Notice
The original messages have been slightly altered to meet the online accessibility standards for all students. While the messages are slightly altered, the substance of the message has not changed.
-
December 2025
-
12/19/2025 Information to Include in Spring 2026 Course Syllabi
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Information to Include in Spring 2026 Course Syllabi
As we quickly approach the spring 2026 semester and prepare for an exciting array of classes, activities, and events, the following message provides guidance on course syllabi and implementation. This message also provides information about emergency management and the reporting responsibility of faculty and staff who learn of sexual misconduct. Extensive information on course syllabi and classroom procedures is found in AA/PPS 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses. Please pass this message along to new faculty and teaching assistants, as new hire transactions occur daily.
Need help and not sure where to start? Just Raise your hand.
If you’re an undergraduate student and unsure where to start or need help with something specific – like tutoring, financial aid, or personal support – use the Hand Raise feature in NavigateTXST. It’s a quick way to let someone know you need assistance; a staff member will follow up to connect you with the right resources.
If you’re a graduate student and unsure where to start or need help with something specific, you can reach out to your program department or The Graduate College for assistance.
Health and Well-being Support
Feeling overwhelmed? Worried about a friend? Just need someone to talk to? We’ve got options:
- CARE Team: Submit a Here to Help form, and someone will reach out with 1-on-1 support and get you connected to the right campus resources.
- Counseling Center: In-person and virtual mental health services including short-term individual, group, and crisis counseling, as well as outreach and workshops.
- Student Health Center: Offers accessible, affordable care including medical, mental health, and wellness support.
- TimelyCare: FREE 24/7 virtual mental health support including immediate TalkNow chats and scheduled counseling sessions.
Missing Class? Here’s What to Know about Absence Notifications
Life happens—and sometimes that means missing class. Every professor has their own rules when it comes to absences, so it’s important to reach out to them directly as soon as possible. If your absence is for a university-sponsored event or a religious holy day, check out UPPS 02.06.03 and 02.06.01 to see what you need to do.
If your professor asks for documentation, fill out the form on the Absence Notifications page.
Want to learn more about what additional support is available to you? Visit the Student Success website.
Instant Access to Your Course Materials
Undergraduate and graduate students are automatically enrolled in BookSmart @ TXST. BookSmart provides you with all your required course materials before your first day of class. Please visit our BookSmart FAQ page for more information.
Students will have access to the course materials until census (the 12th day of class). If you choose to opt out of the program, you will lose access after that date. This includes access to eBooks, courseware, homework and testing platforms, print materials, etc. You will be responsible for sourcing the required course materials on your own directly from the publisher or ordering individually at The Bobcat Store in the LBJ Student Center at regular retail price.
If you have any questions about BookSmart @ TXST or the charge to your student account, please contact The Bobcat Store via email at txstate@bkstr.com or call (512) 245-2273.
Syllabus Content Reminders (see section 5 of AA/PPS 02.03.01 for all syllabus requirements)
- Required class materials, access to materials, use of Canvas, and/or instructional strategies
- Technology or software needed for the class, including getting support from ITAC
- Exams, assignments, grading rubrics, assessment and testing, and due dates
- Office hours
- Attendance policy and record-keeping procedures
- Assessment and testing strategies to enhance academic integrity
- Disability Statement (text included below)
Class Instruction Modes and Substantive Interaction
Classes will be fully implemented in the instruction mode that appears on the spring 2026 Schedule of Classes in Catsweb. In all courses, faculty members provide regular and substantive interaction with students. This interaction is instructor-driven, content-oriented, frequent, and consistent throughout the semester.
Statement on Civility in the Classroom and Instructional Settings
Civility in instructional settings is fundamental to an effective educational process and is everyone’s responsibility. The university’s shared values, sense of community, and collective commitment to respect, civil dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas are the cornerstones of successful teaching and learning. If students have questions about appropriate behavior in a particular class, they should address them with their instructor first. Although rare, disciplinary procedures may be implemented for refusing to follow an instructor’s directive, disrupting classroom activities, or disregarding university policies. For more information regarding conduct in the classroom, please review policies at AA/PPS 02.03.01, Section 03: Courteous and Civil Learning Environment, and Code of Student Conduct, number II, Responsibilities of Students, Section 2.02: Conduct Prohibited.
Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
Information regarding academic integrity and student code of conduct may be found at the links indicated below.
Instructor Absences
Faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their department chairs/school directors to ensure continuity of instruction. In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may transition to remote learning for a brief period by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools. For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class. Deans and department chairs/school directors may contact the Office of the Provost for support or guidance. Provisions for faculty sick leave are found in UPPS 04.04.30, Section 03, Sick Leave Procedures.
Emergency Management
In the event of an emergency, students, faculty, and staff should monitor the Safety and Emergency Communications web page. This page will be updated with the latest information available to the university, in addition to providing links to information concerning safety resources and emergency procedures. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to sign up for the TXState Alert system.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (SB17)
During the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 was passed and signed into law, effective January 1, 2024. SB 17 addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public higher education institutions. For an explanation of SB17's provisions along with questions and answers, please visit the Texas State University System’s General Counsel Guidance on Implementation of Senate Bill 17.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting (SB 212)
Effective January 2, 2020, state law (SB 212) requires all university employees, acting in the course and scope of employment, who witness or receive information concerning an incident of sexual misconduct involving an enrolled student or employee to report all relevant information known about the incident to the university's Title IX office. According to SB 212, employees who knowingly fail to report or knowingly file a false report shall be terminated in accordance with university and system policy. Please access the webpage of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX for more information.
Need Accommodations?
If you’re managing ADHD, a learning difference, a health condition, or any disability, Disability Services (DS) can work with you to set up accommodations that support your learning. Reach out early—both staff and your instructors are here to support your success. You can contact DS at (512) 245-3451 or via email at ods@txstate.edu.
AI in Teaching and Learning
As an AI-forward university, we recognize the increasing role that Artificial Intelligence is playing in teaching and learning. Generative AI tools have become a part of our everyday lives. AI fluency is now an essential competency for the workforce, and it is our responsibility to guide and educate students on its ethical use.
The level of integration of this technology by faculty will not be universal, but it is imperative that faculty effectively communicate expectations about AI usage with students as it is critical to their success. To prevent any miscommunication, faculty are strongly encouraged to include an AI-usage statement in their syllabi and have conversations with students regarding how AI can be leveraged.
At a minimum, syllabus statements should have the following:
- Definition of AI
- Level of AI usage
- Functionality of the tools with specific examples
- If appropriate, specific names of tools allowed or prohibited (ChatGPT, Gemini, Co-Pilot, etc.)
When allowing students to use AI, faculty should consider whether the proper documentation of tool usage is necessary and provide citation guidance for students. Missing or improper citations can be considered academic misconduct, subject to the same penalties as any other violation of the Academic Honor Code and should be reported to the Honor Code Council. Any documentation should list the prompts used, the name of the tool, and when the tool was used.
Sample AI Syllabus Statements
The following examples delineate three different types of usage: prohibited, limited, and allowed. Faculty should either adopt or adapt these statements in their syllabi, write their own, or consult sample syllabi provided through the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship’s Statements on AI Use.
AI use prohibited: For this class, “AI” has a broad definition and refers to any program or browser extension that can edit your writing or create new content, including text, images, and code. The use of AI or Generative AI tools, including those provided by Texas State University, such as Co-Pilot, Grammarly, ChatGPT, or similar programs, is strictly prohibited for all assignments. Relying on AI undermines certain learning objectives of this course and could be considered academic dishonesty. This includes using AI for brainstorming, proofreading, changing the tone and style, editing, summarizing, or drafting any part of your work. Violations will be treated as any other violation of the Honor Code as listed in this syllabus and will be reported to the Honor Code Council.
If you are unsure whether a tool is permitted, assume it is not, and consult with the instructor first. You are responsible for your own original work and academic integrity. For writing assistance, please visit the University Writing Center.
Limited AI use allowed: For this class, “AI” has a broad definition and refers to any program or browser extension that can edit your writing or create new content, including text, images, and code. The use of most AI or Generative AI tools, including those provided by Texas State University, is limited in this course. Only the following are approved: [list specific tools, e.g., Grammarly for proofreading, Zotero for citation management]. For similar tools not listed, ask the professor before you use them. Using other AI tools, (especially for creating or suggesting content beyond grammar or spelling) is not allowed and will be considered plagiarism and will be treated as any other violation of the Academic Honor Code as listed in this syllabus and will be reported to the Honor Code Council. If you’re unsure about a tool, consult the instructor first.
[If appropriate, the faculty member should include citation instructions here.]
AI use allowed: For this class, “AI” has a broad definition and refers to any program or browser extension that can edit your writing or create new content, including text, images, and code. You may use AI tools for brainstorming, exploring responses, and creative work as permitted by each assignment. AI can provide feedback and assistance, but instructor guidance and your input are essential.
[If appropriate, the faculty member should include citation instructions here.]
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your ongoing dedication to student success and excellence in all teaching and learning activities.
-
12/10/2025 Interim Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Interim Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Karen Gibbs as the Interim Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, effective January 1, 2026.
Dr. Gibbs began her career at Texas State University in 2005. She was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2012 and promoted to Professor in 2018. She holds a Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of the Pacific, and a Bachelor of Science in Health from East Tennessee State University. She is also a Certified Wound Specialist through the American Board of Wound Management. Before entering higher education, she practiced extensively at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Los Gatos Community Hospital, and University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
Dr. Gibbs has been a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State for 20 years. She has also taught at the University of the Pacific and East Tennessee State University. Dr. Gibbs has served as Chair of the College of Health Professions’ Curriculum Committee and as a member of the University Curriculum Committee since 2013. She is the past President of the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management (ACEWM), a component of the American Physical Therapy Association. She was instrumental in establishing the first national specialty certification for physical therapists in wound management through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) and serves as chair of the ABPTS Wound Management Specialty Panel.
Dr. Gibbs has numerous national and international publications and presentations related to wound management and physical therapy education. For her professional service and academic contributions, Dr. Gibbs was inducted into East Tennessee State University’s College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences “Hall of Fame” in 2021 and received the ACEWM’s Award of Excellence in Academic Education in 2025.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Gibbs on her appointment as Interim Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy.
-
12/05/2025 Announcing the winners of the 2025-2026 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards
TO: Faculty, Staff and Graduate College Students
FROM: Dr. Andrea Golato
Dean, The Graduate College
SUBJECT: Announcing the winners of the 2025-2026 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards
Dear colleagues and graduate students,
It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that we have selected the recipients of the 2025–2026 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award and the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Awards.
Dr. Anthony Torres, Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, is the recipient of The Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who has had extraordinary success in mentoring graduate students. Congratulations to Dr. Torres on his excellent work! I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Torres’s colleagues and former students, who submitted very thoughtfully written letters which described in detail the tremendous positive impact of Dr. Torres’s mentorship on his students’ careers.
Alexander Tawiah, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Mass Communication, is the recipient of the Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business. His thesis, Social Media Campaign Strategies: A Case Study of Political Issue Framing by Presidential Candidates in Ghana, was directed by Dr. Cindy Royal, Professor and Regents’ Teacher in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Congratulations to Alexander for his outstanding research.
Jackson F. Burkholder, who earned a Master of Science in Biology, is the recipient of the Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences. His thesis, Comparative Anatomy of Extrafloral Nectaries in the Cactus Family (Cactaceae), was directed by Dr. David Lemke, Professor and Regents’ Teacher in the Department of Biology. Congratulations to Jackson for his outstanding research.
Emma Bayless, who earned an MFA with a Major in Theatre, is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Graduate College’s Outstanding Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award. Her scenic design for Thornton Wilder’s Our Town was mentored by Cheri Prough DeVol, Professor in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film. Congratulations to Emma for her outstanding scenic design work.
As the winners of these competitions, Dr. Torres will receive $2,500 to be paid into his research account, while Alexander, Jackson, and Emma will each receive $500. All three will be recognized at The Graduate College’s award ceremony next May. The Graduate College has also entered them into the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ respective competitions. You can read more about the winners and their work in an article published in the Texas State Newsroom.
I would also like to acknowledge the following members of the graduate community: Professors Royal, Lemke, and DeVol for their exemplary mentorship and commitment to their students; and the faculty members, graduate students, and Graduate College deans who served on the award committees. It was indeed inspiring to read about the excellent research and mentoring which is happening on our campus. And to the entire graduate faculty, I thank you all for your steadfast commitment to graduate education on our campus.
If you have questions about this award, feel free to contact me via email at agolato@txstate.edu.
-
12/05/2025 Special Curriculum Cycle-February 2026
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Jorge F. Figueroa Flores
Vice Provost for Academic Innovation
SUBJECT: Special Curriculum Cycle-February 2026
As part of our institutional curricular process, we will have a special curriculum cycle in February 2026. This cycle will operate as a high-priority, limited-scope process led by the Office of Curriculum and Academic Programs (OCAP). It will only consider proposals that meet one or both of the following criteria: impact on student progress toward degrees and institutional priorities aligned with university goals (see the criteria and examples of qualifying actions below).
Criteria
Examples of Qualifying Actions
Impact on Student Progress toward a Degree
- Correction of critical errors in course equivalencies or transfer mappings.
- Fixing incorrect courses or course numbers in program curriculum (e.g., within PIM).
- Reducing significant administrative burden that affects advising, registration, or degree audits.
Institutional Priorities Aligned with University Goals
- Program additions or changes that significantly enhance student success: New programs preparing students for in-demand fields, credentials of value that improve student preparedness for careers.
- Curricular actions aligned with university priorities such as those supporting one or more of the the university core goals (e.g.,supporting student success, advancing academic excellence, expanding discovery, innovation, creativity, and research, enriching community community collaboration, and partnerships, and developing infrastructure and resources) and in correlation to the five bold strategic imperatives of Hopes and Aspirations High (e.g., elevate student success, Run to R1, increase retention and enrollment, enhance the Round Rock campus, becoming an employer of choice)
Additionally, all proposals must include a clear justification showing how they meet one or both criteria, an impact statement on student success or institutional priorities, and an implementation plan (including timeline and resource needs, if applicable).The call for proposals will be open from January 6 to January 17. Participating academic departments must submit proposals that justify how they meet the criteria listed above. The initial screening will take place from January 20 to January 24, during which OCAP will verify eligibility and completeness. Finally, eligible proposals will be submitted for review (e.g., standard workflow) on February 1.
OCAP will reach out to the academic components and faculty via email to share the dates and times for support sessions in January. In addition, information on proposal preparation, a guidance document, an FAQ, and examples of qualifying actions will be provided. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our OCAP team at curriculum@txstate.edu.
-
12/02/2025 Invitation to Submit Proposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Kristy Daniel
Chair, University Lecturers Committee
SUBJECT: Invitation to Submit Proposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
The University Lecturers Committee (ULC) acts as a steward for a student activities fund that assists colleges, schools, departments, and campus organizations in sponsoring outstanding speaking engagements at Texas State University. In the current submission cycle, limited funds are available on a competitive basis to bring distinguished speakers to our campuses for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.
Proposals must be submitted by email to facultysenate@txstate.edu by 5:00 p.m. the first Friday in March. Before submitting a proposal, please contact the speaker or speaker’s agent to determine availability and fees.
Awarded funds cannot be transferred to a replacement speaker. University Lecturers Series funds should be used only for speaker fees, and if needed, travel and accommodations up to a maximum request of $3,000. Receptions, incidentals (such as printing, food, flowers), and other costs will not be funded by the University Lecturers program but may be funded by co-sponsors.
The ULC will review proposals and assign a priority ranking to each based on the following considerations. The evaluation rubric has been updated and we encourage all intending to submit a proposal to review the four rating categories and the percentages assigned to them.
Interest/Anticipated Attendance (26.32%)
- Anticipated Number of Attendees (expectations of attendance adjusted for the Round Rock campus)
- Relevancy of Topic
- Broad Interest
- Scope of Attendees
- External Reach
Topic/Speaker Involvement (26.32%)
- Active Scholarly Dialog
- Speaker Involvement Beyond Lecture
- Opportunities for Continued Reflection
- Connections to University Mission and Shared Values
- Speaker Biography
Event Logistics (26.32%)
- Event Planning
- Established Contact with Speaker
- Tentative Commitment by Speaker
- Marketing Plan
- Details Recruitment Plan for Attendees
Collaboration/ Budget (21.04%)
- Budget Justification
- Collaboration
- Co-Sponsorship
- Committed Funding
Proposals judged to merit funding will be approved in ranked order until funds are exhausted. In order to support as many speakers as possible, awards are limited to no more than $3,000.
The application form, instructions, evaluation rubric, and lists of past awards are available on the University Lecturers Series web page. Please note that only proposals submitted on the PDF proposal form will be accepted.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Kristy Daniel, ULC Chair, or GG Mortenson, Administrative Assistant to the Faculty Senate, at 245-8323.
We look forward to receiving your proposals. The University Lecturers Series offers a valuable opportunity for stimulating scholarly discussion at Texas State. We anticipate notifying successful applicants by email no later than May 1, 2026.
-
-
November 2025
-
11/18/2025 Nominations for Distinguished Professor Emeritus due February 2, 2026
TO: Deans
Department Chairs/School Directors
Faculty
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Nominations for Distinguished Professor Emeritus due February 2, 2026
In accordance with the provisions of AA PPS 02.04.10, Honorary Faculty Titles and Emeritus Faculty, I am writing to invite nominations of extraordinary retired or retiring faculty members to be awarded the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita. Faculty holding the University Distinguished Professor and/or Regents’ Professor title automatically receive Emeritus status upon retirement and do not need to go through this process.
Criteria
All nominees must be in their last full year of service prior to retirement or in the first seven years following retirement and clearly meet Criteria 1 and 2 and as well as three of the additional five criteria below. Faculty members already holding the Professor Emeritus/Emerita title are eligible.
Criteria 1 Outstanding record of teaching excellence;
Criteria 2 National/international recognition resulting from scholarly or creative work;
Criteria 3 National service/recognition in professional organizations;
Criteria 4 National recognition resulting from program development at Texas State;
Criteria 5 Outstanding record of community service;
Criteria 6 Outstanding record of university service; and/or
Criteria 7 Outstanding record of generating public and/or private monetary support for the university through grants, contracts, endowments, contributions, etc.
For the criteria, please consider the following interpretive guidance:
- Criteria 1, 2, 3,5, 6, and 7 may rely on activities and contributions at Texas State and/or other institutions.
- Criterion 4 is not limited to academic/curricular program development.
- Nomination narratives may be contextualized by disciplinary norms for extraordinary faculty contributions.
- Nominations should be fully substantiated and documented in the narrative portion of the form linked below.
Nomination Process, Form, and Due Date
We are presently inviting nominations for Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita. Eligible faculty are listed below. The master list of all faculty previously honored as Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita is available on Faculty page of the University Catalog.
Please complete the Distinguished Professor Emeritus Nomination Form via the Dynamic Forms platform no later than Monday, February 2, 2026. Please visit our Dynamic Forms web page for more information. Questions may also be addressed to Ms. Lyndi Wittekiend, Director of Faculty and Academic Resources.
Eligible Faculty
Retired faculty eligible for nomination as Distinguished Professor Emeriti (who meet years of service at Texas State requirement)
2020 Retirees
Ann Brooks, Professor Emerita, Counseling Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (9/1/04-8/31/20)
Kathleen Fite, Professor Emerita, Curriculum and Instruction (9/1/73-7/31/20)
Dickie Heaberlin, Professor Emeritus, English (9/1/67-8/31/20)
Tomas Mijares, Professor Emeritus, Criminal Justice and Criminology (9/1/90-10/31/19)
John (Jack) Mogab, Professor Emeritus, Finance and Economics (9/1/81-8/31/20)
Katherine Peirce-Burleson, Professor Emeritus, Journalism and Mass Communication (9/1/88-8/31/20)
David Perkins, Professor Emeritus, Criminal Justice and Criminology (9/1/88-8/31/20)
Donald Sanders, Professor Emeritus, Finance and Economics (9/1/79-8/31/20)
Cecilia Temponi, Professor Emerita, Management (9/1/93-5/31/20)
Thomas Thickstun, Professor Emeritus, Mathematics (9/1/81-8/31/20)
2021 Retirees
Allan R. Chavkin, Professor Emeritus, English (9/1/79-8/31/21)
Sylvia L. Crixell, Professor Emeritus, Family and Consumer Sciences (9/1/90-7/15/21)
Robert B. Habingreither, Professor Emeritus, Engineering Technology (9/1/78-8/31/21)
Mary Esther Huerta, Professor Emerita, Curriculum and Instruction (9/1/07-1/15/21)
Kathryn Ledbetter, Professor Emeritus, English (6/1/00-5/31/21)
James LeSage, Professor Emeritus, Finance and Economics (9/1/06-5/31/21)
Wayman C. Mullins, Professor Emeritus, Criminal Justice and Criminology (9/1/84-5/31/21)
Cynthia L. Opheim, Professor Emeritus, Political Science (9/1/87-5/31/21)
Gary J. Winek, Professor Emeritus, Engineering Technology (9/1/81-7/15/21)
2022 Retirees
Mary Jo Biggs, Professor Emerita, Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (9/01/04-1/31/22)
J. Michael Costello, Professor Emeritus, Theatre and Dance (9/1/01-5/31/22)
Susan B. Day, Professor Emerita, Sociology (9/1/79-8/1/22)
Paul A. Kens, Professor Emeritus, Political Science (9/1/87-5/31/22)
Vincent L. Luizzi, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy (9/1/76-5/31/22)
Paula L. Rechner, Professor Emerita, Management (8/15/05-8/31/22)
Karen H. Smith, Professor Emeritus, Marketing (9/1/93-8/31/22)
LeAnne Smith, Professor Emeritus, Theatre and Dance (9/1/83-5/31/22)
Ruth A. Taylor, Professor Emeritus, Marketing (9/1/87-1/15/22)
2023 Retirees
Debbie R. Alley, Professor Emeritus, Theatre and Dance (9/1/13 -1/15/23)
T. Jaime Chahin, Professor Emeritus, Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (10/1/87-8/6-23)
Rod A. Harter, Professor Emeritus, Health and Human Performance (6/1/09-12-31-22)
Catherine A. Hawkins, Professor Emerita, Social Work (9/1/91-8/31/23)
Asha L. Hegde Niezgoda, Professor Emerita, Family and Consumer Sciences (9/1/15-5/31/23)
Stanley A. McClellan, Professor Emeritus, Ingram School of Engineering (9/1/08-5/31/23)
Rebecca Montgomery, Professor Emeritus, History (6/1/09-1/15/23)
Michael L. Niblett, Professor Emeritus, Art and Design (7/1/10-5/31/23)
Teya Rosenberg, Professor Emerita, English (9/1/96-1/15/23)
2024 Retirees
Rebecca L. Bell-Metereau, Professor Emerita, Department of English (9/1/81-5/31/24)
Kyong H. Chee, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology (6/1/06-5/31/24)
Maria D. Gonzales, Professor Emeritus, Department of Communication Disorders (9/1/00-7/15/24)
Thomas J. Grimes, Professor Emeritus, Department of English (9/1/92-5/31/24)
Mark W. Holtz, Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics (1/16/13-7/31/24)
Rebecca L. Jackson, Professor Emerita, Department of English (5/15/01-5/31/24)
Jay D. Jamieson, Professor Emeritus, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology (9/1/86-5/31/24)
Robert Todd Jewell, Professor Emeritus, Department of Finance and Economics (8/1/14-7/31/24)
Daniel T. Lochman, Professor Emeritus, Department of English (9/1/82-5/31/24)
Kathleen C. Peirce, Professor Emerita, Department of English (7/16/93-1/15/24)
Cecil O. Renick, Professor Emeritus, School of Health Administration (9/1/91-1/15/24)
Christine S. Sellers, Professor Emeritus, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology (8/1/13-5/31/24)
Harold P. Stern, Professor Emeritus, Ingram School of Engineering (9/1/07-1/15/24)
Lijun Yuan, Professor Emerita, Department of Philosophy (9/1/03-5/31/24)
2025 Retirees
Richard G. Boehm, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (8/8/77-8/31/25)
Eugene J. Bourgeois II, Professor Emeritus, Department of History (9/01/90-8/31/25)
Ronald C. Brown, Professor Emeritus, Department of History (9/1/75-8/31/25)
Mary Ellen Cavitt, Professor Emeritus, School of Music (9/01/06-12/31/24)
Roger D. Jones, Professor Emeritus, Department of English (9/1/87-5/31/25)
Rudy P. Kishan, Professor Emeritus, Department of Finance and Economics (9/1/86-5/31/25)
Laura K. Lane, Professor Emeritus, School of Theatre, Dance, and Film (9/1/03-5/31/25)
Reece J. McGee, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology (9/1/85-7/31/25)
Karl Stephan, Professor Emeritus, Ingram School of Engineering (9/1/00-5/31/25)
Debbie M. Thorne, Professor Emeritus, Department of Marketing (8/1/01-6/7/25)
John L. Walker, Professor Emeritus, Department of Health and Human Performance (9/1/92-5/31/25)
Floyd Weckerly, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology (9/1/02-5/31/25)
Keith R. Winking, Professor Emeritus, School of Music (9/1/87-8/31/25)
-
11/14/2025 Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
TO: Current Undergraduate Students
Faculty
Staff
FROM: Dr. Heather Galloway
Dean, Honors College
SUBJECT: Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
The Honors College and the IDEA Center are pleased to announce the fall 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference—a showcase event for achievements in undergraduate research and creative activity at Texas State University. This year, the conference will be held on Friday, November 21st in Trauth-Huffman Hall.
If you have questions, please email ugresearch@txstate.edu or call us at (512) 245-2266.
-
11/05/2025 Open Online Support Sessions for Institutional Curricular Review
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Jorge F. Figueroa Flores
Vice Provost for Academic Innovation
SUBJECT: Open Online Support Sessions for Institutional Curricular Review
As we move forward with phase one of our institutional curricular review, we want to ensure that all faculty and academic components have access to real-time support throughout the process. To assist you in reviewing and updating course information, we are offering open online curricular review support sessions. These sessions are designed to provide live assistance for faculty and administrators, help navigate and complete the Course Inventory Management (CIM) form, answer questions about catalog accuracy, and support compliance with value-neutral instructional curricular requirements (e.g., course titles, course descriptions, learning outcomes, justifications, etc.).
These sessions will be hosted by the Office of Curriculum and Academic Programs (OCAP) and led by Dr. Jeff Housman, Associate Vice Provost for Curriculum and Academic Programs, alongside members of the OCAP team.
Drop-In Support Hours (via Zoom):
- November 07 @ 12:00-1:00: Curriculum Review Session 1
- November 11 @ 12:00-1:00: Curriculum Review Session 2
- November 12 @ 12:00-1:00: Curriculum Review Session 3
- November 17 @ 12:00-1:00: Curriculum Review Session 4
- November 20 @ 12:00-1:00: Curriculum Review Session 5
No registration is required — simply join at your convenience within the time block.
How-To Video: Completing the CIM Form
We encourage you to watch the short training video on navigating and completing the CIM form by clicking here.These sessions are designed to support your work as we collectively ensure that our curriculum is accurate, value-neutral, faculty-owned, and aligned with our institutional commitment to academic excellence and student success.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team at curriculum@txstate.edu.
-
11/04/2025 2025 Texas State Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Andrea Golato
Dean, The Graduate College
SUBJECT: 2025 Texas State Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
The Graduate College is excited to host the 2025 Texas State Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition and invites the entire Texas State University community to join.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a university-wide research communication competition in which graduate students present their thesis or dissertation research and its significance in under three minutes. This competition challenges graduate students to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience and invites viewers to learn about innovative research by members of the graduate student community. The competition consists of a virtual Preliminary Round and an in-person University Final.
You are invited to attend the 3MT® Final Round presentations and vote for your favorite competitors during the live People’s Choice Voting on Friday, November 7, from 10:00 – noon. The University Final will be held in the LBJ Student Center Grand Ballroom. All Texas State faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are invited to attend.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided. There will also be raffle prizes.
For questions, please contact Dr. Patti Giuffre, Associate Dean in The Graduate College, via email at pg07@txstate.edu or at (512) 245-2581.
If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please contact (512) 245-3451 or ods@txstate.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
-
-
October 2025
-
10/28/2025 “What’s the Future of Democracy?” Interactive Lecture with Chad Hoggan and Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: “What’s the Future of Democracy?” Interactive Lecture with Chad Hoggan and Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert
The College of Fine Arts and Communication invites you to What’s the Future of Democracy?, an interactive lecture and nonpartisan community discussion featuring internationally recognized scholars Dr. Chad Hoggan and Dr. Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert. The event will take place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Old Main 320.
Drs. Hoggan and Hoggan-Kloubert are leading voices in transformative learning and civic education. They co-direct the Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy (ICSLD) in Augsburg, Germany, and are co-authors of the forthcoming book Learning for Democracy: A Framework for Adult Civic Learning. Their work explores how democratic life can be learned, practiced, lived, and understood beyond a system of governance as an active, shared way of being.
Event Highlights:
- Interactive lecture on democratic learning in today’s polarized environment
- Framework preview from the Hoggans’ forthcoming book Learning for Democracy
- Open dialogue welcoming students, faculty, and San Marcos community members
This event is presented as part of the Education is Boring series, a student and faculty-led initiative that highlights creative approaches to learning. It is co-sponsored by the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the Graduate Student Organization of the Ph.D program in Adult, Professional and Community Education, and the Central Texas Learning Festival.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Old Main 320
Registration: Free and open to the public; no RSVP requiredFor questions, please contact Cheri Hatcher or Deborah Carter.
-
10/27/2025 TXST Law School Fair
FROM: Dr. Mary Brennan
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT: TXST Law School Fair
Interested in law school? Join us in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom on Wednesday, November 5 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. to talk with representatives from over 70 law schools. Some schools registered to attend include Notre Dame, The University of Texas, SMU, University of Houston, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, Boston College, Baylor University, Syracuse University, and Penn State.
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: LBJ Student Center Ballroom
If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please contact (512) 245-2645 at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
-
10/27/2025 First-Gen Week Keynote: “Empowering First-Gen Students” with Dra. Valerie Gomez
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Mary Brennan
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT: First-Gen Week Keynote: “Empowering First-Gen Students” with Dra. Valerie Gomez
Join Dra. Valerie Gomez, founder of Latina Grad Guide, and the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Pullias Center for Higher Education in the Rossier School of Education, for “Empowering First-Gen Students.”
Dra. Gomez will share her journey as a community college transfer and first-generation student, reflecting on her path to earning a PhD with over $170,000 in scholarships, grants, and fellowships, and full tuition coverage. Today, she continues to give back—raising more than $30,000 in scholarships to support other students in achieving their dreams. A Q&A session will follow her presentation.
The first 50 students to check in will receive a free “First Gen Proud” t-shirt!
Empowering First-Gen StudentsThursday, November 6 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
LBJ Student Center, Grand Ballroom
If you require accommodations due to a disability to participate in this event, please contact 512-408-4081 or c.pipper@txstate.edu at least 72 hours in advance.
This event is sponsored by the Texas State University Lecture Series, Philosophy Dialogue Series, First-Gen Proud, and TRIO.
-
10/21/2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence
TO: Deans and Faculty
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Presidential Awards for Excellence
Each fall, faculty members will be presented with the Presidential Awards for Excellence for their achievements in teaching, scholarly/creative activities, service, and the Presidential Seminar Awards. The process of selecting next year’s recipients will begin with a call for nominations by November 1, followed by reminders from deans by November 30, and submission of nominations to college deans by February 1.
The chairs of the three selection committees are listed below:
Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Ron Williams, Jr., ronwilliams@txstate.edu, (512) 245-2947
Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity and Presidential Seminar Award, Dr. Shreekanth A. Mandayam, shreek@txstate.edu, (512) 245-2314
Presidential Award for Excellence in Service, Dr. Heather C. Galloway, galloway@txstate.edu, (512) 245-2266
Award Eligibility
Faculty members may receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in the same category no more than once every five years, regardless of academic rank. During this five-year period, recipients are also ineligible for the Presidential Distinction and College Achievement Awards in the same category.
Recognition and Funding
Recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence and the Presidential Seminar Award will receive compensation from centrally allocated university funds.
Nomination Process
Faculty nominations should be submitted to the appropriate dean by Monday, February 2, 2026.
Detailed information about the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and required forms are available in AA/PPS 02.04.20, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarly/Creative Activity, Service, and Presidential Seminar. Nomination forms can be found in Section 05 of the policy. Please note that the same form is used for both the scholarly/creative activity and presidential seminar awards.
I encourage you to contact your dean or the selection committee chair named above if you have questions regarding the nomination process. Information about recent recipients may be found on the President’s website.
Thank you for your participation in this important process to recognize and honor outstanding faculty at Texas State!
-
10/21/2025 Free University Performing Arts Event
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Free University Performing Arts Event
Blue Lapis Light is a touring aerial dance company known for performing on high-rise, urban structures. Founded in 2005, our 30+ siteworks have placed harnessed dancers on bridges, buildings, and power plant stacks.
Learn more about Blue Lapis Light by CLICKING HERE.
This production is brought to you compliments of the University Performing Arts Committee with support from the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy the performance from the top level of the Tower Garage as these Artists dance across Tower Hall. This 30-minute performance is a unique spectacle no one should miss.
Performance begins Thursday, October 23 at 8:30 p.m.
Guests can begin entering the seating area at 7:00 p.m.
Updated information can be found on the Texas State Presents website.
-
10/17/2025 Coffee with the EVPs
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Coffee with the EVPs
The executive vice presidents (EVPs), Provost Dr. Pranesh Aswath and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Eric Algoe, are pleased to invite you to Coffee with the EVPs.
This event offers faculty and staff the opportunity to share questions, comments, and concerns with the EVPs in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Join the conversation and learn more about what’s happening at Texas State University.
Coffee with the EVPs will be held at the San Marcos Campus on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., in the Staff Meeting Room in Jones Dining Center.
You must register to attend this event by using the Coffee with the EVPs RSVP Form and are encouraged to submit your questions.
Space is limited, so RSVP online, and do not forget to add “What’s on your mind.”
Kind Regards,
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
(512) 245-2205
The Office of the Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer
(512) 245-2244
-
10/16/2025 Ignite 3.0 Entrepreneur Workshop, November 7 and 8, 2025
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Teresa Quinn
Director, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
McCoy College of Business
SUBJECT: Ignite 3.0 Entrepreneur Workshop, November 7 and 8, 2025
You are invited to bring your entrepreneurial interest, innovative idea, or small business to this informative and supportive event to help you propel to the next level hosted by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). Ignite 3.0 is a free, 2-day entrepreneurial learning, doing, and growing weekend. No experience necessary, we are here to help!
The event will take place on Friday, November 7, from noon-5:30 p.m., with a kickoff speaker at lunch, and Saturday, November 8, from noon-5:30 p.m., featuring a keynote speaker at lunch.
The CIE motto: Where underestimated talent becomes unstoppable.
Event Highlights:
- Friday kickoff speaker Tara Godby, CEO and co-founder of TeakeasyTea.com
- Saturday keynote speaker Max Feber, the Shark Tank contestant who secured a deal with billionaire Mark Cuban in Season 10, Episode 9
- Interactive Sandbox Sessions:
- Pitching
- AI and Business Start Up
- Understand and Assessing Start Up Financing Opportunities
- Learn to Tell Your Story
- Panel discussion with entrepreneurs
- Pitch Competition with awards that include:
- Grand Prize, Summer Study Entrepreneurship Abroad in Portugal (for Texas State student only)
- First prize, $1,000; second prize, $500; third prize, $250; and People’s Choice, $100
- Networking and speakers: alumni entrepreneurs, local entrepreneurs, and community members
All Texas State students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to attend! You do not need to be affiliated with McCoy College of Business.
This workshop will be held in person at McCoy Hall.
Registration is now open.
For any questions, please contact Quinn Valentine, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, at quinn.valentine@txstate.edu.
-
10/15/2025 Registration Now Open and Call for Presentations - CoSE Symposium on Student Success
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Carolyn T. Chang
Director, Bioscience Education and Training Research Programs
Translational Health Research Center
SUBJECT: Registration Now Open and Call for Presentations - CoSE Symposium on Student Success
The College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) invites the entire campus community including university leadership, faculty, and staff to join us for the CoSE Symposium on Student Success, a full-day event dedicated to celebrating and advancing student academic achievement in CoSE.
The symposium will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in the LBJ Student Center Grand Ballroom on the Texas State University San Marcos Campus, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This annual event will highlight the innovative programs, collaborative initiatives, and data-driven strategies that strengthen student learning, persistence, and degree completion across CoSE. While the symposium’s focus is on student academic success within the College of Science and Engineering, all members of the campus community are warmly invited to attend and participate. Your engagement and insights are essential as we work together to advance academic success efforts university-wide.
Faculty, staff, and academic leaders are encouraged to present, participate, and nominate colleagues who exemplify excellence in fostering student academic success in CoSE. Abstracts for oral or poster presentations are due by October 31, 2025, with presenter notifications sent in early November.
We also invite nominations for the CoSE Student Success Champion Award, recognizing outstanding, evidence-based initiatives that have significantly enhanced student learning and achievement within our college.
For registration, presentation submission, award nominations, and full symposium details—including session tracks and event logistics—please visit the CoSE Symposium on Student Success website.
Thank you for your continued commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and the advancement of student academic success. We look forward to welcoming our campus colleagues to this special event and to the meaningful ideas and innovations it will inspire.
-
10/10/2025 Time and Leave Policy – Faculty Sick Leave Reporting Requirements
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Time and Leave Policy – Faculty Sick Leave Reporting Requirements
Faculty members appointed in benefits-eligible positions (50% or more appointment) earn sick leave and must report sick leave taken even if no classes were missed. Reporting is required by the State of Texas (Texas Government Code 661.203).
Faculty must report sick leave for the actual time missed from carrying out their normal responsibilities, including teaching, research and scholarly/creative activities, and service. Sick leave taken must be recorded in hours, including partial day absences. Sick leave is recorded for any time taken to focus on the health needs of the faculty member or immediate family members during the workweek, not just teaching days.
The specific guidelines and procedures for faculty to use in reporting sick leave are prescribed in UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy. In particular, please review Section 03, Sick Leave Procedures, Section 03.10, Faculty, Section 15, Record Keeping Policy, and Section 16, Record Keeping Procedures.
Employees, including faculty, may take sick leave with pay when illness, medical and dental appointments, injury, immunizations, pregnancy, or confinement prevent carrying out their normal, negotiated workload responsibilities, or when the employee needs to care for an immediate family member who is sick or to obtain medical or dental examinations as part of an employee’s or immediate family member’s personal health maintenance program. Employees are allowed to use up to eight (8) hours of sick leave each fiscal year to attend educational activities of their children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.
Questions regarding the use and recording of faculty sick leave should be directed to the appropriate department chair/school director. Each department/school must have a procedure in place for timely reporting and assigned responsibility for getting time entered into the SAP time management system, either by a faculty member or the departmental time administrator.
-
10/10/2025 Time and Leave Policy – Supervisor Responsibilities in Academic Affairs
TO: Senior Vice Provost, Vice Provosts, and Associate/Assistant Vice Provosts in the Division of Academic Affairs
Deans
Department Chairs/School Directors
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Time and Leave Policy – Supervisor Responsibilities in Academic Affairs
This email serves as the annual reminder to academic administrators, academic deans, department chairs, and school directors in the division of Academic Affairs about supervisor responsibilities for following time and leave policy and procedures found in UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy. Please forward this message to all supervisors who report directly or indirectly to you, such as directors, associate/assistant directors, center directors, managers, grant administrators, administrative assistants, and all others with supervisory responsibilities.
