Texas State students share thoughts on increasing enrollment

 BY: NATALIE WALTHER

Texas State University broke yet another record for total enrollment this year, and students share their opinions on the matter.

With a 3.5 percent increase in enrollment, this growth makes Texas State the fourth largest university in the state. Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston are the only universities with larger enrollments.

According to President Denise M. Trauth's letter, Texas State has become a top destination for future college students. And thus giving the university the most diverse student body in Texas State history.

Candace Jackson, sophomore, believes that Texas State should keep growing because it would better the school's reputation.

"I would like to get bigger," Jackson said. "It would help our school become more recognized and less of a party school. People would look at the amount of academics coming from Texas State and Texas State's image would improve."

Many students also agree that the university would advance from increased enrollment. Urban Regional Planning major, Josh Mitchell, believes that we should keep growing to compete with other schools like UT and A&M.

"We have one of the best geography programs in the state, one of the best business programs in the state, and we have a really good theater department," Mitchell said. "If we continue to grow we continue to improve on those programs."

Although many are supportive of the growing university, there are issues that students have encountered.

Caleb Davis, 21, thinks that Texas State's growth is a good thing but has been affected negatively in a few ways including, parking and keeping up with construction on campus.

"I like that it keeps growing," Davis said. "I think we can continue to grow a bit more but by the same token I do think that we need to grow ourselves, grow the buildings, grow the parking places, grow everything about the university."

On the other hand, Darbie Walker from Lubbock, Texas, supports Texas State's growth but doesn't want to lose the unique feel of San Marcos in the process.

"I believe it should grow as much as it can without growing too much," Walker said. "This place is so nice and peaceful and has a small town feel that you know everybody but it's still a big university with big time enrollment."

 Psychology major, Elisa Alvarado, also chose Texas State because of its small community. She does not want San Marcos to grow too much larger than the way it is now because the size of Texas State did influence her decision to enroll there.

"I had specifically selected Texas State because it was a smaller school," Alvarado said. "I had the opportunity to attend UT but I passed on enrollment because I was afraid I would be just another number and be lost in the mix."

But to some students, Texas State is a big school. Chris Carter, freshman biology major, feels that Texas State is already a large school but is supportive of future growth.

"I like that sort of 'big-school' atmosphere," Carter said. "More students attending the university means that the school brings in more money to help the students. And if we get bigger then our sports teams will attract better talent."

It will be interesting to see where this growth will take Texas State University in the upcoming years.