“The noblest search is the search for excellence.”

—Lyndon B. Johnson
Thirty-sixth President of the United States 1963-1969
Texas State University Class of 1930

Texas State University-San Marcos is a public, student-centered, doctoral-granting institution dedicated to excellence in serving the educational needs of the diverse population of Texas and the world beyond.

In pursuing our mission as a premier institution, we, the faculty, staff, and students of Texas State University-San Marcos, are guided by a shared collection of values. Specifically, we value:

• An exceptional undergraduate experience as the heart of what we do;
• Graduate education as a means of intellectual growth and professional development;
• A diversity of people and ideas, a spirit of inclusiveness, a global perspective, and a sense of community as essential conditions for campus life;
• The cultivation of character and the modeling of honesty, integrity, compassion, fairness, respect, and ethical behavior, both in the classroom and beyond;
• Engaged teaching and learning based in dialogue, student involvement, and the free exchange of ideas;
• Research, scholarship, and creative activity as fundamental sources of new knowledge and as expressions of the human spirit;
• A commitment to public service as a resource for personal, educational, cultural, and economic development;
• Thoughtful reflection, collaboration, planning, and evaluation as essential for meeting the changing needs of those we serve.

Goal 1: Promote academic quality by building a distinguished faculty, developing the university culture of research, and managing enrollment.

Goal 2: Expand access to public university education and contribute to the economic and cultural development of Texas.

Goal 3: Provide a premier student-centered, educational experience that fosters retention and success and is built on academic programs with clearly defined learning outcomes and a rigorous level of academic challenge.

Goal 4: Expand educational opportunities, emphasizing doctoral program development, applied scientific and technical programs, and other programs that address critical state needs.

Goal 5: Enrich our learning and working environment by attracting and supporting a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Goal 6: Develop and manage human, financial, physical, and technological resources effectively, efficiently, and ethically to support the university’s mission.

The mission statement was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Jan. 27, 2005.