Texas State University–San Marcos
Encyclopedia
Texas State University–San Marcos (informally Texas State University, or simply Texas State, it discourages the use of TSU) is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas
. In fall 2011, the university had a record-high enrollment of 34,113 students.
It is the largest institution in the Texas State University System
, the sixth-largest university in Texas
, and one of the fifty-five largest universities in the United States. For the 2009-2010 year, Texas State University was considered a top producer of Fulbright
Fellows when two students became beneficiaries of research grants under the Fulbright Program
. Texas State joined three other universities in its category to have all applicants receive fellowships.
U.S. News & World Report
lists Texas State as a Regional University. In U.S. News & World Report
's Best Colleges 2011 Texas State ranked 40th among all Regional Universities in the West and tied for 12th among western public Regional Universities. Texas State is also the lead school of a multi-institution teaching center offering undergraduate and graduate programs at the Round Rock Higher Education Center
(RRHEC) in the greater north Austin
area. Additionally, the main campus in San Marcos serves as the location of the fictional school TMU (Texas Methodist University) in the NBC
TV series Friday Night Lights
. In addition, the University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS).
Texas State University is the only university in the state to have a former President of the United States
as an alumnus. President Lyndon B. Johnson
graduated from what was then Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1930 with a teaching certificate and a Bachelor of Science in history. In 1965, he returned to Southwest Texas State College, as the school was known then, to sign the Higher Education Act of 1965
.
on May 10, 1899. Previously, teachers were required to study at Coronal Institute at San Marcos or North Texas Normal School at Denton. Upon passage of the bill, citizens of San Marcos allocated 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) at the site of Chautauqua Hill for the site of the college. Old Main
was not constructed until the twenty seventh legislature rationed out $25,000 for the upbringing of a facility. Once completed, the school opened its doors with an enrollment of 303, a faculty of seventeen, and a principal on September 9, 1903.
It took 15 years for the school to become a senior college; in response, the name of the school was changed to Southwest Texas State Normal College. A similar name change, Southwest Texas State Teachers College, was observed in 1923 when the college was admitted into the American Association of Teachers Colleges.
President John G. Flowers, in 1950, made a sizable step toward the university's overall goal which included a boost in curriculum and an addition of six new buildings. By this time, campus grounds had grown from 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) to sixty five, faculty numbers were at an all-time high of 105, the campus had a 3.5 million dollar property value, and the college had an enrollment of 2,000.
The school's next name change did not come until 1959 when it was changed to Southwest Texas State College and later, Southwest Texas State University, in 1969. The next decade brought the school national recognition when Alumnus Lyndon B. Johnson
claimed the presidency and the school's dance team, the Strutters, performed at his inauguration. Johnson returned to Southwest Texas State Teachers College when he signed the Higher Education Act of 1965
, part of the Great Society
. During his 1965 remarks at Strahan Coliseum
, Johnson described living in a compact room atop Dr. Evans' garage and working dozens of jobs.
In 1996, Westwood High School
, located in Williamson County
, began hosting a number of the university's graduate night classes in Business Administration and Education. Later, a 101 acre (0.40873286 km²) gift brought the program from a high school to the late constructed Round Rock Higher Education Center
to occupy increasing popularity and employment.
The most recent name change took effect in September 2003. Leaders from the university's Associated Student Government (ASG) went to Senator Jeff Wentworth to propose a bill and convince
the Texas Legislature
to change the university's name.
Overall, the five name changes are:
, a community of nearly 50,000 people about halfway between Austin
and San Antonio on Interstate 35
. Its location on the banks of the San Marcos River
provides students with recreational and leisure activities, such as swimming and tubing
, throughout the year. Texas State's campus today consists of a 457 acres (1.8 km²) main campus and 4777 acres (19.3 km²) more in recreational, instructional, farm and ranch land.
The university operates Sewell Park
which is on the banks of the spring fed San Marcos River
. The banks, part of land leased by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, were built up from the river bottom by university workers. Initially named Riverside Park, it was later renamed to Sewell Park in 1946 in honor of Dr. S.M. "Froggy" Sewell, a mathematics professor who helped form the park.
Just east of the library lies the Quad, a centrally located, tree-lined corridor which bears majority of Texas State's academic colleges. While walking to class, one may encounter a variety of student organization fundraisers, or attend campus activities including speeches and other various events.
On campus food services are provided by external company Chartwells who, in addition to five dining halls, also provides options to franchised chains Chick-fil-A
, Panda Express
, Pizza Hut
, Starbucks
, Einstein Bros. Bagels
, and Freshens Smoothie Company.
Texas State formed an agreement with Wells Fargo
to allow students to pair university identification cards with their checking accounts. While this option is not required, it is made convenient through several Wells Fargo
locations on and near campus.
building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983. In more than a century of use the building has served many uses from being the university's administration building to an auditorium and chapel to now housing the offices for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the College of Fine Arts. It is often seen as the trademark building for Texas State University, as it is the most highlighted and lit building on campus.
The university's library was named, in 1991, for an alumnus who became an oilman, rancher, and philanthropist, Albert B. Alkek. The Albert B. Alkek Library serves as the main, central academic library
supporting the Texas State University community. As a storehouse for United States
and Texas
government documents, the library receives a large number of government publications from the state and 60% of all federal publications. The mission of the library, as stated by University Officials, "is to help our patrons succeed by providing high quality library services and information in a variety of formats to support the university's teaching and research programs."