All department heads/supervisors are responsible for knowing and monitoring time reports and balances for each employee assigned to their departmental units, including faculty and staff. All leave must be entered into the SAP time management system. Each department or office must have a procedure in place for timely reporting and assigned responsibility for getting time entered into the SAP time management system, either by a faculty member, staff member, or the departmental time administrator. In particular, please review Section 15, Record Keeping Policy, and Section 16, Record Keeping Procedures of UPPS 04.04.30.
As a result of a recent audit finding, Faculty and Academic Resources regularly reviews leave reporting across units in the division of Academic Affairs. Twice a year, four academic units and one administrative unit will be randomly selected for an actionable review of their leave procedures including reporting, approving, and maintaining supporting documentation. Please ensure all faculty employees are recording sick leave, which includes time off to address health needs of the employee and/or immediate family members. Faculty sick leave is recorded for any time taken during the workweek, not just teaching days.
Questions regarding leave procedures and the use and recording of faculty and staff time may be addressed in UPPS 04.04.30 or directed to the appropriate administrator or Human Resources.
-
10/01/2025 Call for Speakers and Artists: TEDxTexasStateUniversity 2026 – Unlearn
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Call for Speakers and Artists: TEDxTexasStateUniversity 2026 – Unlearn
The Department of Communication Studies and the TEDxTexasStateUniversity organizing team are excited to announce that we are now accepting speaker applications for our upcoming TEDx event on Saturday, February 28, 2026. We invite you to help us find inspiring voices who can share innovative ideas that embody this year’s theme: unlearn.
2026 Theme Description and Call for Speakers
Before we can truly move forward, we sometimes have to let go. In a world overflowing with information, traditions, and routines, it is easy to mistake the familiar for the truth. But growth begins when we pause, reflect, and gently release the assumptions and habits that no longer serve us. This year, TEDxTexasStateUniversity invites you to explore the power of unlearning. To unlearn is not to forget. It is to reflect. It is to grow. It is about rethinking old stories, reexamining what we’ve accepted without question, and discovering new perspectives that open the door to possibility. Our speakers will share powerful ideas from across technology, health, the arts, media, science, and the humanities. Each one will invite us to see the world with a fresh perspective and consider what might emerge when we let go of the familiar. Join us for a day of curiosity, connection, and discovery as we unlearn together and uncover the insights, opportunities, and wisdom waiting just beneath the surface.
How to Apply
If you or someone you know has an idea worth sharing that fits this year’s theme, please apply here! The application is open to anyone of any age, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who may not be affiliated with Texas State University. We strongly encourage participation from across the Texas State community and beyond. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 17, at 11:59 p.m. Applicants are asked to submit a brief two-minute video describing their idea. A fully written or developed presentation is not required at this stage—just an idea worth sharing. Selected speakers will begin working with our speaking coaches in early November. Though this event will be live, all talks will also be professionally recorded, edited, and published by TED Headquarters for a global audience.
Performances and Exhibits
We are also seeking fine arts performances and exhibits for the event. If you have an idea for a performance or exhibit, please contact us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu.
Questions?
If you have questions about the application process or event, please contact us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu. Together, we can create an extraordinary event that represents the very best of Texas State University.
Sincerely,
TEDxTexasStateUniversity Organizing Team:
Dr. Alan Grant, Department of Communication Studies
Mr. Mark Paz, Department of Communication Studies
Ms. Hannah Collazo, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Prisca Ngondo, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Ms. Rita Gomez, Department of Communication Studies -
10/01/2025 Course Review
TO: Faculty
Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs
FROM: Dr. Jorge F. Figueroa Flores
SUBJECT: Course Review
The course calendar for the Course Information Management (CIM) system provides an opportunity for faculty across campus to review the course proposals from all academic units. The faculty review period for this cycle ends on October 27, 2025.
At this time, all faculty and Academic Affairs staff are invited to review the proposed course additions, changes, and deletions that are located in the CIM system. For the current cycle, there are 146 additions, 291 changes, and 60 deletions. Faculty and staff who are interested in more details about the course proposals can visit the CIM system.
Per Academic Affairs PPS 02.01.01, “faculty who have comments or concerns regarding any course addition, change, or deletion should submit those comments or concerns in writing to their department chair or school director who will be responsible to confer with the originating department chair or school director.”
Should you need additional information, please contact the Office of Curriculum Services at curriculum@txstate.edu.
-
-
September 2025
-
09/18/2025 Strategic Hiring Town Hall Meetings
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Strategic Hiring Town Hall Meetings
Dear Colleagues,
In the coming year, Vice President for Research Shreek Mandayam and I will host a series of town hall meetings to discuss strategic hiring initiatives to recruit nationally recognized faculty members in areas of existing and emerging research strengths at Texas State University. As recipients of a full share of the Texas University Fund (TUF), the legislature expects our university to enhance research expenditures from federal and private sources and increase the number of research doctorates. Strategic recruiting of nationally accomplished faculty members allows universities to quickly increase their impact in specific areas, attract additional faculty members to promote internal scale and collaboration, and initiate and sustain stronger external research partnerships.
Our strategic hiring areas are at the nexus of our current strengths, emerging areas of growth, and both the state and federal funding landscape. These areas include water, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital humanities, and aging/dementia. The general timing of the upcoming town halls is listed below.
Our first town hall area is “Water” in the fullest sense. We hope that Texas State community members whose work addresses any aspect of water in any field using any methods will join us for this conversation.
Topic: Water
Date: October 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: JCK Ballroom, 11th Floor
At each town hall, we will discuss our current core strengths and opportunity areas for recruiting nationally known scholars. We will also facilitate opportunities for collaboration on cross-disciplinary research proposals for funding from the Office of Research in each strategic area.
To attend, please register by October 2 and save the event to your calendar on the registration page. We will not send a separate calendar invitation, and we will only be able to accommodate those who have registered. Because our conversation may include strategies around future research initiatives and hiring, we will not be able to record the town hall or provide remote access.
We are already an R1 university in all but name due to the outstanding work of our faculty. As we embark on this strategic initiative, the active engagement of faculty members is crucial. I look forward to discussing implementation with you at our upcoming town hall on water and over the course of the coming year.
Sincerely,
Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President
Timing of Future Town Halls
- November: Semiconductors
- January: Artificial Intelligence
- March: Digital Humanities
- April: Aging/Dementia
-
09/10/2025 Seeking Speakers for this year’s Star Stories
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Seeking Speakers for this year’s Star Stories
Do you have a true story to share that illustrates our community's greatest challenges and opportunities? The University Star is looking for storytellers from Texas State University or San Marcos to tell their first-person stories on stage during Star Stories.
This annual event features personal narratives from members of our community with the goal of opening dialogue among diverse groups and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. Anyone who is a part of Texas State or the San Marcos community is invited to apply to be a speaker. Fifteen applicants will be selected for in-person interviews. From this list, eight final speakers will be chosen.
All storytellers must be able to stand on stage and present their story in front of a crowd. Speakers may use notecards but must be able to tell their story without reading directly from a script. Each storyteller will have eight minutes to speak.
The event will take place on Wednesday October 22, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at George's in the LBJ Student Center on the Texas State San Marcos campus.
Please submit your application to the Star Stories web page. Applications are open through September 19, 2025.
We look forward to hearing your stories!
-
09/08/2025 Fall Performing Arts Events
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Fall Performing Arts Events
Here is a sampling of fall performing arts events, performed both by Texas State University students and guest artists; start times, specific venues, and ticket prices as well as more events and other venues are available via txstatepresents.com.
** For the fall semester, for most events, students can download a free ticket courtesy of President Damphousse’s office!!
Fall 2025 events in the Performing Arts Center
September 5-7 New American Play Festival
September 29 TXST Jazz Ensemble
September 30 – October 5 Prometheus Bound (Oldest surviving play in the Western world; theatre program recently ranked #22 in the world by The Hollywood Reporter)
October 2 Faculty Recital: Paul Sánchez & Saundra DeAthos (Paul is a 2-time Grammy nominee who is in his first semester at TXST)
October 6 TXST Jazz Lab Band
October 8 TXST Camerata Orchestra
October 10 Faculty Recital: Karla Hamelin (cello) and Kayla Chon (piano)
October 13 TXST Jazz Orchestra
October 23-25 Opening Door Dance Theatre
November 10 TXST Jazz Ensemble
November 15 TXST Treble and Tenor/Bass Choir
November 15 TXST Aurora Voce
November 16 TXST University Singers
November 17 TXST Jazz Orchestra
November 18-23 Sweeney Todd (Musical by Stephen Sondheim; theatre program recently ranked #22 in the world by The Hollywood Reporter)
November 24 TXST Jazz Lab Band
December 3 TXST Camerata Orchestra
December 6 TXST VocaLibre (annual holiday concert)
December 7 TXST Mariachi presents Fiestas Navideñas
Fall 2025 events in Evans Auditorium
September 13 TXST ViolaFest
September 28 Choral Collage
October 2 TXST Concert Band/Symphonic Winds Concert
October 3 TXST Wind Symphony Concert
October 5 TXST Symphony Orchestra
October 21-26 TXST Opera Theater presents Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto
October 30 TXST Trombone Choir
November 6-8 B.F.A. Dance Performance and Choreography Concert
November 12 TXST Mariachi presents Noche de Mariachi
November 16 TXST Chorale presents the world premiere of Jake Runestad’s Footprints
November 19 TXST Concert Band
November 20 TXST Symphonic Winds
November 21 TXST Wind Symphony
November 23 TXST Symphony Orchestra
December 4 TXST Jazz Ensemble presents Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite
December 6-7 Strutters Winter Spectacular
Special Event
October 23 Blue Lapis Light performs an aerial dance off the roof/side of the Tower Hall (University Arts event)
For a full list of events or to download tickets please visit the Texas State Presents website.
-
09/05/2025 Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction
TO: Faculty
Staff
Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants
Graduate Instructional Assistants/Doctoral Instructional Assistants
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction
In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and information related to teaching and instructional responsibilities, student records, students with disabilities, and classroom materials. All employees serving in instructional roles, including teaching assistants and instructional assistants, are asked to visit the websites linked below and to talk with their department chairs/school directors about specific questions regarding these policies and practices. Please forward this message to new instructors, as hiring processes occur daily.
Faculty-Authored Teaching Material
Approval is required before a faculty member may require any textbook, notebook, manual, or other materials written or prepared by a member of the Texas State University faculty for which a charge is required. The policy AA/PPS 02.03.30, Faculty-Authored Teaching and Instructional Material describes the procedure for faculty to obtain approval for the use of materials authored or prepared by Texas State University faculty, even if the materials are used in classes taught by other instructors. Instructors may only require materials that meet instructional goals and student learning outcomes of the course. The faculty member must submit a request form to the department chair/school director, dean, and provost. The deadlines to submit a request to use faculty-authored teaching materials are July 1 (fall semester), November 1 (spring semester), and April 1 (summer sessions). Please complete the Request for Authorization to Prescribe Materials Form via the Dynamic Forms platform. Please visit our Dynamic Forms web page for more information.
Inadvertent Release of Student Education Records: Updated with Secure Communication Instructions
This is a reminder of your obligation to guard against the inadvertent release of student education records as stipulated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). UPPS 01.04.31, Access to Student Records Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, addresses this law and faculty and staff obligations.
Examples of inadvertent releases of student education records include emailing student grades, grade point averages, test scores or posting grades by student ID numbers, social security numbers, or other numbers that make student identities easily traceable. These actions violate federal law and university policy. A list of frequently asked questions is available for additional information.
Please review File and Data Sending and Receiving information standards as well as best practices for Data Classification (confidential, sensitive, or public) from the division of Information Technology. To securely send and receive confidential student education records per FERPA regulations, use the TXST (secure) File Transfer system.
Faculty and staff may login to the Bobcat Family Portal to verify a student has granted someone access to their records.
Attendance Roster Certification
AA/PPS No. 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses, Section 06.01 – Faculty will certify attendance rosters. Students must attend or be academically engaged by the census date, to avoid being marked as Not Attending their classes and being administratively dropped.
Reminders:
- Importance of Attendance: Regular class attendance is essential for learning and performance. Absence policies are usually set by academic departments or individual instructors, but the university recognizes valid excuses such as medical issues, immediate family bereavement, university-sponsored activities, required field trips, military service, and official religious holy days.
- Roster Certification: Faculty members will be required to certify their census rosters (4th class day for summer semesters and 12th class day for fall and spring semesters). These records will be permanently retained by the Office of the University Registrar. Special care should be taken to certify rosters for courses where faculty and students have not yet had face-to-face interaction by the census date. These may include courses taught via online or hybrid instruction. In these cases, certification of the roster will require documentation of active academic engagement by the student in the course by the census date.
- Attendance Announcements: Instructors are encouraged to share their attendance policies on the first day and include them in the syllabus.
- Exceptions and Changes: Classes should not deviate from the schedule around holidays, and any faculty absence must be communicated to the department for appropriate arrangements.
Regular and Substantive Interaction in Distance Learning
Regular and substantive instructor and student engagement in distance learning courses improves student learning outcomes and student satisfaction and aligns with Texas State’s long-held commitment to quality teaching and learning. In addition, the university’s continued eligibility to award federal financial aid depends on the ability to provide evidence that this engagement takes place in a timely way and within certain regulatory guidelines. Instructor-initiated actions, feedback, and oversight are expected to be timely, ongoing, focused on the course subject and assignments, and integral to the course plan and learning outcomes. Instructors should plan to retain records of student engagement in academic activities that occur on or before each semester’s census day to document student engagement for financial aid purposes. More information may be found in G/PPS 02.03, Distance Education Courses and Programs.
Students with Disabilities
Texas State University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. If a student experiences barriers to education due to a disability or believes they may have a disability, they are encouraged to contact Disability Services (DS) at (512) 245-3451, by email at disability@txstate.edu, or by visiting the DS web page. Disabilities may include, but are not limited to, attentional, learning, mental health, sensory, physical, communication, or chronic medical conditions. DS will provide both the student and the instructor with an accommodation letter identifying the requested accommodations. Instructors who encounter difficulties in providing accommodations or believe they may result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden should consult with DS as soon as possible to discuss concerns and explore alternative accommodations.
Honor Code Procedures: Faculty Member Responsibilities
This is a best practices list of basic steps to assist faculty members who suspect that a student has violated the Honor Code Policy. The faculty member may consult with their department chair or school director to determine an appropriate academic penalty.
Honor Code violations are not reported on transcripts or to outside entities. Reports are for internal tracking purposes to identify repeat offenders, who will be referred to the Dean of Students.
In compliance with the Honor Code policy (UPPS 07.10.01), the faculty member will:
- Contact the student verbally or in writing (i.e., in person, virtually, via phone, or email) to discuss the alleged violation, supporting evidence, and academic penalty to be imposed as defined in Section 02.02 of the Honor Code policy.
- Clearly communicate your observations and the prescribed penalty to the student and consider their evidence/explanation. If the student fails to respond regarding the violation within three business days, move forward with the Honor Code Review Form. A hold will be placed on the student's academic record until the matter is resolved.
- After conferring with the student, if it is still suspected the student violated the Honor Code, advise the student that a report will be filed, and they will be contacted by the AVPEAI Honor Code Chair, Vice Chair, or office and given the option to accept or not accept the decision.
- Complete the Honor Code Review Form, attaching supporting documentation and/or evidence. Texas State NetID and login credentials will be required.
- The student will be sent an email and asked to 1) accept the faculty member's determination and waive their right to a hearing, or 2) not accept the determination and request a hearing with the Honor Code Council to review the case. If a student does not respond to the email within three business days, a hold will be placed on their academic record until the matter is resolved.
- If the student accepts, the case is closed. If a hearing is requested, a Hearing Officer will be in touch with the next steps.
For detailed descriptions of violations and additional Honor Code policy information, refer to UPPS 07.10.01.
-
09/04/2025 Constitution Day
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Constitution Day
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an American federal observance recognizing the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become United States citizens by birth or naturalization. It is normally observed on September 17, the day the United States Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia. During any year that September 17 falls on a weekend, colleges and universities may present educational programs on the week preceding or following September 17.
This year, Texas State University is hosting Dr. Jeremy D. Bailey, Professor of Humanities at the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. Dr. Bailey’s books include Thomas Jefferson and the Executive Power (Cambridge University Press), James Madison and Constitutional Imperfection (Cambridge University Press), and The Idea of Presidential Representation (University of Kansas Press). His articles have appeared in a wide variety of journals including the American Political Science Review, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and the History of Political Thought. From 2019 to 2023, he served as editor of American Political Thought. Dr. Bailey’s Constitution Day lecture is entitled "Native Nations and Jefferson’s Constitution of 1804” and will take place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. in the Alkek Teaching Theater. The lecture is sponsored by Discourse in Democracy and the Department of Political Science and is made possible by a grant from the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For more information, you may contact the Department of Political Science via email at politicalscience@txstate.edu.
Student Government will be at the Quad on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., distributing pocket-sized United States Constitutions to students. The main goal of this activity is to make their fellow students understand the importance of the U.S. Constitution and in particular, the right to vote which is one of the greatest privileges in a democracy.
-
09/03/2025 Policies Related to Ethics and Compliance
TO: Faculty
Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Policies Related to Ethics and Compliance
In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and other information related to ethics and compliance following university, state, and federal regulations and policies. This message addresses required ethics and compliance training, dual/outside employment, reporting of relatives working at Texas State University, and mandatory notices to employees. Specific questions regarding these policies and practices may be addressed to supervisors.
University Ethics and Compliance Program
Texas State is committed to ensuring that our institution maintains the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity throughout all aspects of operations. As public servants, university faculty and staff are guardians of the resources entrusted to it and have a responsibility to students, parents, alumni, donors, and the citizens of Texas to ensure those resources are used efficiently and for their intended purpose. Several reporting tools are available that provide a confidential avenue for reporting concerns about potential waste, fraud, and abuse of resources; the lack of compliance with laws, regulations, and/or University Policy and Procedure Statements; or violations of the Texas State University System’s Code of Ethics. We encourage you to report such issues through one of the following tools:
- reports can be made anonymously via this website: Texas State University System Hotline.
- Texas State University Office of Internal Audit Hotline at (512) 245-1707.
- you may also call the TXST Office of Internal Audit main line, (512) 245-2533, during business hours to report information directly to the audit staff.
The University has implemented a fixed training schedule and compliance period. All Texas State University employees, with the exception of certain new hires, are required to complete assigned mandatory training by the end of the compliance period. The training compliance period will begin in February, and employees will have approximately one (1) month to complete the required training.
Employees who do not complete the mandatory training within the defined period will be ineligible for merit increases and subject to disciplinary action within the discretion of the University. New hires who begin after a specific date will follow a separate training schedule during their onboarding process and will transition to the fixed schedule in the following annual cycle.
Please review the following training requirements:
- Ethics and Compliance Training: The Tools for an Ethical Workplace course is offered online via the employee learning management tool, Success Factors (SF) Learning. All employees are required to complete the online course every two years to meet the requirement mandated by TSUS. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- EEO and Title IX Training: The Preventing Harassment and Discrimination course is offered online via the employee learning management tool, Success Factors (SF) Learning. All employees are required to complete the online course every two years to meet the requirement mandated by the State of Texas. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- Cybersecurity Training: To combat the growing threat of cyberattacks, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3834 in the 2019 legislative session, which requires certain state and local government employees to complete a cybersecurity training program certified by the state’s Department of Information Resources (DIR). All employees must complete the Cybersecurity Training available within Success Factors (SF) Learning annually. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- Clery Act and Campus Security Authorities: The Clery Act is a federal law that requires the institution to provide accurate and timely information about crime and campus safety to the university community as well as prospective students and their families. The act requires the identification of individuals and organizations that meet the definition of a campus security authority (CSA). While many faculty members are not designated as CSAs, based on their position, those who serve as advisors to student organizations or program trip leaders will be CSAs. Employees designated as CSAs will be notified by the Clery Act Compliance Coordinator and are required to complete the CSA Clery Training Course available within Success Factors (SF) Learning annually. Employees will receive an email reminder when their training is due.
