Stephen F. Austin State University

In what President Baker Pattillo called “one of the most important decisions the board will make in the next five years,” the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents on Tuesday approved a comprehensive strategic plan for the institution.

As recommended by the 21-member Strategic Planning Committee, which included SFA faculty, staff and administrators, the plan outlines six university initiatives that will drive every aspect of the university through the year 2013.

The initiatives include: enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative work and service; improving faculty and staff compensation, recognition and support; increasing undergraduate and graduate enrollment; developing a learner-centered environment; creating new learning opportunities through additional interdisciplinary, international, service learning and civic engagement experiences; and increasing the visibility of the university through marketing initiatives.

“The plan is not meant to be complete as far as the action items under each strategy, but we believe the strategies and initiatives provide a framework in which we can develop our operational plans in the years to come,” Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said in presenting the plan for the board’s consideration.

Regent Richard Boyer called the strategic plan “concise and informative” and said it should be used as the “blue print” during future budget discussions.

“I commend the committee who put this together for the really ambitious time frame. It is goal-oriented and not easily achievable without the commitment from the university to really make this happen.”

The new strategic plan was referenced numerous times throughout the meeting, as regents considered various capital-improvement needs of the university, the most urgent being new classroom and laboratory facilities for the chemistry department.

After hearing presentations from three architectural firms during the building and grounds committee meeting Monday, the regents selected Perkins + Will to assess the academic space needs for the department and provide possible solutions. President Pattillo said, depending on the firm’s findings and the type of funding available, the university could renovate or add on to the existing chemistry building, utilize other available space, construct a new building or plan some combination thereof.

“This is going to be a very complicated project that will be ongoing for the next several months,” he said.

Regents also authorized the president to sign a contract with JE Dunn Construction to serve as construction manager at risk for the new $13 million Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing. A bid by J.E. Kingham Construction Company that regents had previously considered recently was withdrawn. The new nursing facility is being constructed on a 17-acre property on the north side of Nacogdoches donated to SFA by Lucille and the late Richard DeWitt.

On the recommendation of the university administration, the regents also approved adding a doctoral program in the Department of Human Services in the James I. Perkins College of Education. Pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a Ph.D. in school psychology will be offered at SFA beginning fall 2009. Doctoral degrees in educational leadership and forestry are currently offered at SFA.

Regents approved an operating budget of $186.5 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The budget includes a $9 per-semester-credit-hour increase in designated tuition and a 2.7-percent increase in room and board, along with a 3-percent salary increase merit pool for faculty and staff. The 2008-09 capital budget adopted by regents totals $15.7 million and will fund improvements to campus lighting and signage, as well as improvements to Johnson Coliseum, Turner Auditorium and other university facilities. The university will spend up to $3 million in funds from savings and designated fund balance to replace the air-handling equipment in the old section of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

Regents also approved $335,000 in repairs to two outdated elevators in Garner Apartments. Regents approved the 2008-2009 holiday schedule, the Summer I small class list and changes to the intercollegiate athletic policy and procedure manual, as well as the non-traditional delivery of some SFA programs. An agreement establishing the Dean’s Circle as a support organization for the university and the College of Fine Arts was approved.

A 20-year lease agreement between SFA and the City of Nacogdoches for use of baseball and softball facilities located within the city complex was approved at the meeting. In addition, approximately $253,500 in gifts originally intended for use in the construction of a new university baseball facility will be used to make improvements at the city complex. The purchase of a new road bus for travel use by athletics and other departments also was approved.

Regents approved the issuance of HEF bonds for the construction of the Early Childhood Research Center and tuition revenue bonds for a campus deferred maintenance reduction plan. The board also approved the project budget for the university’s new reporting system, Banner Axcess, as well as the purchase of a time-management and reporting software system for use by the physical plant and other departments.

The board approved a contract with the State Office of Risk Management for directors and officers and automotive insurance and a contract for general liability as approved by SORM. The university’s contract with Merrill Lynch to manage SFA’s external funds also was approved, as were agreements for the purchase of electric, water, sewer, landfill, natural gas and vending services for fiscal year 2009.

Revisions to university policies were approved and reports heard from the university president, director of audit services, faculty senate chair and student government president.