Among the Library's seven floors, students encounter 1.4 million printed texts, over 500,000 microfilm & audio-visual materials, 155,000 electronic books, 300 databases, 97,000 electronic journals, University Archives, and curriculum materials approved by the Texas Education Agency
for primary and secondary schools. In addition to the vast amount of resources, the Library encompasses niche collections which are rare to the University. These holdings include The Wittliff collections
housed on the Library's seventh floor, the King of the Hill archives, major work of significant writers such as Cormac McCarthy
and Sam Shepard
, and the Lonesome Dove collection.
As stated on their website, the department aids the university's overall goal to provide students with a well-rounded education by issuing support and sustainability through social and academic affairs.
Residence Halls at Texas State University include Traditional, Suite, and Super-Suite Style options. Currently, the following options are given to students:
. The College's Child Development Center, accredited by the national Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC), carries the San Marcos Early Childhood Collaboration Project, one out of the three model programs for public child care in state of Texas
. Since graduating in 1979, George Strait has initiated an endowment to assist the college's Department of Agriculture giving it the largest scholarship endowment of any department at Texas State.
The fields of academic work housed within the College of Applied Arts are:
. While majority of business students take classes in San Marcos
, students have the option of taking a select group of courses at The Round Rock Higher Education Center
. To keep curriculum a balance between real world application and general education, McCoy College maintains a College Advisory Board. Members include Executive
level employees ranging from Proprietors to Chief Executive Officer
s.
McCoy Hall finished construction and was dedicated in 2006. Funding for the facility was achieved primarily through a generous $20 million dollar donation from Emmet and Miriam McCoy, thus coining the name for the college. The endowment, now administered by the McCoy College of Business Development Foundation, provides distinguished professorships, scholarships to both undergraduates and graduates, and program development. Later, the McCoy's were awarded honorary doctorates, being the seventh and eighth individuals receiving such awards from Texas State University.
The College contains five departments:
is rooted in the College of Education; he enrolled, what was then Southwest Texas State Teachers' College, in 1926 and graduated with a B. Ed in 1931.
The three areas of study held within the College of Education are:
, Bachelor of Fine Arts
, or a Bachelor of Music
, as well as a Master of Fine arts in: Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Directing, or Playwriting. To this day, Texas State remains the only University in the southwest United States to offer a baccalaureate degree in Sound Recording Technology. The College also claims 17% of the entire University enrollment, and is one of the top Colleges within the University to grant degrees to Hispanics. Some of the College's more notable faculty include Kaitlin Hopkins
and Lauren Lane
.
The Sound Recording Technology program was founded to the School of Music by the university when Fire Station Studios was purchased 1992.
Within the three schools lie two other departments:
Departments within the College include:
programs in locations such as Belize, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Switzerland.
The Association of American Geographers
and the Journal of Geography consistently rank Texas State's Department of Geography among the best in the nation.
The College also claims a handful of the faculty within the Creative Writing program, of which include:
The College's departments include:
or ACT scores. Class rank may also determine one's acceptance.
Texas State has more than 250 student organizations within the categories of Academic, Chartered, Greek, Honors, Multicultural, Political, Professional, Recreational, Religious, Residence Halls, Service, Special Interest and Sports Clubs. The Greek community at Texas State includes a variety of service, traditions, and leadership. There are 31 organizations and more than 1,300 students who are members. Campus student-politics include the school's Associated Student Government, headed by the ASG President and Vice President. Along with the Executive Branch the ASG Senate, a Supreme Court, and the Graduate House of Representatives also make up the Associated Student Government.
Students have the option of utilizing the Student Recreation Center (SRC) at Texas State. A newly renovated extension, completed and dedicated in early 2009, added a rock wall, a natatorium
with many indoor pools, additional cardio machines, a designated free weights room, workout studios, new locker rooms, a small scale computer lab, and a chartwells cafe.
Texas State has an active Greek System which encompasses the Panhellenic Council
, the National Multicultural Greek Council
, the National Pan-Hellenic Council
and the Order of Omega
with over 30 different fraternities and sororities
. Active chapters include:
, Texas State’s student newspaper, publishes coverage of the college’s news, trends, opinions and sports. The newspaper, located in the Trinity Building, has a distribution of 8,000 in the fall and spring semesters, and is on stands Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The paper is produced five times during the summer, and has a distribution of 3,000 copies. The Star is online at www.universitystar.com, where there are videos, blogs and podcasts in addition to the regular content. The Star and its staff have received awards including merits from Hearst Journalism, the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists
.
Located in Old Main, Texas State's FM
radio station, KTSW
, broadcasts at 89.9 MHz and provides sports coverage of Texas State athletics and indie/independent music. The KTSW website provides live-streaming broadcasts, and the Texas State television channel employs KTSW broadcasts as background music. KTSW's morning show, Orange Juice and Biscuits, gained recognition in 2007 for being a finalist in Collegiate Broadcasters Inc.'s "Best Regularly Scheduled Program" award and again in October 2008, as it was among Austin360.com's top ten-rated morning radio shows.
's TV series Campus PD
. .
The Soap Box Derby has been an annual event since 1967 and is currently hosted by the Order of Omega. During homecoming week, participants race derby cars down Bobcat Trail. Participants are divided into three brackets: Student Organizations, Greeks and Residence Halls.
Following each Fall and Spring semester, there is a ring ceremony that seniors are invited to, along with their friends and families. During the ceremony, the senior is presented with their school ring. The student then dips the ring in a fountain containing the waters of the San Marcos River.
