Letter to Parents

A series of red flags reading: Welcome Home - Troy University and the City of Troy

A MESSAGE TO PARENTS

Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr.

Dear Trojan Parents:

September 8, 2023 will go down in history as a major milestone for Troy University. On that day the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved an instructional role change recognizing TROY as a doctoral-level institution.

This is a significant milestone for TROY. Under our previous instructional role, we were limited to three doctoral programs. We launched our first in 2010, and have since proven that we can recruit, retain, and graduate students at the doctoral level.

We felt the time was right for TROY to seek official recognition as a doctoral institution. TROY now has the ability to offer all doctoral programs needed to support research and generation of knowledge in the region. Plans are already underway to propose the addition of a Ph.D. in Criminology and a Doctor of Business Administration.

What does this mean for you and your student? For one, it means you made the right college choice. Even if your student never earns a master's or doctorate, the value of all TROY degrees will increase significantly.

The University's ambitions extend further to achieving Carnegie R2 status and formal recognition as a research institution. We are already making great strides towards this goal, as grant-funded research projects are on the rise and we near completion of our first building dedicated exclusively to research. Once we are recognized as a full-fledged research institution, our students and alumni will see their degrees further increase in value and stature. The best days for Troy University lie ahead, and the journey is just beginning.

Another Successful Season for the Trojans!

Troy University fans celebrate SBC Football championship

The TROY football team under head coach Jon Sumrall finished the 2023 season in spectacular fashion on Saturday, Dec. 2, defeating App State at home to win our second-consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship. It was a thrilling end to the regular season—yet one that continues as we look forward to playing DUKE in the Birmingham Bowl on December 23, 2023! I am proud of the players and coaches who worked hard to make this possible.

We believe the future is bright for the Trojans, which is why we were pleased to announce plans for a $10 million indoor practice facility, which will truly be a game-changer for football and all of TROY Athletics.

Rankings indicate quality of TROY academics

Dr. Hawkins and graduating student at commencement ceremony

Troy University continues to be ranked by the most prestigious services in the nation, which we embrace as validation of our programs. Here are a few of our latest rankings:

We were named to the “Best in the Southeast” list by The Princeton Review for the 19th straight year. TROY was one of only 109 colleges and universities in the 12-state region to receive this designation.
The rankings released by U.S. News and World Report, considered widely as the most authoritative and prestigious in the nation, ranked TROY 55th among all regional universities in the South and 23rd among public regional universities in the South.
The U.S. News survey also ranked TROY as 40th in the “Best Value” category among regional universities in the Southeast. In addition, we were named to the top 20 list for “Best Colleges for Veterans” across the region.
Money magazine's latest college rankings place TROY in the top 700 out of more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S.A.

Dr. LaGary Carter, new Dean of Health and Human Services

Dr. LaGary Carter headshot

I'm pleased to report we have hired an outstanding new leader for our College of Health and Human Services, Dr. LaGary Carter. Dr. Carter has outstanding academic credentials, including two doctorates. He comes to us from Valdosta State University, where he served as Professor of Exercise Physiology and Associate Dean in the School of Health Sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Dr. Carter caught our eye because in addition to his academic work, he also served part-time as a nurse practitioner with a hospital in South Georgia. His hands-on approach will serve our next generation of students well.

New construction projects scheduled for completion in 2024

Jones Hall Center for Health Science construction in progress

The TROY landscape is changing significantly, as we are near the completion of two major buildings on campus. The Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences will focus on research in polymer science and plastics research. Jones Hall, named for alumnus Billy Jones, will house the College of Health and Human Services. In addition, the major upgrade to our baseball facility, Riddle-Pace Field, is now completed. When the Trojans take to the field this spring, we will have the best baseball facility in our league and one of the finest in the Southeast.

An international experience is right for your student!

A group of Troy University students traveling abroad in front of a waterfall

A study-abroad experience should be part of your student's journey at TROY. I have seen countless students benefit from traveling overseas to learn about other cultures. One student told me after a trip to Pietrasanta, Italy, that: “It has given me the courage to explore the unknown.” I can think of no better endorsement!

I have already seen announcements of spring 2024 study-abroad opportunities! In May, our students will travel to Italy to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome. In June, Spain will be the destination with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Costa Brava.

Have your student contact our Office of Study Abroad at 334-808-6128 to find out more information about the opportunities that await them!

License plate purchase supports study-abroad scholarship

Student holding an Alabama license tag reading: Leader - Troy University

TROY provides $1,250 in study-abroad scholarships, available to all our students, both in class and online, who have successfully completed one full semester at TROY, have registered full-time, are in good academic standing, possess a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and have completed the TROY Abroad application. Students may apply annually, which means students can receive $5,000 in assistance for international study during their academic career.

The scholarship is funded through sales of TROY license plates for automobiles or boats to Alabama residents. The gift is tax-deductible, and $48 of the cost goes to scholarships. Purchasing a plate means cash savings for you, as we reduce the $100 student parking fee to $25 if your student's vehicle has a TROY license plate.

In closing, thank you so much for letting us guide and serve your students. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with my office if you need assistance.

Sincerely,

Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D.
Chancellor