TSUS regents meet in Alpine

Date of release: 08/31/01

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Work will begin soon on the last of three high-rise residence halls scheduled for renovation at Southwest Texas State University.

The Texas State University System Board of Regents Friday, meeting on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine, authorized SWT to award a $4.1 million construction contract to the C.P. Snider Construction Co. of Austin for work at the College Inn residence hall at SWT.

College Inn will be closed for the project during the 2001-02 academic year but is scheduled to reopen for the 2002 fall semester. Work on the building will include fire code upgrades mandated in a 1999 report by the state fire marshal.

That report required universities throughout Texas to provide sprinkler systems in all residence halls taller than five stories. College Inn has nine stories. The work will include the installation of sprinkler systems, building upgrades, items aimed at improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and asbestos abatement. Similar work was recently completed at SWT’s other high-rise residence halls, Jackson Hall and the Tower.

In other SWT-related action, the board:

  • Authorized the university to execute two change orders not to exceed a total of $1.35 million for construction of the Roy and Joann Cole Mitte Art, Technology and Physics Complex.
  • Authorized the university to take bids and issue purchase orders for furniture and equipment at a total estimated cost of $259,386 for the recently renovated University Service Center.
  • Authorized two contracts with Amtech Roofing Consultants of Austin for architectural services to design roof replacements for the Health Science Center and Jones Cafeteria.
  • Approved final acceptance of the renovation of the University Print Shop at a total project cost of $554,000 as designed by Croslin and Associates of Austin and constructed by the J.J. Stokes Co. of San Marcos.
  • Approved special employment contracts with head men’s basketball coach Dennis Nutt, head women’s basketball coach Suzanne Fox, head volleyball coach Karen Chisum, head baseball coach Ty Harrington and head softball coach Richelle Woodard.
  • Acknowledged gifts to the university of $10,000 or more:
    • The Shell Oil Company Foundation gave several patents, valued at $5.2 million, for a family of high temperature thermoplastics for research and development purposes to the SWT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
    • The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation gave $100,000 for continued support of the technology programs for the SWT library and faculty development.
    • The Archer Huntington Trust Fund was liquidated and the trust’s assets of $82,667 were remitted to SWT. The funds have been designated for the NEH Challenge matching grant.
    • Dehrsing Luu gave equipment, valued at $31,700, to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center. The equipment will allow students and staff to learn the operation of modern analytical instrumentation.
    • Chuck Nash Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, Jeep Co. gave $30,000 in support of the athletic program at SWT.
    • Reliant Energy Entex gave $15,000 in support of the Centennial Campaign. This is the final payment on its pledge of $60,000.
    • The Richter Investment Partnership have the SWT Development Foundation a lot in Cedar Park Ranchettes in Williamson County valued at $15,000. Walter and Dorothy Jean Richter are both alumni of SWT.
    • The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co. gave $11,000 in support of the Texas School Safety Center at SWT. n The Web Service Co. gave $14,235 to establish the Web Service Co.-Montgomery Scholarship for qualified resident students.
    • The Enterprise Rent-A-Car foundation gave $10,000 to establish an endowed scholarship in the College of Business Administration.
    • Prime Outlet of San Marcos gave $10,000 in support of the SWT Celebrity Golf Classic.
    • Paul Snider from C.P. Snider Construction Co. gave $10,000 to increase the Paul and Jo Snider History Endowment. Income from the endowment will fund discretionary needs in the Department of History.
  • Approved operating budgets for the 2001-2002 fiscal year for system component schools.
  • Authorized the university to sign a contract for cable television and other electronic entertainment and data service with either Grande Communications or Time Warner, pending the outcome of negotiations with both companies.
  • Authorized course fees, received fourth-class-day reports for summer sessions and approved routine budget amendments, internal audit reports and personnel matters.

The Texas State University System includes Angelo State University in San Angelo, Lamar University in Beaumont, Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Lamar State College-Orange, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, SWT, Sul Ross State University in Alpine and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College with centers in Uvalde, Del Rio and Eagle Pass.

Members of the nine-member board are Nancy R. Neal of Lubbock, chair; Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso, vice chair; Patricia Diaz Dennis of San Antonio; John P. Hageman of Austin; Dan S. Hallmark of Beaumont; James A. “Jimmy” Hayley of Texas City; Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo; James L. Sweatt III of DeSoto; and Macedonio “Massey” Villarreal of Houston. Chancellor Lamar Urbanovsky manages the system office in Austin.