Created in 1960, the Texas State Strutters are the oldest dance team in any major Texas university. They are internationally recognized, and have performed in 22 countries in four continents. They have also performed in various sports venues throughout Texas and the United States as well as two presidential inaugurations and five feature films. The group has over 3,000 alumnae and is currently the largest drill team in the nation.
Tradition holds the Theatre building is haunted by a Ghost named Ramsey. In honor of this spirit Alpha Psi Omega the Honor Theatre Fraternity gives Ramsey Awards for (their version of the Tony’s) for the yearly production season.
. The university's football team currently competes as a Division I-FCS independent and does not qualify for postseason play with the Southland Conference
. The football team will begin its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012 as it moves to the Western Athletic Conference
. A number of championships have been won including two NCAA Division II football championships, in 1981 and 1982, an NCAA Division II men's golf championship in 1983, and two Southland Conference championships in 2005 and 2008.
In 2003, the Bobcat logo was designed by a Texas State student. In August 2009, Texas State administrators refined its athletic mark by changing the font and placement of the SuperCat.
and Nicholls State University
. Texas State and The University of Texas at San Antonio
originally started this rivalry competing in basketball with hopes of bringing attention to central Texas sports along the I-35 corridor. In the 2007-2008 season, the series was expanded to an "all sport competition."
Annually, Bobcats and the Colonels face off in the Battle for the Paddle Rivalry game. While preparing for a football game against the Nicholls State University
Colonels, a flood struck San Marcos soaking the Bobcat Stadium field. Together, Athletic Directors and coaches chose to continue the game, thus, the name "Battle for the Paddle" was coined.
. Texas State's first 2009 season football game against Angelo State University
opened The Jerry D. and Linda Gregg Fields Bobcat Stadium West Side Complex encompassing Club and Luxury level seating. Because Athletics Director Larry Teis stated the next phase in renovating Bobcat Stadium cannot begin until the stadium's track is relocated, the university broke ground on a new Track and Field Complex with land purchased by the university behind Bobcat Stadium
. Completion of the Track and Field Complex is expected Summer 2011. In May 2011, Texas State began construction connecting the east and west sides at Bobcat Stadium
. Completion is expected in time for Texas State’s first home 2012 football game against Texas Tech
. Recent athletic fee raises are helping fund the renovations. On November 11, 2010, it was announced that Texas State would be joining the University of Denver
and the University of Texas at San Antonio
in the Western Athletic Conference
(WAC) beginning July 1, 2012.
The Texas State Alumni Association is currently housed at the Alumni House, located on the corner of LBJ and University Drive. The Victorian style house is one of the oldest buildings on campus. It was a residence for students until the San Marcos Urban Renewal Agency recommended the house be used for the Alumni Association. Inside, visitors can find a variety of items used by LBJ
while he was a student and the desk LBJ sat in while signing the Higher Education Act in 1965.
Currently, plans exist to build a new Alumni Center consisting of meeting and ball rooms.
Texas State carries a long list of notable alumni to its name. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
enrolled at Southwest Texas State Teachers' College in 1926. Johnson did not graduate until 1930, when he took a year off before returning. The 2008-2009 Common Experience, Texas State's yearly initiative made to cultivate students in intellectual conversation, celebrated the Legacy of LBJ as it was the 100 year anniversary of his birth.
Grammy Award
-winning American country music singer George Strait
is another highly notable Alumnus who graduated from Texas State. Strait, who graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, is commemorated on campus by a bar/pool hall in the student center, called George's. Additionally, many know him for setting up Freeman Ranch and an agriculture endowment fund providing scholarships for future bobcats. In 2006, Strait received an honorary doctorate degree from the university for his "extraordinary levels of achievement" and loyalty to the university.
Additional alumni include: Actor Bill Paxton, J.D. Fields & Co. founder, chairman and chief executive officer
Jerry Fields who donated a record setting $6 million to Texas State's Athletic program which help fund the West Side Expansion at Bobcat Stadium
, ATP Oil and Gas
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer T. Paul Bulmahn who also made a donation to the school, musician Scott H. Biram
, Actor Powers Boothe
, Writer Tomás Rivera
, Alfred P.C. Petsch
, Texas State Representative from the 85th District, and mathematician R. H. Bing, a former president of the American Mathematical Society
.
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
. In fall 2011, the university had a record-high enrollment of 34,113 students.
It is the largest institution in the Texas State University System
Texas State University System
The Texas State University System was created in 1911 to oversee the state's normal schools. Since its creation it has broadened its focus and comprises institutions of many different scopes. It is the oldest multi-system University System in Texas...
, the sixth-largest university in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and one of the fifty-five largest universities in the United States. For the 2009-2010 year, Texas State University was considered a top producer of Fulbright
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
Fellows when two students became beneficiaries of research grants under the Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
. Texas State joined three other universities in its category to have all applicants receive fellowships.
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
lists Texas State as a Regional University. In U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
's Best Colleges 2011 Texas State ranked 40th among all Regional Universities in the West and tied for 12th among western public Regional Universities. Texas State is also the lead school of a multi-institution teaching center offering undergraduate and graduate programs at the Round Rock Higher Education Center
Round Rock Higher Education Center
The Round Rock Higher Education Center is the official name of Texas State University-San Marcos’ campus in Round Rock, Texas. Located just north of Austin, it is informally referred to as "Texas State's Round Rock Campus." Construction began on the current campus in 2004 and opened its doors for...
(RRHEC) in the greater north Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
area. Additionally, the main campus in San Marcos serves as the location of the fictional school TMU (Texas Methodist University) in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
TV series Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. In addition, the University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
(SACS).
