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SHSU Provost Is Winner Of 2008 NACADA Pacesetter Award

David E. Payne

David E. Payne, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Sam Houston State University, has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 Pacesetter Award from the National ACademic ADvising Association (NACADA).

"This award is presented to one administrator annually who exemplifies a commitment to academic advising and who has proven to be a true advocate for students and advisers," said Jennifer Bloom, president of the association. "Through the many accomplishments highlighted in the nomination support materials submitted by colleagues, it is evident that Dr. Payne demonstrates continued commitment to and support of academic advising."

Among those who nominated Payne for the award were Jim Gaertner, Sam Houston State University president; Bill Fleming, executive director of SHSU's Student Advising and Mentoring (SAM) Center; and Don Coers, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Angelo State University.

Gaertner said that Payne was the "driving force" behind the creation of SHSU's nationally recognized SAM Center, which in 2006 was recognized by NACADA as one of the top such centers in the United States.

"Additionally Dr. Payne has introduced a Freshman Reader program, established a teaching enhancement center, increased student scholarships, and established benchmark community college articulation programs," Gaertner said in his nomination.

"All of these accomplishments have one issue in common--improving student success. As a result of many of Dr. Payne's initiatives, Sam Houston State's freshman to sophomore retention rate has increased by 10 percentage points, our enrollment has increased by over 4,000 students, and our six-year graduation rate has increased by 14 percent."

Fleming called Payne the "mastermind" behind the SAM Center. He said that Payne established a faculty and administrative committee that investigated the financing for the proposed center and obtained student approval of an advising fee.

"Many colleges and universities in Texas and neighboring states have sent delegations of faculty, staff and administrators to our campus to visit our center and emulate it," said Fleming. At least three Texas institutions have or will create a similar center, he said, including Tarleton State, West Texas A&M and Angelo State.

Coers was an associate vice president for academic affairs at SHSU before moving to Angelo State in 2000.

"First and foremost he is committed to pursuing the best possible student advising and mentoring because he understands how much it enriches students' educational experience while increasing so significantly their chances for academic success," Coers said of Payne.

"I am deeply honored by this award," said Payne. "It has been my good fortune to be mentored in the area of student advising by Dr. Faye Vowell and Dr. Robert Glennen who have been recognized as national leaders in the development of quality advising programs and then doubly blessed to work with an amazingly energetic and talented leader of advising at Sam Houston State University, Dr. Bill Fleming," said Payne.

"Dr. Fleming and his team have been a delight to watch and a pleasure to support. They are among the very best in the nation and we are fortunate to have them at Sam Houston State."

Payne will receive the award Oct. 1 at the NACADA annual conference in Chicago.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak
May 12, 2008
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