The self-study and re-accreditation visit is a routine procedure conducted by accredited universities at 10-year intervals.
Goodwin also said that Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president, has requested and received approval from both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Collegiate Athletic Association to conduct a joint self-study. The university's NCAA certification cycle coincides with the Southern Association self-study dates.
Tommy Davis, professor of mathematics, is chairing the NCAA certification steering committee, and will serve on the self-study steering committee as well.
"A major component of the tasks facing these two committees will be information gathering," said Goodwin. "Many in the university community in the coming months will be asked to furnish data in the form of reports, files, assessment records, statistics, questionnaires and proposals."
Goodwin said that the university will demonstrate to the Southern Association and the NCAA "that we acknowledge our responsibility as a public institution of higher learning to be in compliance with criteria used to evaluate colleges and universities throughout the country."
Further goals, he said, include reasserting the university's commitment to quality programs, initiating appropriate actions to strengthen any programs identified as needing attention, and addressing areas of concern.
Novas's presentation, entitled "From Columbus to Clinton," is part of the university's Hispanic Heritage Month observance. Her speech is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater. There is no admission fee, and community members are welcome.
In addition to her newspaper and magazine work for the New York Times, Connoisseur and the Christian Science Monitor, Novas has written poems, plays, novels and other studies on minority issues.
Her books include "Mangos, Bananas and Coconuts: A Cuban Love Story," "Fidel Was Handsome Back Then," "Everything You Need to Know About Latino History," and "The Latino 100: A Ranking of Most Influential Latinos in American History, Past and Present." Planned books include "Everything You Need to Know About Asian History" and "Latin American Cooking Across the U.S.A."
She is also working on a new fiction piece as well as writing and developing a multimedia educational package on Latino art and culture for the Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution.
Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president, announced the 35-year service award honorees, which included himself, during faculty and staff meetings held during the first week of the fall semester. Those named for 35 years or more of service included Ola Butcher, Ronnie Choate, James Gilmore and Marks.
Marks also presented 25-year service awards to faculty members Ira Robert Adams, Robert E. Biles, Lee F. Courtney, Jerry L. Dowling, Wlliam P. Fleming, Ross W. Lovell, James S. Olson, Phillip E. Parotti, Richard H. Payne, Ralph W. Pease, Thomas W. Satre, John W. Schwetman, James W. Tiller and Bettye S. Weatherall.
Staff members presented 25-year awards were Charles Carlow, Jacque Gilliam, Sally Kundig, Weldon Matthys, John Skeeters and Dorothy Wooten.
Three weeks later Marks made a special presentation to Ora O'Neal, clerk in the Office of Residence Life, after it was discovered that her length of service at SHSU also made her eligible for the honor.
O'Neal worked for SHSU for 13 months in 1968-'69 before moving to another country. She returned to work for about 15 years for the Department of Dining Services and for the past 10 years for Residence Life.
In addition to her many friends and colleagues who attended the informal ceremony in Residence Life, two of Mrs. O'Neal's grandchildren, Kristen Owens, 4, and Kendric Owens, 2, enjoyed the event.
Students Joanne Dooley, Mark Jeter and Mandy Heinold will perform the key roles, with support from Danielle Borden, Christin Nacke, Teri O'Brien, Chad Brannon, Trey Huguley and Colby Verrett.
Michelle Weinman will direct the Catherine Butterfield production, with Brian Morreale as set designer, Danielle Wilton as costume designer, and C. David Ferguson as lighting designer.
Performances are at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $5 each. Call (409) 294-1339 for ticket information.
An exhibit of 16 landscape paintings by Sam Houston State University graduate and Huntsville resident Monica Taylor is scheduled for the Lowman Student Center Gallery Monday through Oct. 10.An opening reception for the exhibit, which is entitled "Painting the Light," is scheduled for 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Gallery.
While the Gallery is usually closed for security purposes, arrangements for group or individual viewing of the exhibit can be made in Room 300 of the student center, or by telephoning (409) 294-1759.
In addition to her landscape oils, Taylor recently completed restoration of a statue of the goddess Athena which is now housed in the Peabody Library at SHSU.
The other courses and their beginning and ending dates include Nurse Aide Training (Oct. 14-Dec.4); Medical Terminology I (Oct. 7-30), and Back to Black! Learning to Live Debt Free (Oct. 25).
Information on these courses and others, including mediation and opportunities for employment in the legal field, is available by calling (409) 294-3701.
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