Texas State University is the only university in the state to have a former President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
as an alumnus. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
graduated from what was then Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1930 with a teaching certificate and a Bachelor of Science in history. In 1965, he returned to Southwest Texas State College, as the school was known then, to sign the Higher Education Act of 1965
Higher Education Act of 1965
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda. Johnson chose Texas State University–San Marcos as the signing site...
.
History
The bill to establish Southwest Texas State Normal School in San Marcos was first proposed on March 3, 1899 by Fred Cocke, representing the 98th Texas House District. Texas State Senator J. B. Dibrell also supported the bill. There was opposition, but the bill was approved and signed by Governor Joseph D. SayersJoseph D. Sayers
Joseph Draper Sayers was the 22nd Governor of Texas from 1899 to 1903. During Sayers's term, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 demolished that city.- Early years :...
on May 10, 1899. Previously, teachers were required to study at Coronal Institute at San Marcos or North Texas Normal School at Denton. Upon passage of the bill, citizens of San Marcos allocated 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) at the site of Chautauqua Hill for the site of the college. Old Main
Old Main (Texas State University)
Old Main is a red-roofed Victorian Gothic building on the campus of Texas State University-San Marcos. Situated at one end of the quad, it was Texas State's first building, built in 1903, and remained the only building on campus until 1908. Old Main was added to the National Register of Historic...
was not constructed until the twenty seventh legislature rationed out $25,000 for the upbringing of a facility. Once completed, the school opened its doors with an enrollment of 303, a faculty of seventeen, and a principal on September 9, 1903.
It took 15 years for the school to become a senior college; in response, the name of the school was changed to Southwest Texas State Normal College. A similar name change, Southwest Texas State Teachers College, was observed in 1923 when the college was admitted into the American Association of Teachers Colleges.
President John G. Flowers, in 1950, made a sizable step toward the university's overall goal which included a boost in curriculum and an addition of six new buildings. By this time, campus grounds had grown from 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) to sixty five, faculty numbers were at an all-time high of 105, the campus had a 3.5 million dollar property value, and the college had an enrollment of 2,000.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
claimed the presidency and the school's dance team, the Strutters, performed at his inauguration. Johnson returned to Southwest Texas State Teachers College when he signed the Higher Education Act of 1965
Higher Education Act of 1965
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda. Johnson chose Texas State University–San Marcos as the signing site...
, part of the Great Society
Great Society
The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and fellow Democrats in Congress in the 1960s. Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice...
. During his 1965 remarks at Strahan Coliseum
Strahan Coliseum
Strahan Coliseum is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in San Marcos, Texas. It was built in 1982 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats basketball team....
, Johnson described living in a compact room atop Dr. Evans' garage and working dozens of jobs.
In 1996, Westwood High School
Westwood High School (Austin, Texas)
Westwood High School is a public high school in Anderson Mill, Austin, Texas, United States, and is part of the Round Rock Independent School District. It is located approximately 17 miles north of downtown Austin and 12 miles west of downtown Round Rock, Texas...
, located in Williamson County
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
, began hosting a number of the university's graduate night classes in Business Administration and Education. Later, a 101 acre (0.40873286 km²) gift brought the program from a high school to the late constructed Round Rock Higher Education Center
Round Rock Higher Education Center
The Round Rock Higher Education Center is the official name of Texas State University-San Marcos’ campus in Round Rock, Texas. Located just north of Austin, it is informally referred to as "Texas State's Round Rock Campus." Construction began on the current campus in 2004 and opened its doors for...
to occupy increasing popularity and employment.
The most recent name change took effect in September 2003. Leaders from the university's Associated Student Government (ASG) went to Senator Jeff Wentworth to propose a bill and convince
the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
to change the university's name.
Overall, the five name changes are:
- Southwest Texas State Normal School (1903–1918)
- Southwest Texas State Normal College (1918–1923)
- Southwest Texas State Teachers College (1923–1959)
- Southwest Texas State College (1959–1969)
- Southwest Texas State University (1969–2003)
- Texas State University–San Marcos (2003—)
Campus
The campus is located in San MarcosSan Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
, a community of nearly 50,000 people about halfway between Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and San Antonio on Interstate 35
Interstate 35 in Texas
Interstate 35 in Texas is a major north–south Interstate Highway running from Laredo near the United States-Mexico border to the Red River north of Gainesville where it crosses into Oklahoma. Along its route, it passes through the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco before it splits into two...
. Its location on the banks of the San Marcos River
San Marcos River
The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs, the location of Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos, Texas. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, and Texas Wild Rice...
provides students with recreational and leisure activities, such as swimming and tubing
Tubing (recreation)
Tubing is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.-Water:Tubing on water generally consists of two forms: towed and free-floating, also...
, throughout the year. Texas State's campus today consists of a 457 acres (1.8 km²) main campus and 4777 acres (19.3 km²) more in recreational, instructional, farm and ranch land.
The university operates Sewell Park
Sewell Park
Sewell Park is a park located on the Texas State University campus along the San Marcos River in San Marcos, Texas.The park neighbors City Park, the San Marcos Mill Tract, Strahan Coliseum, and Texas State University....
which is on the banks of the spring fed San Marcos River
San Marcos River
The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs, the location of Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos, Texas. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, and Texas Wild Rice...
. The banks, part of land leased by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, were built up from the river bottom by university workers. Initially named Riverside Park, it was later renamed to Sewell Park in 1946 in honor of Dr. S.M. "Froggy" Sewell, a mathematics professor who helped form the park.
