Fall 2024 Guide

Students playing glow in the dark table tennis

The fun has just begun
Lumberjacks had a fantastic first week during SFA's Weeks of Welcome events like Glowchella — and we're just getting started! Another week of amazing events is coming up — don't miss out! Check out the schedule here: Weeks of Welcome
Empowering first-generation college students
SFA was recently granted membership to the FirstGen Forward Network, recognizing the university’s work in improving outcomes for first-generation students, who comprise more than 40% of our student body. Dr. Stephanie J. Bannister, FirstGen Forward vice president, applauded SFA for its “long-term commitment to employ strategies” that ensure “success for this important population.” Explore SFA's resources for first-generation Lumberjacks.
A summer of academics and adventure
Through several direct exchange and faculty-led study abroad programs, we had the largest number of students in SFA’s recent history learning around the world during summer 2024. Opportunities are endless with the Office of International Programs' study abroad experiences.

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Fast Facts

MSN-FNP graduates
100% pass rate
national certification exam past five years
June 2024

$1 million
stock portfolio
managed by
business students.
June 2024

Grammy and
Oscar winners
among our alumni.

Aviation sciences
first in the nation
to fly state-of-the-art
Tecnam P-Mentor
two-seat airplanes.
June 2024

EXPLORE ACADEMICS

Have a dream career or a major in mind? Still undecided? With more than 120 areas of interest at SFA,
you can find the path that’s best for you.

VISIT ACADEMICS

Explore your passions, meet our faculty

Select an area of interest and discover how we inspire success – one Lumberjack at a time.

Life At SFA

State-of-the-Art STEM Building

The Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building helps SFA continue to produce top-ranking scholars within the STEM fields. The building houses a planetarium, research laboratories, collaborative classrooms and makerspaces — areas that allow students to collaborate and create prototypes.

Housing & Dining

Lumberjacks enjoy plenty of housing and dining options on and off campus.

Competitive Division I Sports and Spirit teams

From our two-time NCAA National Champion women's bowling team to our nationally recognized Cheer and Dance Teams, SFA has a proud athletic tradition.

Clubs & Organizations

Follow your passion and make friends by getting involved! We have hundreds of clubs and organizations ready to welcome you.

18 Beautiful Bodies of Water Nearby

Outdoor enthusiasts can paddle along the Neches River or catch fish at one of many area lakes.

The Axe Handle

SFA freshmen receive an axe handle to personalize with their own Lumberjack spirit. Students can be seen (and heard) banging axe handles on the bleachers at SFA football games.

Ole Cotton

Ole Cotton is an imposing 75mm cannon that fires a celebratory shot every time the SFA Lumberjack football team scores. The SFA ROTC cadets man Ole Cotton just beyond the south end zone at Homer Bryce Stadium. The powerful blast can be heard – and often felt – all over town.

The Homecoming Bonfire

SFA's traditional bonfire and pep rally are the centerpieces of homecoming. Usually held in October, homecoming is a series of traditions that bring Lumberjacks together to celebrate SFA. Other events include homecoming elections, Duck Dash, downtown parade, football games and much more.

Purple Haze

Press play to hear our rowdy Purple Haze student section in action. At SFA’s home football games, fans in the student section loudly bang their axe handles on a metal “Purple Haze” sign to show support for our beloved Lumberjacks (and to rattle the opposing team). Now that’s a home-field advantage!

Last year’s School of Theatre and Dance presentation of “The 39 Steps” was a crowd-pleaser. This year’s MainStage season features another diverse lineup of productions that promise to engage, entertain and inspire audiences.

SFA’s School of Theatre and Dance promotes exciting 2024-25 MainStage Season
The Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts’ new permanent collection of artwork at Griffith Fine Arts Building features selected works of art by current and former Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art faculty and alumni, along with some special guest artists. Russ Connell, a Dallas-based sculptor, was contracted to create a new, large-scale exterior piece that now greets visitors who enter the building from Alumni Drive. The collection will be celebrated at a reception at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in Griffith Fine Arts Building.

Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts Permanent Collection to open this fall
The works of composer Laurence Sherr will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

SFA music faculty members to present works of Sherr

More News

More Events >

The fun has just begun

Empowering first-generation college students

A summer of academics and adventure