LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec outlined record enrollment, research initiatives and athletic achievements during this year\u2019s State of the University address.<\/p>\n
Schovanec spoke to a full Maedgen Auditorium on campus Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Record enrollment<\/p>\n
Texas Tech\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Schovanec says there are even more students who have applied to come to Texas Tech.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis past fall, we received nearly 73,000 [applications]. More than twice as many as we received 10 years ago,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
Parking and housing concerns<\/p>\n
The growth has led to concerns about parking and on-campus housing capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not insensitive to those issues, and we\u2019re going to have to probably do a lot more planning for next year\u2019s class as they come in because the situation probably won\u2019t be lessened. People will have to adapt to a more pedestrian type of campus,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
Schovanec said solutions include two new parking garages and dorms, though they will not be completed immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to be here, and as long as we never compromise their educational experience, we\u2019re going to try to provide an opportunity for as many people as we can,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
New infrastructure and expanded research<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He says while Texas Tech\u2019s founders probably thought the university was pretty isolated from the rest of the world 100 years ago, it\u2019s now in the middle of everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to be in a position where you can do research that really matters. I think that\u2019s one reason our funding hasn\u2019t dropped as to the extent that it has at some schools,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
Schovanec said federal funding has dropped somewhat nationwide, but relationships with state legislators benefit the university.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey in turn have great relationships in Austin that benefit us. We were very fortunate in the last session. We don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be quite that rich this time, but we still have high hopes,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
Schovanec noted six Big 12 championships across athletics over the past year.<\/p>\n
He says while some may be concerned about the future of the university, it\u2019s one he cares deeply about.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut my confidence comes from our people,\u201d Schovanec said.<\/p>\n
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