Regents Approve SHSU Projects;
Table Action on SWT Name Change

The Texas State University Board of Regents approved the measures during a regular quarterly meeting held on the SHSU campus. Business from the system's other schools, including Angelo State, four Lamar components, Southwest Texas, and Sul Ross state universities, was also conducted.

The board voted to table a motion to change the name of Southwest Texas State University to Texas State University. Nancy Neal of Lubbock, who offered the motion to table, said she felt the issue should be delayed until the selection of a new Southwest Texas president is made.

Jerome Supple, who has led the effort to obtain the name change, which would have also required approval by the Texas Legislature, has announced that he will retire in August.

Thursday afternoon, 17 persons spoke both for and against the name change proposal, including a representative from Texas Southern University, and two representatives from the faculty senate at Sam Houston State University.

The Texas Southern representative opposed the change because she said the initials TSU would be confusing. The Sam Houston State representatives said they felt the name would be misleading in that it could cause people to believe that what is now Southwest Texas State would be given flagship status in the Texas State University system.

In other Sam Houston State University business, a total of $1.25 million will be spent on dining furniture, dining equipment, signage and graphics for brand franchises in the Lowman Student Center, as well as general furniture and fixtures. All are expected to be fully operational in August.

Approval was also given to a project to seek proposals for the installation of a $1.3 million copper metal roof on Johnson Coliseum, which has had three roof replacements in its 26 year history. Winning bidder for the new roof will be asked to provide a 20-year warranty.

The board also approved the expenditure of $400,000 for four hundred computer work stations for use by faculty as well as in student computer labs. Computer stations for all faculty members and current technology and an adequate number of work stations for students are a university priority.

Room rate increases of 2.9 percent to 6.7 percent were approved for the fiscal year beginning in September. Increased costs of operations for personnel, utilities, renovations and repairs, and wiring of rooms for computers were reasons for the increases. There was no room rate increase in the current fiscal year.

Increased operational costs as well as a bonus $100 per meal plan feature were reasons for meal plan increases which averaged 12.7 percent for the three most popular plan options.

A contract for $730,000 was also awarded for construction of two new parking lots, and the university was authorized to award contracts for another two lots when the bid process is completed in late February or early March. The four new lots are expected to be completed for use during the Fall 2002 Semester, and will add 500 spaces.

As the result of another board action, students enrolled in electronically-delivered distance classes will not be charged a student service fee, student center fee, or recreational sports fee since they will not use facilities and services available to traditional students. Students taking online courses will also be charged resident tuition under Friday's board action.

In other business, another popular travel option was added to those already approved for international study for summer 2002. A course on History of Books/Libraries will be taught in London.

The regents previously approved the university's summer school in Mexico, which will offer courses in art, finance, management, and foreign languages. Art, political science and sociology classes will be taught in Italy, and a class in criminal justice will be taught in Spain.

Also approved was a project with an estimated cost of $50,000 for the demolition of the industrial education laboratory and metals laboratory facilities, which is being replaced by an Industrial Technology Laboratory. Both will be demolished after their activities have been transferred to the new facility.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Feb. 22, 2002
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