Stephen F. Austin State University

Sally Ann Swearingen, associate professor in the Department of Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University, teaches students about elements of interior and exterior design.

Perhaps more importantly, she shows students ways they can make a difference in their communities.

Through the years, Swearingen’s students have tackled projects ranging from the design of a new facility for the Boys and Girls Club to ways of making the university campus “sustainable.” (In the latter instance, students studied ways to conserve an ecological balance on campus by avoiding depletion of natural resources.)

The hard work and ingenuity of one of Swearingen’s classes recently became evident on campus with the placement of new directional signs. The signs not only point people the direction they need to go — they also inspire school spirit by incorporating the colors purple and white.

“I’m the type of teacher who likes to make a difference,” Swearingen said. “Three times, my classes have presented projects to the board of regents. All three times, their projects were related to things that were important to SFA. We’re in tune with what is needed on campus, so we take our work in the classroom a step further. We try to see that our ideas become reality.”

With regard to signage, Swearingen said her students brainstormed and visited other campuses to get an idea of what was needed at SFA.

“We heard the complaints most often during orientation,” she said. Parents and students said they needed more signage to help them find their way around campus.”

Two years ago, Swearingen said her students studied the issue in-depth. They broke into six groups and studied signage leading into campus, interior signage and signage for buildings. They also surveyed students and visitors for about a month.

“The three groups with the best ideas were invited to consolidate their plans to present to the board of regents,” Swearingen said.

She added that she was especially impressed with that particular group of students, because the regents meeting where they were invited to present was not held until after the semester had ended.

Swearingen said the regents loved the students’ ideas, and asked if some of them could be implemented in phases.

“Based on their feedback, we did more re earch and more surveys over the next several months,” she said. “One student and I personally walked the campus and mapped out where the signs should be placed. We worked closely with other departments including the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center.”

Next, Swearingen drew up specifications for bids and worked with Mike Rustad, supervisor of building maintenance, to work out the details of implementation.

“We probably invested about 200 hours in this project,” she said. “By this time, it was faculty and staff working on it, because the original group of students had moved on.”

Swearingen said she is proud to work at a university where faculty and staff go above and beyond the call of duty — because they want the best for SFA.

Seeing the new signs on campus, with a few minor changes from the original plan, is gratifying, Swearingen said.