Texas State University launches NEXT IS NOW capital campaign

SAN MARCOS – On October 8, Texas State University publicly launched NEXT IS NOW, the largest fundraising campaign in university history. The campaign is on track to raise $250 million to advance initiatives focused on student success and becoming a Tier 1 research university.

Since 2014, the NEXT IS NOW campaign was in a silent phase, generating $172 million contributed by more than 40,000 donors and increasing Texas State’s endowment from $165 million to $300 million.

The impact of the silent phase includes raising more than $90 million for student scholarships and graduate fellowships, and enrichment programs such as study abroad and mentorships; funding 11 endowed faculty positions; generating $62 million for the university’s research enterprise; dedicating $10 million to facilities and programs for student-athletes; and investing $26.9 million to construct or renovate nine facilities on the San Marcos and Round Rock Campuses.

“Texas State has come a long way in the past decade, and we’re excited about what comes NEXT,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth. “Our top priority remains fundraising for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships that bring a Texas State education within reach of brilliant students. NEXT IS NOW is also laser focused on moving the university closer to our goal of becoming a Tier 1 research institution which brings tangible benefits to our students and to the state of Texas. Research creates new knowledge with the power to solve real-world problems. By recruiting outstanding faculty, we are elevating the university’s academic rigor and giving our students an exemplary education. Our donors are partners in these efforts, equipping Texas State to break new ground.”

Over the past decade, research and development expenditures at Texas State have increased 111 percent, ranking the university in the top quartile nationally. Texas State is currently a Carnegie classified research university at the R2 level, and one of eight Emerging Research Universities in Texas.

Aligned with the university’s strategic plan, top NEXT IS NOW campaign priorities include growing undergraduate student scholarships and graduate student fellowships; enhancing student programming and support; constructing a new music building with space for 600 students and more than 80 faculty to accommodate the growing nationally recognized School of Music; renovating The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment to enhance capabilities to study the impact of climate change and share the science of conservation with the world; increasing endowed faculty positions to support faculty who are experts in their fields and passionate educators; providing additional equipment for Health Professions programs on the Round Rock Campus; and expanding practice and training facilities for student-athletes.

With a fall 2021 enrollment of almost 38,000, the demographics of the university’s student body closely mirror the state of Texas, and nearly 90 percent of alumni live and work in Texas.

“Texas State attracts hard working, creative, daring, and determined students. They are the present and future face of Texas. We are not just fundraising for an institution. We are rallying support for the people who call Texas State home – the promising students, the inspiring faculty, the innovative researchers, the competitive student-athletes, and so many more,” Trauth said. 

For more information, visit www.ua.txstate.edu/nextisnow.html.