LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec outlined record enrollment, research initiatives and athletic achievements during this year’s State of the University address.
Schovanec spoke to a full Maedgen Auditorium on campus Wednesday afternoon.
Record enrollment
Texas Tech’s enrollment has continued to climb since the first day of school and now stands at more than 46,000 students. The student body has grown by 13% in the last two years.
Schovanec says there are even more students who have applied to come to Texas Tech.
“This past fall, we received nearly 73,000 [applications]. More than twice as many as we received 10 years ago,” Schovanec said.
Parking and housing concerns
The growth has led to concerns about parking and on-campus housing capacity.
“But I’m not insensitive to those issues, and we’re going to have to probably do a lot more planning for next year’s class as they come in because the situation probably won’t be lessened. People will have to adapt to a more pedestrian type of campus,” Schovanec said.
Schovanec said solutions include two new parking garages and dorms, though they will not be completed immediately.
“People want to be here, and as long as we never compromise their educational experience, we’re going to try to provide an opportunity for as many people as we can,” Schovanec said.
New infrastructure and expanded research
Schovanec highlighted plans for two new buildings coming to campus, the Design Village and the new Davis College of Agriculture. He said professors there have been at the forefront of research on the threat of New World screwworm.
He says while Texas Tech’s founders probably thought the university was pretty isolated from the rest of the world 100 years ago, it’s now in the middle of everything.
“In some ways, Lubbock, West Texas, is the perfect laboratory for issues of international importance, energy, water, agriculture, national security. We will be the leading probably institution in this country for promoting national security out there at the Reese National Security Complex,” Schovanec said.
Schovanec also highlighted investment in tools and research to warn people ahead of major severe weather events. The National Wind Institute is expanding the West Texas Mesonet into the Hill Country with $24 million in funding from the state.
“It’s wonderful to be in a position where you can do research that really matters. I think that’s one reason our funding hasn’t dropped as to the extent that it has at some schools,” Schovanec said.
Schovanec said federal funding has dropped somewhat nationwide, but relationships with state legislators benefit the university.
“They in turn have great relationships in Austin that benefit us. We were very fortunate in the last session. We don’t think it’s going to be quite that rich this time, but we still have high hopes,” Schovanec said.
Schovanec noted six Big 12 championships across athletics over the past year.
He says while some may be concerned about the future of the university, it’s one he cares deeply about.
“But my confidence comes from our people,” Schovanec said.
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