Regents Approve Degrees, Study Abroad

The Texas State University System Board of Regents took the action during regular quarterly meetings held Wednesday and Thursday at Sul Ross State University.

Approval was given to the College of Business Administration for a new Bachelor of Business Administration degree in human resource management.

"Because the human equation is all important to the short and long-term competitiveness and survival of the organization, the ability to attract, develop and keep talented people is imperative," Bobby K. Marks, Sam Houston president, told the regents.

"The greater Houston area and Southeast Texas, Sam Houston's primary service areas, are expected to offer a plentiful and growing field of opportunity for this discipline."

Also approved were Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees with majors in hospitality administration, to be centered in the College of Education and Applied Science's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Marks explained that the trend in many companies and institutions is to upgrade positions relating to food service management, bringing a greater variety of employment and advancement opportunities to workers trained with a broader perspective.

Companies and industries which have indicated that they have a need for graduates in this area include ARAMARK, American Airlines, the Texas Medical Center in Houston, and food service programs in school districts, he said.

Also approved was a Master of Science degree with a major in criminal justice.

"The current Master of Science program in the College of Criminal Justice has a very topic-specific focus," said Marks. "The college sees a need to offer a broader-based program to appeal to a larger market. The proposed program is designed to meet the challenge of the changing face of criminal justice mandates and administrative practice."

Each of the new degrees is subject to approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Keying on the success of SHSU's summer study program in Puebla, Mexico, which the board approved to be offered for its third consecutive year, were plans for programs approved for Auvergne, France May 15-June 27, 1999, and Tuscany, Italy, May 20-June 19, 1999.

Estimated costs for each student taking six credit hours are $2,352 for the program in Mexico, $3,587 for the program in France. The Tuscany trip will cost approximately $3,100 for in-state students and $4,774 for out-of-state participants. Estimated costs include tuition, room and board, air fare and books.

In a May meeting of the board an art study abroad program was approved for Italy May 18-June 8, 1999, with estimated costs of $3,228.

The board on Thursday also approved preliminary plans for construction of a building to house the $5.6 million Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Molina Walker Architects, Inc. of Houston was authorized to prepare final plans and to take bids for the award of a construction contract in February, 1999.

Also approved were plans for a $2.2 million renovation of the university's White Hall dormitory, prepared by Shah, Smith & Associates, Inc., of Houston. The architects were also authorized to prepare final plans and to take bids for award of a construction contract in February.

In addition to infrastructure repairs such as plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, living areas will be arranged into suites composed of two adjoining rooms.

Authorization was also given to demolish the Hathorne House, a small dorm which according to the university's consulting experts has serious structural problems.

No action was taken on renovation of the Administration Building, which is undergoing internal demolition authorized earlier by the board to determine its structural condition.

The board approved the purchase of 400 computer workstations during the coming fiscal year, at a cost of $600,000. The equipment is for student computer labs and to make computer work stations available to all SHSU faculty members.

Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Aug. 13, 1998
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu