Building Texas State's future From the cover
The overview
Texas State University’s enrollment from 1924 to 2024 Since fall 1985, Texas State has doubled its enrollment. The university plans to continue growing, with one of President Kelly Damphousse's goals being to increase enrollment.
As Texas State University prepares for a decade of rapid growth, students, faculty and sta can expect major changes to campus. In May, Texas State unveiled its 2025-2035 Campus Master Plan—described by President Kelly Damphousse as a “visionary roadmap” to guide campus growth amid historic enrollment highs and shifting student needs—which was approved by the board of regents May 1. The master plan, developed from July 2023 to December 2024, is organized around ve key themes: student success and experience, academic excellence, discovery and research, community and connectivity, and stewardship of resources. For the San Marcos campus, it outlines 30 new buildings, along with more than 20 renovations and numerous green space and walkway improvements. Together, these changes will shape the student experience for years to come, according to university o cials.
50K
40,678 in 2024
40K
30K
19,267 in 1985
20K
1,076 in 1924
10K
0
NOTE: THIS ONLY SHOWS FALL ENROLLMENT AND NOT SPRING, WHICH SOMETIMES HAS HIGHER OR LOWER NUMBERS. SOURCE: TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IMPACT
What you should know
Eric Algoe, executive vice president for oper- ations and chief nancial o cer, said that Texas State is trying to be strategic with the phasing of the plan. Algoe said the university plans to stream- line projects by speci c areas, so multiple projects in a speci c area get done at a time rather than spreading out construction across all of campus. He emphasized this would help keep costs down, which allows for the upgrades without increasing
student tuition. “It’s making sure that when we go in to do one thing, that we get the most bang for our buck,” Algoe said. For example, Algoe said if Texas State had to replace a steam line somewhere in the heart of campus and there were plans to replace sidewalks in that area in the future, they would plan to do both projects at once.
“We’re excited about the growth that is happening at Texas State and all that is happening here and the potential to expand what we’re doing, not just academically inside the classroom, but in our campus spaces as well.” KELLY DAMPHOUSSE, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Student success and experience
Sterry, Butler and Lantana Halls—will receive renovations. Blanco Hall and Harris Dining Hall will undergo expansions. The plan reimagines Alkek and Lyndon B. John- son plazas with added green spaces, arts, seating and community-centered activity areas. Both plazas will replace stairs with accessible slopes. “The campus is not the buildings; the campus is what’s in between the buildings,” University Architect Gordon Bohmfalk said.
The master plan includes expanding the Student Health Center, increasing support for graduate students, improving open spaces, and upgrading infrastructure to better support academics and campus life. With enrollment growth and the requirement for rst-year students to live on campus, Texas State plans to complete Castro Hall in the fall, adding 942 beds. The university will also build two new dorms and a dining hall in the Hilltop Housing complex. Several older dorms—including
The master plan designated LBJ Plaza, LBJ Student Center and Alkek Library the “Heart of Campus.”
18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook