Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University President Dr. Baker Pattillo on Tuesday announced his decision not to proceed with construction of Bo Pilgrim Park at SFA at this time, adding that the university will offer to return donations to those who contributed to the project.

In November 2006, the university launched a fund-raising campaign to secure a minimum of $3.5 million in private donations toward construction of the NCAA Division I facility for baseball and softball estimated to cost $14 million.

“When we announced our fund-raising plans, I said that if the university did not have the minimum private funds in hand by January 2008, the project would be re-evaluated,” Pattillo said. “Unfortunately, our fundraising has not been as successful as our baseball team. Not only do we not have pledges for the 25 percent required by the state, we do not have a dedicated revenue stream to repay the costs for the other 75 percent of the project. I do not believe that we would get approval in Austin to issue the bonds, and I simply don’t believe the project can go forward at this time.”

Dr. Pattillo made the announcement during a meeting of the SFA Board of Regents Tuesday morning on campus. SFA Board Chair Valerie E. Ertz said the board fully supports Pattillo’s decision not to move forward.

“We accept this decision, knowing that Dr. Pattillo has given thoughtful consideration about the overall impact of this project on the university,” she said.

Both the SFA baseball and softball teams will continue to play at the City of Nacogdoches’ Jaycees Field, and the university will begin discussions with the city to make improvements to the park.

Donors to the ballpark project will be contacted in the coming days regarding $1.94 million in gifts and be given the opportunity to have their money returned or to pledge it to improvements at the city park.

Also during the Tuesday meeting, the Board of Regents selected WHR Architects to design the new $13 million Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing. The board heard presentations from WHR and two other architectural firms during a meeting of the building and grounds committee on Monday.

In 2007, the Texas legislature passed House Bill 1775 authorizing the construction of the nursing school on a 17-acre property donated to SFA by Lucille and the late Richard DeWitt. The site, which has appraised for $1.4 million, formerly served as a distribution center for the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants owned by the DeWitts.

“The Building and Grounds committee liked all three of the companies that were recommended to us,” said Regent Joe Max Green of Nacogdoches, chair of the committee. “This project is very important to us, and we wouldn’t have made a mistake with any of these companies.  But WHR seemed to be just as excited as we are about getting to work on the project as soon as possible, and they have technology in place that will save us time and money.”

WHR received the 2007 International Interior Design Association Pinnacle Award for the Large Firm of the Year and the Design Excellence Award in Healthcare for the Texas/Oklahoma Region. According to the WHR Web site, the Pinnacle is the highest honor the association can bestow upon a design firm and is granted only to firms that have consistently contributed to the highest aspiration of the profession and community, while remaining committed to enhancing the quality of life through excellence in interior design. WHR has been the only firm to receive the Pinnacle award twice.

The Design Excellence Award was given in recognition of WHR’s design of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System’s community hospitals in Katy and Sugar Land. WHR also has designed a nursing building at Prairie View A&M, a chemistry building at Sam Houston State University and a research park complex for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

The Regents also approved two new degree programs for the university at the meeting Tuesday. The first, a Master of Science degree in Human Sciences, will be an entirely web-based program offered beginning in fall 2008. Potential students could include industry professionals needing continued education and Family and Consumer Sciences teachers and county extension agents seeking additional credentials.

The second new degree approved by Regents is a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Information Technology. This degree will provide students with a solid foundation in the concepts, theories and techniques of computational resource management with an emphasis on the application of these concepts in a professional environment. This degree also will be offered beginning in fall 2008.

The Regents also signed off on two name changes within SFA. The Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Geography will become the Department of Government, better reflecting not only the broad scope of these disciplines, but also the overlapping nature of the programs.  Regents also approved changing the name of the Gerald W. Schlief Department of Accounting to the Gerald W. Schlief School of Accountancy.

During the Tuesday meeting, the Board of Regents approved the formation of a board to govern the new SFA Charter School. The new board members include: Dr. John E. Jacobson, dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education, chair; Janice Pattillo, chair of SFA’s Department of Elementary Education; Carolyn Davis, early childhood site coordinator; Becky Griffith, SFA Charter School teacher; Lori Harkness, director of the SFA Early Childhood Lab; Vanessa Hooper, parent representative; Weldon Beard, community representative; and Lysa Hagan, SFA Charter School academic leader, ex-officio non-voting member.

The Regents gave the new SFA Charter Board authority for the day-to-day operations of the school, subject to final approval by the Regents for the annual budget, expenditures beyond the approved annual budget, purchases, contracts and other expenditures of more than $100,000, and the employment of all professional personnel.

Also at the Tuesday meeting, the Board of Regents finalized an agreement establishing the Friends of the Stone Fort Museum as a support organization of the university. The purpose of the group is to support the programs and activities of the Stone Fort Museum, which is located on the SFA campus. Its activities are to include promoting the museum as an educational and cultural center dedicated to providing natural and cultural heritage learning opportunities accessible to a diverse audience; promoting the museum as a heritage tourism destination; providing voluntary staff support for ongoing and special needs; and raising funds to support excellence in cultural heritage programs and activities at the museum.

During the Monday meeting, Regents also heard reports from SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo, Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Marc Guidry, and Student Body President Kent Willis. Regents also approved:

• a mineral lease offered by Samson Lone Star L.P. concerning the university’s mineral interest in approximately 50 acres of land near Chireno;
• the replacement of a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system in the west tower of Steen Hall;
• the purchase of property on East Starr Avenue;
• a 10-percent increase in the project budget for the new Education Research Center scheduled for opening in fall 2009, bringing the total cost to $30.8 million;
• resolutions approving SFA’s qualified financial institutions and investment brokers and acknowledging review of the university’s investment policy and strategy;
• the Fiscal Year 2006-07 annual financial report;
• changes to various university policies;
• and the appointment of a board nominating committee.