Online Reporting of Dual/Outside Employment and Activities
UPPS 04.04.06, Outside Employment and Activities defines outside employment as any compensated employment, consulting, or service performed by the employee outside of the employee’s employment relationship with Texas State for the direct or indirect benefit of the employee or the organization serviced. Outside activities that involve non-compensated services are not always reported. However, there are special provisions for holding public office. Outside employment or activities must not interfere or create a conflict of interest or commitment with any employee’s duties and responsibilities at Texas State.
Outside employment, financial conflict of interest (FCOI), conflict of commitment (COC), and inappropriate foreign influence may be related topics that potentially present challenges in managing overlapping dimensions. This is particularly important for faculty and staff involved in federal grant awards and sponsored programs. To encourage and support the research community, the division of Research will continue to develop and disseminate information and guidance regarding disclosures to internal and external entities, including funding agencies. Contact Sean Rubino, Director, Research Integrity and Compliance, via email at srubino@txstate.edu for questions or more information in this regard.
Annual approval is required for 1) any outside employment or consulting prior to beginning such outside employment or consulting; 2) any employment with another state agency, community college, or school district (regardless of the faculty member’s FTE at Texas State); 3) any employee holding public office (elected or appointed to serve for a federal, state, or local government entity including school districts, cities, and towns); or 4) non-compensated activities where the employee or supervisor believes there may be a conflict of interest or interference with the employee’s university duties and responsibilities, or if the outside activities will take place during or interfere with the employee’s normally scheduled work hours.
If the outside employment is with another State of Texas entity, Texas law requires that all state employees must inform their state agencies or institutions of higher education before accepting an additional employment with another agency or institution. See section 03.02 of UPPS 04.04.06.
Annual reporting is required. Thus, outside employment approved from a prior academic year must be reported for the current year if the employment is ongoing. The current reporting academic year is 9/1/24 – 8/31/25. Employees are also required to report any changes that may occur during the academic year (e.g., additional outside employment throughout the year or change in outside employment workload). Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Portal under the “Self-Report” tab. At least one supervisor in the approval workflow, such as a department chair/school director, director, assistant or associate vice provost, dean, or vice provost, must document there is no conflict of interest or commitment with outside employment before the request flows to the Office of the Provost.
Note: Honorariums need not be reported.
Online Reporting of Relatives Working at Texas State University
An online form is available for employees to report certain relatives also working at Texas State University. With centralized records, Human Resources and Faculty and Academic Resources will be able to better manage potential conflicts and provide accurate reports as required by state law and The Texas State University System Regents’ Rules and Regulations. The governing policy is UPPS 04.04.07, Nepotism and Related Employment.
Note: If you have already reported relatives working at Texas State and there are no changes, no action is required. After your initial certification, you must report any changes as they occur.
If needed, please take action now and provide complete information, including hours worked per week and other details that aid reviewers in decision-making. Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Portal under the “Self-Report” tab. Instructions for Self-Reporting of Relatives at Texas State are available. The records will be reviewed by Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources against the organizational structure in SAP. If there is a potential conflict, Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources staff will contact the department head for resolution. Faculty-related questions may be directed to Faculty and Academic Resources at (512) 245-2786.
Employee Notices
While a variety of policies and laws are provided to new employees at orientation sessions, employee notices are important reminders for all employees and supervisors. These notices include information on State of Texas employee policies, sexual misconduct in the workplace, workplace accommodations, campus security, and other matters.
Thank you for your commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Please forward this email, as appropriate, to ensure all employees in Academic Affairs are aware of these commitments and requirements.
-
09/02/2025 Interim Chair, Department of Mathematics
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Interim Chair, Department of Mathematics
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Christian Dawkins as Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics, effective September 1, 2025.
Dr. Dawkins brings a strong record of scholarship and leadership in undergraduate mathematics education. A native of San Angelo, Texas, he earned Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Angelo State University and Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Arlington. He began his academic career at Northern Illinois University, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. He joined Texas State University in 2019 and was promoted to Professor in 2023.
Dr. Dawkin’s research focuses on how students are initiated into the disciplinary practices of mathematics through their advanced coursework. His work addresses a common problem in mathematics education in which courses often provide answers to questions students have not yet posed. To address this, he has developed curricula supported by funding from the National Science Foundation that aim to create opportunities for students to ask the motivating questions at the heart of advanced undergraduate mathematics. His current research draws on linguistic theory to explore how mathematical language shapes and supports mathematical thinking and practice.
Dr. Dawkins has received multiple accolades for his contributions to undergraduate mathematics education. He was awarded the prestigious Selden Award by the Mathematical Association of America, which recognizes outstanding early-career scholarship in the field. In 2017, he also received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award from Northern Illinois University.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Dawkins on his appointment as Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics.
-
-
August 2025
-
08/27/2025 The University Writing Center is Here to Help - Fall 2025
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Mary Brennan
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT: The University Writing Center is Here to Help - Fall 2025
The University Writing Center opens on September 2, and we're excited to share how we can help you and support your students this semester.
HOW WE HELP STUDENTS
Our peer and faculty consultants are ready to support writers from all disciplines at any stage in their writing process. We offer:
- 25- or 50-minute consultations, including help with Vireo formatting and pre-law writing.
- Two weekly writing groups: Write Time and Creative Writers’ Circle.
- Coffee & Commas, a monthly workshop series open to all students.
- Drop-in support on Writing Wednesdays (Round Rock only).
- Support for writing beyond the classroom, including personal statements, scholarship essays, conference proposals, and more.
HOW WE SUPPORT FACULTY
We also provide resources to support your teaching and scholarship:
- Statement for your syllabus: Tell students about our services by including this syllabus statement.
- Class tours: Book an in-person or virtual tour to introduce students to our space and services.
- In-class workshops: Request sessions on style guides, essay writing, managing writing anxiety, and more.
- Proof-of-visit forms: Verify a student attended their consultation by asking them to request a proof-of-visit at the end of their appointment.
- Consultations for faculty: Make an appointment with a faculty consultant to work on your own writing, too.
HOURS, LOCATIONS, AND SCHEDULING
We are happy to offer expanded hours this semester: Monday - Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To book an appointment, request a service, or learn more, visit our website, contact us by email at writingctr@txstate.edu or by phone at (512) 245-3018. You can find us in person in ASBN 100 (San Marcos) and Avery 206 (Round Rock), or virtually on Zoom.
Thank you for all you do to support Bobcats' writing development. We look forward to working with you and your students this semester!
-
08/26/2025 Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matt McAllister as Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance, effective September 1, 2025, after a national search.
Dr. McAllister earned a B.S.Ed. in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Exercise and Sports Science and an M.S. in Health and Sports Science with a concentration in Exercise and Sports Science, both from the University of Memphis. He earned a Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a concentration in Nutrition from Mississippi State University. He served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University for three years before joining Texas State University in 2018. He was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. He has served as Associate Chair since 2023 and as Interim Chair of the department beginning July 1, 2025.
Dr. McAllister has demonstrated strong leadership, contributing to curriculum innovation aimed at enhancing student success, boosting enrollment, and preparing students for their careers. His active research agenda focuses on improving cardiometabolic health and physical performance in tactical populations (firefighters, law enforcement officers, military personnel). He is the Director of the Metabolic and Applied Physiology lab in the Department of Health and Human Performance and is an affiliated faculty researcher with the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. His research examines the relationship between occupational stressors and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk. He has also studied the effectiveness of exercise, nutritional, and breathing interventions on biomarkers of stress and cardiometabolic disease risk. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and has secured funding from both federal agencies and industry partners.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. McAllister on his appointment as Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance.
-
08/25/2025 Commencement Schedules
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Commencement Schedules
The commencement schedules for fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 have been finalized and can be found on the commencement website.
If you have any commencement related questions or concerns, or would like additional information about commencement, please contact Kristin McDaniel, Commencement Coordinator, at commencement@txstate.edu.
-
08/22/2025 Program Codes, Locations, and Registration Restrictions
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Thilla Sivakumaran
Vice President for TXST Global
SUBJECT: Program Codes, Locations, and Registration Restrictions
As a reminder, we implemented a change in Spring 2025 to better define TXST campus locations in order to facilitate unified institutional business processes and communications. This solution was designed to ensure students are being billed correctly, enhance enrollment reporting, etc. This decision was arrived at in collaboration with a variety of campus stakeholders. These stakeholders included The Graduate College, academic advising directors, Data Analytics and Institutional Research, University Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Student Business Services, TXST One Stop, and others.
The below table shows the alignment of campus location with the program/course registration restrictions. We wanted to remind you of this alignment to help with internal planning and the advisement of students.
If you have any questions, please contact the University Registrar.
TXST Program Location Definitions
and Enrollment Restrictions
Campus
Code
Enrollment Restrictions by Section
(100% of Program Can Be Completed by Enrolling In …)
San Marcos
M
San Marcos, OL Courses, and/or Off Campus sections
Round Rock
RRC
Round Rock, OL Courses, and/or Off Campus sections
Collin College*
CCP
Collin, OL Courses, and/or Off Campus sections
Dallas College*
DCP
Dallas, OL Courses, and/or Off Campus sections
Queretaro, Mexico*
MXQ
Mexico sections only
Online**
OL
OL sections only
Accelerated Online Programs**
AOP
AOP sections only
*Students will also complete at least 51% of coursework at partner institution.
** DHS rules: International (“F” visa”) students are NOT eligible for this program.
Note: As an exception, an override may be granted. -
08/22/2025 Supplemental Awards Associated with Faculty Development Leaves
TO: Faculty
Deans
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Supplemental Awards Associated with Faculty Development Leaves
Texas State University has authorized up to ten supplemental awards to support eligible tenured faculty during their approved faculty development leave. These supplemental awards are intended to enhance the success of faculty projects by providing:
- Salary support: Up to 100% of the faculty member’s academic year salary for a full-year leave (fall and spring semesters), or
- Research-related expenses: Up to $20,000 for costs such as equipment, travel, lodging, and materials needed to conduct research, scholarship, and/or creative activities during a one-semester leave.
A committee appointed by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs will review all supplemental award applications from faculty who have been approved for development leave by the President. The committee will submit recommendations to the Provost, who will make final award decisions. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by January 15, 2026.
To apply for the supplemental award, faculty must complete the regular application for faculty development leave and concurrently submit the supplemental award application via the Texas State Faculty Requests portal. Additional information, including detailed application instructions, is available on the Faculty Senate website. Criteria for selection are described in AA/PPS 04.02.02, Faculty Development Leave.
I encourage all eligible faculty members to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for both the development leave and the supplemental award.
-
08/14/2025 Interim Chair, Department of Respiratory Care
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Interim Chair, Department of Respiratory Care
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Russian as the Interim Chair of the Department of Respiratory Care, effective September 1, 2025.
Dr. Chris Russian has been a licensed respiratory therapist for over 25 years, with extensive clinical experience spanning neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations, including critical care, emergency medicine, and pulmonary function testing. He began his academic career in the Department of Respiratory Care at Texas State University in 1999 as a clinical instructor/lecturer. He was appointed to a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in 2002. He earned tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2008, followed by promotion to Full Professor in 2016.
Dr. Russian served as Director of Clinical Education for the Department of Respiratory Care for 14 years before being named Program Coordinator for the Master of Science in Respiratory Care in 2017. He holds national credentials as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), Sleep Disorders Specialist (RST), and Neonatal-Pediatric Specialist (NPS).
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University (1995), followed by a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (1998), a Master of Education in Physical Education (2002), and a PhD in Adult, Professional, and Community Education (2014), all from Texas State.
Dr. Russian’s research interests include respiratory muscle testing and training, suctioning and airway maintenance, polysomnography, and adult learning in professional education. He maintains an active scholarly agenda, publishing in peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed journals, contributing textbook chapters and abstracts, and serving as a reviewer for multiple national respiratory care journals. His work has been presented at local, state, national, and international conferences.
Dr. Russian is actively engaged in professional service through the Texas Society for Respiratory Care (TSRC), the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), and the American College of Respiratory Therapy Education (ACRTE), where he has served in various leadership roles, including board of director, officer, and committee appointments.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Russian on his appointment as Interim Chair of the Department of Respiratory Care.
-
08/11/2025 Information to Include in Fall 2025 Course Syllabi
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Information to Include in Fall 2025 Course Syllabi
As we quickly approach the fall 2025 semester and prepare for an exciting array of classes, activities, and events, the following message provides guidance on course syllabi and implementation. This message also provides information about emergency management and the reporting responsibility of faculty and staff who learn of sexual misconduct. Extensive information on course syllabi and classroom procedures is found in AA/PPS 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses. Please pass this message along to new faculty and teaching assistants, as new hire transactions occur daily.
Need help and not sure where to start? Just Raise your hand.
If you’re unsure where to start or need help with something specific—like tutoring, financial aid, or personal support—use the Hand Raise feature in NavigateTXST. It’s a quick way to let someone know you need assistance; a staff member will follow up to connect you with the right resources.
Health and Well-being Support
Feeling overwhelmed? Worried about a friend? Just need someone to talk to? We’ve got options:
- CARE Team: Submit a Here to Help form, and someone will reach out with 1-on-1 support and get you connected to the right campus resources.
- Counseling Center: In-person and virtual mental health services including short-term individual, group, and crisis counseling, as well as outreach and workshops.
- Student Health Center: Offers accessible, affordable care including medical, mental health, and wellness support.
- TimelyCare: FREE 24/7 virtual mental health support including immediate TalkNow chats and scheduled counseling sessions.
Missing Class? Here’s What to Know about Absence Notifications
Life happens—and sometimes that means missing class. Every professor has their own rules when it comes to absences, so it’s important to reach out to them directly as soon as possible. If your absence is for a university-sponsored event or a religious holy day, check out UPPS 02.06.03 and 02.06.01 to see what you need to do.
If your professor asks for documentation, fill out the form on the Absence Notifications page.
Want to learn more about what additional support is available to you? Visit the Student Success website.
Instant Access to Your Course Materials
As an undergraduate student, you are automatically enrolled in BookSmart @ TXST. BookSmart provides you with all your required course materials before your first day of class. Please visit our BookSmart FAQ page for more information.
Students will have access to the course materials until census (the 12th day of class). If you choose to opt out of the program, you will lose access after that date. This includes access to eBooks, courseware, homework and testing platforms, print materials, etc. You will be responsible for sourcing the required course materials on your own directly from the publisher or ordering individually at The Bobcat Store in the LBJ Student Center at regular retail price.
If you have any questions about BookSmart @ TXST or the charge to your student account, please contact The Bobcat Store via email at txstate@bkstr.com or call 512-245-2273.
Syllabus Content Reminders (see section 5 of AA/PPS 02.03.01 for all syllabus requirements)
- Required class materials, access to materials, use of Canvas, and/or instructional strategies
- Technology or software needed for the class, including getting support from ITAC
- Exams, assignments, grading rubrics, assessment and testing, and due dates
- Office hours
- Attendance policy and record-keeping procedures
- Assessment and testing strategies to enhance academic integrity
- Disability Statement (text included below)
Class Instruction Modes and Substantive Interaction
Classes will be fully implemented in the instruction mode that appears on the fall 2025 Schedule of Classes in Catsweb. In all courses, faculty members provide regular and substantive interaction with students. This interaction is instructor-driven, content-oriented, frequent, and consistent throughout the semester.
Statement on Civility in the Classroom and Instructional Settings
Civility in instructional settings is fundamental to an effective educational process and is everyone’s responsibility. The university’s shared values, sense of community, and collective commitment to respect, civil dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas are the cornerstones of successful teaching and learning. If students have questions about appropriate behavior in a particular class, they should address them with their instructor first. Although rare, disciplinary procedures may be implemented for refusing to follow an instructor’s directive, disrupting classroom activities, or disregarding university policies. For more information regarding conduct in the classroom, please review policies at AA/PPS 02.03.01, Section 03: Courteous and Civil Learning Environment, and Code of Student Conduct, number II, Responsibilities of Students, Section 2.02: Conduct Prohibited.
Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
Information regarding academic integrity and student code of conduct may be found at the links indicated below.
AI in Teaching and Learning
We recognize the increasing role that Artificial Intelligence is playing in teaching and learning. In the coming days, we will be sharing guidance on the appropriate and effective use of AI in our classrooms to support academic integrity and enhance student learning. Please watch for this forthcoming message.
Instructor Absences
Faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their department chairs/school directors to ensure continuity of instruction. In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may transition to remote learning for a brief period by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools. For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class. Deans and department chairs/school directors may contact the Office of the Provost for support or guidance. Provisions for faculty sick leave are found in UPPS 04.04.30, Section 03, Sick Leave Procedures.
Emergency Management
In the event of an emergency, students, faculty, and staff should monitor the Safety and Emergency Communications web page. This page will be updated with the latest information available to the university, in addition to providing links to information concerning safety resources and emergency procedures. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to sign up for the TXState Alert system.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (SB17)
During the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 was passed and signed into law, effective January 1, 2024. SB 17 addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public higher education institutions. For an explanation of SB17's provisions along with questions and answers, please visit the Texas State University System’s General Counsel Guidance on Implementation of Senate Bill 17.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting (SB 212)
Effective January 2, 2020, state law (SB 212) requires all university employees, acting in the course and scope of employment, who witness or receive information concerning an incident of sexual misconduct involving an enrolled student or employee to report all relevant information known about the incident to the university's Title IX office. According to SB 212, employees who knowingly fail to report or knowingly file a false report shall be terminated in accordance with university and system policy. Please access the webpage of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX for more information.
Need Accommodations?
If you’re managing ADHD, a learning difference, a health condition, or any disability, Disability Services (DS) can work with you to set up accommodations that support your learning. Reach out early—both staff and your instructors are here to support your success. You can contact DS at 512-245-3451 or via email at ods@txstate.edu.
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your ongoing dedication to student success and excellence in all teaching and learning activities.
-
-
July 2025
-
07/17/2025 Parking and Traffic Plan for Summer 2025 Commencement
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Parking and Traffic Plan for Summer 2025 Commencement
Texas State University is pleased to honor over 1,300 candidates in three commencement ceremonies to be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The ceremonies will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center (UEC) on our San Marcos Campus. As graduates, families, and the university community prepare to celebrate, please note the following announcements and recommendations.
Parking at Commencement
Parking is available for all attendees as indicated on the Commencement Parking Map.
Recommended parking for faculty and staff, with shuttle services, include:
- Lots A and B, located by UFCU Stadium, will have shuttle bus service.
- Lot C, located adjacent to the UEC, is restricted to those with Limited Mobility. Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist individuals in this lot. This lot should be accessed from Charles Austin Drive via Hopkins Street.
Recommended park and walk lots for faculty and staff include:
- Lot D, across the street from the UEC.
- Garage F, at the corner of Edward Gary Street and University Drive.
- Garage H, at the corner of Pleasant Street and LBJ Drive.
All lots and garages listed above are free to those attending commencement.
Please be aware that if you are traveling southbound on IH35 and exit Aquarena Springs Drive you are advised to turn left on to Thorpe Lane and right on to Robbie Lane in order to access Lots A and B. Traffic inbound to campus on Aquarena Springs Drive will not be able to make a left turn into Commencement Parking Lot D.
Information on faculty parking, parking maps, the faculty processional, and other details can be found on the commencement website.
Special Instructions
Faculty and staff who attend commencement should adhere to the Clear Bag Policy and also see the prohibited and allowable items list for more information.
It is highly recommended that drivers avoid the Sessom Street, Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82, and University Drive roadways between the ceremonies on Saturday. Every effort should be made to exit the campus and San Marcos using Edward Gary Street, Guadalupe Street, Hopkins Street/Hunter Road, and other routes heading away from the UEC.
Thank you for your cooperation during this momentous time in our graduates’ lives.
Faculty or staff requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact commencement@txstate.edu at least one week prior to the event.
-
07/14/2025 Update on the Faculty Senate and SB 37
TO: Faculty
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Update on the Faculty Senate and SB 37
Dear Colleagues,
Texas State University’s outstanding academic legacy would not be possible without the consultation and collaboration that constitutes shared governance on our campus. The leadership team at Texas State is committed to the principles of shared governance, not as an abstract value, but because we have seen its benefits and we understand that it is foundational to the American educational system. Shared governance doesn’t come from holding fast to traditional rules about how we elect our members, but from the commitment we have to one another - to genuine consultation and to working together on our most difficult issues.
