Texas State students speak out as enrollment reaches new heights

By: Katie Coleman

With fall 2014 enrollment topping out at just over 36,700 students, Texas State's growth has hit a new record. Nabbing the spot for the state's fourth-largest university, the transition has bred varying support.

On the surface, an increased university enrollment means it has "become a top destination for prospective college students" according to a letter from University President Denise Trauth. Beneath that surface, however, are the students who are ultimately affected.

Talk to any average Texas State student and one would find a variety of ideals and viewpoints, especially given our most diverse student body to date and the "salad bowl" of cultural backgrounds that encompass the campus. In regards to the current enrollment increase specifically, students approached the subject with an assortment of opinions.

Amy Bender
Photo by Andrew Potter

Many students agreed with the higher attendance, each supporting the notion for different reasons. A larger student body would be "positive - more students will equal more diversity and national attention, and in term more students," junior Amy Bender said.

On the matter of educational success, Joshua Hinojosa, junior, felt the increase in attendance would benefit our university's academic standing as a whole.

"The university should continue to grow because it will become a more reputable education center," Hinojosa said.

Josh Mitchell
Photo by Kiersten Ehr

Similar to this opinion, Josh Mitchell, political science major, agreed the growth would allow the university to become more academically vying.

"I do believe the university should continue to grow to be competitive with other schools," Mitchell said. "If we continue to grow we continue to improve on those programs."

Others, including junior Candace Jackson, suggested different alternatives along with the increase, such as the means for a larger campus itself or even the hiring of more professors.

Candace Jackson
Photo by Natalie Walther

"I would like to get bigger,"Jackson said. "There are way too many kids for our campus, but I think they need to make our campus bigger."

Madison Graziadi
Photo by Savannah Ross

"Texas State University should continue to grow," sophomore Madison Graziadi agreed, "as long as the administrators and professors are able to accommodate the growth."

While support for this increase is prevalent, differing voices, such as that of psychology major Elisa Alvarado, expressed a less eager side at the other end of the spectrum.

Elisa Alvarado
Photo by Kimberly Witthaus

"I would prefer if it did not increase in growth," Alvarado said. "Classes wouldn't be as overwhelming and I would be able to find help easier and quicker."

Many students, like Caleb Davis, feel the same and attribute the growth to other daily issues, such as parking availability.

"I think the biggest thing has to do with parking. There’s never enough parking for anybody, anywhere on campus," Davis said. "With the increase, it’s just gotten that much harder."

Both sides have raised strong arguments for backing and for disapproval of the gaining of more potential students. Whether for or against the enrollment increase, campus numbers have expanded. President Trauth recognizes both the positive achievements and negative "space challenges" of the growth according to her update, all of which current students will surely watch intently as Texas State continues to grow.

Texas State, a rising destination for prospective students

By: Victoria Marin

With an enrollment of 36,790 for the 2014 fall semester, Texas State has set a record-high for the 17th consecutive year.

A 3.5 percent increase of student enrollment from last year has made Texas State the fourth-largest university in the state, according to a press release from Denise M. Trauth, president of Texas State.

Jenah Stephenson Photo by: Kiersten Ehr

Texas State has become a top destination for prospective students and has announced the most diverse student body in the school’s history, according to a University News Service press release, thus turning the university into a “melting pot” of students with minorities making up 46 percent of the student body.

"Texas State is the right size; it feels like I actually matter here," said
Jenah Stephenson, a communications studies major whose decision to attend Texas State was affected by the size.

Hispanic enrollment increased approximately 9 percent and African-American enrollment increased more than 19 percent.

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

Candace Jackson Photo by: Natalie Walther

Joshua Hinojosa

As Trauth said, the growth poses some challenges; students on campus have voiced some of these challenges, which pertain to registration, traffic and limitation of resources.

“When it comes time for registration, not only do you have to wait behind all these people to wait for a class, there is a very high change you won’t even get into the class because of the amount of people who are trying to take it as well,” said junior Joshua Hinojosa.

The growth has limited student resources, such as the campus REC, disabling students from taking advantage of these resources, according to junior Candace Jackson.

Stephanie Dibert Photo by: Sarah Bey

Josh Mitchell Photo by: Kiersten Ehr

Despite these concerns, students still believe the university should continue to grow. 

Growth in a city also means more business in the future, according to junior Stephanie Dibert. 

"We have one of the best geography programs in the state, one of the best business programs in the state, we have a lot of good programs here," said senior Josh Mitchell. "If we continue to grow, we continue to improve on those programs."

Leanne Halliburton Photo by: Roy Zorola

Growth also means more people to interact with. 

"It’s always good to have a bigger alumni network and donor base and just generally grow the community," said education major, Leanne Halliburton.

With a rapid growth of applicants, Texas State is expected to continue expanding.

Students reflect on campus growth

By: Kiersten Ehr

The rising star legacy at Texas State University has surpassed expectations with student enrollment sky rocking in San Marcos. 

Student enrollment in the fall of 2014 ranked at 36,790. This is the 17th consecutive year Texas State has set a new record for total enrollment. Texas State is proud to set diversity as a priority in the campus life with 46% of minorities. 

The Texas State website Enrollment Management and Marketing shows the campus student population diversity shows the percentage of the following ethnic background to name a few, 18,983 White, 11,606 Hispanic/Latino, 3,372 African Americans, 819 Asian and 722 multiracial. 

Jenah Stephenson

According to a Texas State Press release, Texas State University President Denise Trauth, released a statement following the campuses growth, "we take our role seriously in preparing our state's future leader and workforce, and this steady growth tells us that students and their parents feel the same way." 

With the enrollment growth at Texas State, sophomore, Jenah Stephenson majoring in Communication Studies, thinks that the campus should continue to grow allowing students from in and out of Texas better opportunities at Texas State.

“It’s made me more proud of my school. It shows we are a really good institution. More people want to come here each year. I think San Marcos will keep it humble instead of being like UT because it is a big city. I like the fact that the school was a small school, and I love watching it expand,” said Stephenson. 

With the massive growth on the Texas State campus, construction and parking has created issues for students commuting on a daily basis. Students comment on how the effects impact their daily school routine. 

“It made parking way too expensive. It made traffic in the small town of San Marcos way too unbearable. It made resources at the school limited, like the rec, you can’t go at certain times because there will be no machines,” said junior Candice Jackson. "Up side, San Marcos is growing massively. The income is exceeding the demand."

The rapid growth has created new walking routes in front of Commons Dining Hall and has increased traffic flow around LBJ ultimately creating an effect on students. 

“I’d say the enormous amount of construction on campus, though I know it’s all apart of the growing population. If it were me and I had seen all that before enrolling, I’d be turned off by that and not want to be at a university that is incomplete,” said Joshua Hinojosa, a junior international relations major. 

Students point on the parallelism for more construction will compensate for the rapid increase of enrollment, but overall the construction will be good for the university and for the future of Texas State.

 Josh Mitchell

"I think the expansion of the campus and beautification of the campus that is happening right now will generally attack more students, but I think the university is beginning to forget is that a lot of people that are here now came here because it felt small," said Josh Mitchell, a senior on the Student Government Academic Affairs Chair Committee.  

Some students feel the enrollment increase will help for academic and athletic national recommendation and will promote the awareness for diversity. 

“This is a strength, and adds diversity for students, faculty, staff and the organizations that will come with a students of different back grounds and foster more understanding of different cultures,” junior Amy Bender said.   
 "Our growth is a positive reflection on all aspects of campus life.