By Marco Lozano
This fall, Texas State’s overall enrollment increased by 3.5
percent resulting in a growth of status and prominence.
The preliminary enrollment figure was 36,700 students, which
will rank Texas State as the fourth-largest university in Texas once the
figures are verified, according to a letter from President Denise Trauth. Five
grants over $1 million each were gifted to the university this year at a time
when the Texas State is “ramping up” its initiatives to become a National
Research institution, according to the letter.
Texas State students are affected by the increase in
enrollment in different ways.
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| Luke Garza Photo by Marco Lozano |
Luke Garza, business senior, said it is difficult to attend
his classes on time due to the overcrowded buses. Garza said the university’s
growth is a positive thing because it results in a larger amount of diversity.
Garza said Texas State’s size did not affect his decision to
attend the university.
"The size of
the university did not influence me to attend Texas State,” Garza said. “It was
the amount of family I had in the surrounding area."
Amanda Garcia,
psychology senior, said there is a noticeable increase in construction as the
university grows.
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| Amanda Garcia Photo by Marco Lozano |
"There is so
much construction everywhere and so many apartment complexes have gone up
within the last year,” Garcia said. “This has affected the river in a negative
way."
Garcia said university
growth is positive.
"Growth in
the number of students at the university is a good thing, however, it will take
some time to get use to the amount of rapid change,” Garcia said.
Brittany Hill,
psychology senior, said San Marcos is not ready for the student increase
economically.
"The city is
not prepared for the increase,” Hill said. “Economic wise, it's a great choice
for the school, but it's such a small city that it can't really handle much
more.”
Texas State is
currently in the process of becoming a Tier One National Research Institution
and the growth of the campus will contribute, according to Trauth’s letter.
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| Nicole Tremain Photo by Adham Elsaadi |
Nicole Tremain,
psychology senior, said Texas State’s growth is positive being that it is a research-based
university.
Silas Ott,
wildlife biology major and SLAC employee, said he feels the increase has
affected the quality of his courses.
"My classes
are overcrowded, professors are overworked and there is a lot less time spent
per student,” Ott said.
The enrollment
growth has been a positive thing for campus initiatives.
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| Silas Ott Photo by Ashley DeBolt |
"I am on the
Environmental Service Committee, so with increased enrollment we have increased
budget because a dollar out of every students tuition goes to the environmental
service fee,” said Josiah Reese, senior and Environmental Service Committee
member.
Reese said he
hopes the university will continue to grow so that more people will gain a college
education.
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| Josiah Reese Photo by Elysia Cowle |
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