Texas State University looks forward to a year of continued progress in 2008-09 while still taking the time to honor its past and the legacy of its most distinguished alumnus, University President Denise M. Trauth said Tuesday.
Delivering her annual “State of the University” address during the Faculty-Staff Fall Convocation Tuesday, Trauth outlined measures of progress achieved in the past 12 months, spoke about what lies ahead and outlined plans of the university to participate in the yearlong celebration of the 100th birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson, a graduate of Texas State.
The university will focus on LBJ as part of a statewide celebration of the former president’s 100th birthday. Partners along with Texas State include the LBJ Presidential Library, the LBJ State and National Parks, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the LBJ Museum of San Marcos.
“Lyndon Johnson was proud of this campus when he graduated from here in 1930. He was proud of his alma mater when he returned in 1965 (to sign the historic Higher Education Act), and he was proud of it when he visited here in 1973, six days before he died. I know those of you gathered here today would make him even more proud of what Texas State has become,” said Trauth.
Trauth said that in the late 1920s when Johnson was enrolled, the university had about 2,000 students and 73 faculty members. This year, the university is expected to enroll 28,600 students with almost 1,000 faculty members. She said another 35 faculty will be hired during the coming year.
“Since I gave my speech at last year’s convocation, we have added 50 new faculty positions, continuing to ease the burden of growing enrollment on our faculty. In just the last six years, we have increased the full-time faculty by 25 percent,” she said.
Trauth cited several other measures of progress, including:
Trauth also outlined the university’s Pride in Action fund-raising campaign, which will be led by alumni Jerry and Linda Fields of Houston . The Fields have donated more than $2 million to endow two academic chairs at Texas State , have purchased 1,200 football season tickets to donate to recent Texas State graduates and pledged a $250,000 challenge grant to support a future permanent tribute to the Strutters in a new Alumni Center.
The Pride in Action campaign will have five “pillars” or areas of emphasis. These are:
Trauth said that, through the years at Texas State , there has been change, but also constancy.
“Much has changed at Texas State since Lyndon Johnson walked these hills. One thing that remains the same, though, is the dedication of our faculty and staff. We can and will continue to transform lives. It is a commitment we all renew with the coming of this new school year,” she said.