College Bells
Located between the Academic Services Building (ASB) and Flowers Hall, at one end of Bobcat Trail, the Bell Tower was built in the 1970s. Prior to this bell, a group of World War I veterans donated a single bell that was once installed near Old Main. That bell (the "College Bell") now resides in the Veterans Memorial Garden at the east end of Flowers Hall.
The College Bell was given to the university by Miss Belle Schmidt, then county superintendent for Hays County, in 1942. The Bell was made to ring twice every hour, by hand, to signal the beginning and end of classes. Today's bell is no longer rung by hand, but is digitally programmed.
In Fall 2024, the College Bell expanded its role in enriching the campus experience through new songs including “Texas, Our Texas”, “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, and the Texas State Fight Song and Alma Mater. The single bell tradition will also be revitalized by ringing five minutes prior to the most common class start times.
The daily schedule is as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- 7:55 a.m. – “Texas, Our Texas” (1:11)
- 8:55 a.m. – “Go Bobcats” (Fight Song) (:36)
- 9:55 a.m., 10:55am – Single Bell Ring (1:00)
- 11:55 a.m. – “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (:41)
- 12:55 p.m., 1:55 p.m., 2:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m. – Single Bell Ring (1:00)
- 4:55 p.m. – Texas State Alma Mater (1:04)
- 5:55 p.m., 6:55 p.m., 7:55 p.m.– Single Bell Ring (1:00)
Tuesday and Thursday
- 7:55 a.m. – “Texas, Our Texas” (1:11)
- 9:25 a.m. – “Go Bobcats” (Fight Song) (:36)
- 10:25 a.m. – Single Bell Ring (1:00)
- 11:55 a.m. – “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (:41)
- 1:25 p.m., 2:55 p.m. – Single Bell Ring (1:00)
- 4:25 p.m. – Texas State Alma Mater (1:04)
- 5:55 p.m. – Single Bell Ring (1:00)
Saturday and Sunday
- 9:00 a.m. – “Texas, Our Texas” (1:11)
- 10:00 a.m. – “Go Bobcats ” (Fight Song) (:36)
- 12:00 noon – “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (:41)
- 5:00 p.m. – Texas State Alma Mater (1:04)