Texas State University launched the largest fundraising campaign in its history on Friday, aiming to raise $250 million to invest in student success and become a top research university.
For about the past seven years, the university has already amassed $172 million contributed by more than 40,000 donors during the “NEXT IS NOW” campaign’s silent phase.
“The funds that we’ve raised to date have supported scholarships and graduate fellowships for our students as well as endowments for faculty,” said Barbera Breier, Texas State’s vice president for university advancement.
The campaign has already helped the school balloon its endowment from $165 million to $300 million, nearly doubling it.
“[It’s] a gift that is invested in perpetuity,” Breier explained. The money is put into a separate account for investing and the earnings are used to support the campus students and faculty, she continued, creating “a sustainable source of funding.”
Endowments allow universities to use scholarships and fellowships to attract high-achieving students — one of the criteria for Texas State to become a Tier One university — and retain and recruit high-quality faculty.
Schools that already hold the prestigious status in the state include the University of Texas campuses in Austin, Arlington, El Paso and Dallas; Rice University; Texas A&M University; the University of Houston; Texas Tech University; and the University of North Texas.
“[The campaign is] 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,” said Texas State president Denise Trauth in a statement. “Research creates new knowledge with the power to solve real-world problems.”
During the campaign’s silent phase, the university has already raised more than $90 million for scholarships, fellowships and enrichment programs such as study abroad and mentorships; funded 11 endowed faculty positions; generated $62 million to invest in research; and invested nearly $27 million to construct or renovate facilities on its campuses.
With the money, the school also plans on constructing a new music building, renovating facilities, increasing endowed faculty positions and expanding practice and training facilities for student athletes.
“We are not just fundraising for an institution,” Trauth said. “We are rallying support for the people who call Texas State home.”
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