Since my last report to the Board of Regents, Texas State University has built upon its momentum across student success, research, academic excellence, enrollment, regional engagement, and athletics. Members of our faculty and staff have advanced the institution’s mission and strengthened TXST’s position for long-term success. With the spring semester underway, we remain focused on expanding access, enhancing academic quality, and accelerating progress on our strategic priorities.
ELEVATE STUDENT SUCCESS
TXST uses data-informed, technology-enabled advising and market intelligence to guide academic and co-curricular decision-making in support of student success. This integrated, student-centered approach has enabled proactive outreach, improved cross-unit alignment, and strengthened persistence and retention, engagement, and progress to degree.
- Data-Informed Advising and Targeted Student Support
Data from NavigateTXST (EAB technology platform) indicate steady progress toward our student success goals. During the 2024-2025 academic year, nearly 31,000 students completed more than 83,000 advising and support appointments across 12 care units. Students who participated in appointment-based campaigns persisted at an 82.3% rate, representing a 14 percentage-point increase compared to non-participants. Targeted outreach yielded notable gains among students in the “murky middle” GPA range of 2.0 to 2.99, where persistence reached 78% for participants compared to 71.8% for students who did not engage.
- Understanding Student Needs Through Direct Feedback
TXST draws on direct student feedback to inform support strategies and improve persistence. The NavigateTXST Student Quick Poll, completed by 8,547 freshmen, identified priorities related to social connection, part-time employment, and campus and community involvement, while also surfacing challenges associated with affordability, housing stability, learning accommodations, and food security.
- Veteran and Military-Connected Student Success
TXST earned a Gold designation from the Texas Veterans Commission via the Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award program for the fifth consecutive year. The university also ranked second statewide in the Hazlewood Exemption program for both student credit hours and total dollars awarded (more than $25 million) and third in total student participation. Approximately 85% of participants were legacy recipients, underscoring the program’s multigenerational impact and TXST’s commitment to access and affordability for military-connected families.
- Retention and Graduation Outcomes
Investments in advising, engagement, and coordinated support are reflected in improvements in key student outcomes. The first-year retention rate for Fall 2024 freshmen reached 80.1%, reflecting a 2.6 percentage-point increase compared to three years ago. The four-year graduation rate rose to 40%, up from a four-cohort average of 36%. The scale of this progress was evident during December commencement ceremonies when more than 3,100 candidates for bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees participated across six ceremonies.
RUN TO R1
TXST continues to make significant progress toward achieving Carnegie R1 classification. In FY2025, TXST recorded:
- $183.4 million in total research expenditures, an increase of more than $20 million from the prior year and a level that exceeds several current R1 institutions.
- $55.2 million in federal and private research expenditures, which preserves eligibility for the Texas University Fund framework.
Significant gains were realized in innovation and commercialization activity. Faculty members submitted 30 invention disclosures (a 57% year-over-year increase over last year) and filed 47 patent applications (a 147% increase). Four new patents were secured (a 33% increase), and licensing revenue reached $286,785, nearly doubling the prior year’s total.
The trajectory of TXST’s research enterprise was further reflected in recent federal and private awards. For example, Rafael Cordero and the TRIO Programs secured a $4.2 million award from the U.S. Department of Education through the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program to expand childcare access for student parents and support persistence and degree completion. In addition, Renee Perez in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue the Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families program, a long-standing initiative that builds relationship skills and support networks for pregnant and parenting adolescents in Central Texas schools. Over the past five years, the program has served nearly 650 adolescents.
Research capacity has been strengthened through targeted investments in infrastructure. In December, for example, the university finalized the purchase of approximately 128 acres within the Sink Creek watershed following Board of Regents approval at the November meeting. The $4.5 million acquisition added a significant research asset for TXST. The site contains a rare hydro-geologic feature known as an “estavelle,” which alternates between aquifer recharge and spring discharge depending on water levels, creating unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research in hydrology, ecology, environmental science, and climate resilience.
