FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 3, 2005 - Shirley Luna

SFA Regents Vote To Continue Modernizing Campus

Stephen F. Austin State University regents voted today to add to more projects to the growing list of construction efforts under way on the campus. A new 600-unit residence hall and parking garage are next on the regents’ campaign to modernize the campus and make it more attractive to potential students.

Regents plan to demolish Wilson Hall and Clark Apartments to construct a new hall with an adjacent parking facility. Regents authorized the purchase of property at 119 Feazell St. and also authorized Broaddus and Associates to develop a list of qualified design-build firms to be considered for the Clark Apartments-Wilson Hall project. The firm will follow through to the schematic design phase at a cost not to exceed $238,000. Proposals will be reviewed by the administration for consideration by the board’s Building and Grounds Committee.

Regents approved an agreement with F&S Partners to develop plans for tennis courts to replace those to be demolished as part of the student recreation center project.  They also approved the removal of Starr Apartments in preparation for the construction of the student recreation center, pending approval by the Texas Legislature and the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Regents approved paving projects and the completion of pens and fencing at the equine center, as well as the construction of a new exterior fence at the Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center. The implementation of fire safety improvements requested by the state fire marshal was accepted, as was the replacement of air handlers in Kennedy Auditorium.

SFA students needing help paying for college will have access to an estimated $733,000 in additional aid. Legislation passed during the previous session of the Texas Legislature that deregulated public university designated tuition rates also required that a portion of tuition be allocated to student financial aid. Twenty percent of undergraduate designated tuition and 15 percent of graduate designated tuition generated by a rate exceeding $46 is “set aside” for financial aid, with one-fourth of undergraduate monies funding the Texas B-on-Time loan program through the Coordinating Board. SFA officials estimate the fiscal 2005 B-on-Time contribution will be $233,000.

The balance of the undergraduate set-aside and the entire graduate set-aside remain with each university to fund locally-administered student financial assistance programs.

“We estimate a set-aside for the 2005 fiscal year of $733,000,” said Dr. Roland Smith, vice president for financial affairs. “Requirements in the legislation specify that these set-aside funds may be used only for expenditures for scholarships, grants, loans and work study.”

The board designated the funds for a new Lumberjack Grant, a need-based program to assist students underserved by other grant programs, and for additional need-based scholarships, matching funds for financial aid, and loans for books and supplies. Scholarships and grants will range from $500 to $2,000 per academic year, and from $500 to $1,000 per summer session. Short-term loans will range from $200 to $500.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance will determine the allocation of funds, and, except for emergency loans, need will be based on documentation normally used to determine eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs.

Regents considered employee appointments, status changes, retirements and promotions, including the posthumous promotion of Dr. James E. Corbin to professor emeritus of anthropology.

Dr. Sharon Templeman, assistant professor of social work, was granted an administrative leave of absence to complete a Fulbright grant to lecture in Saratov, Russia, through May 2005.

New faculty appointments approved by the regents included: Dr. J. Dwight Hines, visiting assistant professor of anthropology; Dorothy Selman, clinical instructor, nursing; Dr. Lee Stewart, assistant professor, secondary education; and Dr. Christopher E. Comer, assistant professor of forestry.

Staff appointments approved included: Toni Chandler and Jeffrey M. Stevens, admissions counselors; James M. Jeter, associate vice president, alumni affairs; Jeannie M. Lafferty, outreach coordinator, applied arts and sciences; Shannon L. Bailey, art director; Gina Oglesbee, audit services director; Robert McFarland, head football coach; Gerald Broussard, Matthew Graves, James C. Harper, Arlington Nunn and Jay Rodgers, assistant football coaches; Donald D. Watson, head baseball coach; Dr. William E. Wilson, project coordinator, education; Nelda S. Jordan, budget analyst; Jo Treadaway, co-director, Piney Woods Conservation Center; Bryan Bradbury, intramurals supervisor; David Barfield, GIS project specialist, political science and geography; Donna L. Parish, editorial coordinator, public affairs; and James E. Keen, network support specialist.

