University Earns Key Honors

By Twila Lindblade/Huntsville ItemStaff writer

Sam Houston State University is moving forward thanks to several changes and honors from the university's faculty within the past year.

Dr. David Payne, vice president of academic affairs, presented an annual report card to the Texas State University System Board of Regents on Nov. 21, which outlined success stories from SHSU. The report is submitted to the board each time it meets at SHSU, which happens every 12 to 18 months.

According to the report, five university programs have national program recognition, three of which received the honor within the past year. The SHSU musical theater program is one of the top 10 in the U.S, according to the Broadway Theater Project.

The SHSU educational leadership program is recognized as one of the four best in Texas and one of 50 best in the U.S., according to the Educational Leadership Constituent Council. And the SHSU theater program is one of the top four in the U.S. according to the Kennedy Center. In addition, the SHSU dance program was recognized about 18 months ago as being one of the top 25 in the U.S. according to Dance Spectrum Magazine. The SHSU criminal justice program is ranked as one of the top five in the U.S. according to the U.S. Journal of Criminal Justice.

The fact that these programs are nationally recognized symbolizes that SHSU is becoming more prominent and well known, Payne said.

"We've stepped over the edge and continue to get better," he said.

Enrollment at SHSU continues to climb as well. In the past three years, fall enrollment has hit record highs. In the fall 2003 semester, SHSU had a record 13,460 students. Entering freshman increased by 11 percent.

Quality has increased with enrollment. When SHSU increased its admissions standards in 2001, enrollment climbed, Payne said. Part of the increased standards involved SAT scores, ACT scores and class rank. Payne attributes the increase in enrollment to the quality of SHSU.

"People want quality," he said. "As an institution, we are doing a better job of publishing our accomplishments."

Since 2001, the average SAT score for an SHSU student has increased from 976 to 1010. The average for all Texas students is 993.

Minority enrollment and minority staff members have also increased. Within the past 10 years, the number of black students has increased by 32 percent, the number of native American students has increased by 61 percent and the number of Hispanic students has increased by 58 percent, the report said.

SHSU has hired a more diverse staff and has 35 minority staff members, compared to 17 it had in 1993.

"The Hispanic population in Texas is growing quickly and we are trying to serve it," Payne said. "We live in a diverse world and we need to be exposed to different cultures."

By bringing in staff members from different cultures, it allows students to learn how to negotiate business with different countries as well, he said.

In order to make SHSU more accessible, it has added more scholarships within the past five years. In 1998, $60,000 worth of scholarships and aid were available for students. However, in 2003, it has $1 million. The increase in aid stems from the designated tuition fund.

While a large percentage of the aid is accepted by freshmen, officials from the SHSU strategic planning committee have worked to ensure the amount of aid increases each year, Payne said.

SHSU is also catering to students who live outside Huntsville by providing five online degree programs, offering classes at the University Center in The Woodlands and creating off-site programs in 10 cities across Texas. It has also added centers to assist students who are having trouble in a particular academic area.
SHSU now has centers for math, reading and writing, in addition to the Student Advising and Mentoring (SAM) Center.

"We're not the biggest university, but we're doing some amazing and innovative things," Payne said. "I don't know any others who are being so creative. We are extending into a variety of new areas and allowing it to blossom."

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Twila Lindblade can also be reached at 936.295.5407 ext 3017.
SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Nov. 28, 2003
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