Just east of the library lies the Quad, a centrally located, tree-lined corridor which bears majority of Texas State's academic colleges. While walking to class, one may encounter a variety of student organization fundraisers, or attend campus activities including speeches and other various events.
On campus food services are provided by external company Chartwells who, in addition to five dining halls, also provides options to franchised chains Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
, Panda Express
Panda Express
Panda Express is a fast casual restaurant chain serving American Chinese cuisine. It operates mainly inside the United States, in casinos, shopping malls, supermarkets, airports, train stations, strip plazas, theme parks, stadiums, college campuses and The Pentagon...
, Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels is a bagel and coffee chain in the United States. As of 2010, there were 587 restaurants with the Einstein Bros. name.Einstein Bros. was created by a chain restaurant corporation, Boston Chicken in 1995, as a way to market breakfast foods...
, and Freshens Smoothie Company.
Texas State formed an agreement with Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
to allow students to pair university identification cards with their checking accounts. While this option is not required, it is made convenient through several Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
locations on and near campus.
Old Main
Overlooking the campus and serving as a geographic landmark since 1903 is Old Main, a restored red-gabled Victorian GothicVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. In more than a century of use the building has served many uses from being the university's administration building to an auditorium and chapel to now housing the offices for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the College of Fine Arts. It is often seen as the trademark building for Texas State University, as it is the most highlighted and lit building on campus.
Alkek Library
Academic library
An academic library is a library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs of students and staff...
supporting the Texas State University community. As a storehouse for United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
government documents, the library receives a large number of government publications from the state and 60% of all federal publications. The mission of the library, as stated by University Officials, "is to help our patrons succeed by providing high quality library services and information in a variety of formats to support the university's teaching and research programs."
Among the Library's seven floors, students encounter 1.4 million printed texts, over 500,000 microfilm & audio-visual materials, 155,000 electronic books, 300 databases, 97,000 electronic journals, University Archives, and curriculum materials approved by the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
for primary and secondary schools. In addition to the vast amount of resources, the Library encompasses niche collections which are rare to the University. These holdings include The Wittliff collections
Wittliff collections
The Wittliff Collections, located on the seventh floor of the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University, was founded by William D. Wittliff in 1987...
housed on the Library's seventh floor, the King of the Hill archives, major work of significant writers such as Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist and playwright. He has written ten novels, spanning the Southern Gothic, Western, and modernist genres. He received the Pulitzer Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction for The Road...
and Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard is an American playwright, actor, and television and film director. He is the author of several books of short stories, essays, and memoirs, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child...
, and the Lonesome Dove collection.
Residence life
The Department of Housing and Residential Life at Texas State University furnishes students with housing, including 21 on-campus residence halls and four off-campus apartments.As stated on their website, the department aids the university's overall goal to provide students with a well-rounded education by issuing support and sustainability through social and academic affairs.
Residence Halls at Texas State University include Traditional, Suite, and Super-Suite Style options. Currently, the following options are given to students:
- Traditional Style Halls include community restrooms and students typically share a bedroom with another student. Traditional Halls do not come with a private living room.
- Super-Suite Style Halls come with a shared bathroom between a select group of residents. These halls give residents, optionally, their own bedroom and the opportunity to share a living room and bathroom with at least one other resident.
- University owned apartment complexes. Apartments in these complexes are like at independently owned apartment complex.
Academics
In addition to 111 undergraduate and 86 masters degrees offerings, the University offers nine doctorate degrees in the areas of Aquatic Resources, Criminal Justice, Education, Geography, and Physical Therapy. These programs are under the umbrella of the following nine colleges within the University:College of Applied Arts
The College of Applied Arts at Texas State University encompasses seven academic areas in which students can choose to study. Jaime Chahin manages the College as DeanDean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
. The College's Child Development Center, accredited by the national Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC), carries the San Marcos Early Childhood Collaboration Project, one out of the three model programs for public child care in state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Since graduating in 1979, George Strait has initiated an endowment to assist the college's Department of Agriculture giving it the largest scholarship endowment of any department at Texas State.
The fields of academic work housed within the College of Applied Arts are:
- AeroSpace Studies (AFROTC)
- Agriculture
- Criminal Justice
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Military Science (Army ROTC)
- Occupational Education Program
- School of Social Work
Emmett and Miriam McCoy College of Business Administration
The McCoy College of Business Administration, founded in 1968, is an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited business program, headquartered in McCoy Hall located just west of Alkek Library on Texas State's campus. Dr. Denise T. Smart heads McCoy College as DeanDean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
. While majority of business students take classes in San Marcos
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
, students have the option of taking a select group of courses at The Round Rock Higher Education Center
Round Rock Higher Education Center
The Round Rock Higher Education Center is the official name of Texas State University-San Marcos’ campus in Round Rock, Texas. Located just north of Austin, it is informally referred to as "Texas State's Round Rock Campus." Construction began on the current campus in 2004 and opened its doors for...
. To keep curriculum a balance between real world application and general education, McCoy College maintains a College Advisory Board. Members include Executive
Senior management
Senior management, executive management, or management team is generally a team of individuals at the highest level of organizational management who have the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a company or corporation, they hold specific executive powers conferred onto them with and by...
level employees ranging from Proprietors to Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
s.
McCoy Hall finished construction and was dedicated in 2006. Funding for the facility was achieved primarily through a generous $20 million dollar donation from Emmet and Miriam McCoy, thus coining the name for the college. The endowment, now administered by the McCoy College of Business Development Foundation, provides distinguished professorships, scholarships to both undergraduates and graduates, and program development. Later, the McCoy's were awarded honorary doctorates, being the seventh and eighth individuals receiving such awards from Texas State University.
