by | Published
ALPINE, Texas — Sul Ross State University will become a doctoral-granting institution for the first time in its 110-year history after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the university’s request to offer a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, university officials announced.
The inaugural cohort of the Ed.D. program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026. Final implementation remains contingent on approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board represents a significant expansion of Sul Ross’ academic mission, formally transitioning the university into doctoral education and broadening its role across West Texas and the Texas borderlands.
“This is a transformative and historic moment,” said Carlos Hernandez. “We began our journey as a teacher’s college committed to expanding educational opportunities in rural and underserved communities. Offering our first doctoral degree brings us full circle and signals a new era for Sul Ross.”
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare scholar-practitioners focused on improvement and innovation in professional settings, with a particular emphasis on rural and borderland communities. University officials said the program aligns with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate and emphasizes improvement science, applied research, and leadership grounded in real-world practice.
Bernie Cantens said the approval reflects years of planning and institutional commitment. “This is not simply about adding a new degree,” Cantens said. “It is about extending Sul Ross State University’s mission into doctoral education while maintaining rigor, relevance, and accessibility for working professionals.”
The program will use a hybrid delivery model, allowing students to complete coursework without relocating. Dissertation work will begin in the first course, enabling candidates to complete a dissertation-in-practice tied directly to challenges within their own professional environments.
Kevin Badgett said the program addresses a critical need in the region. “Our graduates will be equipped not only with advanced credentials, but with the tools to strengthen schools, districts, and communities where leadership is most urgently needed,” Badgett said.
The Ed.D. program will be led by John Decman, who brings experience in doctoral program development at the state and national levels. Decman said the program was built to emphasize applied research and evidence-based leadership.
University leaders also credited Barbara Tucker for her role in launching the doctoral initiative, citing her leadership and long-term vision for the program.
Initial enrollment in the Ed.D. program will be intentionally limited, university officials said, to support close mentorship and cohort development as Sul Ross enters doctoral education for the first time.
For more information about Sul Ross State University and its academic programs, visit www.sulross.edu/educational-leadership/#doctoral or email john.decman@sulross.edu.
