Regents approve water resources doctoral program for SWT

Date of release: 09/04/02

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS— The Texas State University System Board of Regents has authorized Southwest Texas State University to offer a doctoral program in aquatic resources.

Pending the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, coursework in the program could begin as early as the 2003 fall semester.

The interdisciplinary program will utilize expertise from the SWT Biology Department and several other participating departments to provide a doctoral level program of research, education and planning to address problems associated with sustainable fresh water resources.

“SWT is ideally suited for a program such as this,” said Robert Gratz, SWT vice president for academic affairs. “We occupy a central and water-sensitive geographic location and are responsible for major regional aquatic resources. In planning this program, our faculty have done an exceptional job of designing an integrated program that will address a critical need.”

The SWT campus is home to the San Marcos Springs, the headwaters of the San Marcos River and adjacent wetlands. Also located at SWT are the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center and the International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.

SWT currently offers three doctoral programs in the Geography Department and two in the College of Education.

In other action, the regents approved preliminary plans prepared by Garza-Bomberger and Associates of San Antonio for a new building for the College of Business Administration.

The new building, which carries an estimated price tag of $33.6 million, would be located along Comanche Street at the present site of Read Hall. It will include a 420-space parking garage.

The university will seek competitive bids for the project, which is currently slated for completion in the fall of 2005.

In other SWT related action, the board:

  • Added a master of science degree with a major in materials physics in the Department of Physics.
  • Added a bachelor of science degree with a major in geography-water studies in the Department of Geography and changed the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography/geographic information systems to degrees in geographic information science.
  • Added a graduate certification program in professional ethics in the Department of Philosophy.
  • Added an all-level special education teaching option to the bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies degree program.
  • Moved the dance program to the Department of Theatre and changed the department’s name to the Department of Theatre and Dance. The name of the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance was changed to the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
  • Hired HKS Inc. of Dallas to provide a master plan for development and improvements to the baseball and softball complex.
  • Approved special employment contract renewals for men’s basketball coach Dennis Nutt, baseball coach Ty Harrington and softball coach Richelle Woodard.
  • Awarded a construction contract of $2.1 million to Scott and Reid General Contractors of Austin for the Strahan Coliseum administration addition and authorized adjustments of easements to accommodate construction. The coliseum addition will house Athletic Department administrative offices and support future space needs of the department.
  • Adopted annual budgets for TSUS component schools. The SWT budget shows budget requirements of $222.1 million and estimated income and balances of $234.5 million.
  • Amended previous authorizations of purchase orders for furniture and equipment for the Athletics Facilities Improvement Project Phase I to increase the estimated total to $658,414.
  • Acknowledged gifts to SWT of $10,000 or more.
  • The Houston Endowment donated $625,000 for the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant and for the International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.
  • Elizabeth J. Gill donated $271,600 to establish charitable gift annuities with the SWT Development Foundation.
  • Wren A. Giesen contributed $100,000 to establish a charitable gift annuity with the SWT Development Foundation.
  • James Wilburn Ragsdale gave $100,000 to establish a charitable gift annuity with the SWT Development Foundation.
  • The university received $100,000 from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation in support of the library technology and faculty technology development programs.
  • Roy C. Buck donated $50,000 to establish a charitable gift annuity with the SWT Development Foundation.
  • The RGK Foundation gave $50,000 for the SWT Mathworks Program.
  • Gifts in kind of shirts and carry bags, valued at $30,980, were given for the Celebrity Golf Classic by Nike.
  • The Burdine Johnson Foundation contributed $25,000 for the Katherine Anne Porter Operating Fund.
  • CenturyTel of San Marcos contributed $25,000 for sponsorship of the Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament.
  • The Kodosky Foundation gave $25,000 in support of the SWT Mathworks program.
  • Alice Caldwell donated $19,700 for the Judith Caldwell Miller Scholarship.
  • Gloria Walts donated stock sold for $15,327 for the Robert W. and Gloria D. Walts scholarship fund.
  • The university received $15,000 from the estate of Betty Jane Kissler for the Clayton/Fitzpatrick/Kissler scholarship in history.
  • Eugene E. Payne donated $15,000 for administrative support for the SWT Department of Management.
  • Priority Personnel contributed $15,000 in support of the Celebrity Golf Classic.
  • Terese T. Hershey donated $10,000 for the International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.
  • George C. Hixon contributed $10,000 for the International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.
  • Michael R. Young donated $10,000 in support of geography scholarships.
  • Gifts in kind, with values exceeding $10,000, were given for the Southwestern Writers Collection by Bud Shrake and Bill Arhos.
  • Authorized a change order not to exceed $1.2 million for the Mitte Complex.
  • Authorized the university to lease apartments at Bobcat Village to provide housing for students who can’t be accommodated in university residence halls.
  • Authorized the university to lease space in the LBJ Student Center from September 2002 through August 2007 to JDP Business Services, doing business as PostNet, to provide a variety of services to students, including UPS, Fed Ex, Postal Services and packaging supplies.
  • Authorized the university to remove Buckner Hall from the SWT housing system. Buckner Hall will eventually be demolished and its site used for a parking garage for the new Business Building.
  • Authorized the university to renew its agreement with the Central Texas Medical Center for treatment of student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics.
  • Authorized final acceptance of the chiller replacement and cooling tower upgrade in the cogeneration plant facility project, the third phase of the utility plant expansion and the Nueces Hall renovation project.
  • Approved legislative appropriation requests for TSUS system schools.
  • Authorized the university to contract with Tejas Elevator Co. of Austin for elevator maintenance services.
  • Amended the laundry service contract with Web Service Co.
  • Approved internal audit plans for fiscal year 2003 from system schools.
  • Received fourth class day reports for the 2002 summer sessions.
  • Approved routine curriculum changes, budget adjustments, course fees and personnel matters.

The TSUS Board of Regents governs the following eight components: Angelo State University in San Angelo, Lamar University in Beaumont, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Lamar State College-Orange, Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, SWT and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, including the Rio Grande College with campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Uvalde.

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