The College contains five departments:
- Department of Accounting
- Department of CIS & QMST
- Department of Marketing
- Department of Management
- Department of Finance and Economics
College of Education
Texas State's College of Education exists to better prepare students entering careers within the Education Field. Dr. E. Stanley Carpenter is the current Dean of the College. Like the McCoy College of Business Administration, students primarily attend classes at Texas State's main campus is San Marcos, though a growing number are taking them at the Round Rock Higher Education Center. President Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
is rooted in the College of Education; he enrolled, what was then Southwest Texas State Teachers' College, in 1926 and graduated with a B. Ed in 1931.
The three areas of study held within the College of Education are:
- Curriculum and Instruction (CI)
- Educational Administration and Psychological Services (EAPS)
- Health and Human Performance (HHP)
College of Fine Arts and Communication
The College of Fine Arts and Communication at Texas State University, led by Dean T. Richard Cheatham, comprises The School of Music, the School of Art and Design, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. When choosing an undergraduate degree, students have an option of pursuing a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
, or a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
, as well as a Master of Fine arts in: Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Directing, or Playwriting. To this day, Texas State remains the only University in the southwest United States to offer a baccalaureate degree in Sound Recording Technology. The College also claims 17% of the entire University enrollment, and is one of the top Colleges within the University to grant degrees to Hispanics. Some of the College's more notable faculty include Kaitlin Hopkins
Kaitlin Hopkins
Kaitlin Hopkins is an American stage, screen, and television actress, the daughter of actress Shirley Knight and stage producer/director Gene Persson....
and Lauren Lane
Lauren Lane
Lauren Lane is a television and stage actress. She is best known for her role as C. C. Babcock on The Nanny.-Biography:Lane was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and raised in Texas....
.
The Sound Recording Technology program was founded to the School of Music by the university when Fire Station Studios was purchased 1992.
Within the three schools lie two other departments:
- Communication Studies
- Theatre & Dance
College of Health Professions
Conducted by Dean Ruth B. Welborn, Texas State University's College of Health Professions equips students with the knowledge needed for today's careers in the health care industry. Additionally, a central goal of the College is to help improve the overall perception of health care. Through its nine departments and six undergraduate degree programs, the College offers technical, clinical, professional and academic programs. Construction of the St. David's School of Nursing started in 2008 after St. David's Community Health Foundation announced a $6 million donation in November 2006. The school is scheduled to open in time for Fall 2010 classes.Departments within the College include:
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Health Administration
- Health Information Management
- St. David's School of Nursing
- Physical & Radiation Therapy
- Respiratory Care
- Texas Long Term Care Institute
College of Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts is housed within Flowers Hall and made up of 5,114 students, taught by 28% of the University's faculty, who are pursuing degrees offered in the College's nine departments, eight inner-located programs, and four interdisciplinary centers. The faculty within the College include many who have won prestigious, national awards. Included are eight Fulbright Scholars, eight Piper Professors, and 14 recipients of the National Council for Geographic Education's Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award. While it is not a requirement, the Liberal Arts College encourages and offers several study abroadStudy abroad
Studying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
programs in locations such as Belize, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Switzerland.
The Association of American Geographers
Association of American Geographers
The Association of American Geographers is a non-profit scientific and educational society founded in 1904 and aimed at advancing the understanding, study, and importance of geography and related fields...
and the Journal of Geography consistently rank Texas State's Department of Geography among the best in the nation.
The College also claims a handful of the faculty within the Creative Writing program, of which include:
- Tim O'BrienTim O'Brien (author)Tim O'Brien is an American novelist who often writes about his experiences in the Vietnam War and the impact the war had on the American servicemen who fought there...
author and holder of the endowed chair in the MFA Creative Writing program - Roger JonesRoger Jones (poet)-Life:Roger Jones received his B.A. and M.A. at Sam Houston State University, before earning his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in 1986. He has had a wide publication record over the past thirty years that ranges from more mainstream poems to the exotic haiku, tanka and haibun. Jones...
poet and professor in the MFA Creative Writing program - Kathleen PeirceKathleen PeirceKathleen Peirce is an American poet. -Life:She graduated from the Iowa Writer's Workshop in 1988. She currently teaches at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, for the Texas State University MFA...
poet and professor in the MFA Creative Writing program - Cyrus CassellsCyrus Cassells-Life and work:Cassells was born in Dover, Delaware, grew up in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles, and began writing poetry in high school. He graduated in 1979 from Stanford University with a degree in film and broadcasting, and landed a job creating poetry filmstrips in the film division of...
poet and professor in the MFA Creative Writing program
The College's departments include:
- Anthropology
- English
- Geography
- History
- International Studies
- Modern Languages
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
College of Science and Engineering
The College of Science is led by Dean Stephen Seidman, consists of 185 faculty and claims roughly 11% of the student body. In 2003, the Ingram School of Engineering was established while funding for the program was later achieved primarily through a 5 million dollar donation from Bruce and Gloria Ingram. According to Dr. Stephen Seidman, dean of the college, the college is unique in that it encourages students to get involved with faculty research. Along with the Ingram School of Engineering, the College of Science houses the following departments :- Biology
- Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Computer Science
- Engineering Technology
- Mathematics
- Physics
University College
The University College, previously known as the College of General Studies, is a college designed for students with undecided majors. It also houses the University Honors Program.Graduate College
The Graduate College was approved by the Board of Regents in 1935. Named the Graduate School, the name changed to the Graduate Studies and Research school in 1981, then to the Graduate School in 1999. The Graduate College coordinates advanced degrees across all colleges and departments and serves as an administrative hub for graduate and doctoral students throughout the university.Admissions
Texas State University admits roughly 74 percent of applicants. For admission at Texas State, prospective students must, along with an application, submit required essays and SATSAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
or ACT scores. Class rank may also determine one's acceptance.
