Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University is partnering with Lone Star College to offer students in the Houston area an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business from SFA without having to relocate. The two institutions also will sign an articulation agreement to ensure a smooth transition for Lone Star College students to attend SFA.

A signing ceremony commemorating this collaboration is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Lone Star College University Center in The Woodlands. The ceremony is open to the public.

Students at Lone Star College will be able to enroll in SFA’s sports business program beginning in fall 2018. Classes will be offered face-to-face at the Lone Star College University Center in The Woodlands and will be taught by SFA faculty members. Students must complete the required core curriculum before entering the program. Business foundation courses will primarily be offered online through SFA’s Rusche College of Business.

Dr. Jason Reese, sports business program director and assistant professor at SFA, has been instrumental in establishing this program and is looking forward to the opportunities it will provide to SFA and Houston students.

“Some Houston-area students have a desire to attend SFA, but for various reasons are unable to move to Nacogdoches,” Reese said. “This program will allow them the opportunity to complete the program and earn a bachelor’s degree without relocating.”

Reese added that through this partnership, Houston students will be able to take classes while benefiting from already-established relationships that SFA has with area sports organizations, including professional sport teams like the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, Houston Rockets and Houston Dynamo.

To apply for the program, visit lonestar.edu/university-center/SFA.htm.

For more information, contact Reese at (936) 468-1465 or reesejd1@sfasu.edu.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University urban forestry students worked alongside representatives from the Texas A&M Forest Service on Jan. 27 to assist volunteers with planting more than 100 trees representing 46 different species in Tyler.

The event was part of the City of Tyler’s Arbor Day Celebration and drew close to 1,000 volunteers from throughout the community.

“I was really impressed with the community involvement at this Arbor Day event,” said Tara Nathanson, urban forestry junior and president of the Student Society of Arboriculture at SFA. “I was glad to be able to teach adults and children how to properly plant trees so they can have that knowledge for the future.”

Cody Goldman, arborist for the City of Tyler, said that the participation and guidance provided by team leaders resulted in a 95-percent survival rate of trees planted during last year’s event.

While the official date for National Arbor Day falls on the last Friday of April, the best time to plant trees in Texas ranges from fall into winter when trees enter a state of dormancy.

Submitted by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator, SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host an MLK Celebration for members of the SFA and Nacogdoches communities to celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center’s Twilight Ballroom on the SFA campus.

“This event aims to commemorate the timeless values Dr. King taught us through his example,” said Dr. Griselda Flores, assistant director of multicultural affairs at SFA. “The values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership.”

The event will include music, dance and art presented by SFA students and community members. Dr. Tshepo Chéry, assistant professor in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will deliver a keynote address to conclude the celebration.

Tickets will be available at SFA’s BPSC’s Information Desk starting Feb. 6. They cost $5 for faculty, staff and community members, and $3 for students. For more information, email oma@sfasu.edu.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved faculty and staff appointments during its quarterly meeting Tuesday, including a new director of the university’s physical plant.

Ron Watson was named director of the physical plant, the university department responsible for the administration of all education and general facilities and associated services, such as grounds and building maintenance, custodial services, transportation services and campus construction projects.

Watson began his SFA career as a student while pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences. He worked as a hall director and coordinator of residence life before leaving the university to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. Watson has served the university for a total of 25 years.

Danette Sales was named SFA’s controller, having served as assistant controller since 2004. Sales has years of public and corporate accounting experience as well as experience working in school districts.

In finance and administration, Judith Kruwell was appointed director of financial services and Michaelyn Greene was named director of administrative services. An SFA accounting graduate, Greene worked for 20 years as the controller for Angelina College.

Additionally, regents appointed David Kaiser as lecturer of economics and finance and director of the Chadwick family banking program in the Rusche College of Business. This program prepares students to fill the growing need for qualified bank personnel and combines core coursework in business and finance with industry-specific learning opportunities.

Associate Professor Haskell Cooper was named associate director of the Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development. This center, housed in the School of Social Work, helps develop community-based social services and leadership capabilities of rural service providers.

In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, Deborah Dunn, professor, was named interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. Dunn has worked for more than five years in the industry as a programmer/analyst for a major oil company. Prior to joining the SFA faculty, she taught at various universities and colleges while also serving in leadership roles.

Other approvals in the College of Sciences and Mathematics included Joan Giudici, lab coordinator of biology; Julie Lewis, lecturer of mathematics and statistics; Jessica Williams and Allison Younger, clinical instructors of nursing; and Vance Imhoff, from biology lab coordinator to lecturer of biology.

Additional staff appointments include Jason Callico, assistant director of financial aid in the Office of Student Financial Assistance; Kirsty Dymond, assistant general counsel; Jason Wiggins, manager of network services in information technology services; and Sarahina Borgia and Jamaica Ethington, hall directors in Department of Residence Life.

The board also approved the following changes of status: Steffany Newsome, from accounting assistant III in student center administration to risk and compliance auditor; and Jane Ann Bridges, from risk and compliance auditor to assistant director of audit services in audit services; and Heather Burns from hall director to area coordinator in residence life; and Mary Smith from assistant director to interim director of instructional technology in the Center for Teaching and Learning.

In the Department of Athletics, staff appointments approved by regents included assistant football coaches Benjamin Beasley, William Best, Jeffery Byrd, Tony Gilbert, Jeremy Hammock, Thomas Howe, Joshua Lawson and Jeremy Moses.

