San Marcos may be home to community college

Nov 3 2009 - 10:56pm | Staff Editorial

Art students are striking deals for classes, housing is beyond capacity and students are being stalked for parking spaces.

According to the Oct. 29 issue of The University Star, officials will tighten admission when the university lacks adequate resources to provide for students.

Sure, more students are admitted than actually attend, but the reality is more individuals are enrolling at Texas State. Art students postponing graduation and sophomores allowed to live off campus are proof. So one has to ask, are there really enough resources?
Certain students may be attending Texas State because they were not accepted by their first choice. However, San Marcos is becoming home to more students because of what the university community offers. Texas State has been said to give attendants the “big university” feel, yet keep the “hometown” atmosphere.

According to the Oct. 28 issue of  The Star, Texas State officials are going to offer courses at the Alamo University Center in San Antonio as early as next fall. Furthermore, City Council members are in agreement on the idea of establishing a community college within the city limits, maybe in collaboration with Austin Community College. Both could benefit residents and the university. People who wish to enroll at Texas State but are unable to because of finances could attend either the Alamo center or the community college in San Marcos.

Officials have proposed tuition raises and fee hikes to make up for the increase in population. The revenue collected from these costs would help raise the adviser-to-student ratio and boost financial aid for applicants. A community college in San Marcos could bring balance to the tuition hikes and the overcrowding taking place on campus.

Not only will financial restraints be less of an issue but students graduating from high school may find an easier transition by attending a community college before entering a university. They will be able to learn college isn’t grade school all over again and this will ease first-year confusion and frustrations for freshmen.

Community college and admissions go hand in hand here. University officials could offer students who attend one of these community colleges scholarship opportunities or guaranteed acceptance. The community colleges could alleviate resource stress. If more students are transferring credit for core classes, then less could be offered at Texas State and funding could be reallocated to other deserving academic areas or faculty pay.

Officials must realize registering for classes should not be one of the worries college students have to face.

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