State of TXST recaps previous year’s accomplishments, sets tone for the future

INSIDE TXST

Jayme Blaschke | August 23, 2024

Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse celebrated the landmark accomplishments achieved during the 2023-2024 academic year while looking forward to future success during the State of TXST address on Aug. 23.

The annual gathering was held at the University Events Center.

Among the significant milestones shared was TXST’s accelerating progress on the university’s Run to R1. Damphousse has set a 2027 goal for TXST to reach R1 classification, the highest tier of research university. Achieving R1 classification will unlock more resources for students and facilitate the university’s positive impact on the state and beyond. Currently, TXST is classified as R2.

TXST has met or is approaching the various metrics used to determine R1 status. One of those metrics is research expenditures: universities are required to reach a minimum of $50 million annually. TXST has blown past that mark. Over the past decade TXST research spending has more than tripled, breaking the $140 million mark for fiscal year 2023 and on track to reach $160 million for 2024. 

 R1 standards also dictate that universities produce at least 70 research doctorates annually. TXST’s heavy investment in doctoral programs in recent years is yielding results, awarding 71 doctoral degrees for the 2024 reporting period, which is a 31% increase from last year. To ensure TXST continues to meet and exceed these goals, the university has had seven new doctoral degrees approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board thus far in 2024, with two more pending approval at the next THECB meeting in October. Two additional programs will be submitted in the near future and a new doctoral program focused on the humanities is under active development as well. 

Independent of Run to R1 efforts, the Texas University Fund (TUF), approved by state voters in Nov. 2023, has already had a major impact on TXST research. To date, TXST has received $22.3 million in TUF money to support research enterprises and elevate students’ educational experience. The $3.9 billion permanent endowment ensures sustainable research funding for TXST, Texas Tech University, University of North Texas and the University of Houston. The purpose of TUF is to invest in universities, like TXST, that are well positioned to be elevated into Top 50 status among the nation’s public universities. 

Other highlights:

• TXST has introduced 41 new online degrees which will launch in fall 2024 and spring 2025. By summer 2025, online enrollment is expected to surpass 1,000 students.    
• TXST awarded 8,243 degrees and certificates for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• For the first time ever, the TXST Round Rock Campus will offer pathways to complete a four-year degree without students having to take any classes on the San Marcos Campus. Freshmen entering the fall 2024 semester will have 10 new degree programs to choose from, bringing the total number of degrees offered in Round Rock to 26. This is expected to be a significant benefit to Williamson County residents, who now have the opportunity to earn a TXST bachelor’s degree without the expense of moving or commuting to San Marcos. 
• TXST won the Sun Belt Conference Bubas Commissioner’s Cup, which is awarded to the best athletics department in the league.
• The Bobcat football team appeared in, and won, the first bowl game in program history in front of a record crowd of 26,542 at SMU’s Ford Stadium. The game drew 2.8 million viewers, the highest-rated TV audience in the bowl game’s history. This year the Bobcats are projected to compete for the conference championship.
• The Bobcat softball team finished the year with a 47-15 record and made the program’s first NCAA Championship Sunday appearance since 2003.
• TXST entered into a 15-year, $23 million partnership agreement with University Federal Credit Union to rename the football stadium UFCU Stadium. This marks the largest corporate sponsorship in the SBC and the largest single gift in TXST history.