Texas State University raises $151 million in donations

[TexasTowelie]

Texas State University has raised $151 million in donations and pledges, $41 million more than its campaign’s goal, school officials told the American-Statesman.

The Pride in Action capital campaign, which began in 2006, is fueling the effort to lift what is largely a regional university to a wider footing and, perhaps in many years, to a national plane. With its main campus in San Marcos and a satellite in Round Rock, Texas State is one of eight “emerging research universities” in the state that aspire to have a national reach akin to that of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.

“One of the most important outcomes of this campaign is building for the future,” said Denise Trauth, Texas State’s president. “We reconnected with so many alums who haven’t been connected to the university for a long, long time.”

Of 46,000 individuals, companies and foundations donating to the Pride in Action campaign, 70 percent were alumni, Trauth said. The university gathered some of its donors together Friday evening for a dinner, speeches and a video to mark the conclusion of the campaign.

More at http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/texas-state-university-raises-151-million-in-donat/nd3fL/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch (subscription required).

And in other Texas State University news:

Texas State University is asking a high school 300 miles south of San Marcos to stop using a logo that looks a lot like the golden and maroon bobcat the university is working to brand.

The yellow bobcat of Rio Hondo High School — which appears to be identical to Texas State’s logo in all but color — caught the eye of a licensing firm working for Texas State, which sent a cease and desist letter to the school of about 600 students east of Harlingen.

“Texas State is working to develop a brand identity with the Supercat logo, so when people see that, they think of Texas State,” said Jayme Blaschke, a spokesman for the university, who said Texas State has historically declined all requests for licensing of the logo.

While the Supercat isn’t nearly as profitable as the University of Texas’ Longhorn, Blaschke pointed out that Texas State isn’t alone in protecting its brand, saying, “You don’t see many Longhorns on high school helmets.”

-snip-

The school appears to be cooperating, however. Blaschke said the district sent a memo to its staff members Wednesday telling them to stop using the logo, and a local TV station reported that the school will begin phasing it out soon.

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/texas-state-university-to-valley-high-school-stop-/nd3hs/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch (subscription required).


Texas State University logo


Rio Hondo ISD logo

[Arugula Latte]

1. All these multi-millions are donated to public universities ...

and yet it seems like "tuition reduction" never happens.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Here are some details that were at the end of the article.

• Fifth-largest public university in Texas

• Enrollment: 35,546 in fall 2013, up from 22,423 in 2000

• Tuition and fees: $9,150 for 2013-14 academic year

• 4-year graduation rate: 29%

• 6-year graduation rate: 64%

Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

The tuition there is a bargain in my opinion.

FWIW, I started as a post-grad student at Texas State (it was Southwest Texas State at the time) in the fall of 1987, but withdrew before the end of the semester since I found full-time employment. It was a shame that I had to withdraw since I had a 4.0 GPA at the time and never did better than a 3.47 as an undergrad at my alma mater on the other side of Austin.

[Arugula Latte]

3. I guess I should have been more broad in my comment

and said "reduction in cost of attendance." The University of Oregon has similar tuition, but the cost of just on-campus housing is another $10,000 +. It's just so damn expensive to attend even these "cheap" colleges anymore. Costs have risen way out of proportion to many other costs.

[mbperrin]

4. I must report on my alma mater as well, please.

Texas A&M raises $740 million

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9690028/texas-raises-record-740-million-donations-fiscal-year

The university raised more than $740 million in donations in the past fiscal year, the school announced on Tuesday. The total, documented between Sept. 1, 2012, and Aug. 31, 2013, is a school record and more than $300 million better than any previous 12-month period in the school's history.

(Nah, I couldn't let it go... )

[TexasTowelie]

5. I'll have to check on how much Southwestern raised in donations this past year.

I think it was around $25 million. The endowment is at $253 million which is pretty strong for a school with an enrollment of 1,500. Plus I never saw any buildings at Texas A&M that are as beautiful as these two:


Cullen Building - built in 1898


Lois Perkins Chapel - built in 1950
The chapel is ordained with large stained glass windows depicting Reformation and Methodist leaders. The photo was taken from about 50 yards away.

The charter for Southwestern dates back to 1840, older than any other university in Texas. We also claim the honor of winning the first intercollegiate baseball game played in Texas back in 1884 when we beat UT 52-12.

SU even had an alum on Dancing With the Stars (Bill Engvall). Now, there are some bragging rights!