History
A Shared Conversation
In 2004, Dr. Denise Trauth, President of Texas State University, announced an initiative designed to cultivate a common intellectual conversation across the campus. "Early on, the vision was to connect entering students to a shared conversation," Trauth said, "but it quickly grew to include upper-level classes, student support services, campus activities, performing arts, and the San Marcos schools and community. The intentional connecting of many facets of university life is the kind of project that a small private liberal arts college might take on, but we cannot find evidence of a large public university ever having undertaken something so ambitious and encompassing."
Previous Themes
Texas State's Common Experience themes, each year since 2004.
Previous Speakers
Look back at some of the most impactful Common Experience speakers.
Previous Books
Complete list of Common Reading selections throughout the years.