SFA has to offer. From exciting sporting events to inspiring fine arts performances, there are countless opportunities to engage with our campus community. This week’s events include a performance by nationally acclaimed comedian Greg Warren in Turner Auditorium as part of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts University Series.
SFA Athletics introduced the Citizens 1st Bank Family Night program, which allows faculty and staff, along with their immediate family members, to claim complimentary tickets for the remaining doubleheader basketball home games.
Game schedule:
- Feb.1 vs. Lamar University – Lumberjacks tip off at 2 p.m., Ladyjacks at 5 p.m.
- Feb. 8 vs. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi – Ladyjacks tip off at 2 p.m., Lumberjacks at 5 p.m.
- March 1 vs. Nicholls – Ladyjacks tip off at 2 p.m., Lumberjacks at 5 p.m.
How to claim your tickets:
- Visit the ticket portal
- Enter the promo code: CITIZENS
- Select your seats and enjoy the games
Thank you for all you do to support the mission and vision of SFA. Let’s make this semester one to remember!
Sincerely,
Dr. Neal Weaver
President