Look Out Texas, Here Comes Texas State

By: Jared Bazile

SAN MARCOS, TX - Texas State’s increased enrollment this year will make them the fourth-largest University in the State of Texas.

According to a letter from President Denise Trauth, Texas State’s enrollment in the 2014-2015 academic year has reached over 36,700 students; which would be a 3.5% increase from the previous year. She also mentioned what such an increase of enrollment means for the students.

“Although our growth poses some space challenges, what's also telling is that Texas State has become a top destination among prospective college students,” Trauth said.

Luke Garza
Photo by: Marco Lozano

With Texas State’s increasing enrollment some students, like 21-year old senior business major Luke Garza, have mixed feelings about such growth.

“Growth in the university is a good thing because it adds to the amount of diversity in the student body,” Garza said. “(but,) It is much harder to make it to class on time especially because of how crowed all of the busses are.”

The increased enrollment has put strain on the shuttle system. The Bobcat Shuttle is meant to reduce the need for parking on campus, making it easier to get to class on time with minimal traffic.  In order to combat the increased enrollment the Bobcat Shuttle has introduced a GPS transit system that allows real-time location data.

Jael Flores
Photo by: Eihab Shah

Some students feel the university lacks the resources needed to accommodate the students they have now, like junior Jael Flores who works at the Alkek library on campus. She feels that although the university is trying to accommodate for its growth, it is failing to keep up.

“Of course the library has been renovated to make room for the students,” Flores said. “(but,) there has (still) been a lack of computers available and textbooks for classes have a wait line because they are checked out.”

Hailee Anderson
Photo by: Jasmine Davis

20-year old Hailee Anderson, supplemental instructor for the chemistry department, also gave us her opinion on the effects of the increased enrollment.

“It's difficult to have good class discussions with such big classes,” Anderson said. She then gave her thoughts on if the university should continue to grow. “I hate to say this, but no mainly because of all the construction.”

While enrollment growth may be a good thing for the university in the future, it seems to have adverse effects on the current students. It seems almost unanimously that the students don’t mind the growth because of the diversity it brings, but wish the school would take into account the accommodations that need to be made to sustain such growth.