As you are no doubt aware, the Texas Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 37 abolishing faculty councils or senates at public higher education institutions that were established before the effective date of the bill. The bill also provides specific instructions for seating a new faculty senate body requiring:
- At least two representatives from each college or school including:
o one member appointed by the president; and
o one member elected by a vote of the faculty of the member’s respective college or school.
To comply with the spirit of the new law, we will hold an election before September 1 to seat a new faculty advisory group that will help us redevelop the Faculty Senate bylaws in compliance with state law. This faculty advisory group will become the new Faculty Senate after presentation by the President to the Chancellor and approval by the TSUS Board of Regents.
To elect and appoint the faculty advisory group, the current Faculty Senate will utilize the “opt-in” process to identify those faculty members who are willing and able to serve in the new Faculty Senate. In addition, I also encourage faculty members to either nominate themselves or others who are interested in serving in the new Faculty Senate. President Damphousse will be consulting with different stakeholders on campus to identify faculty members to nominate to the Faculty Senate. We are currently working through additional details required by the law in collaboration with the TSUS system, and I will provide an update about the new processes as soon as possible.
The faculty advisory group will have a crucial role in helping us further implement SB 37 as there are several additional requirements of the bill related to faculty policies that must be in place by January 1, 2026.
I want to thank the members of the current Faculty Senate who were elected in the spring. Election to the Faculty Senate reflects the trust and confidence your colleagues have in you, and it is both a point of pride and a large responsibility. Neither is diminished by the changes we will now be implementing.
I also want to thank you for your attention to this issue during the summer and for your help in constituting a new Faculty Senate that continues the important work of shared governance.
-
07/14/2025 The Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award
TO: Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students
FROM: Dr. Andrea Golato
Dean, The Graduate College
SUBJECT: The Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award
It is my pleasure to inform you of the outcome of The Graduate College’s recent Outstanding Dissertation Award competition.
Dr. Mar Moretta-Urdiales, who earned her Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology, won The Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Biological and Life Sciences. Her dissertation, Host-pathogen dynamics of the amphibian-killing fungus in mainland Ecuador, was directed by David Rodriguez, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biology.
Dr. Adam Clark, who earned his Ph.D. in Geography, won The Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Humanities and Fine Arts. His dissertation, The Role of Cartography and Visualization in Hazard Risk Communication: An Examination of the Houston Chronicle, 1945 to 2020, was directed by Ron Hagelman, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.
To learn more about the award winners and the ground-breaking research they undertook, please see our feature story on their accomplishments in the TXST Newsroom.
As the winners of these competitions, Drs. Clark and Moretta-Urdiales will each receive $1,000 and will be recognized at The Graduate College’s Awards Ceremony next April. We have also entered them into the Council of Graduate School’s national competition for best dissertation in the above-mentioned categories.
Congratulations to Dr. Clark and Dr. Moretta-Urdiales on their outstanding work! I would also like to acknowledge Professors Hagelman and Rodriguez for their exemplary mentorship and commitment to their students.
If you have questions about the dissertation awards, please contact Dean Andrea Golato at agolato@txstate.edu.
-
07/01/2025 University Humanities Research Excellence Award
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: University Humanities Research Excellence Award
It is my distinct honor and pleasure to announce the 2025 recipient of Texas State University’s University Humanities Research Excellence Award. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Joseph P. Laycock, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy.
The University Humanities Research Excellence Award is designed to recognize and reward superior accomplishments, to provide models of excellence for fellow faculty, and to encourage all faculty to continue to perform, improve, and advance their research, scholarship, and creative activity, and service. The award acknowledges humanities research and scholarly activities as defined by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Humanities Alliance, and the National Humanities Center.
Dr. Laycock has earned an international reputation for his work in the study of new religious movements. He has published 44 book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, seven scholarly monographs, and four edited or co-edited volumes. He is also co-general editor of the journal Nova Religio and is a member of the programming committee for the American Academy of Religion.
In recognition of his remarkable and unwavering commitment to humanities scholarship at the highest level, we recognize Dr. Joseph P. Laycock as the recipient of the 2025 University Humanities Research Excellence Award.
Please join me in celebrating Dr. Laycock and his significant contributions!
-
-
June 2025
-
06/24/2025 Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation and SACSCOC Liaison
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation and SACSCOC Liaison
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Loraine Phillips as Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation and SACSCOC Liaison, effective August 1, 2025.
Dr. Phillips earned a B.S. in Education from Indiana University, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University. Dr. Phillips currently serves as the Associate Provost for Academic Effectiveness at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she founded and leads the Office of Academic Effectiveness and serves as the institution’s SACSCOC Liaison. In this role, she has aligned institutional goals with strategic planning efforts and implemented effective measures for tracking progress.
Dr. Phillips brings extensive experience in SACSCOC accreditation and in managing institutional assessment and accreditation processes. At Texas State University, she will serve as the principal officer responsible for leading institutional assessment, accreditation, and related efforts to evaluate outcomes. We are pleased that Dr. Phillips will lead us through the accreditation process.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Phillips on her appointment.
-
06/16/2025 Director, School of Health Administration
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Director, School of Health Administration
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cristian Lieneck as the Director of the School of Health Administration, effective August 1, 2025.
Dr. Lieneck holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science from Xavier University as well as a Master of Health Administration and a PhD in Adult, Professional, and Community Education, both from Texas State University. He joined Texas State as an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Administration in 2010 and has been serving as an Associate Professor since 2016. Before his academic career, Dr. Lieneck held several physician practice leadership roles in healthcare management, including those with the U.S. Army, Austin Radiological Association, and a large physiatry/pain management physician group operating across Central Texas.
Since March 2024, Dr. Lieneck has served as Interim Director, providing steady leadership and continuing to advance the school’s academic and professional mission.
His research focuses on the outpatient and ambulatory care sector within the healthcare industry, with an emphasis on leadership, professional education, and financial management. In 2022, Dr. Lieneck published a healthcare financial accounting textbook, now utilized by numerous undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide. He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has delivered more than 100 conference presentations and workshops, primarily focusing on healthcare financial management and related industry trends.
Dr. Lieneck received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Medical Group Management Association in 2021, the Teaching Excellence Award in Practice Management and Ambulatory Care from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration in 2023, and the Presidential Distinction Award for Teaching at Texas State in 2023. He actively engages in professional service, continuing to educate mid to senior-level healthcare professionals as an instructor for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Since 2014, he has been a faculty representative on the Texas State Honor Code Council, serving as council chair since 2017.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Lieneck on his appointment as Director of the School of Health Administration.
-
06/13/2025 Interim Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Interim Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matt McAllister as Interim Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance, effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. McAllister earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Exercise Science from the University of Memphis and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from Mississippi State University. He served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University for three years before joining Texas State University in 2018. He earned tenure and was promoted in 2022 and has served as Associate Chair of the department since 2023.
Dr. McAllister has demonstrated strong leadership in his role as Associate Chair, contributing to curriculum innovation aimed at enhancing student success, boosting enrollment, and preparing students for their careers. He maintains an active research agenda focused on improving cardiometabolic health and physical performance in tactical populations (firefighters, law enforcement officers, military personnel). He is the Director of the Metabolic and Applied Physiology lab in the Department of Health and Human Performance and is an affiliated faculty researcher with the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. His research examines the relationship between occupational stressors and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk. He has also studied the effectiveness of exercise, nutritional, and breathing interventions on biomarkers of stress and cardiometabolic disease risk. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and has secured funding from both federal agencies and industry partners.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. McAllister on his appointment as Interim Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance.
-
06/13/2025 Vice Provost for Faculty Success
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Vice Provost for Faculty Success
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ron Williams as Vice Provost for Faculty Success in the Office of the Provost effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Williams holds a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and a M.Ed. in Health Promotion from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and a Ph.D. in Public Health Education and Health Promotion from the University of Alabama. Since 2022 he has served as the Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance and previously served as the coordinator of the M.S. in Public Health Education and Promotion at Texas State University. His research agenda focuses primarily on the social ecology of substance abuse and sexual violence prevention among adolescent and young adult populations. He has secured over $2.3 million in funding for community health and prevention research projects from organizations such as the Texas Department of State Health Services, U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Missouri Foundation for Health. Dr. Williams’ research has been featured in leading substance abuse prevention journals such as Substance Use and Misuse, the American Journal on Addictions, the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, and the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Additionally, he has published in top public health journals including the Journal of American College Health, Journal of Community Health, American Journal of Health Promotion, and Health Promotion Practice. As a Certified Health Education Specialist® and a Certified in Public Health practitioner, Dr. Williams has expertise in program evaluation and a as lead evaluator for several substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. In addition, he has served as an evaluation consultant for the U.S. Center for Substance Use Prevention’s Service to Science Initiative.
With over eight years of administrative experience at both the program and department levels in areas such as faculty hiring strategies, supporting faculty retention, and leading efforts to recognize and celebrate faculty excellence, he is well-prepared for this role of supporting faculty success by providing clear guidance and expertise in pathways for faculty advancement, recognition, development opportunities and successful onboarding.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Williams on his appointment as Vice Provost for Faculty Success.
Dr. Jie Zhu, School of Family and Consumer Sciences
-
06/09/2025 Vice Provost for Academic Success
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Vice Provost for Academic Success
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andrew Hamilton as Vice Provost for Academic Success in the Office of the Provost effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Hamilton holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Berea College, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Boston College and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. He brings over two decades of academic and administrative experience, including faculty appointments at Arizona State University and the University of Houston. Currently, he serves as Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he previously held the role of Associate Vice Provost for Student Success.
Dr. Hamilton’s accomplishments in scholarship, program development, and academic leadership are well aligned with Texas State’s mission of fostering student-centered innovation and academic excellence. His interdisciplinary expertise, extensive administrative experience, and strong commitment to student success and collaborative academic advancement position him to make a significant contribution to the faculty.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Hamilton on his appointment as Vice Provost for Academic Success.
-
06/09/2025 Vice Provost for Academic Innovation
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Vice Provost for Academic Innovation
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jorge Figueroa as Vice Provost for Academic Innovation (VPAI) and Success effective August 4, 2025.
Dr. Figueroa earned a Master of Arts in TESOL and Bilingual Education from the University of Findlay and a Doctor of Philosophy in Professional Studies in Education from Capella University. Dr. Figueroa currently serves as the Vice Provost for Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Woman’s University where he has led university-wide initiatives in curriculum development, program approval, accreditation compliance, and strategic academic innovation as well as carrying out a lead role in planning and executing the Provost’s key academic strategic initiatives. This experience will assist Dr. Figueroa as he will be responsible for ensuring the academic quality of all programs across the university, including programs for credit and noncredit in all modalities. He will promote and support the integration of academic innovation practices across the entire institution. The VPAI will also advance the goals of Texas State University by providing leadership for the following areas: curriculum and academic program development and approval, commencement, general education core curriculum and program accreditation and assessment.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Figueroa on his appointment.
-
-
May 2025
-
05/23/2025 Chief of Staff
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Chief of Staff
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anna Finn as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Provost effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Finn earned her bachelor’s degree in literature and philosophy from American University and her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in English from the University of California, Irvine. As a proud native Texan, she brings her experience as associate chancellor and chief of staff at the University of California, Santa Cruz as well as Special Assistant to the Provost at University of California, Riverside to Texas State University. Her skill set includes strategic organizational planning, project management, executive advising and communication support.
In her new role, Dr. Finn will support the provost in overseeing academic operations and advancing strategic initiatives and special projects. She will also provide critical support to the provost’s leadership team in their work across the university.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Finn on her appointment as Chief of Staff.
-
05/23/2025 Dean, College of Applied Arts
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Dean, College of Applied Arts
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Angela Ausbrooks as Dean of the College of Applied Arts effective June 1, 2025.
Since August 2023, Dr. Ausbrooks has served as interim dean, leading and guiding the college with effective leadership especially through an academic program organizational review. Prior to her interim dean role, Dr. Ausbrooks was Professor/Director of the School of Social Work as well as other leadership positions including dual appointments as the Assistant Director and MSW Program Director in the School of Social Work from 2016 to 2019.
Dr. Ausbrooks brings over 25 years of higher education experience to this role. Dr. Ausbrooks earned a Ph.D. in Social Work and a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Texas.
Dr. Ausbrooks’ research interests, publications, and international/national conference presentations have focused on resilience in the areas of child welfare, children and youth in schools, trauma, cultural competence, and social justice. She has received several College of Applied Arts teaching awards and has engaged in service activities at the community, professional, and university levels. Dr. Ausbrooks’ university service has included being a member of several university-level teams at Texas State which include the President’s Student Health and Well-Being Task Force and the Student Success Advisory Council to name a few. Previously, Dr. Ausbrooks chaired the Faculty and Staff Morale Workgroup and the Student Affairs Mental Health Advisory Council; participated as a member of several university search committees; served as Vice Chair of the Council of Chairs and Directors; and served on academic program review teams for the School of Art and Design and the Counseling Center.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ausbrooks on her appointment as Dean of the College of Applied Arts.
-
05/21/2025 Chair, Department of Biology
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Chair, Department of Biology
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peggy Biga as the Chair of the Department of Biology, effective June 2, 2025.
Dr. Biga earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in animal science from Angelo State University as well as a Ph.D. in Animal Physiology from the University of Idaho. Following her doctoral studies, she served as a post-doctoral scientist in the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, MA and a Research Associate at Great Lakes WATER Institute, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University prior to joining the Department of Biology at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012, where she was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2019.
Dr. Biga has served in various leadership capacities in her field. From 2019 to 2021, Dr. Biga served as Science and Technology Policy Fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, USDA, Chief Scientist Office in Washington, DC. She currently serves as a member of the editorial board of Marine Biotechnology. Dr. Biga’s research lies at the crossroads between genetics, development, physiology, and evolutionary biology. Using integrative approaches and transdisciplinary training her research focuses on answering one broad question: what molecular mechanisms regulate organismal growth in animals? Her work primarily uses skeletal muscle as a model to understand continual and pre-determined growth using comparative genomic, epigenomic, and cell biology approaches. Her research utilizes several animal models, including many fish species, insects, and rodents to tackle understanding various aspects of organismal growth regulation. Her published body of work includes 39 peer-reviewed journal articles, two book chapters, and numerous conference presentations. She has directed 13 doctoral dissertations and master’s theses, and over 40 undergraduate research projects. Dr. Biga is the recipient of multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Biga on her appointment as Chair of the Department of Biology.
-
05/15/2025 Coffee with the EVPs
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Coffee with the EVPs
The Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs), Provost Dr. Pranesh Aswath and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Eric Algoe, are pleased to invite you to “Coffee with the EVPs.”
This event offers faculty and staff the opportunity to share questions, comments, and concerns with the EVPs in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Join the conversation and learn more about what’s happening on the San Marcos and Round Rock Campuses.
‘Coffee with the EVPs’ will be held on the Round Rock Campus on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the Willow Hall Conference room.
You are encouraged to register and submit your questions before the event by using the Coffee with the EVPs RSVP Form.
Space is limited, so please RSVP online, and don’t forget to add “What’s on your mind.”
Kind Regards,
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs provost@txstate.edu
The Office of the Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer fss@txstate.edu
-
05/14/2025 Chair, Department of Management
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Chair, Department of Management
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Steven Rayburn as the Chair of the Department of Management, effective immediately.
Since August 2024, Dr. Rayburn has served as interim chair, guiding the department through a period of transition with exceptional leadership and vision. During his tenure, he fostered a culture of trust, collaboration, and positivity among faculty and staff, positioning the department for continued growth and success. His thoughtful and decisive approach, combined with strong relationships across the college and with external partners, has been invaluable to the McCoy College community.
Dr. Rayburn brings extensive experience to this role. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and joined Texas State University in 2013. Before entering academia, he built a successful career managing front-line employees in service, retail, and sales organizations. He is also recognized for his leadership as Director of the Service-Learning Excellence program at TXST and his research in organizational frontline management, leadership, and employee well-being.
Under Dr. Rayburn’s leadership, the Department of Management is well-positioned to advance student success, program innovation, research, and alumni and industry engagement. I am confident that, under his guidance, the department will reach new heights of excellence and impact.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Steven Rayburn on his appointment as Chair of the Department of Management.
-
05/14/2025 Promotion and Tenure
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Promotion and Tenure
I am pleased to announce the following promotions and elections to tenure. Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of these individuals.
PROMOTIONS
From Associate Professor to Professor
Dr. Stephanie Ames Asbell, School of Music
Dr. Alejandro Barcenas Pardo, Department of Philosophy
Dr. Sarah A. Blue, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano, Department of Biology
Dr. Stephanie L. Dailey, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Rebecca G. Deason, Department of Psychology
Mr. Henry Hehmsoth, School of Music
Dr. Barbara A. Hewitt, Department of Health Informatics and Information Management
Dr. Sangchul S. Hwang, Ingram School of Engineering
Dr. Michael L. Ippolito, School of Music
Dr. Eric W. Leake, Department of English
Dr. Holly M. Lewis, Department of Philosophy
Dr. Ivan Marquez, Department of Philosophy
Dr. Kimberly M. Meitzen, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Dr. Kathleen M. Melhuish, Department of Mathematics
Dr. Michael Mileski, School of Health Administration
Dr. David Dominguez Navarro, Department of World Languages and Literatures
Dr. Wilhelmina J. Pizzini, Department of Accounting
Dr. Astrid N. Schwalb, Department of Biology
Dr. Leah Schwebel, Department of English
Mr. Jack A. Smith, School of Theatre, Dance, and Film
Dr. Lucia S. Summers Rodriguez, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Dr. Jeffrey A. Todd, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Hiroko K. Warshauer, Department of Mathematics
From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor
Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Ahmed, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Thomas E. Alter II, Department of History
Dr. Andrea Banzatti, Department of Physics
Dr. Jeremy W. Bohonos, Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology
Dr. Laure K. M. Brimbal, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Dr. Andrea N. Brown, Department of English
Dr. Yun-Wen Chan, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Shinwoo Choi, School of Social Work
Dr. Kelly L. Clary, School of Social Work
Dr. Jennifer M. Clegg, Department of Psychology
Dr. Sarah R. Coleman, Department of History
Dr. Stacey L. Cropley, St. David’s School of Nursing
Dr. Merritt L. Drewery, Department of Agricultural Sciences
Ms. Dienitha M. Fontenot, School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Dr. Keisuke Ikehata, Ingram School of Engineering
Dr. Tanzima Z. Islam, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Alex M. Kroeger, Department of Political Science
Dr. Chul Ho Lee, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Xiangping Liu, Department of Agricultural Sciences
Dr. Jason P. Martina, Department of Biology
Dr. Ana L. Martinez, School of Theatre, Dance, and Film
Dr. Jose M. Martinez Hinestroza, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Yoichi Miyahara, Department of Physics
Dr. Reem A. Muharib, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Franziska B. Newell, Department of Political Science
Dr. Jennifer L. O'Donnell, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Manusheela Pokharel, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Tracy J. Raulston, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Rachel M. Rolfe, Department of Health and Human Performance
Ms. Kimberly A. Rosenbaum, St. David’s School of Nursing
Ms. Jessica L. Smith, Radiation Therapy Program
Dr. Mikhail Sterin, Department of Accounting
Dr. Austin B. Talley, Ingram School of Engineering
Dr. Hiroaki Tanaka, Department of Mathematics
Dr. Lei Xie, Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies
Dr. Muxin Zhai, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Ren Zhang, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Cheng Zhu, Department of Information Systems and Analytics
Dr. Jie Zhu, School of Family and Consumer Sciences
TENURE
Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Ahmed, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Thomas E. Alter II, Department of History
Dr. Andrea Banzatti, Department of Physics
Dr. Bradley M. Beauvais, School of Health Administration
Dr. Jeremy W. Bohonos, Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology
Dr. Laure K. M. Brimbal, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Dr. Andrea N. Brown, Department of English
Dr. Yun-Wen Chan, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Shinwoo Choi, School of Social Work
Dr. Kelly L. Clary, School of Social Work
Dr. Jennifer M. Clegg, Department of Psychology
Dr. Sarah R. Coleman, Department of History
Dr. Merritt L. Drewery, Department of Agricultural Sciences
Dr. Theresa J. Garcia, St. David’s School of Nursing
Dr. Keisuke Ikehata, Ingram School of Engineering
Dr. Tanzima Z. Islam, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Alex M. Kroeger, Department of Political Science
Dr. Chul Ho Lee, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Xiangping Liu, Department of Agricultural Sciences
Dr. Jason P. Martina, Department of Biology
Dr. Ana L. Martinez, School of Theatre, Dance, and Film
Dr. Jose M. Martinez Hinestroza, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Yoichi Miyahara, Department of Physics
Dr. Reem A. Muharib, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Franziska B. Newell, Department of Political Science
Dr. Jennifer L. O'Donnell, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Manusheela Pokharel, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Rohit Pradhan, School of Health Administration
Dr. Tracy J. Raulston, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Rachel M. Rolfe, Department of Health and Human Performance
Mr. Jack A. Smith, School of Theatre, Dance, and Film
Dr. Mikhail Sterin, Department of Accounting
Dr. Hiroaki Tanaka, Department of Mathematics
Dr. Lei Xie, Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies
Dr. Muxin Zhai, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Ren Zhang, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Cheng Zhu, Department of Information Systems and Analytics
Dr. Jie Zhu, School of Family and Consumer Sciences
-
05/07/2025 Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Success
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Success
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Daniel Thompson as Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Success effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Thompson received his B.A. in theology and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, his A.M. degree in religious studies and his Ph.D. degree in Theology from The Divinity School at The University of Chicago. He has served in leadership roles for 20 years including department chair at St. Mary’s University and department chair at the University of Dayton, where he currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. Dr. Thompson has experience in improving student success by promoting the pedagogical and professional development of faculty and has worked to develop programming for faculty capabilities for teaching and professional success. This experience will assist Dr. Thompson as he works closely with the Office of Faculty Development to design and evaluate professional development programs for faculty as well as identify faculty of distinction for excellence in teaching, research, service, and mentoring through state, national and international awards.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Thompson on his appointment.
