The individual attention TCU faculty and staff give to students is the university’s “most valuable asset and its greatest strength” as it seeks to become a world-class, values-centered institution, Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said this week at 2014 Fall Convocation, the symbolic open of the school year.

“This is a place that fosters a spirit of pride, tradition and belonging. But most important, this is a place where priority is given to people,” Boschini said during his annual State of the University address.

“We are proud of our academic offerings. We are equally proud of the caring atmosphere and mentoring relationships that characterize this university.  Because we all know that the most critical factor in providing the unique TCU experience is the personal touch provided by our faculty and staff.”

2014-15 is TCU’s 142^nd academic year.

Boschini told a crowd of about 800 in Ed Landreth Auditorium that one of his most important goals is to herald the consistent commitment he sees in faculty and staff members.

The results of their collective efforts are “obvious,” he said, noting that TCU’s peers and the world of higher education have taken notice.

In updated rankings released this week, U.S. News & World Report has designated TCU No. 76 on its annual list of national universities. The university has jumped 37 points in the past six years, ranked 82^nd last year and 113^th in 2008.

“Rankings are only one of many indicators of success in an academic environment,” Boschini acknowledged. “However … the rankings have been good to us again this year.”

Other recent plaudits:

• Forbes has placed TCU among its “Rising Stars: 10 Top Colleges to Watch” among the United States’ 3,500 colleges and universities.
• The Economist has tabbed the MBA faculty in the Neeley School of Business as the best in the world.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education has marked TCU among the “Great Colleges to Work For” for the fourth consecutive year.
• A school record six TCU students were selected as Fulbright Scholars in May.

The university’s success has continued to make it attractive to prospective students and their families, Boschini said.

The Class of 2018, with approximately 1,892 new Horned Frogs, was chosen from more than 17,000 applicants, placing TCU’s admission rate in the “highly selective” category again.

The 2018ers continue the trend of the highest ACT and SAT scores in school history, while the retention rate of last year’s class, who are now sophomores, has improved to 90 percent.

“This demonstrates that our students are satisfied with their choice of TCU, and that’s obviously very important to us,” he said.

Donors and supporters have responded as well to the university’s achievements, proving that they believe in TCU’s mission.

“Since The Campaign for TCU ended in 2012, donors have continued the momentum with new commitments of more than $189 million,” Boschini said. “This includes $66 million directed specifically to academic programs, faculty and scholarships.”

In August, TCU received one of the largest-ever donations when emeritus trustee Spencer Hays ’59 and his wife, Marlene, of Nashville contributed $30 million toward a $100 million expansion of the Neeley School of Business facilities in the Intellectual Commons and renovations to Smith and Tandy halls.

“This significant gift from the Hays family affirms our value to those involved with TCU and sends the incredibly important message to external sources that everything that is happening on our campus is worthy of gifts at this level,” Boschini said.

TCU’s newest residence hall, located in the Worth Hills section of campus, was named Marlene Hays Hall in honor of the couple, which previously made the naming gift for the university’s 200-seat Marlene and Spencer Hays Theatre in 1998.

While these gains are praiseworthy, TCU remains “at mid-journey” in fulfilling the goals of its Vision In Action strategic plan, Boschini said.

“The most visible result is the physical transformation of our campus over the last 10 years,” he observed. “It is hard for those of us who have been here for a decade or more to remember when there was no Campus Commons and seven fewer residence halls, when applicants and their families visited a crowded—and, in the opinion of many, crummy—office in Sadler Hall to speak with admission counselors.”

This summer, TCU hailed the opening of a new west façade for the Mary Couts Burnett Library and technology-rich Rees-Jones Hall, which will connect with the library when east-side renovations are complete in August 2015. Also new in the Intellectual Commons is an addition to Annie Richardson Bass Building, which added classrooms, faculty offices and a spacious atrium.

“The classical façades of these facilities speak to our heritage and traditions. Inside, there is some of the best 21^st century media and technology for students and faculty,” he said. “All three buildings are designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative investigation. They are ideal settings for the work of TCU’s doers, dreamers and trailblazers as we examine the world’s most significant challenges in an atmosphere characterized by diversity of thought.”

But TCU is not done building, Boschini promised.

The university will add new academic buildings in the Intellectual Commons, new residential and campus life halls in Worth Hills, upgraded facilities for athletics and two parking garages—one near the Greek Village of Worth Hills and another near Amon G. Carter Stadium and the Dee J. Kelly Alumni Center.

“But the most important thing we can do now is to make even greater investments in our academic profile and reputation by directing even more effort and resources to our people and programs,” he said. “The cumulative effect on this university will be nothing short of profound.”

Among TCU’s plans to intensify its support of faculty:

• Double the size of the university endowment, currently valued at more than $1 billion
• Allocate larger stipends for department chairs
• Provide greater operational support for holders of endowed chairs and professorships
• Allot larger travel budgets for faculty
• Budget for larger salary increases for faculty promotions

“We are making these increases to better support our faculty and to be more competitive with other universities,” he said.

As the size of the university’s student body hits 10,000, TCU will maintain its 14:1 student-faculty ratio by adding 20 full-time faculty positions over the next three years. These hires will replace adjunct faculty members.

TCU also will honor as many as 20 high-achieving faculty members by developing two new faculty ranks:

• Distinguished University Professor, which will be earned as a career capstone by those who have given TCU truly outstanding and sustained service in teaching and scholarship
• Master Teacher, which will be bestowed on professors with exemplary classroom skills and accomplishments

Provost R. Nowell Donovan will implement the program over the next two to three years, the Chancellor said.

TCU has made progress on its academic initiatives in the Academy of Tomorrow phase of its strategic plan, Boschini said, including a self-study of the John V. Roach Honors College led by Dr. Sarah Robbins (acting dean, Honors) and Dr. Phil Hartman (dean, Science & Engineering). An external review committee will visit campus afterward to give insight on undergraduate research, faculty course development and study abroad grants.

Last year’s pilot project FrogFolio, which allowed students to develop digital portfolios of research and reflections on their learning experience, attracted 400 participants. In 2014-15, the program will expand to include more than 1,000 students.

New “great themes” courses on the topic of water have begun this fall to examine critical challenges facing the planet. More will be added in the spring, including a seminar course. Two composers are commissioned to create new works with a water theme. The Honors College has selected Fort Worth’s Trinity River Vision as the subject of its spring convocation.

The university’s quality enhancement plan, Discovering Global Citizenship, has allowed for TCU students to make two trips to Panama’s City of Knowledge and bring global innovators to campus, Boschini noted.

In 2014-15, TCU students and faculty will focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. Boschini presented the Global Innovator Award to the fall semester’s guest, Dr. Hassan Azzazy, professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo and leader of the Novel Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research Group. He will work with TCU Science and Engineering’s nanoparticles project in diagnosing infectious diseases and therapies to treat them.

Boschini also announced the formation of a chief university compliance officer position, to be filled by Andrea Nordmann, current compliance officer in TCU Athletics. Nordmann will report directly to Boschini and sit on the chancellor’s cabinet. Her role starts Oct. 15.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Boschini presented the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Teacher and Scholar to Dr. Ralph Carter, professor of political science, and the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community to Dr. Michael J. Chumley, associate professor of biology.