Progress

Our strategic focus on student success and enrollment continues to have a positive impact on our students and TXST. As of the spring census day on January 31, we have set several spring enrollment records, achieving significant growth over Spring 2023:   

• Total Spring enrollment (35,378) is up 3%   
• Total Spring undergraduate enrollment (31,704) is up 3% 
• First-time undergraduate (freshman) enrollment (232) is up 59%  
• International student enrollment (1,030) is up 43%  
• PhD enrollment (528) is up 16%  
• Round Rock Enrollment (1,809) is up 7.6%  
• Total Student Credit Hours (437,040) are up 6%  

Dr. Michael Preston joined TXST on December 4, 2023, as Associate Vice President for Student Success. Dr. Preston will galvanize initiatives in support of the university goal of elevating student success measured through improved retention, graduation, and post-graduation success outcomes. Dr. Preston will play a prominent role in the rollout and oversight of EAB Navigate, TXST’s new student success technology platform. 

In line with the TSUS-Quanta Services partnership agreement, TXST is wrapping up the recruitment of a team to elevate brand awareness and prepare students for internship and career opportunities within the company. Additionally, TXST is supporting Quanta Services’ research and innovation through its Idea Center. Twelve student fellows, each paired with a faculty member, are conducting research projects aimed at improving Quanta Services’ operations in areas like energy-sector concrete, reducing the carbon footprint, and renewable energy. 

Historically, student success initiatives were organized primarily in different units, reporting to different vice presidents. The President’s Cabinet consolidated like teams together under a new Division of Student Success to reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and optimize student support – all with the goal of creating a holistic student success mechanism that gives every Bobcat the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

The new Division of Student Success is comprised of departments from the Division of Student Affairs and specific student services units from University College. Dr. Cynthia Hernandez is leading this new division, and her title has changed from Vice President for Student Affairs to Vice President for Student Success. 

TXST is moving forward with critical investments that will enhance student success:

• Launching a student success platform that will include software technology that will allow the university to collect, compile, analyze, and act on data that are known to predict student success.
• Expanding student access to virtual mental health counseling and other initiatives supporting student well-being.

Though the full impact of these changes will take some time to materialize, TXST retained a near record 92% of our First-Time-In-College (FTIC) student 2022 cohort from Fall to Spring.

Work that was previously led by the Division of Inclusive Excellence supporting student success initiatives will now be accomplished through the Division of Student Success. Learn more in the president’s July 2023 message.

Dr. Victoria Black joined the leadership team in the Division of Student Success. 

Dr. Kambra Bolch remains in the Division of Academic Affairs to lead our first-year and transfer undergraduate student advising efforts. Dr. Bolch will work with the college deans to better coordinate academic advising in their respective colleges. Dr. Bolch and the units under her direction will report to the Provost’s Office, but will also work closely with the Division of Student Success.

TXST is moving forward with critical investments that will enhance student success:

• Launching a student success platform that will include software technology that will allow the university to collect, compile, analyze, and act on data that are known to predict student success.
• Expanding student access to virtual mental health counseling and other initiatives supporting student well-being.

Though the full impact of these changes will take some time to materialize, TXST retained a near record 92% of our First-Time-In-College (FTIC) student 2022 cohort from Fall to Spring.