-
05/05/2025 19th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Poster Showcase
TO: Current Undergraduate Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Heather C. Galloway
Dean, Honors College
SUBJECT: 19th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Poster Showcase
The Honors College, the IDEA Center, and the Division of Research are pleased to announce the URC Poster Showcase award winners:
- 1st place: Isabella Mavourneen, The Behavior of Relatedness Between Dorymyrmex smithi Ants, Supervisor: Dr. Joshua Gibson, Biology, Georgia Southern University, Summer 2024 NSF REU
- 2nd place: Daniel Gonsalez, Yordanos Kinfe, Internal Attention During a Wakeful Rest Period Promotes Memory Consolidation, Supervisor: Dr. Carmen Westerberg, Psychology
- 3rd place: Chloe Downey, Metalinguistic Explanations for Social Preferences in Monolingual and Bilingual Children and Adults, Supervisor: Dr. Katherine Warnell, Psychology
Honorable Mentions
- Jesse Flynn, From Code to Culture: How Algorithms Shape Representation of African American Music, Supervisor: Dr. Nico Schüler, Music
- Andrea Iturbe, Mikayla Forge, Hydrogels vs. Bacteria: Potential Applications of Hydrophilic Polymers in Chronic Wound Treatments, Supervisors: Dr. Tania Betancourt, Biochemistry and Dr. Robert McLean, Biology
- Jacquelyn Burrer, From Caudillos to Congress: Tracing the Rise of Antipolitics in the United States, Supervisor: Dr. Ellen Tillman, History
- Maria Castro Doumolin, Validating Two Subadult Stature Estimation Methodologies: FORDISC 3.1 & KS: Stature, Supervisor: Dr. Elaine Chu, Anthropology
Please join us in congratulating these students for their outstanding research work!
-
-
April 2025
-
04/28/2025 Associate Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Transitions
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Associate Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Transitions
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gabriel O. Bermea as Associate Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Transitions, effective May 1, 2025.
Gabriel Bermea has been a dedicated advocate for student success throughout his career. Over the last 10 years, he has served as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Director of the Academic Advising Center at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, and Assistant Vice President of Student Success at Tarleton State University.
In his previous roles, Bermea demonstrated his ability to foster academic excellence and student success as evidenced by the following outcomes:
- Contributed to 20% increase in transfer student enrollment and record setting 80% first year retention rate with implementation of new academic advising model. And implemented a campus-wide Early Warning System pilot resulting in 62% faculty engagement and over 75 advising appointments for students identified at-risk at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.
- Increased the first time in college retention rate by 5% and increased institutional enrollment by 6.16%, both within a one-year timeframe at Tarleton State University.
- Created four new academic recovery intervention programs for up to 2,500 undergraduate learners resulting in a 10% increase in student persistence and enhanced exploratory major students' success with implementation of a new advising model which resulted in an 88% retention rate — 22 percentage points higher than the 66% retention rate for those who did not seek guidance at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Dr. Bermea holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University. He has continually showcased a commitment to professional development and collaborative leadership in the field of academic advising and transitions. Additionally, he has consistently contributed to the academic advising literature through his active research agenda. His academic expertise and vision will play a vital role in supporting students as they navigate their educational journeys and in enhancing academic advising practices across campus.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Bermea on his appointment as Associate Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Transitions.
-
04/14/2025 TXST Economic Roundtable: Demystifying Global Trade and Tariffs
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Sanjay Ramchander
Dean, McCoy College of Business
SUBJECT: TXST Economic Roundtable: Demystifying Global Trade and Tariffs
The McCoy College of Business invites you to an insightful TXST Economic Roundtable: Demystifying Global Trade and Tariffs—an event designed to decode the complexities of international trade, tariffs, and their real-world impact.
Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: McCoy Hall 124Join a distinguished panel of faculty experts as they explore the fundamentals of global trade, the intricacies of tariffs, and their influence on business, financial markets, and the economy at large. Whether you're a student eager to expand your knowledge or a faculty member looking for fresh perspectives, this session promises valuable insights into the emerging landscape of global commerce.
This event is open to the entire Texas State University community—we look forward to seeing you there!
For more details, please contact Dr. Haiyong Liu at bmo44@txstate.edu.
-
04/09/2025 Parking and Traffic Plan for Spring 2025 Commencement
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Parking and Traffic Plan for Spring 2025 Commencement
Texas State University is pleased to honor over 4,300 candidates in 8 commencement ceremonies to be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 8, 9, and 10, 2025. The ceremonies will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center (UEC) on our San Marcos Campus. We are pleased to honor the following individuals with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa: Mr. Richard Castro and Mr. Jack Martin on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., Mr. Taylor Sheridan on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., and Mrs. Nathali Parker Weisman on Friday at 6:00 p.m. As graduates, families, and the university community prepare to celebrate, please note the following announcements and recommendations.
Parking at Commencement
Parking is available for all attendees as indicated on the Commencement Parking Map.
Recommended parking for faculty and staff, with shuttle services, include:
- Lots A and B, located by UFCU Stadium, will have shuttle bus service.
- Lot C, located adjacent to the UEC, is restricted to those with Limited Mobility. Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist individuals in this lot. This lot should be accessed from Charles Austin Drive via Hopkins Street.
Recommended park and walk lots for faculty and staff include:
- Lot D, across the street from the UEC.
- Garage F, at the corner of Edward Gary Street and University Drive.
- Garage H, at the corner of Pleasant Street and LBJ Drive.
All lots and garages listed above are free to those attending commencement.
Please be aware that if you are traveling southbound on IH35 and exit Aquarena Springs Drive you are advised to turn left on to Thorpe Lane and right on to Robbie Lane in order to access Lots A and B. Traffic inbound to campus on Aquarena Springs Drive will not be able to make a left turn into Commencement Parking Lot D.
Information on faculty parking, parking maps, the faculty processional, and other details can be found on the commencement website.
Special Instructions
Faculty and staff who attend commencement should adhere to the Clear Bag Policy and also see the prohibited and allowable items list for more information.
To alleviate the traffic, wait time, and congestion that is anticipated between the conclusion of the 2:00 p.m. ceremony and the start of the 6:00 p.m. ceremony, the following procedures are in place for employees:
Early Release – Thursday and Friday, May 8 and 9, 2025
To ease traffic congestion, supervisors may elect to release selected staff at 3:00 p.m. However, all university offices must remain open until 5:00 p.m. or the normal closing time. Staff members who leave early are expected to use vacation, compensatory, or flex time arrangements approved by supervisors.
Vehicles in the JCK Area
The rear gate at the back of the JCK parking lot will be barricaded from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Vehicles that normally exit on to Sessom Drive will be directed back to the one-way service drive and should exit the back parking lot going the wrong way towards Woods Street or Moon Street. No vehicles will be allowed to access the back parking area starting at 3:00 p.m. A parking guard will be stationed at the service drive at the front parking lot to restrict vehicles from entering the back parking lot.
Vehicles in Other Campus Areas
It is highly recommended that vehicles avoid the Sessom Street, Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82, and University Drive roadways between the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. Every effort should be made to exit the campus and San Marcos using Edward Gary Street, Guadalupe Street, Hopkins Street/Hunter Road, and other routes heading away from the UEC.
Thank you for your cooperation during this momentous time in our graduates’ lives.
Faculty or staff requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact commencement@txstate.edu at least one week prior to the event.
-
04/08/2025 Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Heather Galloway
Dean, Honors College
SUBJECT: Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
The Honors College and the IDEA Center are pleased to announce the 19th annual Undergraduate Research Conference—a showcase event for achievements in undergraduate research and creative activity at Texas State University.
URC Poster Showcase: Wednesday, April 23, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., LBJSC Ballroom
URC Capstone Presentations: Friday, April 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Trauth-Huffman Hall
Please join us!
If you have questions, please email ugresearch@txstate.edu or contact us by phone at (512) 245-2266.
-
04/03/2025 Announcing the winners of the 2025 TXST STEM Conference Student Poster Presentations
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Barrett Bryant
Dean, College of Science and Engineering
SUBJECT: Announcing the winners of the 2025 TXST STEM Conference Student Poster Presentations
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2025 TXST STEM Conference Student Poster Presentations, held under the theme "Bridging Minds and Building Futures – Paths to Sustainability." This year’s conference saw a record number of 133 student presentations, showcasing the innovative and impactful research being conducted by our students alongside dedicated faculty and staff mentors.
We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors – College of Science and Engineering, Generación STEM, The IDEA Center, and Quanta Services – for their generous support. We also thank the post-doctoral researchers, faculty, and staff who served as poster presentations judges and contributed to the success of this event.
Below are the 2025 TXST STEM Conference Student Poster Presentation Award Winners:
Graduate Student Poster Presentations:
- 1st Place: Fereshteh Rahmani and Wilson Espinoza – Characterization of Shale Anisotropy for Optimized Hydrocarbon Extraction (Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University)
- 2nd Place: Md Shah Mominul Islam Momin, Eunsang Cho, Eunsaem Cho, Subasish Das – High-Resolution Hydrodynamic Modeling for Coastal Flood Hazard Mapping for Galveston Island (Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University; Hydrological Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland)
- 3rd Place: Prabeshika Khanal and Wilson Espinoza – Sustainable Mortar with Biochar Addition (Department of Engineering Technology, Texas State University; Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University)
Undergraduate Student Poster Presentations:
- 1st Place: Mikayla Forge, Andrea Iturbe, Jessica Peterson, Robert J.C. McLean, Tania Betancourt – Hydrogels vs. Bacteria: Potential Applications in Chronic Wound Treatments (Department of Biology, Texas State University; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University)
- 2nd Place: Dillon Gee, Jessica Peterson, Tania Betancourt – Creating a Degradable Hydrogel System that Activates Under Oxidative Stress (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University; Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University)
- 3rd Place: Aleah White, Jesus A. Jimenez, Francis A. Mendez Mediavilla, Abhimanyu Sharotry – Automation of Time Studies (Ingram School of Engineering; McCoy College of Business, Texas State University)
People’s Choice Poster Presentations:
- 1st Place: Kathryn Giordano, Patricia Garza, Skyler Ramdeen, Ndoese Usoro, Adeyemi A. Olanrewaju, PhD – Discovery of Novel Vaccines/Therapeutics Against Dengue Virus (Medical Laboratory Science Program, College of Health Professionals, Texas State University)
- 2nd Place: Yazmin Montes and Merritt Drewery – Calf Grimace Scores and Their Relationship to Pain - Improving Livestock Welfare (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University)
Congratulations to all the award winners, and a sincere thank you to everyone who made this event a success.
-
-
March 2025
-
03/28/2025 Presidential Seminar Invitation - Dr. Daniel Wescott
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Presidential Seminar Invitation - Dr. Daniel Wescott
Presidential Seminar (2025)
Dr. Daniel Wescott, Professor, Department of Anthropology
Friday, April 18, 2025
Flowers Hall 341
Presentation and Reception: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Title: “Show Me Your Femur: What I Can Tell from Your Skeleton”
In this presentation, Dr. Wescott will discuss how bone size and shape is influenced by activity and behavior and how anthropologists use this information to develop the biological profile, a key tool in identifying unknown decedents.
Dr. Danny Wescott is a biological anthropologist and the Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. He earned his master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1996 and his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Tennessee in 2001. His research focuses on developing methods for forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology and includes locating clandestine remains, estimating the postmortem interval, interpreting skeletal trauma, and developing a biological profile from human skeletal remains. As Director, Dr. Wescott strategically leads multi- and inter-disciplinary research teams that include international researchers. He has been principal or co-principal investigator on 15 externally funded grants at Texas State totaling over $4,500,000. He has published more than 80 research articles, 147 technical reports, and authored or co-authored approximately 100 professional conference papers and posters. Dr. Wescott has also mentored over 40 graduate students and served as a member on more than 50 thesis and dissertation committees. He is an expert in human skeletal morphology and forensic taphonomy, and he is regularly consulted on medicolegal death investigations.
-
03/28/2025 Annual Course Review
TO: Faculty
Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs
FROM: Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman
Senior Vice Provost
SUBJECT: Annual Course Review
The course calendar for the Course Information Management (CIM) system provides an opportunity for faculty across campus to review the course proposals from all academic units. The faculty review period for this cycle ends on April 21, 2025.
At this time, all faculty and Academic Affairs staff are invited to review the proposed course additions, changes, and deletions that are located in the CIM system. For the current cycle, there are 103 additions, 158 changes, and 8 deletions. Faculty and staff who are interested in more details about the course proposals can visit the CIM system.
Per Academic Affairs PPS 02.01.01, “faculty who have comments or concerns regarding any course addition, change, or deletion should submit those comments or concerns in writing to their department chair or school director who will be responsible to confer with the originating department chair or school director.”
Should you need additional information, please contact the Office of Curriculum Services at curriculum@txstate.edu.
-
03/26/2025 Free Tickets to Two Concerts
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Free Tickets to Two Concerts
(2) FREE PREMIUM PERFORMANCES
Download ticket by utilizing TXST STUDENT or FACULTY / STAFF price types.
Log on at Texas State Presents to download tickets
Double Vision is dedicated to transforming jazz into a vibrant, collaborative experience that inspires and connects audiences around the globe.
Visit their website: Double Vision Jazz Band
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
FREE for TXST Students, Faculty, and Staff
From UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS
Fueled by a passion for community, The Tiarras' music is a conduit for spreading positive energy and empowering messages. Their tracks, like "Soy Chingona" and "Let Love Free," resonate far and wide, gaining recognition on prestigious platforms including NPR World Cafe, Mitú, Grimy Goods, and Latin Alt. Radio.
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025 at 7:30 P.M.
LIVE AT ELLIOTT PAVILION by Elliott Hall
FREE for TXST Students, Faculty, and Staff
Download tickets at www.txstatepresents.com
-
03/26/2025 Provost Seminar Presents: Dr. Subra Suresh
Provost Seminar Presents
Dr. Subra Suresh
Innovation 4.0 for Humanity 4.0
April 23, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
JCK 11th Floor Ballroom
RSVP via Microsoft Forms
Innovation is catalyzed at an ever-accelerating pace by advances across a wide spectrum of intellectual disciplines and nurtured across sectors by academia, industry, philanthropy, and government. It provides the foundation for translating ideas, scientific discoveries, and human creativity into products, processes, and services that benefit individual ecosystems for responsible innovation will be examined, with examples from the perspectives of historical evolution, best practices, policy development, and societal impact. We also examine the unprecedented opportunities and challenges at the intersections of technology and humanity.
Deep Learning from Nature & Machines
April 23, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
JCK 11th Floor Ballroom
RSVP via Microsoft Forms
We show in three broad areas of science and technology, materials science, plant science, and medical science, how appropriate combinations of experimental observations, computational modeling, and imaging, can be combined with physics- informed neural networks and biomimetics to improve the design, properties and performance of materials or clinical applications. A processing route to produce sustainable and nature-derived materials is presented whereby the building blocks can be tailor-made to produce digitally modulated structures, soft robotic components, and biocompatible substrate materials for wearable devices. For biomedical applications, novel approaches that integrate microfluidic platforms with static and dynamic data and images from clinical settings are also discussed to demonstrate how deep learning approaches can offer new possibilities to improve patient outcomes in disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and treatment. Specific cases considered here include: metallization of nanoscale diamond for tunable electronic properties; design of plant-based materials for soft robotics and sustainability; multi-fidelity machine learning algorithms; and artificial intelligence velocimetry to probe diabetic retinopathy and blood disorders.
Biography
Dr. Subra Suresh is President of the Global Learning Council of the Villars Institute, Switzerland, where he also serves as a member of the Board of Villars Institute Foundation. He is a Professor at Large at Brown University and Vannevar Bush Professor Emeritus at MIT. He previously served as President of Carnegie Mellon University, President of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Dean of Engineering at MIT. He has also served as the Director of The National Science Foundation (NSF), a position to which he was nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate.
Elected as a fellow of all three US National Academies of Engineering, Science and Medicine, Dr. Suresh has been recognized by three US Presidents. He is a recipient of the National Medal of Science, the highest honor accorded to an American Scientist by the White House. He has also been awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, the highest recognition from the President of the Republic of France and the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors from the President of India.
Dr. Suresh has been awarded 20 honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions around the world. He other awards include: honorary fellowship of St. Hugh’s College at Oxford University, the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. He has authored 3 books, over 300 research articles and 30 patent applications.
The NSF I-Corps Program was designed and created by Dr. Suresh while serving as the NSF Director is now widely regarded as one of the most impactful programs in helping to translate scientific discoveries into technological innovation and societal benefits. He created the Global Research Council and served the inaugural Chair while serving as Director of NSF.
Dr. Suresh has served as a member of the Board of Directors and/or a member of science and/or technology advisory boards of public and private companies, including HP Inc. (Palo Alto), Siemens AG (Germany) and Applied Materials (Santa Clara, CA).
-
03/26/2025 San Antonio Spurs CEO R.C. Buford on April 2, 2025
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Sanjay Ramchander
Dean, McCoy College of Business
SUBJECT: San Antonio Spurs CEO R.C. Buford on April 2, 2025
Branding and the Entrepreneurial Mindset: The Winning Formula featuring R.C. Buford, CEO of the San Antonio Spurs
Join us on April 2, 2025, for a conversation with R.C. Buford, CEO of the San Antonio Spurs, and Lawrence Norman, former General Manager at Adidas Basketball. Buford, voted Executive of the Year twice, will talk about the five-time champion Spurs, their unwavering winning vision, core values, and relentless entrepreneurial mindset. Norman will discuss his 20-year career at Adidas, how the brand became a global powerhouse, as well as how students can bolster their own brand by becoming better storytellers.
Details:
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Alkek Library Teaching TheaterRegistration Link: R.C. Buford and Lawrence Norman Event
For more information, contact Teresa Quinn, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, at quinnt@txstate.edu.