Regents approved the following employees’ changes in status: Tricia A. Lance, from administrative assistant to academic advisor; Stephen Patrick Jeffcoat, from lecturer to instructor of forensics; Ronald J. King, from graduate assistant to art shop supervisor; Antonio Mitchell, from tech support specialist to assistant director of career services; Sarah Hardy, from housing office administrator to manager of housing administration; Jason Saladiner, from intramural supervisor to associate director; Dr. Allen Richman, from professor of history and associate dean of liberal arts to School of Honors director; Shiyou Li, from forestry research specialist to research scientist; David Treadaway, from director to co-director of Piney Woods Conservation Center; Zhi Z. Zhang, from forestry research associate to research scientist; Dr. LaRell Nielson, from professor of geology to interim chair and professor of geology; and Richard M. Kennedy, from network support specialist II to network support specialist III.

Regents accepted the retirement of Eloise C. Adams, art director; David Crippen, Counseling and Career Services assistant director; William P. Roberts, geology professor and department chair; and Alvin C. Cage, library director. Faculty members who will retire but continue employment with the university on a modified basis in the fall are Dr. Thomas Atchison, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics; and Drs. Archie McDonald and Robert Mathis, professors of history.

While undergraduate students studying physical education at SFA have worked toward a degree in kinesiology, the graduate level program retained the master’s degree in physical education title. Regents approved changing the name of the degree to Master of Education in kinesiology.

“Over time the term ‘physical education’ has become viewed as a subset of the broader field of ‘kinesiology,’” said Dr. Mel Finkenberg, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science. “Very few universities nationally provide students with a degree in physical education. This has had an adverse impact on our ability to recruit students into the graduate program. The emphasis of the program has gradually shifted over the years, making a graduate degree in kinesiology an appropriate choice for students.”.

The Board of Regents approved spring training on SFA’s new Banner software to support student financial aid, student record and registration systems, as well as the purchase of new software to support university housing at a cost not to exceed $110,000.

Regents reviewed the university’s investment policy and strategy and approved a list of qualified investment brokers and financial institutions, including: Merrill Lynch, Neuberger Berman, Fayez Sarofim and Co., John A. Levin and Co., Lazard Asset Management, Franklin Private Client Group, MLIM L.P. Relative Value, Furman Selz Capital, NFJ Investment/PIMCO Allianz, Citizen’s 1st Bank, Commercial Bank of Texas, First Bank and Trust East Texas, Bancorpsouth Fredonia, Region’s Bank Stone Fort, and Texas Bank.

Regents authorized the purchase of new uniforms to replace the marching band’s 1995 uniforms. The music department expects the marching band to comprise 230 members by 2005-06. Price for uniforms is estimated at cost not to exceed $140,000.

Three championship sports teams were introduced to regents. Cross country coach Louis Snelling, winner of three Coach of the Year awards from the Southland Conference, introduced the cross country team, including Rodney Joseph, Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. The team won its fourth consecutive league title this past season.

The SFA volleyball team and Southland Conference Coach of the Year Debbie Humphreys were introduced at the meeting. Brittany Burton, conference Player of the Year, and JJ Jones, conference Freshman of the Year, helped led the team to 18-straight victories to close out the 2004 season with a share of the Southland Conference regular-season championship.

Regents also met members of SFA’s Southland Conference championship soccer team. Members include senior Christie Mestayer, juniors Kim Gray and Jaime Ronca, and sophomore Shahin Pabani, all of whom were named to the 2004 Academic All-Southland Conference team.

The board authorized contracts between the university and Camp Olympia for Jack Camp 2005. More than 500 incoming freshmen participated in the 2004 camp sessions.

Regents selected Arrow Services as SFA’s primary asbestos-abatement contractor with ARC Abatement as a secondary contractor.

Regents approved the faculty workload report for fall 2004 and last class-day reports for the summer sessions and fall 2004. Regents heard reports from the Faculty Senate, the Student Government Association and Dr. Tito Guerrero III, university president.