For Immediate Release
Shirley Luna – July 8, 2004

Regents Vote To Improve Housing, Recreation at SFA

Stephen F. Austin State University regents believe that SFA students need better housing and better recreational facilities and authorized the university to pursue both during a quarterly meeting held on campus Thursday.

Regents authorized a study of the possibility of constructing a new residence facility with apartment-style living on campus and the renovation of currently existing facilities to add more restrooms and other features to make the living environment more attractive to college students. The study will consider location, financing (through both university and private development) and construction delivery methods.

Housing on the campus currently accommodates approximately 4,000 students. Hall 20, built in 1984, is the most recently constructed residence facility on campus. University Woods apartments were built in 1980. All other residences on campus are pre-1970 buildings.

“We want to move forward on this before our October meeting,” said Mike Wilhite, regent and chair of the building and grounds committee. “It is important, and we would like to get this going as soon as possible.”

Representatives of a student committee exploring the possibility of a new recreation facility at SFA invited regents to accompany them on a visit to recreation facilities on other campuses.

“We’ve already seen facilities at schools that were larger than SFA and at smaller schools, and I would like for you to see what is available on other campuses,” said Amanda Williams, committee member and president of the Student Government Association.

The students have proposed the university consider construction of a recreational facility and have pledged to support the associated costs through increased student fees. The fee increases will require authorization by the Texas Legislature and approval by student referendum.

The university administration was authorized to seek proposals for an architectural/engineering firm for the project and to employ a consultant to assist in development of the initial design package.

Associated legislative activity and the accompanying student referendum will occur during 2005 academic year.

Regents approved a recommended operating budget totaling $139,436,906 for the 2004-05 fiscal year, which includes a 1 percent increase in room and board rates, a designated tuition rate increase of $18 per semester credit hour for Fall 2004 (capped at 16 semester credit hours) and an additional $3 per semester credit hour for Spring 2005 (capped at 16 semester credit hours). A $20 per semester credit hour discretionary (graduate) tuition rate was added.

The budget includes increases in the cost of parking violations and parking permits for students, faculty and staff; allocates a 5 percent compensation-increase pool (cost-of-living, merit and equity) for benefits-eligible employees; and provides initial funding for baseball, equestrian and student technical supportprograms.

Because increasing numbers of students connect personal computers to the SFA network, and because those computers pose a higher risk to network operations than university-owned equipment, regents amended the 2004 budget with $85,913 to establish and operate a Student Technical Support unit for network and personal computer usage beginning Aug. 1.

This is part of a plan to avoid problems with personal-computer network connections students experienced last fall. The support center will be located in the University Center.

Dr. Linda Morales, previously serving as interim dean and director of the School of Social Work was named associate dean and director of the school.

Dr. Miles McCall, currently serving as vice president for alumni affairs and associate professor of communication, is returning to full-time teaching this fall. Regents voted to begin a search for a new leader for the alumni association, with the title to be changed to associate vice president. The associate vice president would continue to report directly to the SFA president and would be a member of the president’s cabinet.

The following appointments were approved by regents: Dr. Bradley Charles Bailey and Teresa Kirchner, assistant professors of art; Dr. Scott LaGraff, instructor of voice; Dr. David R. Ownby, assistant professor of forestry and environmental science; John A. McDermott, assistant professor of English and creative writing; Timothy B. Neary, assistant professor of history; Lu Yu, assistant professor of chemistry, Mr. Donald House, visiting assistant professor of economics and finance; Dr. James C. Coleman, assistant professor of secondary education and leadership; Dr. Pauline M. Sampson, assistant professor of secondary education and leadership; Dr. Jay T. Lee and Dr. Joe G. Schmalfeldt, assistant professors of kinesiology and health science.

Taqueta Roberson was appointed as assistant women’s basketball coach, and Krissy Riggs, former restricted women’s basketball coach, was appointed assistant women’s basketball coach.

Priscilla F. Coulter, librarian intern, was appointed librarian I, Charlotte Lisenby, housing coordinator, was named area coordinator.

Regents approved Carol Lombardo’s appointment as University Center coordinator of reservations and conferences. Other University Center Auxiliary Services status changes included Edward Wittel, from programmer/analyst II to manager of computer support, and Danny Duplechian and Nathan Armer, from programmer/analyst I to technology specialist.

Regents accepted the retirements of Dr. Robert Shepherd, forestry professor; Ronnie Strahan, post office assistant manager; Dorris Fortson, University Center reservations coordinator; and Martha D. Gose, assistant to director of health services.

Regents approved SFA holidays for 2004-2005, which will allow SFA to be closed for Labor Day, two days at Thanksgiving, six working days at Christmas, five working days at Spring Break, Memorial Day and Independence Day, for a total of 16 days. Because the state allows 12 paid holidays for employees, SFA employees will be required to use four days of vacation or compensatory time on Dec. 30 - 31, 2004, and March 17 – 18, 2005.

Regents authorized SFA to accept an invitation by the Teague Independent School District to provide the Superintendency Program, a 15-hour program for those who already have a master’s degree and are seeking certification to be a superintendent.

“The Teague assistant superintendent had requested the program be offered because there were a number of persons in the area interested in acquiring the certification,” said Dr. Betty Alford, chair of the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership. “The program will be provided through electronic means.”

Regents authorized the university to contract with BarWin Consultants to conduct facility site studies at a cost not to exceed $116,900. Construction of additional facilities and associated parking will require preliminary and detailed site studies and associated flood-map revisions, as necessary.

Regents authorized revisions to the athletic policy and procedure manual and the purchase of insurance for athletic programs. They authorized the board’s finance committee to select a university insurance provider and authorized the president to sign a contract for directors and officers insurance.

Regents approved the expenditure of a maximum of $105,600 to test water samples from the Alto Watershed Project, funded by the College of Forestry, Center for Applied Studies in Forestry, Forest Resources Institute, Temple-Inland Incorporated, and the National Council for the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement.

Approximately 800 stream water samples are generated and analyzed for a full range of physical and chemical properties at an average cost of $132 per sample.

The regents also approved the completion of the renovations of the Forestry Greenhouse at a cost not to exceed $85,000, to come out of 2004 HEAF funds. Completion of the Forestry Greenhouse renovations will include replacing the existing plumbing, electrical and misting systems, and removing and replacing gas heaters.

Regents approved renovations to the Tree Physiology Lab to allow more efficient use of lab space. Proposed renovations include modifying a bench-type lab area, removal of growth chambers that are no longer functional and replacement with office and storage space, at an estimated cost of $75,000.

Regents voted to authorize the university president to sign a contract with AMS Production Services of Dallas to produce and place two 30-second television commercials at a total cost not to exceed $100,000. The goal of the television spots is to increase awareness of the university among high school students who are prospective students of the university and parents of high school students.

An upgrade in SFA's network wiring infrastructure in the Austin and Rusk buildings was approved by regents. Current wiring does not meet TAC 202.8 Communications Wiring Standards. M-Optic of Longview was selected to complete the rewiring, which will result in higher bandwidth network services before the start of the Fall 2004 semester at a cost not to exceed $55,591.

Regents approved underenrolled classes and adopted revisions to university policies and procedures. They authorized the university to negotiate for an extension of the existing electric utility contract with Texas Utilities for an additional period up to 29 months or longer.

Regents heard reports from the Faculty Senate, a report on campus signage, and reports from the vice president from university advancement and the SFA president.