General Information

This Catalog provides information about the academic programs of Sul Ross State University to students, prospective students, faculty, and staff. Included are the academic calendars; information concerning admissions, degree requirements, academic regulations, and student services; a list of the faculty and administrative officers; and the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Every effort has been made to make this Catalog as complete and accurate as possible, and it has been prepared on the basis of the best information available at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in its contents as changes occur. Such changes will be made known to the administrative offices and the academic departments as they occur.

Students should refer to this Catalog for course descriptions, degree requirements, and procedures for admission. The class schedule for each semester or summer session will provide details concerning registration and the courses to be offered.

Sul Ross State University is located in scenic Alpine, Texas, the county seat of Brewster County, at the gateway to the Big Bend Country. The Big Bend Country of Texas—a crucible of cultures: Indian, Spanish, Mexican, Anglo—is a multifaceted region encompassing vast expanses of the great Chihuahuan Desert, picturesque hills and mountains reaching to over eight thousand feet in altitude, rolling plains and lush grasslands, and a wide assortment of plants, wildlife, and geological features which annually attract over half a million visitors from throughout the world. These visitors share with the students and faculty of Sul Ross an environment that is free of pollution, warm in winter and cool in summer, and ideal for combining university studies with a variety of outside recreational activities. Located near Sul Ross are the unique and nationally well-known Big Bend National Park, scenic Davis Mountains and State Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, University of Texas McDonald Observatory, Balmorhea State Park, and a number of historic towns and sites which vividly depict the region’s diverse history.

Who We Are
Sul Ross State University is a public, comprehensive, Master’s degree granting, multi-campus university, providing on-site and distance education in the Big Bend and the US-Mexico border regions of Texas.

Vision
Sul Ross State University seeks to be a national and international leader in achieving excellence among universities in the areas of Education, Research, Social Mobility, Service, Affordability, and Shared Governance.

Mission
Rooted in the distinctive surroundings and history of the Big Bend and the US-Mexico border regions of Texas, Sul Ross State University provides accessible, comprehensive, and life changing education through high quality teaching, research, cultural awareness, creativity, and service.

Values

A university-wide committee developed the plan, Strategies for the Second Century 2017-2022, and it was  implemented in fall 2017. The five goals of the strategic plan are listed below:

• Promote Growth in Academic, Research, and Artistic Excellence
• Target Recruiting, Maximize Retention, & Increase Graduation Rates
• Strengthen a Sustainable and Diversified Financial Base while Ensuring Affordable Access
• Recruit, Retain, and Develop Faculty, Staff, and Student Employees Unify and Enhance the Image and Visibility of Sul Ross

The Division of Library and Research Technologies is located in the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library and consists of three organizational units: Education, Access, and Outreach (including Reference Services, Interlibrary Loan, and Circulation Services), Content Management, (including Acquisitions, Cataloging, and Serials), and the Archives of the Big Bend. The mission of the Library is to provide the learning resources and services necessary to support the educational, research, and informational needs of the University and its off-site campuses, the Alpine community, and the Big Bend area. The primary resources of the Library are its collections and its staff. The Library’s website is: http://library.sulross.edu.