National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) data for FY2024 further validate our progress. TXST now ranks 154th nationally out of 914 institutions, placing the university in the 84th percentile (a gain of 16 positions from the prior year). TXST surpassed several regional peers, including UT El Paso, UT Arlington, and the University of North Texas, and continued to narrow the gap with institutions such as UT Dallas and UT San Antonio.
Mushtaq Gunja from the Carnegie Classification Systems and the American Council on Education visited the San Marcos Campus in January. He met with members of our faculty and senior leadership to discuss TXST’s progress and positioning within the Carnegie R1 framework.
This year, TXST is convening campuswide town halls in five priority areas of research (water, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital humanities, and aging/dementia). The intent of these meetings is to foster research collaborations and plan for the recruitment of senior scholars with strong records of research success. These efforts will support growth in extramural funding, while elevating TXST’s national research profile in these priority areas.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Academic excellence at TXST is reflected in nationally recognized programs, distinguished faculty achievement, and industry-aligned learning environments that prepare graduates for leadership in high-demand fields. Together, these outcomes demonstrate the quality of the university’s academic offerings and alignment with workforce, societal, and student needs.
- Program and Faculty Recognition
Several programs and faculty members received notable national recognition. The School of Art and Design’s graphic design, for example, was ranked 46th nationally in the 2025 Graphic Design School Rankings from Animation Career Review (24th among public institutions, sixth in the Southwest, and third in Texas). Ravi Droopad, a professor in the Ingram School of Engineering, was elected to the 2025 Class of Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. The Princeton Review also recognized TXST among the nation’s top “Green Colleges,” underscoring the university’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and institutional stewardship.
- Workforce-Aligned Learning and Industry Partnerships
TXST expanded workforce learning environments and industry partnerships supporting student readiness for high-demand careers. In December, the university opened the Keysight Smart Lab in Ingram Hall through an in-kind partnership with Keysight Technologies, providing students with access to tools that are used in semiconductors, wireless communications, and embedded systems. Philanthropic investment further expanded learning through the approval of a $1 million endowment for the Concrete Industry Management program, one of only five such programs in the nation. The investment has increased total industry support for the program to more than $2.2 million since its launch.
- Institutional Alignment and Academic Growth
To improve institutional effectiveness and long-term alignment, TXST launched a comprehensive administrative and academic program review. Gray DI + Credo is leading this six-month review, which is scheduled to conclude in May. It will deliver data-informed recommendations to improve operational efficiency, align resources with strategic priorities, and support our growth plans (e.g., 50,000 students) while maintaining a strong student experience and advancing the university’s Carnegie R1 goals.
TXST advanced doctoral education by moving forward with plans to launch a Ph.D. in Kinesiology following a successful virtual site visit this fall. The proposed program was also reviewed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s at its January 22 meeting.
INCREASE OVERALL ENROLLMENT
- Enrollment Growth
Enrollment indicators for Spring 2026 exceeded expectations. As of January 11, total headcount is a record 40,913 students, an increase of 4,503 students (+12%), compared to the same time last year. Undergraduate enrollment rose by 3,146 students (10%), to 35,675, while graduate enrollment increased by 1,357 students (+35%), to 5,237. Student credit hours increased by 59,581 (+13%) to 514,850.
- Admissions Pipeline
As of January 11, more than 55,000 high school seniors have applied to TXST for Fall 2026 (a 41% increase over last year). This total sets a new record for freshman applications, already surpassing the final count of 53,777 for the Fall 2025 entering class. Transfer applications for Fall 2026 also continue to grow, reaching 1,873 and reflecting an 81% increase year-over-year.
- Market Alignment
TXST aligned its enrollment strategy with market intelligence and student demand. Hanover Research completed the Prospective Student Program Preferences Survey for TXST, examining academic interests and instructional preferences among prospective students living in the university’s primary service region, including Kyle, New Braunfels, Round Rock, and San Antonio. The survey confirmed sustained demand for programs in business, healthcare, and technology-oriented fields, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. The findings also indicated a clear preference for flexible instructional formats, particularly among students in the San Antonio region, supporting the university’s emphasis on hybrid and online delivery, accelerated formats, and evening and weekend scheduling that expand access for working adults and military-affiliated learners.
