Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved actions during the July quarterly meeting that will support students across campus, from Steen Library to those in disciplines ranging from agriculture to culinary sciences.

Regents approved a $6.46 million capital plan that addresses academic support, student life and safety. Projects include the renovation of a home at 1401 Mound St. for use by SFA’s hospitality administration program.

The residence, previously owned by former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, will be renovated to house the Culinary Café, a student-run restaurant that serves meals to guests two days each week during the regular semesters. Utilizing $1.5 million in the capital Higher Education Fund, the residence will be renovated to keep its historic nature while adding a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and prep area, according to Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the Perkins College of Education.

“This learning laboratory, unique for a university in Texas, will provide hands-on, real-world experiences for students pursuing the hospitality administration degree,” Abbott said. “Much like the Lumberjack Express, the mobile food laboratory recently unveiled, the regents are acknowledging the interest in and growth of the culinary arts, entrepreneurship, event planning and food-service management. SFA is investing in the historic nature of Nacogdoches as it establishes state-of-the-art facilities that attract and transform students in East Texas and beyond.”

The capital plan also includes a $250,000 renovation of Steen Library, replacement of furniture in Hall 14 and fire-safety upgrades across campus. In residence halls, card-access systems will be installed to provide secure entry into the buildings, and the university’s wireless network will be upgraded. A $3.5 million upgrade to a power plant that supports the College of Fine Arts buildings and the purchase of a radio system for the University Police Department are included in the plan.

Regents approved the creation of the Marilyn Cranford Quasi Endowment, the result of a $1.5 million gift to support SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops. A quasi endowment allows for distribution of revenue and principal from a fund balance.

The mission of SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops is to improve human health by discovering novel anti-tumor and antiviral agents in native and invasive plant species and to enhance U.S. security by reducing dependency on foreign supplies of pharmaceutical ingredients. The center previously has received significant support from the U.S. Congress and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, as well as from state and federal agencies and private individuals, like the late Marilyn Cranford, according to Dr. Steve Bullard, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“The center has a remarkable track record in creating new pharmaceutical compounds and developing innovative methods to control invasive plants and insects,” Bullard said. “This endowment will play a critical role in the long-term support of staffing and operations and will have a great impact on SFA and East Texas, as well as a positive national and global impact.”

Regents approved the sale of timber from the Todd Agricultural Research Center to convert predominately pine forestland to silvopasture – a form of agriculture that integrates trees, forage plants and grazing livestock operations.

“The proceeds will fund pasture improvement and will create demonstration areas for teaching, research and outreach,” Bullard said.

Regents approved the purchase of property at 208 Feazell St., a lot located between two existing university lots. “This acquisition will create a continuous section of lots and provide an opportunity to expand student parking,” said Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration.

Regents approved the selection of Page Southerland Page to create an updated campus master plan.

“The Board of Regents approved our current campus master plan on April 19, 2011, and that plan extends through fiscal year 2020,” Gallant said. “We issued a request for qualifications, and three of the five firms that responded presented their plans to the board for consideration. We look forward to working with this agency to develop a plan for the future.”

Page Southerland Page has completed projects for University of Texas campuses in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.

Regents approved changes in course fees, an increase in the student application fee and an exemption of the distance-education fee for dual-credit students enrolled in ITV-delivered courses. They approved a one-time $117 fee to be paid by students enrolled in programs utilizing Watermark LiveText hosted services.

Regents also approved:

· The 2019-2020 holiday schedule

· The annual audit plan

· Resolutions supporting Texas Department of Transportation grant applications to enhance pedestrian sidewalks, trails and bicycle paths

· Exemptions and waivers of tuition and fees authorized by the Texas Education Code

· FY19 grant awards totaling $228,836

· Purchase of SAP Concur travel-expense software

· Revisions to the Intercollegiate Athletic policies and procedures manual

· An update of approved financial institutions and brokers

· Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity architectural and engineering contracts

· A new policy and policy revisions, and

· The conversion of SFA course numbers to the Texas Common Course numbering system.

The board heard an update on construction projects and reports from the Student Government Association, the Faculty Senate and Dr. Steve Westbrook, interim president.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents unanimously named Dr. Scott Gordon, a first-generation college student who became provost of Eastern Washington University, as sole finalist for SFA president.

A native of Malone, New York, Gordon received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Cortland. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate in botany and mycology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and holds certifications from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in educational management and leadership.

As EWU provost, Gordon is the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing more than 500 faculty members in six academic colleges, with responsibility for academic policy and planning, distance education, international programs and institutional research.

Gordon led a complete reorganization of EWU’s Academic Affairs unit, led the development and implementation of the university’s strategic plan in 2018 and developed partnerships with community colleges, business and industry, as well as government entities. This work was highlighted by a unique partnership with Microsoft and the collaboration with multiple businesses on The Catalyst, a 140,000-square-foot facility in downtown Spokane.

Prior to joining Eastern Washington, Gordon spent 22 years at the University of Southern Indiana, where he served as dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education. In addition, Gordon served for 10 years as the Faculty Athletics Representative, was named a NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative Fellow, and was vice president and treasurer of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which includes 14 NCAA Division II institutions.

“I am honored to be named sole finalist for the position of president at Stephen F. Austin State University,” Gordon said. “I look forward to the next steps in this process and the opportunity to work with the SFA Board of Regents, university leadership, faculty, staff, students and the great community of Nacogdoches to build on the tradition of excellence at SFA.”

Gordon called the opportunity to serve as a leader at SFA a “dream come true.”

“I am deeply committed to the vision, mission and goals of SFA and believe my background and values are a great fit with the institution,” he said. “I look forward to joining the SFA family.”

If confirmed by regents after the state-required 21-day waiting period, Gordon will become SFA’s ninth president, succeeding Dr. Baker Pattillo, who was SFA president from 2006 until his death in December 2018.

Before interviewing finalists for the presidency, Regents considered recommendations from a presidential screening committee that worked with an executive search firm, R. William Funk & Associates of Dallas, to review applications and meet with prospective candidates.

Alton Frailey, who chaired the search committee, said Gordon is an accomplished visionary who will lead SFA into its second hundred-year history.

“Dr. Gordon has an outstanding track record in all aspects of academic leadership, from both student and faculty recruitment to core curriculum development and strategic planning,” Frailey said. “His vision for a student-centered education aligns with SFA’s values, and we look forward to introducing him to the campus and the community.”

Gordon is expected to attend a public reception from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Cole Art Center.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the documentary “Free Solo” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin comes “Free Solo,” a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock – the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park – without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, Honnold’s climb set the ultimate standard: perfection or death.

“Free Solo” is a National Geographic Documentary Film release. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; Critics’ Choice Documentary Award winner for Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary and Best Sorts Documentary; BAFTA Award winner for Best Documentary; and American Film Fest winner for Best Film, among other awards.

The film runs 100 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for brief strong language. For more information, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com.

This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton and Main Street Nacogdoches.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131