Peligro,
1. We may have an 80 year head start as an ins ution, but our mission statement was completely different prior to the 1960s. We were primarily a teachers college, not the comprehensive University we are today.
2. Stagnation, In what sense?
You mention student population, we are the 5th largest university in the state behind UT, A&M, UNT, and U of Houston at just over 29,000 students. Last year Texas State was the 3rd most popular choice for incoming freshmen (by total number of applications received). Unlike UTSA, we are experiencing controlled growth. As it currently stands, the community infrastructure of San Marcos cannot support more than roughly 33,000 students. City officials are working on ways to improve this, but for now we are controlling our growth by tightening our enrollment standards, and moving classes away from San Marcos to Round Rock, Austin, and San Antonio. On one hand it keeps us from becoming a larger ins ution, but it also allows us to be more selective on the students we accept.
Academically our standards are higher than ever before. We continue add new graduate and PhD programs every year; Several of our programs (geography, history, creative writing, nursing, forensic anthropology, and nanotechnology... the ones I can quickly think of off hand) have received accolades from their respective fields in the past decade.
Athletically? I stated this earlier. 3 Commish Cups in 8 years. While our Men's programs struggle, we have won the All Women's Cup 9 of the last 10 times. Since I arrived here in 2004, I have seen us win numerous conference championships; athletic facility improvements undertaken (soccer complex, baseball / softball stadium, video boards for basketball / volleyball, baseball, softball, and football stadium improvements); and a push to move out of the Southland Conference
Physical Growth? Anyone who went to Southwest will tell you that this is not their school, and they are right. We are 5 years into our current master plan which has added several new buildings; campus improvements including Concho Green, sculptures, fountains, and increased signage; and we have created a new campus in Round Rock.
Stagnation is far from the word I would use to describe Texas State.
3. If you don't mind me asking, why made you decide to go to UTSA? (general curiosity, no malicious intent)