TXST also expanded enrollment capacity in high-need workforce fields. During Fall 2025, for example, we launched a partnership between the St. David’s School of Nursing and CHRISTUS Health to increase clinical education opportunities for nursing students. The collaboration provides clinical experiences at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos, strengthening preparation for professional practice while expanding placement capacity. This partnership supports enrollment growth in nursing and addresses a projected statewide shortage of more than 57,000 registered nurses by 2036.
- TXST Local and Co-Enrollment Partnerships
TXST expanded the TXST Local initiative as a central component of its enrollment and access strategy, with five co-enrollment partnerships with Texas community colleges. These partnerships will allow students to pursue TXST degrees directly on partner campuses beginning in Fall 2026 or Fall 2027, significantly expanding access to place-bound students.
Progress during the reporting period included a new agreement with San Jacinto College entering the signing stage following site visits and space planning in Houston; advancement with Lone Star College as leaders explored co-enrollment options for Spring 2027; and a signed memorandum of understanding with Tarrant County College to support the launch of TXST business degrees at the TCC Northeast Campus, pending final procurement review. The university advanced discussions with Central Texas College to explore online co-enrollment opportunities and strengthen existing transfer pathways. TXST is also partnering with Sul Ross State University to develop a new co-enrollment option offering online bachelor’s degrees.
- Transfer Pathways
TXST strengthened its statewide transfer pipeline through traditional 2+2 agreements. The university executed or advanced partnerships with Victoria College, Southwestern University, Del Mar College, Texas Southmost College, and San Jacinto College, and responded to new transfer requests from South Texas College, Ranger College, and Campus College in Sacramento. These partnerships expand access, support student mobility, and align academic pathways with regional workforce needs.
GROW THE ROUND ROCK CAMPUS
Spring enrollment data for the Round Rock Campus reflect strong growth. As of January 11, 3,353 students are being served by RRC, representing a 50% increase compared to this time last year. This total includes students enrolled in RRC-based programs as well as students in San Marcos–based programs taking at least one course offered by RRC. A little more than half of these students, 1,514 (+56%), are completing all of their coursework through RRC, either in person, online, or through a combination of both. Demand for RRC-based programs continues to rise, with 2,628 undergraduate applications received, reflecting a 61% year-over-year increase.
RRC also strengthened its workforce connections through a new industry partnership with Trinzik AI, a growing artificial-intelligence firm based in Cedar Park. This collaboration provides students with hands-on learning opportunities through internships, project-based coursework, technical presentations, and mentoring.
ACHIEVE ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
TXST Athletics achieved significant competitive success, elevating the university’s national athletics profile. The Bobcat football team closed the season with a decisive 41-10 victory over Rice in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on January 2 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The game attracted 2.1 million television viewers, making it the most-watched Armed Forces Bowl since 2017. Attendance reached 28,243, marking the second consecutive bowl appearance with more than 28,000 fans. The win secured TXST’s third consecutive bowl victory and capped a four-game winning streak to end the season.
TXST Soccer also reached a milestone by capturing its first-ever Sun Belt Tournament Championship with a 1-0 victory over the University of Louisiana Monroe in Foley, Alabama. The championship earned the Bobcats an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, where they concluded postseason play against Baylor in the first round in Waco.
Off the field, NIL agreements were finalized with most returning starters, supporting roster stability ahead of the January transfer portal window. Philanthropic support continues to enhance athletics facilities, with Scott and Lynda Irvine and Chris and Shannon Rasmussen each pledging $2 million toward the $15 million redevelopment of the baseball and softball complex. The project will deliver a training room, weight room, coaches’ offices, hospitality spaces, batting cages, and a pitching lab, with gift agreements nearing completion.