Students
Texas State had an official total student enrollment of 34,113 for the 2011 fall semester; approximately 29,000 of them were undergraduate-level students.. Texas State had an average freshman retention rate of 75.2% from 2003 to 2006, placing the school in the top half of Western schools surveyed by US News and World Report. The university has been recognized for having a higher graduating rate of Hispanic students compared to similar schools where Hispanic students made up 25% of the student population as of 2010.Texas State has more than 250 student organizations within the categories of Academic, Chartered, Greek, Honors, Multicultural, Political, Professional, Recreational, Religious, Residence Halls, Service, Special Interest and Sports Clubs. The Greek community at Texas State includes a variety of service, traditions, and leadership. There are 31 organizations and more than 1,300 students who are members. Campus student-politics include the school's Associated Student Government, headed by the ASG President and Vice President. Along with the Executive Branch the ASG Senate, a Supreme Court, and the Graduate House of Representatives also make up the Associated Student Government.
Students have the option of utilizing the Student Recreation Center (SRC) at Texas State. A newly renovated extension, completed and dedicated in early 2009, added a rock wall, a natatorium
Natatorium
A natatorium is a term given for a building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building, although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building...
with many indoor pools, additional cardio machines, a designated free weights room, workout studios, new locker rooms, a small scale computer lab, and a chartwells cafe.
Texas State has an active Greek System which encompasses the Panhellenic Council
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
, the National Multicultural Greek Council
National Multicultural Greek Council
The National Multicultural Greek Council is an umbrella council for ten Multicultural Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998. The purpose of NMGC is to provide a forum that allows for the free exchange of ideas, programs, and services between its constituent fraternities and sororities;...
, the National Pan-Hellenic Council
National Pan-Hellenic Council
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
and the Order of Omega
Order of Omega
The Order of Omega is an undergraduate Greek society recognizing "fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternity activities." It functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se...
with over 30 different fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. Active chapters include:
| Interfraternity Council | National Pan-Hellenic Council | Pan-Hellenic Council | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S... Phi Kappa Psi Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been... Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:... Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina... |
Sigma Chi Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon... Sigma Nu Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia... Sigma Tau Gamma Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri... Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a... Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South... |
Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle... Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ... Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University... Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin... Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos... |
Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I... Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana... Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean... |
Chi Omega Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee.... Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference... Delta Gamma Delta Gamma is one of the oldest and largest women's fraternities in the United States and Canada, with its Executive Offices based in Columbus, Ohio.-History:... Delta Zeta Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada... Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Delta Pi is a fraternity founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Phi Mu... Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
Student media
Three times a week, The University StarUniversity Star
The University Star, also called The Star, is a student-run newspaper for Texas State University-San Marcos. The Star provides news and information on issues that affect the Texas State community as well as San Marcos news.-Distribution:...
, Texas State’s student newspaper, publishes coverage of the college’s news, trends, opinions and sports. The newspaper, located in the Trinity Building, has a distribution of 8,000 in the fall and spring semesters, and is on stands Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The paper is produced five times during the summer, and has a distribution of 3,000 copies. The Star is online at www.universitystar.com, where there are videos, blogs and podcasts in addition to the regular content. The Star and its staff have received awards including merits from Hearst Journalism, the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
.
Located in Old Main, Texas State's FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
radio station, KTSW
KTSW
KTSW is a radio station broadcasting an Alternative format. Licensed to San Marcos, Texas, USA, it serves the Austin area. The station is licensed to Texas State University–San Marcos.-External links:...
, broadcasts at 89.9 MHz and provides sports coverage of Texas State athletics and indie/independent music. The KTSW website provides live-streaming broadcasts, and the Texas State television channel employs KTSW broadcasts as background music. KTSW's morning show, Orange Juice and Biscuits, gained recognition in 2007 for being a finalist in Collegiate Broadcasters Inc.'s "Best Regularly Scheduled Program" award and again in October 2008, as it was among Austin360.com's top ten-rated morning radio shows.
Campus PD
The university was featured in the G4G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
's TV series Campus PD
Campus PD
Campus PD is an American television show on G4. Campus PD is produced by Cineflix Productions. The show is similar in style and tone to the show COPS....
. .
Spirit and traditions
Following each Fall and Spring semester, there is a ring ceremony that seniors are invited to, along with their friends and families. During the ceremony, the senior is presented with their school ring. The student then dips the ring in a fountain containing the waters of the San Marcos River.
Created in 1960, the Texas State Strutters are the oldest dance team in any major Texas university. They are internationally recognized, and have performed in 22 countries in four continents. They have also performed in various sports venues throughout Texas and the United States as well as two presidential inaugurations and five feature films. The group has over 3,000 alumnae and is currently the largest drill team in the nation.
Tradition holds the Theatre building is haunted by a Ghost named Ramsey. In honor of this spirit Alpha Psi Omega the Honor Theatre Fraternity gives Ramsey Awards for (their version of the Tony’s) for the yearly production season.
Athletics
Teams at Texas State compete at the Division I level and are members of the Southland ConferenceSouthland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The university's football team currently competes as a Division I-FCS independent and does not qualify for postseason play with the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The football team will begin its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012 as it moves to the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
. A number of championships have been won including two NCAA Division II football championships, in 1981 and 1982, an NCAA Division II men's golf championship in 1983, and two Southland Conference championships in 2005 and 2008.