-
03/21/2025 Presidential Seminar Invitation – Ms. Daveda Karanas
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Presidential Seminar Invitation – Ms. Daveda Karanas
Presidential Seminar (2025)
Ms. Daveda Karanas, Associate Professor, School of Music
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Performing Arts Center Recital Hall
Presentation: 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.
Reception: 6:15-7:00 p.m.
In “Divine, Dark, and Discarded: Portraits of Powerful Women in Opera” Daveda will discuss her artistic journey, both on and offstage, as well as enlighten the audience on opera, specifically dramatic mezzo-soprano roles.
DAVEDA KARANAS (mezzo-soprano) serves as Coordinator of Vocal Studies and Associate Professor of Voice at Texas State University. In 2019, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Athens Philharmonic, and her Spanish debut at Teatro Real as Liese in The Passenger, a role she has also performed with Florida Grand Opera, Detroit Opera, The Israeli Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her performances of The Passenger at Teatro Real led to her becoming a recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon, with the album released in January 2025. Her major role debuts include Kundry in Parsifal at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ježibaba in Rusalka at Arizona Opera, Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde at Canadian Opera Company, Amneris in Aida at Arizona Opera, Azucena in Il Trovatore at Opera Grand Rapids, and both Waltraute and Second Norn in Götterdämmerung at San Francisco Opera. She made her German debut as Marfa in Khovanshchina at Oper Frankfurt and her European debut as Judit in Bluebeard’s Castle at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Ms. Karanas is committed to performing new and unknown works, particularly in recital and orchestral settings, where she premieres compositions and collaborates with composers to bring bold, contemporary music to the stage. A 2008 Grand Prize Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (now Laffont Competition), Ms. Karanas continues to enjoy a distinguished career as a celebrated artist and educator.
-
03/17/2025 Night of Ideas at Texas State University
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Mary Brennan
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT: Night of Ideas at Texas State University
Join for a NIGHT OF IDEAS on Friday, April 4, 2025, co-organized with the Embassy of France.
Bringing in more than 75 speakers and artists, the evening begins at 3:30 p.m. in The Wittliff Collections with a talk about story telling with archives with documentary filmmaker Hannah Shepard—whose father’s own papers are archived there.
The evening will continue until midnight, featuring six film screenings with Q&As with documentary filmmakers coming from Paris, Madrid, London, New York, and beyond. Catch performances by Grammy-winning vocalist Mela Sarajane Dailey, Michael Alexandersson (The Voice), LOUD HOUND, Tristan Lake Leabu, The Trips, and numerous other local musicians. Several industry experts will join Texas State faculty, alumni, and students to discuss issues related to the theme of “Technology, Democracy, and the Planet.” There will also be a photo exhibition, portrait studio, and workshops featuring local and international photographers.
Check out the line-up here and RSVP. Free and open to the public but space is limited.
Contact Dr. Louie Dean Valencia (LValencia@txstate.edu) with any questions.
-
03/10/2025 Dean of the College of Applied Arts
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Dean of the College of Applied Arts
We are excited to announce that the search for the next Dean of the College of Applied Arts is now officially open and accepting applications from internal candidates. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the Job Opportunities portal via PeopleAdmin.
Dr. Michael O'Malley, Dean of the College of Education, will serve as chair of the search committee. We are confident that this process will result in the selection of a strong and well-qualified leader for the College of Applied Arts.
Please note that the application close date is April 10, 2025. We will keep you informed with updates as the search progresses.
-
-
February 2025
-
02/25/2025 Invitation to a Special Presentation by Dr. Alain-Philippe Durand
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Invitation to a Special Presentation by Dr. Alain-Philippe Durand
I am pleased to invite you to a special presentation by Dr. Alain-Philippe Durand on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 3:00-4:15 in the LBJ Student Center, Room 323.
Dr. Durand is a leading advocate for the role of the humanities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, and his talk will explore the transformative impact of humanities education across disciplines.
In his talk "Breaking Down Silos. How Applied Humanities, Business, Engineering, and Science are Partnering to Transform Education and the Global Economy" Dr. Durand addresses how the humanities, business, engineering, science and other disciplines are partnering to prepare people to be among our most thoughtful actors in the community, our most imaginative leaders in the global economy, and our most empathic and change-oriented participants in the public sphere.
This lecture will present how to successfully position the Humanities at the core of education in close collaboration with our colleagues from other disciplines such as Business, Engineering, Science, Medicine, and Architecture, among others. The lecture will explain how these transdisciplinary partnerships are major players in solving the grand challenges of today’s global economy through the concept of Applied Humanities.
Dr. Durand serves as the Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities, Professor of French, and affiliated faculty in Africana Studies, Applied Intercultural Arts Research, Latin American Studies, LGBT Studies, and Public and Applied Humanities at the University of Arizona. He is the author of The Entrepreneurial Humanities: The Crucial Role of the Humanities in Enterprise and the Economy, which challenges the misconception that entrepreneurship belongs solely to the tech sector, demonstrating instead how humanities graduates are successfully launching businesses and shaping industries.
This event is open to all faculty, students, and staff interested in interdisciplinary teaching and research, career preparation, and the future of humanities education.
We look forward to seeing you there for this insightful conversation!
Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Location: LBJ Student Center Room, 323
Time: 3:00 – 4:15For any questions regarding the event, please email Dr. Alexandra Perkins at agperkins@txstate.edu.
-
02/14/2025 Faculty/Staff Appreciation: Free Tickets
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Faculty/Staff Appreciation: Free Tickets
While the semester is in full swing, here’s an opportunity for a nice entertainment break. Joining us from Chicago are the Hiplet Ballerinas, a group that combines hip-hop with ballet! They have performed across the country as well as on America’s Got Talent, at The Paris Fashion Show, and other venues.
We are offering free tickets for TXST faculty and staff.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
EVANS AUDITORIUM 627 N. LBJ St., San Marcos 78666
TXST faculty, staff, AND your guests FREE
When downloading tickets, utilize the Faculty/Staff price type for you and your guests.
More Information
Hiplet (pronounced HIP-LAY) started as "The Rap Ballet" in the 1990s, developed by Ballet Master, Homer Hans Bryant. Soon after its development, the Rap Ballet was featured at several schools in the Chicago area while working with Urban Gateways. After being asked by the UniverSoul Circus for one of his dancers to perform "rap ballet" type movement for the circus to Eminem’s violent piece, “Lose Yourself”, on the violin, Homer thought, "I can’t call this rap anymore. What are we going to call this"? His answer...."Ballet & Hip Hop---Hiplet"!!!! In 2009, Homer obtained the trademark on the word “Hiplet.”
Today the Hiplet Ballerinas are "WOWING" audiences all over the globe with their fiery performances and amazing skill. In the words of Founder and Artistic Director, Homer Bryant, "Hiplet is important. It is Afro-centric. We are pulling from your urban communities, and we put in the Jazz, Latin, and African, but we stick to the classical Ballet discipline. We have been to Germany, Seoul, South Korea, France, Spain, and the Virgin Islands, New York and California a dozen times. It’s just amazing what has happened. With a heart to create space and a platform for all, Homer states, "A lot of normal people have been deterred from dancing because they were a little too big and a little too busty. Hiplet ballerinas look like normal people".
-
02/13/2025 Service-Learning Showcase
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Service-Learning Showcase
Dear Texas State Community,
We are delighted to invite you to the upcoming Service-Learning Showcase, a celebration of the remarkable work being done across our university through service-learning. Please join us on April 4, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Minifie Atrium (4th floor) of the McCoy College of Business as we highlight the innovative teaching, impactful research, and outstanding student projects that exemplify the spirit of service-learning at Texas State University.
This showcase is a unique opportunity to:
- Explore impactful projects led by our students that address real-world challenges.
- Learn about creative teaching approaches from faculty who are driving innovation in service-learning.
- Engage with research that strengthens the connection between academic excellence and community impact.
Whether you are a faculty member, student, staff, or community partner, this event offers inspiration, collaboration, and a chance to celebrate the contributions that make Texas State a leader in engaged learning.
Light refreshments will be provided, and we encourage you to stop by and support your colleagues and peers.
We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the vibrant work of our university community.
-
02/12/2025 Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
TO: Current Undergraduate Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Heather Galloway
Dean, Honors College
SUBJECT: Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference
The Honors College and the IDEA Center are pleased to announce the 19th annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC)—a showcase event for achievements in undergraduate research and creative activity at Texas State University. This year, the conference will be held on Wednesday, April 23 and Friday, April 25, 2025, and will include a poster session on Wednesday in the LBJSC Ballroom and Honors Capstone panel sessions on Friday in Trauth-Huffman Hall.
Undergraduate students from all academic areas are encouraged to submit poster proposals by Monday, March 3, 2025. Poster presentations are eligible to win prizes.
Applications to present your poster at the URC are now available.
If you have questions, please email ugresearch@txstate.edu or call us (512) 245-2266.
-
02/05/2025 Spring Performing Arts Events
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: Spring Performing Arts Events
Here is a sampling of spring performing arts events, performed both by Texas State University students and Guest Artists; start times, specific venues, and ticket prices as well as more events and other venues are available on the Texas State Presents website.
Spring 2025 Events in the Performing Arts Center
February 4-9 Romeo & Juliet
February 5 Daveda Karanas (mezzo) and Michael Ippolito (piano)
February 22 TEDx Texas State University "Legacy"
February 27-March 2 "L'enfant" (2 short operas)
February 24 Jazz Orchestra
March 3 Jazz Ensemble
March 5 Jazz Lab Band
March 18 Dance presents CIM TEYA: STREAM in Motion 10.0
March 20-22 Merge Dance Co. presents "CineDanse"
March 31 Double Vision (Jazz) (Supple Music series)
April 12 Tenor / Bass Choir & Treble Choir
April 12 TXST University Singers
April 13 TXST Chorale
April 14-19 Guys & Dolls
April 16 Jazz Orchestra
April 21 Jazz Ensemble
April 22 Jazz Lab Band
May 3 Feria de Mariachi
Spring 2025 Events in Evans Auditorium
February 2 TXST Symphony Orchestra
February 7 TXST Division of Jazz presents 22nd Eddie Durham Jazz Celebration
February 8 TXST Division of Jazz presents 37th Butch Miles Jazz Festival
February 21 Hiplet Dance Co. (University Arts event)
February 26 TXST Concert Band
February 27 TXST Symphonic Winds
March 6 TXST Wind Symphony
March 19 Latin Music Studies presents Noche de Mariachi
March 27-29 Student Dance Concert
April 5 Choir Ensemble Composers Concert
April 9 Latin Music Studies presents Salsa Tribute
April 14 TXST Symphony Orchestra presents Orchestra Camerata
April 23 TXST Concert Band
April 24 TXST Symphonic Winds
April 25 TXST Wind Symphony
April 27 TXST Symphony Orchestra
For a full list of events or to download tickets, please visit the Texas State Presents website.
-
02/05/2025 Transfer Center Relocated to Enhance Student Support
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Transfer Center Relocated to Enhance Student Support
Effective February 2025, the Transfer Center has moved from the Division of Academic Affairs to the TXST Global Division. As part of this reorganization, the Transfer Center will be housed within the Office of Strategic Initiatives, a key department of TXST Global focused on expanding the university’s impact through strategic partnerships with community colleges and universities. This move is consistent with the recent relocation of the enrollment management function to the Global division. By incorporating the Transfer Center into the TXST Global Division, Texas State aims to expand support for transfer students and further develop transfer pathways and articulation agreements.
The center was initially created in 2022. Since its inception, the Transfer Center has served prospective and continuing transfer students through transfer pathway development, transfer navigation, transfer-specific programming, and the development of an online tool called the TXST Transfer Planner.
The Transfer Center will continue to build and enhance transfer articulation agreements and pathways. Further, it will expand its services to include supporting students who plan to transfer into regional co-enrollment programs such as TXST Local at Collin College. For more information about the Transfer Center and its services, please contact the Transfer Center via email at transfercenter@txstate.edu.
-
02/04/2025 Coffee with the EVPs
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Coffee with the EVPs
The Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs), Provost Dr. Pranesh Aswath and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Eric Algoe, would like to extend an invitation to attend “Coffee with the EVPs.”
This event invites faculty and staff to share questions, comments, and concerns with the EVPs in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Join the conversation and learn more about what’s happening on the San Marcos and Round Rock Campuses.
“Coffee with the EVPs” will take place on the San Marcos Campus on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the Faculty and Staff Lounge in Jones Dining Center. A similar event will take place on the Round Rock Campus during the summer of 2025.
You are encouraged to register and submit your questions before the event by utilizing the “Coffee with the EVPs” RSVP Form”. You are welcome to submit questions from other departments or students as well, to better inform discussions and satisfy your curiosity.
Space will be limited, so please RSVP online, and don’t forget to add “What’s on your mind.”
Kind Regards,
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
(512) 245-2205
The Office of the Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer
(512) 245-2244
-
-
January 2025
-
01/27/2025 Registration Now Open & Call for Poster Presentations 2025 TXST STEM Conference
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Barrett Bryant
Dean, College of Science and Engineering
SUBJECT: Registration Now Open & Call for Poster Presentations 2025 TXST STEM Conference
Texas State University is proud to host the third annual TXST STEM Conference on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the TXST LBJ Student Center.
The focus of the TXST STEM Conference will be on recognizing the accomplishments of our students and trainees across various STEM fields. These individuals represent the future contributors and leaders of the STEM workforce.
The 2025 conference theme, "Bridging Minds and Building Futures - Paths to Sustainability," inspired by the principles of UNESCO’s mission. This conference theme underscores the importance of global cooperation in education, culture, science, and communication to drive sustainability. Although not affiliated with UNESCO, the theme reflects similar values—advancing education, preserving cultural heritage, promoting scientific progress, and ensuring access to knowledge. Participants will explore innovative strategies to build a future founded on shared understanding, respect, and environmental responsibility.
We are pleased to announce that registration for the conference is now open. Moreover, we invite the submission of abstracts for students (undergraduate and graduate) and postdoc poster presentations. The deadline for abstract session proposals is February 21, 2025.
For comprehensive details regarding the 2025 TXST STEM Conference, including the call for registration, abstract submission, exhibitor registration, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the conference webpage.
Your participation in this institutional event will contribute to the advancement and collaboration within the STEM community at TXST. We look forward to your involvement.
-
01/22/2025 Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction
TO: Faculty
Staff
Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants
Graduate Instructional Assistants/Doctoral Instructional Assistants
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction
In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and information related to teaching and instructional responsibilities, student records, students with disabilities, and classroom materials. All employees serving in instructional roles, including teaching assistants and instructional assistants, are asked to visit the websites linked below and to talk with their department chairs/school directors about specific questions regarding these policies and practices. Please forward this message to new instructors, as hiring processes occur daily.
Faculty-Authored Teaching Material
Approval is required before a faculty member may require any textbook, notebook, manual, or other materials written or prepared by a member of the Texas State University faculty for which a charge is required. The policy AA/PPS 02.03.30, Faculty-Authored Teaching and Instructional Material describes the procedure for faculty to obtain approval for the use of materials authored or prepared by Texas State University faculty, even if the materials are used in classes taught by other instructors. Instructors may only require materials that meet instructional goals and student learning outcomes of the course. The faculty member must submit a request form to the department chair/school director, dean, and provost. The deadlines to submit a request to use faculty-authored teaching materials are July 1 (fall semester), November 1 (spring semester), and April 1 (summer sessions). Please complete the Request for Authorization to Prescribe Materials Form via the Dynamic Forms platform. Please visit our Dynamic Forms web page for more information.
Inadvertent Release of Student Education Records: Updated with Secure Communication Instructions
This is a reminder of your obligation to guard against the inadvertent release of student education records as stipulated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). UPPS 01.04.31, Access to Student Records Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, addresses this law and faculty and staff obligations.
Examples of inadvertent releases of student education records include emailing student grades, grade point averages, test scores or posting grades by student ID numbers, social security numbers, or other numbers that make student identities easily traceable. These actions violate federal law and university policy. A list of frequently asked questions is available for additional information.
Please review File and Data Sending and Receiving information standards as well as best practices for Data Classification (confidential, sensitive, or public) from the division of Information Technology. To securely send and receive confidential student education records per FERPA regulations, use the TXST (secure) File Transfer system.
Faculty and staff may login to the Bobcat Family Portal to verify a student has granted someone access to their records.
Attendance Roster Certification
AA/PPS No. 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses, Section 06.01 – Faculty will certify attendance rosters. Students must attend or be academically engaged by the census date, to avoid being marked as Not Attending their classes and being administratively dropped.
Reminders:
- Importance of Attendance: Regular class attendance is essential for learning and performance. Absence policies are usually set by academic departments or individual instructors, but the university recognizes valid excuses such as medical issues, immediate family bereavement, university-sponsored activities, required field trips, military service, and official religious holy days.
- Roster Certification: Faculty members will be required to certify their census rosters (4th class day for summer semesters and 12th class day for fall and spring semesters). These records will be permanently retained by the Office of the University Registrar. Special care should be taken to certify rosters for courses where faculty and students have not yet had face-to-face interaction by the census date. These may include courses taught via online or hybrid instruction. In these cases, certification of the roster will require documentation of active academic engagement by the student in the course by the census date.
- Attendance Announcements: Instructors are encouraged to share their attendance policies on the first day and include them in the syllabus.
- Exceptions and Changes: Classes should not deviate from the schedule around holidays, and any faculty absence must be communicated to the department for appropriate arrangements.
Regular and Substantive Interaction in Distance Learning
Regular and substantive instructor and student engagement in distance learning courses improves student learning outcomes and student satisfaction and aligns with Texas State’s long-held commitment to quality teaching and learning. In addition, the university’s continued eligibility to award federal financial aid depends on the ability to provide evidence that this engagement takes place in a timely way and within certain regulatory guidelines. Instructor-initiated actions, feedback, and oversight are expected to be timely, ongoing, focused on the course subject and assignments, and integral to the course plan and learning outcomes. Instructors should plan to retain records of student engagement in academic activities that occur on or before each semester’s census day to document student engagement for financial aid purposes. More information may be found in G/PPS 02.03, Distance Education Courses and Programs.
Students with Disabilities
Texas State complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, As Amended. Disability Services (DS) will provide both the student and the instructor with an accommodation letter which identifies the accommodation the student has requested for the course. DS staff are available to assist instructors who may experience difficulties in providing requested accommodation or believe the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden. Instructors should consult with DS by calling (512) 245-3451 or emailing ods@txstate.edu as soon as possible to discuss their concerns and explore whether alternative accommodations are appropriate.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Texas State University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. If a student experiences barriers to education due to a disability or think they may have a disability, please encourage the student to contact Disability Services (DS) at (512) 245-3451, by email at ods@txstate.edu, or visit the Disability Services web page.
Disabilities may include, but are not limited to attentional, learning, mental health, sensory, physical, communication, or chronic medical conditions. Please let all students know that they are encouraged to discuss their disability related needs with the DS staff and their instructors as soon as possible.
Honor Code Procedures: Faculty Member Responsibilities
This is a best practices list of basic steps to assist faculty members who suspect that a student has violated the Honor Code Policy. The faculty member may consult with their department chair or school director to determine an appropriate academic penalty.
In compliance with the UPPS 07.10.01, Honor Code, the faculty member will:
- Contact the student verbally or in writing (i.e., in person, virtually, via phone, or email) to discuss the alleged violation, supporting evidence, and academic penalty to be imposed as defined in Section 02.02 of the Honor Code policy.
- Clearly communicate your observations and the prescribed penalty to the student and consider their evidence/explanation. If the student fails to respond regarding the violation within three business days, move forward with the Honor Code Review Form. A hold will be placed on the student's academic record until the matter is resolved.
- After conferring with the student, if it is still suspected the student violated the Honor Code, advise the student that a report will be filed, and they will be contacted by the AVPEAI office and given the option to accept or not accept the decision.
- Complete the Honor Code Review Form, attaching supporting documentation and/or evidence. Texas State NetID and login credentials will be required.
- The student will be sent an email and asked to 1) accept the faculty member's determination and waive their right to a hearing, or 2) not accept the determination and request a hearing with the Honor Code Council to review the case. If a student does not respond to the email within three business days, a hold will be placed on their academic record until the matter is resolved.
