The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and Tarleton State University signed a formal agreement Jan. 25 that jointly supports their common interests in biodiversity and sustainability education.
Fort Worth-based BRIT, a nonprofit international research and education center that studies plants and teaches about their importance in the world, will work with the university on research and education programs.
As part of the agreement, the institutions will co-supervise student interns and internship projects and jointly apply for project and program funding support. The agreement also provides for the open exchange of research information and faculty and staff development initiatives through joint meetings, training and cooperative programming.
“BRIT actively looks for institutional relationships that help advance both environmental research and education programs,” said Ed Schneider, BRIT’s president and director. “Tarleton’s commitment to being one of the top teaching universities in sustainability sciences makes it a great partner.”
Tarleton’s Department of Wildlife, Sustainability and Ecosystem Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Studies will lead the university’s effort.
Tarleton, a member of the Texas A&M University System, has campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online.
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
NAMES GARNER FIRST COO
Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County promoted Lindsey Garner, former vice president and chief development officer, as the organization’s first chief operations officer.
Garner, who has 10 years of nonprofit management experience, has been with the organization for four years. She will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for programs and operations, manage the leadership team, and, in conjunction with the CEO, serve as liaison to organizational partners and stakeholders. She will work with the agency’s board of directors on programming and financial strategies and oversee resource development and community relations.
Communities in Schools is now in 52 schools across 10 Tarrant County school districts and serves more than 33,000 at-risk students annually.
ARLINGTON ISD PARTNERS
WITH UNT FOR MUSIC COURSES
For the first time, students in the Arlington Independent School District will be able to graduate with college credit in fine arts under a partnership with the University of North Texas.
UNT will offer college-level courses such as music history, music theory and piano. The partnership will begin with an introductory music history course – music in human imagination – next fall. More courses will be added over time.
“Music and the arts have been proven to enhance traditional studies, and this partnership with the award-winning UNT College of Music will provide unique opportunities for our students to earn college credit while gaining knowledge and skills from UNT professors,” said Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos.
TEXAS WESLEYAN DECIDES
TO REMAIN GUN-FREE
After reviewing feedback solicited from the campus community, Texas Wesleyan University’s Board of Trustees affirmed President Frederick G. Slabach’s decision to remain a gun-free campus by opting out of Senate Bill 11, also referred to as campus carry.
The bill allows individuals with a concealed handgun license to carry a concealed handgun while on university campuses in Texas, beginning Aug. 1. Private universities may opt out of the requirement, following input and consultation from the campus community.
Texas Wesleyan consulted via email and open forums with students, faculty and staff, and held discussions with the Student Government Association, Alumni Association Board, the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee.
The school will begin working to notify constituents and visitors of this decision by the Aug. 1 deadline.
FWISD’S WOMENS ACADEMY IS
BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL NOMINEE
The Fort Worth Independent School District’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) is among 26 Texas public schools nominated for national 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools recognition.
Blue Ribbon Schools is a U.S. Department of Education program that recognizes public and private schools where students perform at high levels. Winners of the 2016 honors will be announced in September.
The academy is the Fort Worth ISD’s first single-gender school. Opened in 2010 to 75 sixth-graders and 75 seventh-graders, YWLA accepts girls at all academic levels who want to achieve and go to college. It will graduate its first class this June.
UTA ONLINE GRAD SCHOOLS
IN NURSING, EDUCATION CITED
University of Texas at Arlington is among the top academic institutions for students who want to pursue a graduate degree in education or nursing online, according to new national rankings for 2016.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the UT Arlington Master of Education as No. 30 among 267 schools surveyed on its 2016 list of Best Online Graduate Education Programs. The UT Arlington Master of Science in Nursing is ranked No. 54 among 149 surveyed among 2016 Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.
The rankings are based on student engagement, student services and technology, admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, and peer reputation.
EASTERN HILLS HIGH WINS
TOP COUNSELING AWARD
The Texas School Counselor Association recognized Fort Worth ISD’s Eastern Hills High School with its CREST Award for Counseling Excellence for 2015. Only 56 schools in Texas received the award last year.
CREST helps counselors to evaluate their counseling programs, promote their programs to the stakeholders in their districts and demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.
CREST, which stands for Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas, looks at the counseling program in seven key areas: principal’s support, school counseling advisory council, school climate and safety, student results, major achievements, community partnerships and resources, and parent collaboration.
FORT WORTH ACADEMY
OF FINE ARTS EXPANDING
Texas Center for Arts + Academics will increase the student population at Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts by 60 students in grades 3-5 for the fall of 2016.
The academy is a public charter school that relies on an audition process to admit students rather than a lottery. Open enrollment ends Feb. 5 for the 2016-2017 school year.
To apply online, visit www.FWAFA.org/admission or call 817-924-1482.
CHAPEL HILL ACADEMY OPENS
LENDING LIBRARY FOR STUDENTS
Lena Pope’s Chapel Hill Academy, an open-enrollment public charter school for more than 500 elementary students in south Fort Worth, officially opened its new circulating library on Jan. 20.
Lena Pope received a grant in 2015 from The Ryan Foundation to purchase 2,500 books for its existing library. Before the grant, the school did not have enough books to meet the School Library Programs Standards and Guidelines so its library could check out books. The Texas Education Agency, which partially funds the charter school, does not provide money specifically for library books.