Mascot and Logo
In 1920, Texas State adopted its first official mascot, the Bobcat, at the urging of Oscar Strahan, who became the school's athletic director in 1919. Strahan suggested the Bobcat because the cat is native to central Texas and is known for its fierceness. The Bobcat didn't get a name until 1964. At that time, Beth Greenless won the "Name the Bobcat" contest with the name Boko the Bobcat.In 2003, the Bobcat logo was designed by a Texas State student. In August 2009, Texas State administrators refined its athletic mark by changing the font and placement of the SuperCat.
Rivalries
With the intentions to increase fans and numbers at games, Texas State University formed rivalries with various schools including The University of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
and Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
. Texas State and The University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
originally started this rivalry competing in basketball with hopes of bringing attention to central Texas sports along the I-35 corridor. In the 2007-2008 season, the series was expanded to an "all sport competition."
Annually, Bobcats and the Colonels face off in the Battle for the Paddle Rivalry game. While preparing for a football game against the Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
Colonels, a flood struck San Marcos soaking the Bobcat Stadium field. Together, Athletic Directors and coaches chose to continue the game, thus, the name "Battle for the Paddle" was coined.
Transition to FBS
With the continuing support for Texas State Athletics, there was an effort to promote the football team to Division I-FBS competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision. A student referendum was proposed on November 2007 and approved by the student body on April 2008. That referendum starting a move, dubbed “The Drive to FBS,” and has led to the renovation of athletic facilities, including construction of new baseball and softball stadiums and expansion of Bobcat StadiumBobcat Stadium (Texas State)
Bobcat Stadium is a 16,008-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Marcos, Texas. It opened in 1981 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats football team. It was also home of the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football...
. Texas State's first 2009 season football game against Angelo State University
Angelo State University
Angelo State University is a public, coeducational, doctoral level degree-granting university located in San Angelo, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1928 as San Angelo College. It gained University status and awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in 1967 and graduate degrees in 1969, the...
opened The Jerry D. and Linda Gregg Fields Bobcat Stadium West Side Complex encompassing Club and Luxury level seating. Because Athletics Director Larry Teis stated the next phase in renovating Bobcat Stadium cannot begin until the stadium's track is relocated, the university broke ground on a new Track and Field Complex with land purchased by the university behind Bobcat Stadium
Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)
Bobcat Stadium is a 16,008-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Marcos, Texas. It opened in 1981 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats football team. It was also home of the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football...
. Completion of the Track and Field Complex is expected Summer 2011. In May 2011, Texas State began construction connecting the east and west sides at Bobcat Stadium
Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)
Bobcat Stadium is a 16,008-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Marcos, Texas. It opened in 1981 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats football team. It was also home of the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football...
. Completion is expected in time for Texas State’s first home 2012 football game against Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. Recent athletic fee raises are helping fund the renovations. On November 11, 2010, it was announced that Texas State would be joining the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
and the University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
in the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
(WAC) beginning July 1, 2012.
Alumni
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
while he was a student and the desk LBJ sat in while signing the Higher Education Act in 1965.
Currently, plans exist to build a new Alumni Center consisting of meeting and ball rooms.
Texas State carries a long list of notable alumni to its name. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
enrolled at Southwest Texas State Teachers' College in 1926. Johnson did not graduate until 1930, when he took a year off before returning. The 2008-2009 Common Experience, Texas State's yearly initiative made to cultivate students in intellectual conversation, celebrated the Legacy of LBJ as it was the 100 year anniversary of his birth.
Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American country music singer George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
is another highly notable Alumnus who graduated from Texas State. Strait, who graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, is commemorated on campus by a bar/pool hall in the student center, called George's. Additionally, many know him for setting up Freeman Ranch and an agriculture endowment fund providing scholarships for future bobcats. In 2006, Strait received an honorary doctorate degree from the university for his "extraordinary levels of achievement" and loyalty to the university.
Additional alumni include: Actor Bill Paxton, J.D. Fields & Co. founder, chairman and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Jerry Fields who donated a record setting $6 million to Texas State's Athletic program which help fund the West Side Expansion at Bobcat Stadium
Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)
Bobcat Stadium is a 16,008-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Marcos, Texas. It opened in 1981 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats football team. It was also home of the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football...
, ATP Oil and Gas
ATP Oil and Gas
ATP Oil & Gas Corporation is a Houston, Texas based company that develops and produces oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. It specializes in developing reserves. ATP trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ATPG....
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer T. Paul Bulmahn who also made a donation to the school, musician Scott H. Biram
Scott H. Biram
Scott H. Biram, aka Scott Biram, SHB, Hiram Biram, or The Dirty Old One Man Band is an American blues, punk and country music musician, based in Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
, Actor Powers Boothe
Powers Boothe
Powers Allen Boothe is an American television and film actor. Some of his most notable roles include his Emmy-winning 1980 portrayal of Jim Jones and his turn as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood, as well as Vice-President Noah Daniels on 24....
, Writer Tomás Rivera
Tomás Rivera
Tomás Rivera was a Chicano author, poet, and educator. He was born in Texas to migrant farm workers, and worked in the fields as a young boy...
, Alfred P.C. Petsch
Alfred P.C. Petsch
Alfred P. C. Petsch was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 85th District of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. He was a retired Lieutenant Colonel who saw service in both World War I and World War II...
, Texas State Representative from the 85th District, and mathematician R. H. Bing, a former president of the American Mathematical Society
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
.