New Building, New Look, New Degrees Approved by Regents

Frels-Wilson Complex

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the construction of a $30 million Academic Building V and a $2 million expansion to the present Campus Mall that requires removal of the Frels-Wilson complex.

The first steps in the Frels-Wilson removal, the mall expansion, and the academic building design and bid process are all scheduled to begin this summer.

Also approved were a new doctor of philosophy degree in history, a fee that will enable the offering of an international criminal justice leadership and management master's degree, and master's degree programs in victim services management, instructional technology, and dietetics.

All of the degree items, including a proposed bachelor's degree in computer animation, were approved by the regents at their regular quarterly meeting in San Marcos and are subject to final approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Also approved were preliminary plans for a $980,000 recreational area to be known as Bearkat Camp, on 345 acres of land adjacent to the Trinity River that was deeded to SHSU in 2002 by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The recreational area for students, faculty and staff will include a covered pavilion, campsites, fishing, canoeing, nature trails and rest rooms.

Also approved were a name change of the Department of Agricultural Sciences to the Department of Agricultural and Industrial Sciences, a $975,000 heating and air conditioning upgrade for Belvin-Buchanan dorm, a three-year custodial services contract, and food rate increases of 3.6 percent.

James F. Gaertner, Sam Houston State University president, told the regents that the new academic building will house the College of Humanities and Social Sciences offices and classrooms, in 143,301 square feet of space.

Also housed there will be additional faculty offices, the Post Office, Accounts Payable, Purchasing, the Business Office and Human Resources. I t is currently planned for the area south of the Smith-Hutson addition and east of the Lee Drain Building.

Gaertner said that the 80,000 square feet expansion of the mall south of the Lowman Student Center "will give our expanding student population a spacious area to gather for relaxing and socializing, and to conduct student activities and events."

The history doctorate will utilize that department's distance learning expertise to offer a degree that is considered unique in the way it is to be taught and the audience that is expected to enroll.

The program is designed for practicing professionals such as public school and community college teachers, academic librarians, military personnel, professional clergy, and public historians.

"Unlike the other history Ph.D. programs in the state, this program is not primarily designed to merely service the needs of research scholars who aspire to obtain academic employment in the field of history," said Gaertner.

"On the contrary, this program is targeted to the specific needs of currently employed professionals in a number of work areas who aspire to further their career objectives through the pursuit of the history Ph.D."

The College of Criminal Justice was authorized to charge a flat fee of $1,000 for each three-hour credit course in the international extension offering of the Master of Science degree with a major in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
May 19, 2006
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