I attended Wednesday Evening’s San Marcos Housing Task Force Open House.
The leadership is impressive in their commitment and knowledge of San Marcos’s Housing Matters. They also made a convincing case the City cannot ignore housing as an issue if the City is to retain it’s unique character and desirability as a place to reside and raise children.
Their analysis and solutions are at the margin though. The “Elephant in the Room”--Texas State University--was not present as a Co-Sponsor or part of the solution space.
Texas State University owns or controls over 7 Square Miles of Land, is a well-funded, University System, and its student body comprises the largest demographic cohort in San Marcos. Decisions at the Chancellor’s Office significantly impact San Marcos Residents, yet the University’s absence as a Co-Sponsor or Co-Leader demonstrates disinterest--if not outright neglect---by the Chancellor to improve Student housing opportunities.
Fundamental to the challenge is addressing the shortage of on-campus housing opportunities for undergrad and grad students. On-campus housing is a messy business of property management and policing behavior. But study after study shows on-campus housing benefits Students and is a net benefit to the University given Students are safer, more likely to attend class and be on time--especially in inclement weather--and are more participatory in on-campus activities and events. Yes, there’s the occasional embarrassing incident, but in general on-campus housing makes for a richer, more immersive, Student experience--a better quality education. It is also the hallmark of highly-respected Universities that Texas State is striving to achieve.
Texas State’s absence as a Housing Task Force Co-Sponsor and Partner lays bare that Texas State’s approach to Student Housing is more local “Commuter” College than National University. The City is demonstrating commitment to residents through the Housing Task Force. Its a fine time for the Chancellor’s Office to show its commitment to Students by Co-Sponsoring and meaningful participation. To do otherwise is counter to both Students and the long term objectives of Texas State University become a Nationally-recognized place of higher learning.
Respectfully,
Mike Scheiern