Regents approved the retirements of the following staff members with more than 100 years of combined service to the university: James Lee Brittain, director of physical plant; Judy Duffin, payroll manager; Dora Fuselier, controller; Paul Weatherford, laboratory associate in the Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Laboratory; and Kathleen Williamson, director of financial services.

Stephen F. Austin State University is cooking up new transformational experiences for students in the School of Human Sciences.

At its quarterly meeting, the SFA Board of Regents approved the purchase of a mobile food lab — a gourmet food truck — that will be utilized on campus and at recruiting events such as career and college fairs.

“This mobile lab will be the first of its kind in Texas, and there are only a few nationally that are utilized as an academic laboratory,” said Dr. Lynda Martin, director of SFA’s School of Human Sciences. “We are excited to offer students this unique avenue for learning.”

The food truck trend began in Los Angeles and has become popular across the nation. According to its website, research by the National Restaurant Association shows that the food truck trend will continue to accelerate as entrepreneurs use them to enter the restaurant industry.

SFA’s mobile food lab will allow students to experience active learning in a realistic setting as well as engage and empower students to create and execute an entrepreneurial business plan.

“This type of transformational practice makes a difference in students’ lives,” Martin said. “Students working the mobile food lab will gain experience with running alternative venues, meal planning, menu creation, budgeting and more.”

The university plans to have the mobile food lab purchased and operational by January 2019.

For the second year in a row, regents avoided increasing designated tuition. Course and lab fees, which provide funds to support the actual cost of consumable supplies, service and travel related to specific courses, were adjusted to accurately reflect the costs of course delivery for 2018-19.

To simplify billing and budgeting, four mandatory fees were consolidated into a university services fee. The academic advising, library, publication and technology fees, which previously totaled $49 per semester credit hour, have been eliminated. The new university services fee was set at $73 per semester credit hour.

The student services fee, which covers a variety of services including the SFA Health Clinic, increased by $1 to $13.50 per semester credit hour for fiscal year 2019.

Room rates will increase by 2 percent effective fall 2018. Regents also approved a 1.9 percent increase in board rates. Almost half of the residence halls on campus have room rates less than $2,000 per semester for 2018-19.

The board approved renovations to the third and fourth floors of the McGee Business Building to further transform the building for the Rusche College of Business. Updates will include lobby spaces, common areas, classrooms and an innovation hub.

Regents heard reports from three design firms before selecting the Gensler firm to assess and develop programming for SFA’s athletic facilities. Gensler will evaluate existing campus athletic facilities to give direction and recommendations for improving these facilities. Designated funds will be used to fund the architectural assessment.

The largest design firm in the world, Gensler has more than 3,500 clients and has been named No. 1 on Building Design’s Top 100 list for the third year in a row. Gensler’s work history includes more than 120 sports projects worldwide, including Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, and The Star in Frisco, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The board authorized an agreement with Under Armour as the exclusive sponsor to supply apparel to SFA’s athletic program. This agreement will provide SFA with Under Armour shoes, uniforms, equipment and accessory products valued at $125,000 in the first two years and at $135,000 in years three through five. Additionally, Under Armour will pay the university performance bonuses based on the achievements of athletic teams in each contract year, and the team dealer will provide additional products valued at $10,000 each year.

SFA also will work with Paciolan — a Learfield company that is a leader in ticketing, fundraising, marketing analytics and technology solutions — to update the athletic ticketing system to a digital format. According to Robert Hill, director of athletics, the system will allow patrons to renew season passes and purchase tickets via their mobile devices. Fans will be able to present electronic tickets via mobile devices for admission to sporting events.

“In addition to increasing overall net ticket revenue, this system can be coordinated with our social media efforts and has the potential to enhance the fan experience, increase alumni and community engagement, and assist with fundraising campaigns,” Hill said.

The university will no longer print a curriculum catalog, but will work with Digarc to create a more efficient and user-friendly way of managing SFA’s course curriculum and catalog. By utilizing Digarc’s Acalog and Curriculog software, the university will offer up-to-date course information digitally. The software solution will provide a secure online process that syncs with Banner, the university’s current course information system.

The Department of Agriculture plans to build an additional livestock facility at the Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center. To provide electricity to the facility, regents approved an easement agreement, or temporary access, with the Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative. Regents also signed off on a similar agreement with Oncor Electric to relocate an electric pole on SFA property as the Texas Department of Transportation widens East Austin Street.

During the Tuesday meeting, the board also approved:

• a four-year agreement with Oracle for purchase of the Oracle Exadata “Cloud at Customer” system with offsite backup;

• a contract with Oracle for a budget and financial forecasting system;

• changing the food, nutrition and dietetics degree to dietetics and nutritional sciences to better reflect the two focus areas of the degree;

• resolutions to acknowledge review of investment policy and strategy and approve qualified financial institutions and investment brokers;

• ratifying $325,698 in additional grant awards allocable to fiscal year 2018;

• the release of rights for a potential invention to Dr. Matibur Zamadar, SFA assistant professor of chemistry;

• the SFA Charter School audited financial statements for 2016-17; and

• the 2016-17 annual financial report and acknowledged the receipt of audit services report.

Regents elected board officers for 2018-19: Brigettee Henderson, chair; Alton Frailey, vice chair; and Nelda Blair, secretary.

The board approved policy revisions and minutes from the October meetings. Regents received updates on the statutory contract (Senate Bill 20), the university’s marketing campaign and current construction.

Regents heard reports from Texas A&M University System Investments; Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business; Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education; the Faculty Senate; Student Government Association and the university president.