In many ways, this new year signals a rebirth for Sul Ross State University. After 100 years on the frontier, we are stronger than ever! Last year, we developed a Legacy Plan to proactively address funding challenges from our state. After several months of changes, innovations, efficiencies, and belt tightening, we identified over $2 million dollars in savings. That savings allowed us to make great strides in our operations and begin a new day at Sul Ross with increased accountability and fiscal responsibility so that we continue our educational legacy in this area.
Following several years of hard work and planning, we submitted our Reaffirmation Report to the Southern Association of Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in the spring of 2018 for our ten-year re-accreditation. After being reviewed on nearly 100 requirements and standards, Sul Ross received only four recommendations from the SACSCOC committee to enhance our university and we have made those changes. I appreciate the work and dedication from each member of the faculty and staff to ensure that we will receive full accreditation in December. We look forward to beginning the next decade filled with new and challenging goals for our students and our greater Sul Ross community.
This new academic year, we hired a new Rodeo coach, CJ Aragon, whose experience and talent promises to raise the bar for our Rodeo team and our ANRS students. The 73rd Sul Ross Rodeo is scheduled for September 27-29. Hope you can join us! We anticipate an exciting year in Lobo athletics. We have added men’s soccer as a new intercollegiate sport. Football, volleyball, soccer, and cross-country teams will be competing this Fall. Please come out and support our Lobos when you can! We have also enhanced our athletic training and our strength and conditioning programs in support of all of our student athletes.
Sul Ross moved into a new phase of student affairs by hiring the first-ever Associate Dean of Students to oversee our student life area. Brandy Snyder spent most of her career working with our students through retention programs, but in her new role, she plans to engage students to a greater degree to enhance their Sul Ross experience.
We recently launched a new website dedicated to Sul Ross News that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the activities and good news stories from every area of the university. Finally, this e-newsletter begins a new era of communication from Sul Ross. The Frontier View provides our alumni, associates and friends with the opportunity to hear from directors, faculty, staff, and students as they share their perspectives about their life at Sul Ross.
I am excited for this new academic year and for a new opportunity to share our passion for Sul Ross with you. I am proud to serve as the president of this great university and even prouder to wear the Bar-SR-Bar. Brand ‘em!
President
Dr. Bill Kibler
Thank you, Dr. Kibler. We really appreciate all that you have done.
It is a credit to Sul-Ross State how well these articles are written. Thanks for the updates.
Sully is a great place to get a great education!