Known in the 1980s as “the party school,” SWTSU has grown up. Last year, the university was listed number 25 in Money magazine’s list of “best buys” and was labeled a “hot spot” in Newsweek‘s annual college issue. Here are just a few of SWTSU’s recent accomplishments:
* In 1997, Roy and Joann Mitte pledged the largest gift SWTSU ever received – $12.5 million for scholarships. The Austin couple gave another $5 million to establish five endowed chairs.
* The Center for the Study of the Southwest was awarded a $450,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
* Under the direction of president Jerome Supple, SWT has raised more than $59 million for its Centennial Campaign.
* Rated 15th in the nation for its number of Hispanic graduates, SWTSU has a diverse student body (25% are ethnic minorities).
* The material physics program at SWTSU was named one of the most innovative in the nation.
* The geography department, rated the best undergraduate program in the nation for the past 15 years, will soon be graduating SWTSU’s first doctoral students.
* The Wetlands Restoration Project, an effort to return Aquarena Springs – formerly an amusement park on the river – to its natural state, is underway with plans for the construction of an educational center and nature walk. –R.B.
This article appears in May 22 • 1998 and May 22 • 1998 (Cover).