VOLUME 102, ISSUE 41
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DECEMBER 5, 2012
University, city experience year of development
Emerging Research Status— Jan. 12
With the number of students steadily rising, the university responded with the opening and construction of several new buildings this year. The City of San Marcos is also developing and saw new construction of its own. Texas State and the city have experienced significant growth, and residents and students saw its effects in 2012.
Texas State was reclassified as an emerging research institution, which made the university eligible for more multi-million dollar potential funding. The new tier two distinction placed Texas State among the ranks of other state institutions including Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston.
Comanche 24-inch Water Transmission Main—Installation began July 9
The project is part of the City of San Marcos’ 2004 Water Master Plan in an attempt to bette distribute water around the city. The project re-r ceived about $2.6 million in funding from the City of San Marcos through water taxes. Approximately 6,561 feet of 24-inch main pipeline will be laid during construction.
North Campus Housing Complex—Opened Aug. 18
Undergraduate Academic Center—Completed June 2012 Hillside Ranch Phase Two—Rezoning approved March 20, 2012 The San Marcos City Council voted 4-3 to pass an ordinance to rezone a single-family residential district to a multi-family district to begin construction of Hillside Ranch Phase Two.
The North Campus Housing Complex opened its doors to students this fall. Construction on the $48 million project began two years ago. The housing complex consists of two separate residence halls built to house approximately 300 students.
Downtown Construction— Began Aug. 2012
The Retreat—Opened Aug. 2012
The Retreat, a student housing complex located at 512 Craddock Ave., contains 780 beds and 187 cottages. The complex opened its doors to students this fall.
Bobcat Stadium – North Side Complex—Opened Sept. 1
Star File Photo Star File Photo
The $47.7 million facility houses the ExPersonalized Academic and Career erund and ram prog CE) ploration (PA graduate advisement, as well as the psychology, sociology and political science departments.
The renovated Bobcat Stadium welcomed thousands of Bobcat Athletics fans this fall. The stadium underwent renovation to accommodate the growing university population, doubling its existing capacity. The $33 million project addressed the need for concession space, restrooms, locker rooms, storage, display and retail space.
Star File Photo
The City of San Marcos broke ground on the two-year Downtown Reconstruction Project this fall. The $10.2 million construction project will improve Hutchison Street from the San Marcos River to LBJ Drive to Hopkins Street to University Drive. The project will include complete street and sidewalk reconstruction, installation of underground electric lines, and drainage, water and wastewater improvements.
S.T.A.R. Park—Opened Nov. 9
Texas State recently opened S.T.A.R. One, the first incubator building at the Science, Technology and Advanced Research Park. S.T.A.R. Park, located at Hunter Road and McCarty Lane, will introduce the availability of wet labs, clean rooms and office space for companies looking to develop ideas and pursue patents.
Emerging Research status spurs funding, enthusiasm By Monica Solis News Reporter Texas State has experienced increased monetary funding and interest from students and professors almost a year after the university’s designation as an Emerging Research Institution. Texas State became an Emerging Research Institution Jan. 12, joining Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at San Antonio, Dallas, Arlington and El Paso. The status, a step below tier one, makes the universities eligible for additional funding in the form of the Texas Research Incentive Program. Michael Blanda, assistant vice president for Research and Federal Relations, said the eligibility for new funding has created new expectations for success at Texas State. “(Emerging Research status) really has invigorated a lot of people who have worked hard for this—students, faculty and support services,” Blanda said. “It has validated their efforts through achieving it.” Blanda said the additional funding allows for the enhancement of gifts for research. The state-financed program awards matched funds to emerging research institutions, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Blanda said he has seen “higher energy, enthusiasm and satisfaction” among faculty members this year as a result of the institution’s designation. As an Emerging Research Institution, Texas State must offer a minimum of 10 doctoral programs, enroll at least 150 to-
tal students in them and reach $14 million in research expenditures in one year. The university currently offers 12 doctoral programs. Texas State has awarded 64 doctorates between 2010 and 2011 and enrolled 404 doctoral students in 2011, according to an overview presentation by University President Denise Trauth. The research expenditure had increased by 2011 to approximately $33.4 million. Provost Eugene Bourgeois said he believes the Emerging Research status received in January was “long overdue.” Bourgeois has spearheaded an executive research committee to align with the coordinating board’s requests. The coordinating board, which awards the status to schools, requests institutions have separate research and university strategic plans. Blanda said he chairs the Executive Research Plan Committee, which will submit the finished strategy to Bourgeois in April. The committee has been working on the strategic plan since September and hopes to describe how the institution will go from its current Emerging Research second-tier status to National Research, or “top tier,” Blanda said. “Now that we’re into our first year operating as an Emerging Research University, I think we’re proving not only to ourselves, but also to the state of Texas that we deserve this status,” Bourgeois said. “We will build on that and try to become eligible as a National Research University within the next ten years or so.” Cynthia Opheim, associate provost of
READ RESEARCH, PAGE 4
(Emerging Research status) really has invigorated a lot of people who have worked hard for this—students, faculty and support services. It has validated their efforts through achieving it.” —Michael Blanda, assistant vice president for Research and Federal Relations
Eugene Bourgeois University Provost John Casares, Staff Photographer
By Nicole Barrios News Reporter Provost Eugene Bourgeois looks back on Texas State’s accomplishments in 2012 and shares some expectations he has for the legislative session, campus construction and the university’s status in the upcoming year. NB: What was the challenge the university has faced this year? EB: The biggest challenge, probably, was accommodating the record number of students this semester in the face of the budget reductions we’ve encountered in the past three years. NB: What set Texas State apart from other universities this year? EB: Well, we’re on a roll. We are the hot thing in the state of Texas right now in terms of our status now as an Emerging Research University. I think another thing that is making us more and more attractive is the fact that we continue to bring new buildings online and to improve the overall look of our campus. I would add the opening of the new S.T.A.R. One, our Science, Technology and Advanced Research building that is part of our research park just south of campus. That also has brought us a number of hits in terms of newsworthiness around the state of Texas.
NB: What do you look forward to in the coming year? EB: Well, for one, we’re hoping that in this next legislative session that higher education is treated a bit better than it has been more recently. We hope we see some funding restored for higher education. I would hope that students, as well as I know our administration, would look forward to no further reductions in financial aid programs such as the TEXAS Grant. We also very much hope the legislature approves debt financing for two new buildings that we are seeking, one being a new engineering and science building here in San Marcos, and the other one being what we’re calling our first health professions building in Round Rock. NB: What events and changes can students look forward to next semester? EB: Well, some of the construction will be more close to completion, which means some of the roads, byways and pedestrian ways around campus should be open and free from the obstacles that students, faculty and staff are experiencing. Again, I think continuing to sort of celebrate the fact that students at Texas State are attending one of the prominent public institutions in the state of Texas. They need to enjoy that status as an Emerging Research University and get engaged in research activities whether they are undergraduate students or graduate students.