Spring Semester Update (2024)

Dear Colleagues,

I have two very important topics to cover with you – record-breaking spring enrollment numbers, and how the federal government’s delay in releasing student information for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could impact our students and future enrollment growth.

Record Setting Spring

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%

I am especially proud of the record 93.3% persistence rate for First Time in College (FTIC) students who continued from Fall 2023 into Spring 2024. This means more students are staying at TXST and working toward completing their degrees. I believe that one of the many things that makes TXST so special is how each of you embraces your role in student success, and that is reflected in this impressive number. Thank you for working together for these wins and our students.

These results speak to the progress on our Hopes and Aspirations High pillars of elevating

student success, increasing enrollment, and expanding the Round Rock Campus. These achievements are more than numbers – they are lives being changed and hopes being realized.

Supporting TXST Students During FAFSA Delay

Unfortunately, there is an issue at the federal level that could deter some of the progress we are making. On January 30, 2024, the Department of Education announced another delay in the rollout of the new FAFSA form. The Department stated that colleges will begin receiving the first batches of applicants’ federal aid information in mid-March (at the earliest). The Department also stated it will take weeks for them to catch up on transmitting applicant data to colleges. Typically, this information comes to universities in October. Although March is the new target for TXST to receive FAFSA information, we must be prepared for the chance it will come even later.

FAFSA information is critical because we use the data to inform students about how much federal funding in the form of grants, work-study, and loans will be available to them as they plan for college. Without FAFSA information, students and their families are in limbo and not able to make financial decisions about attending or staying in college. The later TXST receives this information, the less time prospective and current students (graduate and undergraduate) have to weigh their college choice options. This is especially concerning for low income and first-generation students. To put this in perspective, more than 54.8% of our FTIC undergraduate students are federal Pell grant eligible this year, so this delay could potentially be devastating for their dreams of a college education. The only comforting news is that every university in the country is facing the same problem.

While our main focus is on helping current and prospective students navigate this delay, it also creates challenges for university operations related to having accurate data on enrollment and housing for budget planning and course scheduling.

TXST has been monitoring the FAFSA delay and is taking steps to support our current and future students by:

  • Announcing merit scholarship awards sooner and requesting that academic units award student scholarships earlier to give students a better picture of their financial aid package;
  • Evaluating the option to increase the adjusted gross income (AGI) level to allow more students to qualify for Bobcat Promise, a program which guarantees free tuition and mandatory fees for 15 credit hours per semester to incoming high-need freshmen;
  • Considering pushing back commitment deadlines so that students have more time to get the financial award information they need to make decisions;
  • Engaging with students and families regarding the FAFSA issues and how we can support them; and
  • Encouraging students to still attend all future New Student Orientation and Bobcat Days events.

In light of ongoing regulatory clarifications and guidance from the Department of Education, our Financial Aid and Scholarships office remains committed to thoroughly evaluating this situation. They are actively revising our policies, procedures, systems, business processes, and compliance operations to mitigate negative impacts on our students.

This is a tremendous challenge to our current and future students. I truly appreciate our university community for rallying around them to ensure their success.

I will continue to update you on the FAFSA delay and how we are supporting our students. While we are only a few weeks into the semester, I have already had many opportunities to see you serve and educate our students and advance our shared goals and mission. Thank you for your work and dedication. Here’s to a great Spring 2024!

Sincerely,

Kelly Damphousse, Ph.D.
President

Spring Semester Update (2024)

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