Regents take measures to facilitate SWT flood repair

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Regents of the Texas State University System have taken measures that will help Southwest Texas State University assess damage from the Oct. 17 flood and pave the way for more speedy repairs.

Meeting Thursday and Friday on the campus of Lamar University in Beaumont, the TSUS Board of Regents authorized the university to hire Baker-Aicklen Consulting Engineers to determine the extent of repairs needed at the Spring Lake Dam.

Previous inspections of the dam had indicated that some repair work was called for, but the dam sustained additional damage during the flood. Baker-Aicklen engineers will determine what work is necessary at the dam, and also prepare a cost estimate for the project.

The Spring Lake Dam is adjacent to Joe‘s Crab Shack restaurant on the San Marcos River.

The regents also authorized SWT President Jerome Supple to sign purchase orders or contracts exceeding $100,000 for emergency repairs to university property resulting from the recent flood. Such purchase orders and contracts would usually require a vote of the Board of Regents. Easing that requirement for emergency flood repairs will help speed the rebuilding process. SWT property damage from the flood is estimated at approximately $4 million.

In other action, the regents authorized SWT to offer a master of science degree with a major in family and child studies. The degree program will be administered through the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the School of Applied Arts and Technology and by the SWT Graduate School.

The new program is designed to provide graduate level study to professionals working in fields dealing directly with the needs of families and children. The degree proposal must also be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

In other SWT related business, the regents:

• Awarded a contract of $1.07 million to Texas Industrial Mechanical Inc. of Austin for the purchase and installation of a 1,500 ton chiller for the Cogeneration Plant.
• Formally accepted four construction projects: the new Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Student Center, the Centennial Hall renovation, the Cogeneration Plant expansion and utility extension, and the Pecan and Live Oak Streets improvements.
• Increased designated tuition (formerly the general use fee) from $30 per semester credit hour to $34 per semester credit hour, the library fee from $3 to $4 per semester credit hour and the medical service fee from $28 to $32 per student.
• The board voted to implement an off-campus course fee not to exceed $158 beginning with the 1999 fall semester, but also voted to waive the recreational sports fee, the student center fee, the medical services fee and the shuttle bus fee for students taking only off-campus courses.
• The regents also authorized the university to implement a special fee of $500 for a post-baccalaureate teaching intern, effective in the 1999 spring semester.
• Approved room and board rates for 1999 summer sessions and for the 1999 fall semester and the 2000 spring semester. Room rates will increase by 3 percent. Board rates will increase between 2.5 and 3 percent, and apartment rents will increase from 0 to 3 percent.
• Authorized a special employment contract with Bob DeBesse, head football coach, for three years beginning Jan. 1, 1999. The new contract replaces a three-year contract executed Jan. 1, 1998.
• Approved a resolution honoring SWT on the occasion of its Centennial year of providing the people of Texas with the opportunity to pursue a better life through higher education.
• Acknowledged gifts to the university of $5,000 or more.
  • SWT received $33,015 from the estate of Louise Schawe for the Louise and Williedell Schawe Memorial Endowment, bringing the total endowment to $93,411.
  • The SBC Foundation contributed $15,000 as a match for the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship in Political Communication.
  • IBM donated $9,075 to support the Asia Regional Contest, an international program sponsored by the Department of Computer Science.
  • Luan Brunson donated $6,453 to increase the Brunson English Endowment at SWT.
  • The Hifort Company gave $5,000 for the creation of the Guillermo Antonio Wolff Memorial Scholarship for students interested in international business.
  • Tommy Jacks gave $5,000 for the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship in Political Communication.
  • Southwest Airlines gave $5,000 as a match for the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship in Political Communication.
  • Arthur Temple III gave $5,000 for the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship in Political Communication.
  • The Hon. and Mrs. Craig H. Vittitoe donated $5,000 in support of the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship in Political Communication.
  • The Tinker Foundation gave $5,000 to help purchase materials for the Southwestern Writers Collection, housed in the Alkek Library at SWT.
  • Bede Scientific Inc. donated a portion of the upgraded software purchased by the Department of Physics. The value of the gift is $8,500.
  • La Quinta Inn of San Marcos donated guest rooms to the Bobcat Club in support of the athletic program. The gift is valued at $6,500.
  • Dr. J. Robert Donnelly provided a gift in kind of mouthguards for SWT athletes. The gift is valued at $5,175.
  • Scott Meyer of Chartwells donated gift in kind food items valued at $5,000 to the Bobcat Club in support of the athletic program.
  • Shane Fraser of Subway Sandwiches donated gift in kind food items valued at $5,000 to the Bobcat Club in support of the athletic program.
• Authorized the university president to sign an interagency contract not to exceed $200,000 with the Lower Colorado River Authority to install lights at the SWT baseball field.
• Authorized the university to issue a purchase requisition not to exceed $158,750 through the General Services Commission to JSI Fundraising for an alumni and development information system. The purchase will be made with budgeted operating funds in the University Advancement Division.
• Authorized the university to issue a purchase order of $137,060 to McNeil Roofing and Sheetmetal for reroofing College Inn.
• Awarded a contract for $128,888 to Stokes Construction Co. for improvements to the Glade Theatre.
• Authorized SWT to grant an easement to the City of San Marcos for water wells.
• Accepted the annual financial report from the Aquarena Center, and received a preliminary business plan for the Texas Rivers Center, proposed to be located at Aquarena.
• Authorized the university to charge a $25 orientation fee to all new undergraduate students.
• Accepted the annual reports of the Support Foundation, the Development Foundation, the Alumni Association and the Special Education Foundation.
• Authorized out-of-country study programs in geography in Germany, Italy and Switzerland; in English in Ireland and Mexico; in family and consumer sciences in Italy, Switzerland and France; and in art in Italy and England.
• Authorized the university president to sign a lease agreement with Frost Bank for grazing, hunting and housing on 667 acres of land adjacent to the Harold M. Freeman Ranch. The lease is for three years at $6,665 per year.
• Authorized course fees, routine budget adjustments, personnel matters, travel reports and class reports.

The Texas State University System includes Angelo State University in San Angelo, Lamar University-Beaumont, Lamar University Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Lamar University-Orange, Lamar University-Port Arthur, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, SWT, Sul Ross State University in Alpine and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in Uvalde. Members of the nine-member board are Craig H. Vittitoe of Harlingen, chair; Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo, vice chair; John P. Hageman of Round Rock; Thomas M. Moeller of Beaumont; Elizabeth T. Nash of San Marcos; Nancy R. Neal of Lubbock; Floyd Nickerson of Abilene; Macedonio “Massey” Villarreal of Houston; and Ray Zapata of San Angelo. Chancellor Lamar Urbanovsky manages the system‘s office in Austin.