SWT to expand degree programs in North Austin

Date of release: 05/14/99

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Southwest Texas State University will offer more degree programs at the North Austin/Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center (MITC) beginning next fall.

The expansion of degree offerings was approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents at its regular meeting May 12 and 13 in Huntsville on the campus of Sam Houston State University.

The board authorized the university to offer at the MITC a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in management, a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree with a major in applied arts and sciences, a master of science in interdisciplinary studies degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies and a master of arts degree with a major in technical communication.

A partnership of five institutions -- SWT, Austin Community College, Concordia University, St. Edward’s University and Temple College -- the MITC began offering coursework at several locations during the 1998 fall semester.

SWT already offers 11 graduate degree programs through the MITC and will also begin offering a bachelor of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies leading to elementary teacher certification next fall. The additional programs are the result of surveys of educational needs in the area.

The North Austin/Williamson County MITC was designed as a coalition to continually assess and respond to higher education needs in the community. Associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, workforce training and adult education are offered at the MITC sites.

The MITC offices are located behind Westwood High School at 12400 Meadow Lane in Austin. Call (512) 219-5798 for more information.

In other action, the board welcomed three new members to its ranks. Sworn in at the meeting were new regents Patricia Diaz Dennis of San Antonio, Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso and James A. “Jimmy” Hayley of Texas City.

Diaz Dennis is senior vice president for regulatory and public affairs at SBC Communications. She holds an undergraduate degree from UCLA and a law degree from the Loyola University of Los Angeles School of Law. She replaces Elizabeth Topper Nash of San Marcos, whose term expired.

Flores is executive vice president and editor of the El Paso Times. He is a graduate of SWT and replaces Craig H. Vittitoe of Harlingen, whose term expired.

Hayley is president and chief executive officer of the Texas City-LaMarque Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and replaces Ray Zapata of San Angelo, whose term expired.

In other SWT-related business, the board:

  • Extended the university’s authority to offer a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree at Fort Sam Houston, Kelly Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, subject to final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  • Authorized the university to take bids and issue purchase orders not to exceed $700,000 for upgrades and expansion of the dial-up modem pool and departmental microcomputer laboratories.
  • Approved preliminary plans for the west campus athletic and recreational fields and authorized the university to have architects prepare final plans and advertise for bids.
  • Authorized SWT and system staffs to meet with Stokes Construction Co., the low bidder, and Delgado Design Group, the project architect, to determine if changes to the scope of the Admission Center Addition construction project can be made to bring the low bid within available funds. If the effort fails, all bids will be rejected and the architects will redesign the project.
  • Approved the renaming of the Department of Geography and Planning to the Department of Geography.
  • Authorized the university to purchase property at 501 Academy Street at a price no greater than its appraised value, contingent on the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  • Authorized the university to obtain an appraisal and explore the feasibility of purchasing additional property for warehouse space.
  • Increased the not-to-exceed construction cost of relocating city of San Marcos water wells from $500,000 to $750,000 and authorized the chair and vice chair to sign an agreement to move the wells, pending completion of an agreement with the city.
  • Recognized gifts to the university of $5,000 or more.
    • SWT received $180,000 from the estate of Ruby A. Nelson to establish the Wilma Nelson Copeland Scholarship Endowment.
    • The university received $108,611 from the Roy and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation for the Mitte Scholarship program and for the Mitte Chair in Technology.
    • Frank Austin, donor and executor for the estate of Mary Jo Austin McCormick, gave shares of stock and securities valued at $50,000 to the SWT Development Foundation.
    • Bob Bullock donated stock valued at $50,000 for the Jack Martin Faculty Fellowship.
    • The Kelly Air Force Base Federal Managers Association donated $26,000 to establish a scholarship in the certified public manager program.
    • SWT received $25,000 from the estate of Emmie Craddock for the Emmie Craddock scholarship endowment.
    • The Austin Area Teachers Federal Credit Union gave $10,000 to the SWT Development Foundation for athletic sponsorship and for sponsorship of the SWT Celebrity Golf Tournament.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fredericks donted shares of stock valued at $6,218 with the proceeds divided among the Darrell and Barbara Piersol Scholarship, the John and Mona Piersol Band Scholarship and the Piersol and Dunn Scholarship.
    • Robert C. Cotner Jr. donated supplies, valued at $8,000, and labor for the lighting of the SWT baseball field.
    • Frost National Bank donated $7,500 toward the athletic sponsorship program.
    • Tom Husbands donated telescopes and accessories to the Department of Physics. The in-kind gift is valued at $5,688.
    • Jim and Lil Wacker contributed $5,000 for the new athletic facility at SWT. The gift is part of a three-year Centennial Campaign pledge.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Guillermo A. Wolff gave $5,000 for the Guillermo Antonio Wolff Memorial Scholarship in the memory of their son who attended SWT.
  • Adopted resolutions honoring former regents Elizabeth T. Nash of San Marcos, Craig H. Vittitoe of Harlingen and Ray Zapata of San Angelo.
  • Approved an employment contract with Mike Miller, head basketball coach, for three years.
  • Delegated to the chairman and vice chairman of the board the authority to award a construction manager-at-risk contract for the proposed Art/Technology/Physics Complex.
  • Authorized a purchase order of $248,354 to Omni Elevator of San Antonio to remodel elevators at Jackson Hall.
  • Authorized a purchase order of $145,000 to K.W. Construction of San Marcos for remodeling bathrooms in Brogdon Hall.
  • Authorized the university to enter into an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority and the San Marcos Electric Utility for provision of utilities to the campus.
  • Authorized the university to enter into a new agreement with Central Texas Medical Center for the provision of health care services to participants in intercollegiate athletic programs.
  • Amended the electronic identification system agreement with Diebold Inc. and approved a one-year extension.
  • Accepted the financial report of the Aquarena properties for the first six months of the 1999 fiscal year.

Received internal audit reports from the system’s component universities.

Approved course fees, routine budget amendments, personnel matters and curriculum changes.

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 Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo, chair; Floyd Nickerson of Abilene, vice chair; Patricia Diaz Dennis of San Antonio; Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso; John P. Hageman of Round Rock; James A. “Jimmy” Hayley of Texas City; Thomas M. Moeller of Beaumont; Nancy R. Neal of Lubbock; and Macedonio “Massey” Villarreal of Houston. Chancellor Lamar Urbanovsky manages the system’s office in Austin.