2022 College Report

’ - - ’ ’ - ’ - ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ - - ’ - ’ 28 29 HISTORY of the Col l ege Cont inued 1986 - 1986 - 1990 S - 1992 - 2002 - 2014 - 2022 1986 - Steven Beebe joins the faculty as chair of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and serves as chair of Speech Communication until 2014. - In Physical Education, Division of Dance created; Joan Hays serves as director until 2002. 1987 - In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, theatre faculty member Charles Pascoe writes and tours The Next Amendment . 1988 - Theatre Arts becomes a separate department from Speech Communication, with Fred March as its first chair. - Communication Studies holds its first COMM Week and it grows into an annual event featuring national and international guest speakers. 1989 - Jerry Supple comes from the State University of New York system to become SWT s president. For fine arts, changes include international exchanges in choral music and instrumental ensembles, a recognized jazz program, and for the first time, a sustained orchestra. It also means a state of-the art broadcast training area in the new Alkek Library and beginning construction of the Joann Cole Mitte Building for Art. - Jazz Studies hosts its first Hill Country Jazz Festival on campus. 1990 - Of the 20,940 university enrollment, 2,095 are fine arts and communication majors. Early 1990s - Robin and Linda Williams are the first act in what will become the Supple Music Series, named for Jerry and Cathy Supple. A 2004 endowment ensures its continuance. 1991 - The first Mass Communication Week is held and becomes an annual event. 1991 - Bachelor s degree in musical theatre is approved. 1992 - The university s radio station, KTSW FM 89.9, officially goes on the air April 15. - The university buys the Fire Station Studio on Guadalupe Street, a refurbished sound recording facility that was built in 1915 as a city hall and fire station. - Bachelor s degree in sound recording technology is approved, the first such degree program in the Southwest. 1993 - The Journalism Department begins use of television studios on the first floor of the Alkek Library for on-the job training for students in the broadcast sequence. 1997 - Master s degree in mass communication is approved. 1998 - Bachelor s degree in dance is approved. 1998-99 - Fine Arts and Communication helps the university celebrate its Centennial. Music s John Paul Johnson organizes the Centennial Singers (now VocaLibre). 1999 - A gift of $1.2 million from the estate of Reed Brantley Parr and her late husband Lewis. Half of the gift goes to Fine Arts and Communication for an endowment. 2000 - Enrollment reaches 22,423 with 3,030 fine arts and communication majors. Music hosts its first Feria del Mariachi. 2002 - Denise Trauth becomes SWT s ninth president. For fine arts, her tenure includes the opening of the Performing Arts Center and the Joann Cole Mitte Building for Art. - Bachelor s degree in digital and photographic imaging is approved (later photography). - Speech Communication renamed the Department of Communication Studies. 2003 - The Legislature changes the university s name to Texas State University. - Art and Design moves to the Joann Cole Mitte Building. - Jazz Studies and the Center for Texas Music History host the first Eddie Durham Jazz Celebration, honoring the legendary San Marcos born Durham, a pioneer in jazz guitar. - Under the direction of Eugene Lee, Theatre hosts its first Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration, which becomes an annual nationally recognized event. 2004 - The Division of Dance joins the Department of Theatre and Dance; LeAnne Smith serves as director from 2002 2017. 2007 - Master of fine arts degree in communication design is approved; the college s first terminal degree. 2008 - Patti Strickel Harrison, an SWT student in 1947 48, donates $8 million to launch the construction of the Performing Arts Center. 2009 - Texas State buys land and a broadcasting tower in southeast New Braunfels for KTSW 89.9 transmissions. Radio studios are located on the third floor of Old Main. 2010 - University enrollment hits 32,572, with 4,668 fine arts and communication majors. Texas State earns Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) status. - The International Piano Festival is hosted by Texas State and becomes an annual event. 2012 - Master of fine arts degree in theatre is approved. 2014 - The Performing Arts Center opens. Its main theatre is named for donor Patti Strickel Harrison. - Texas State s C3 Research Center (Communication, Collaboration, Creativity) is established with the aim of fostering grant funding and interdisciplinary research. 2015 - Fall 2015 enrollment of 37,979 includes 4,968 fine arts and communication majors. 2016 - KTSW 89.9 begins broadcasting from studios in the Trinity Building; digital media innovation degree approved. 2019 - University enrollment stands at 38,187 with 5,136 fine arts and communication majors. 2021 - Texas State welcomes record freshman class of 6625 studnets. 2022 - Dr. Kelly Damphousse named the 10th president of Texas State University. 2022