Regents Approve New Degrees, Apartment Plan
BEAUMONT - The first step toward four new degrees and preliminary
plans for a new apartment-style housing complex were approved
Friday by Sam Houston State University's governing body.
The Texas State University System, meeting on the campus of
Lamar University, one of its nine component institutions,
also approved correspondence course and Professional Golf
Management program fees as well as a new dining services contract
and passed a resolution honoring Piper Professor Vic Sower.
The new degrees are proposed for implementation in the 2006
fall semester and must next be approved by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
They include a master of science in digital forensics, master
of science in strategic security, master of education in special
education, and a bachelor of arts in mass communication.
James F. Gaertner, Sam Houston State University president,
told the regents that there has been an alarming increase
in the illegal use of digital devices such as computers, cell
phones and cameras.
"Today's law enforcement personnel are generally not
well prepared for appropriate identification, handling, management
and presentation of digital evidence to the legal community,"
said Gaertner. The digital forensics degree would help provide
the estimated 10,000 experts in this area that will be needed
in the next 10 years.
The strategic security degree would fit with Gaertner's emphasis
on unique or "niche" programs, and would be the
only one of its kind in Texas. It would develop students in
the theory and practice of security, a need which has existed
for some time but which was made worse by the Sept. 11, 2001
terror attacks.
The master of education in special education would include
a program in low incidence disabilities and autism, and help
alleviate a "critical shortage" of teachers in the
Region IV and VI education service areas in Texas.
The bachelor of arts in mass communication would replace degrees
now offered in journalism and radio-television. The number
of new students in this area has been steady over the past
five years, and is expected to grow significantly in the future.
Preliminary plans for a new 400-bed apartment-style housing
complex, prepared by PDG Architects of Houston, were approved.
The $15 million facility will be similar to the Bearkat Village
and Sam Houston Village projects and will be built on a six-acre
site where the Gintz, Aydelotte and McCray units are now located.
Correspondence course fees were increased from $189 to $210
per three semester credit hours, and a non-refundable administrative
fee from $25 to $30. Increased costs of supplies and postage
were cited as the reason for the new rates, which are still
lower than those of most other university correspondence divisions.
Participants in the recently approved PGA/PGM program will
pay $1,800 per year to cover all required PGA materials, golf
course access, player development activities and other program
requirements. One of only 17 such programs in the nation and
the only one of its kind in Texas, the program is expected
to enroll up to 250-300 students.
The food service contract with current contractor ARAMARK
Educational Services of Texas, Inc. was renewed after an open
bid process and runs from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2015.
The resolution in recognition of Sower's Piper Professor selection
praised him for his many teaching, research, and service accomplishments.
"Dr. Sower has motivated a sense of responsibility and
commitment and has provided a model of professional success
and has instilled inspiration and admiration by students as
well as members of the faculty and staff of Sam Houston State
University," the resolution stated.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
May 27, 2005
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