- If the student accepts, the case is closed. If a hearing is requested, a Hearing Officer will be in touch with the next steps.
For detailed descriptions of violations and additional Honor Code policy information, refer to UPPS 07.10.01, Honor Code.
-
01/17/2025 Policies Related to Ethics and Compliance
TO: Faculty
Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Policies Related to Ethics and Compliance
In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and other information related to ethics and compliance following university, state, and federal regulations and policies. This message addresses required ethics and compliance training, dual/outside employment, reporting of relatives working at Texas State University, and mandatory notices to employees. Specific questions regarding these policies and practices may be addressed to supervisors.
University Ethics and Compliance Program
Texas State is committed to ensuring that our institution maintains the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity throughout all aspects of operations. As public servants, university faculty and staff are guardians of the resources entrusted to it and have a responsibility to students, parents, alumni, donors, and the citizens of Texas to ensure those resources are used efficiently and for their intended purpose. Several reporting tools are available that provide a confidential avenue for reporting concerns about potential waste, fraud, and abuse of resources; the lack of compliance with laws, regulations, and/or University Policy and Procedure Statements; or violations of the Texas State University System’s Code of Ethics. We encourage you to report such issues through one of the following tools:
- reports can be made anonymously via this website: Texas State University System Hotline.
- Texas State University Office of Internal Audit Hotline at (512) 245-1707.
- you may also call the TXST Office of Internal Audit main line, (512) 245-2533, during business hours to report information directly to the audit staff.
Note: Starting this year, the university will implement a fixed training schedule and compliance period. All Texas State University employees, with the exception of certain new hires, are required to complete assigned mandatory training by the end of the compliance period. The training compliance period will begin in February, and employees will have approximately one (1) month to complete the required training.
Employees who do not complete the mandatory training within the defined period will be ineligible for merit increases and subject to disciplinary action within the discretion of the University. New hires who begin after a specific date will follow a separate training schedule during their onboarding process and will transition to the fixed schedule in the following annual cycle.
These changes are designed to offer greater clarity and consistency regarding training compliance deadlines. Human Resources will provide more detailed information soon.
Please review the following training requirements:
- Ethics and Compliance Training: The Tools for an Ethical Workplace course is offered online via the employee learning management tool, Success Factors (SF) Learning. All employees are required to complete the online course every two years to meet the requirement mandated by TSUS. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- EEO and Title IX Training: The Preventing Harassment and Discrimination course is offered online via the employee learning management tool, Success Factors (SF) Learning. All employees are required to complete the online course every two years to meet the requirement mandated by the State of Texas. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- Cybersecurity Training: To combat the growing threat of cyberattacks, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3834 in the 2019 legislative session, which requires certain state and local government employees to complete a cybersecurity training program certified by the state’s Department of Information Resources (DIR). All employees must complete the Cybersecurity Training available within Success Factors (SF) Learning annually. Employees will receive email reminder(s) when their training is due.
- Clery Act and Campus Security Authorities: The Clery Act is a federal law that requires the institution to provide accurate and timely information about crime and campus safety to the university community as well as prospective students and their families. The act requires the identification of individuals and organizations that meet the definition of a campus security authority (CSA). While many faculty members are not designated as CSAs, based on their position, those who serve as advisors to student organizations or program trip leaders will be CSAs. Employees designated as CSAs will be notified by the Clery Act Compliance Coordinator and are required to complete the CSA Clery Training Course available within Success Factors (SF) Learning annually. Employees will receive an email reminder when their training is due.
Online Reporting of Dual/Outside Employment and Activities
UPPS 04.04.06, Outside Employment and Activities defines outside employment as any compensated employment, consulting, or service performed by the employee outside of the employee’s employment relationship with Texas State for the direct or indirect benefit of the employee or the organization serviced. Outside activities that involve non-compensated services are not always reported. However, there are special provisions for holding public office. Outside employment or activities must not interfere or create a conflict of interest or commitment with any employee’s duties and responsibilities at Texas State.
Outside employment, financial conflict of interest (FCOI), conflict of commitment (COC), and inappropriate foreign influence may be related topics that potentially present challenges in managing overlapping dimensions. This is particularly important for faculty and staff involved in federal grant awards and sponsored programs. To encourage and support the research community, the division of Research will continue to develop and disseminate information and guidance regarding disclosures to internal and external entities, including funding agencies. Contact Sean Rubino, Director, Research Integrity and Compliance, via email at srubino@txstate.edu for questions or more information in this regard.
Annual approval is required for 1) any outside employment or consulting prior to beginning such outside employment or consulting; 2) any employment with another state agency, community college, or school district (regardless of the faculty member’s FTE at Texas State); 3) any employee holding public office (elected or appointed to serve for a federal, state, or local government entity including school districts, cities, and towns); or 4) non-compensated activities where the employee or supervisor believes there may be a conflict of interest or interference with the employee’s university duties and responsibilities, or if the outside activities will take place during or interfere with the employee’s normally scheduled work hours.
If the outside employment is with another State of Texas entity, Texas law requires that all state employees must inform their state agencies or institutions of higher education before accepting an additional employment with another agency or institution. See section 03.02 of UPPS 04.04.06.
Annual reporting is required. Thus, outside employment approved from a prior academic year must be reported for the current year if the employment is ongoing. The current reporting academic year is 9/1/24 – 8/31/25. Employees are also required to report any changes that may occur during the academic year (e.g., additional outside employment throughout the year or change in outside employment workload). Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Portal under the “Self-Report” tab. At least one supervisor in the approval workflow, such as a department chair/school director, director, assistant or associate vice provost, dean, or vice provost, must document there is no conflict of interest or commitment with outside employment before the request flows to the Office of the Provost.
Note: Honorariums need not be reported.
Online Reporting of Relatives Working at Texas State University
An online form is available for employees to report certain relatives also working at Texas State University. With centralized records, Human Resources and Faculty and Academic Resources will be able to better manage potential conflicts and provide accurate reports as required by state law and The Texas State University System Regents’ Rules and Regulations. The governing policy is UPPS 04.04.07, Nepotism and Related Employment.
Note: If you have already reported relatives working at Texas State and there are no changes, no action is required. After your initial certification, you must report any changes as they occur.
If needed, please take action now and provide complete information, including hours worked per week and other details that aid reviewers in decision-making. Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Portal under the “Self-Report” tab. Instructions for Self-Reporting of Relatives at Texas State are available. The records will be reviewed by Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources against the organizational structure in SAP. If there is a potential conflict, Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources staff will contact the department head for resolution. Faculty-related questions may be directed to Faculty and Academic Resources at (512) 245-2786.
Employee Notices
While a variety of policies and laws are provided to new employees at orientation sessions, employee notices are important reminders for all employees and supervisors. These notices include information on State of Texas employee policies, sexual misconduct in the workplace, workplace accommodations, campus security, and other matters.
Thank you for your commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Please forward this email, as appropriate, to ensure all employees in Academic Affairs are aware of these commitments and requirements.
-
01/15/2025 TEDx Tickets
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. John Fleming
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication
SUBJECT: TEDx Tickets
The TEDxTexasStateUniversity leadership team and the Department of Communication Studies invite you to our in-person TEDx event on Saturday, February 22 in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. This event runs from 12:30-4:30 p.m. We are just one month out from this year's event, so mark your calendars and join us for a great day of conversation and performances! You can purchase tickets at the Texas State Presents website.
We are excited to offer complimentary tickets to students interested in attending. To claim your student ticket, click the link above and login using your Texas State University netID and password. General admission for faculty and the public is $25. VIP tickets are $100 and include preferential seating, a TEDx t-shirt, and entry into the after party to celebrate our speakers. Food and entertainment will be provided at the after-party for our VIP ticket holders.
This year, our event will feature six speakers who will be discussing various subjects surrounding the theme legacy, focusing on the legacy and impact of education. This theme commemorates the signing of the Higher Education Act signed in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson on our campus sixty years ago.
- David Vela, Retired Director of the National Park Service and Author of Hola Ranger, My Journey Through the National Parks – Mr. Vela’s talk will showcase the impact that the Higher Education Act had on him and his journey through education, focusing on all the opportunities it opened up for him along the way.
- Dr. Judy Oskam, Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State – Dr. Oskam will discuss the necessity of experiential learning in higher education and what we can do to help students learn outside of a traditional classroom.
- Dr. Omar Lopez, Professor in the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies – Dr. Lopez’s talk will discuss how higher education can overcome inequalities in the STEM workforce by ensuring that students graduate with the essential competencies required to compete in the global labor market.
- Dr. Aitiana Sanchez-Garciaguirre, Assistant Professor in Department of Health and Human Performance – Dr. Sanchez-Garciaguirre’s talk will focus on how resilience can be cultivated, passed down, and strengthened across generations.
- Segio Carvajal-Leoni, Doctoral student in the Adult, Professional, and Community Education program at Texas State – Mr. Carvajal-Leoni’s talk will highlight the power of intergenerational learning and how we can use digital tools to collect and preserve the stories of our elder family members.
- Dr. Zach Thomas, School Improvement teacher and educator – Dr. Thomas will focus on how using creativity and imagination in education allows students and teachers to cultivate learning environments and outcomes far beyond the confines of current standardized systems.
The event will also include audience activations, snacks during breaks, and entertainment by Texas State students and local artists. Some of this year’s performers include:
- VocaLibre – a gifted and auditioned choral group who perform a wide range of genres including traditional choral music and pop and R&B covers
- Mesal Quartet – a lively trombone quartet that is a student led group of musicians who are also members of the Texas State Trombone Studio
- Doral Drama Club - a talented group of children from the Doral Academy Charter School who act in on stage-performances
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. This year's speakers will explore the legacy of education, the limitless possibilities within education, and the promising future of education. We invite you to join us for a day of conversation as we honor and celebrate legacy.
For more information or questions email us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu or visit the TEDxTexasStateUniversity webpage.
TEDx Leadership Team
Dr. Alan Grant, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Kristen Farris, Department of Communication Studies
Mr. Mark Paz, Department of Communication Studies
Ms. Hannah Collazo, Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Prisca Ngondo, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
-
01/13/2025 University Writing Center
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Mary Brennan
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT: University Writing Center
Welcome to spring 2025! The University Writing Center opens on January 21, and we're excited to share how we can help you and support your students this semester.
HOW WE HELP STUDENTS
Our peer and faculty consultants are ready to support writers from all disciplines at any stage in their writing process. We offer:
• 25- or 50-minute appointments with an option to repeat weekly
• two weekly writing groups: Write Time and Creative Writers’ Circle
• help formatting theses and dissertations for Vireo submission
• writing guidance for pre-law students
• drop-in support on Writing Wednesdays (Round Rock only)
• annual essay contest recognizing excellence in student writing
• support for writing beyond the classroom, including personal statements, essays for scholarships, conference proposals, and more
HOW WE SUPPORT FACULTY
We also provide resources to support your teaching and scholarship:
• class tours: Book an in-person or virtual tour to introduce students to our space and services.
• in-class workshops: Request sessions on style guides (MLA, APA, etc.), essay writing, managing writing anxiety, and more.
• proof-of-visit forms: Verify a student attended their consultation by asking them to request a proof-of-visit at the end of their appointment.
• statement for your syllabus: Share information about our services with your students by including this statement in your syllabus.
• consultations for faculty: Make an appointment to work on your own writing, too (e.g., revising for publication, grant writing, conference papers, personal projects, and more).
HOURS, LOCATIONS, AND SCHEDULING
To book an appointment, request a service, or learn more, visit our website, contact us by email at writingctr@txstate.edu or by phone at (512) 245-3018. You can find us in person in ASBN 100 (San Marcos) and Avery 206 (Round Rock) or virtually on Zoom. Hours for each location are available on our website.
Thank you for all you do to support Bobcats' writing development. We look forward to working with you and your students this semester!
-
01/08/2025 Course Review
TO: Faculty
Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs
FROM: Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman
Senior Vice Provost
SUBJECT: Course Review
The course calendar for the Course Information Management (CIM) system provides an opportunity for faculty across campus to review the course proposals from all academic units. The faculty review period for this cycle ends on January 20, 2025.
At this time, all faculty and Academic Affairs staff are invited to review the proposed course additions, changes, and deletions that are located in the CIM system. For the current cycle, there are 265 additions, 405 changes, and 114 deletions. Faculty and staff who are interested in more details about the course proposals can visit the CIM system.
Per Academic Affairs, PPS 02.01.01, “faculty who have comments or concerns regarding any course addition, change, or deletion should submit those comments or concerns in writing to their department chair or school director who will be responsible to confer with the originating department chair or school director.”
Should you need additional information, please contact the Office of Curriculum Services at curriculum@txstate.edu.
-
01/08/2025 Information to Include in Spring 2025 Course Syllabi
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT: Information to Include in Spring 2025 Course Syllabi
As we quickly approach the spring 2025 semester and prepare for an exciting array of classes, activities, and events, the following message provides guidance on course syllabi and implementation. This message also provides information about emergency management and the reporting responsibility of faculty and staff who learn of sexual misconduct. Extensive information on course syllabi and classroom procedures is found in AA/PPS 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses. Please pass this message along to new faculty and teaching assistants, as new hire transactions occur daily.
Health and Wellbeing
The Dean of Students Office manages Here to Help to assist students experiencing crises or emergencies or displaying concerning behaviors. Submissions are received directly by the Dean of Students Office’s CARE Center. This process takes an individualized and holistic approach to assessing submissions and determining an appropriate course of action or referral based on the information provided in the submission.
The Counseling Center provides counseling, telemental health, and educational workshops and videos for students. For students, the Student Health Center provides evaluation and medical management of these common mental health issues and others.
Bobcat Balance serves the legal, financial, and mental health needs of faculty and staff. LinkedIn Learning is available to all faculty, staff, and students and includes resources on well-being, career development, time management, and other skills and knowledge.
Student Absences and Absence Notification
Faculty have discretion in managing student absences, including those due to illness. Faculty members determine appropriate arrangements for students who miss class. Please refer to UPPS 02.06.03 and UPPS 02.06.01 for absences related to student participation in university-sponsored events and religious holy days.
For faculty who ask students requesting excused absences to contact the Dean of Students Office, students should be directed to the information available on the Dean of Students’ Absence Notifications webpage. Students should only be referred to the Dean of Students Office if they are unable to complete the on-line request due to access limitations or emergencies/crises.For questions, contact the Dean of Students Office at (512) 245-2124.
Syllabus Content Reminders (see section 5 of AA/PPS 02.03.01 for all syllabus requirements)
- Required class materials, access to materials, use of Canvas, and/or instructional strategies.
- Technology or software needed for the class, including getting support from ITAC.
- Exams, assignments, grading rubrics, assessment and testing, and due dates.
- Office hours.
- Attendance policy and record-keeping procedures.
- Assessment and testing strategies to enhance academic integrity.
- Disability Statement (text included below)
Class Instruction Modes and Substantive Interaction
Classes will be fully implemented in the instruction mode that appears on the spring 2025 Schedule of Classes in Catsweb. In all courses, faculty members provide regular and substantive interaction with students. This interaction is instructor-driven, content-oriented, frequent, and consistent throughout the semester.
Statement on Civility in the Classroom and Instructional Settings
Civility in instructional settings is fundamental to an effective educational process and is everyone’s responsibility. The university’s shared values, sense of community, and collective commitment to respect, civil dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas are the cornerstones of successful teaching and learning. If students have questions about appropriate behavior in a particular class, they should address them with their instructor first. Although rare, disciplinary procedures may be implemented for refusing to follow an instructor’s directive, disrupting classroom activities, or disregarding university policies. For more information regarding conduct in the classroom, please review policies at AA/PPS 02.03.01, Section 03: Courteous and Civil Learning Environment, and Code of Student Conduct, number II, Responsibilities of Students, Section 2.02: Conduct Prohibited.
Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
Information regarding academic integrity and student code of conduct may be found at the links indicated below.
Instructor Absences
Faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their department chairs/school directors to ensure continuity of instruction. In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may transition to remote learning for a brief period by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools. For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class. Deans and chairs/directors may contact the Office of the Provost for support or guidance. Provisions for faculty sick leave are found in UPPS 04.04.30, Section 03, Sick Leave Procedures.
Emergency Management
In the event of an emergency, students, faculty, and staff should monitor the Safety and Emergency Communications web page. This page will be updated with the latest information available to the university, in addition to providing links to information concerning safety resources and emergency procedures. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to sign up for the TXState Alert system.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (SB17)
During the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 was passed and signed into law, effective January 1, 2024. SB 17 addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public higher education institutions. For an explanation of SB17's provisions along with questions and answers, please visit the Texas State University System’s General Counsel Guidance on Implementation of Senate Bill 17.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting (SB 212)
Effective January 2, 2020, state law (SB 212) requires all university employees, acting in the course and scope of employment, who witness or receive information concerning an incident of sexual misconduct involving an enrolled student or employee to report all relevant information known about the incident to the university's Title IX office. According to SB 212, employees who knowingly fail to report or knowingly file a false report shall be terminated in accordance with university and system policy. Please access the webpage of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX for more information.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Texas State University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. If you experience barriers to your education due to a disability or think you may have a disability, please contact Disability Services (DS) at (512) 245-3451, by email at ods@txstate.edu, or visit the Disability Services web page.
Disabilities may include, but are not limited to: attentional, learning, mental health, sensory, physical, communication, or chronic medical conditions. All students are encouraged to discuss their disability related needs with the DS staff and their instructors as soon as possible.
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your ongoing dedication to student success and excellence in all teaching and learning activities.
-
01/06/2025 Invitation to Submit Prposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
TO: Current Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Kristy Daniel
Chair, University Lecturers Committee
SUBJECT: Invitation to Submit Proposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
The University Lecturers Committee (ULC) acts as a steward for a student activities fund that assists colleges, schools, departments, and campus organizations in sponsoring outstanding speaking engagements at Texas State University. In the current submission cycle, limited funds are available on a competitive basis to bring distinguished speakers to our campuses for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
Proposals must be submitted by e-mail to facultysenate@txstate.edu by 5:00 p.m. the first Friday in February. Before submitting a proposal, please contact the speaker or speaker’s agent to determine availability and fees.
Awarded funds cannot be transferred to a replacement speaker. University Lecturers Series funds should be used only for speaker fees, and if needed, travel and accommodations up to a maximum request of $3,000. Receptions, incidentals (such as printing, food, flowers), and other costs will not be funded by the University Lecturers program but may be funded by co-sponsors.
The ULC will review proposals and assign a priority ranking to each based on the following considerations. The evaluation rubric has been updated and we encourage all intending to submit a proposal to review the four rating categories and the percentages assigned to them.
Interest/Anticipated Attendance (26.32%)
- Anticipated Number of Attendees (expectations of attendance adjusted for the Round Rock campus)
- Relevancy of Topic
- Broad Interest
- Scope of Attendees
- External Reach
Topic/Speaker Involvement (26.32%)
- Active Scholarly Dialog
- Speaker Involvement Beyond Lecture
- Opportunities for Continued Reflection
- Connections to University Mission and Shared Values
- Speaker Biography
Event Logistics (26.32%)
- Event Planning
- Established Contact with Speaker
- Tentative Commitment by Speaker
- Marketing Plan
- Details Recruitment Plan for Attendees
Collaboration/ Budget (21.04%)
- Budget Justification
- Collaboration
- Co-Sponsorship
- Committed Funding
Proposals judged to merit funding will be approved in ranked order until funds are exhausted. In order to support as many speakers as possible, awards are limited to no more than $3,000.
The application form, instructions, evaluation rubric, and lists of past awards are available on the University Lecturers Series web page. Please note that only proposals submitted on the PDF proposal form will be accepted.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Kristy Daniel, ULC Chair, or GG Mortenson, Administrative Assistant to the Faculty Senate, 5-8323.
We look forward to receiving your proposals. The University Lecturers Series offers a valuable opportunity for stimulating scholarly discussion at Texas State. We anticipate notifying successful applicants by email no later than May 1, 2024.
-