Regents approve industrial engineering degree for Texas State

SAN MARCOS — The Texas State University System Board of Regents has authorized Texas State University-San Marcos to begin offering a program in industrial engineering.

Pending the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the program leading to a bachelor of science with a major in industrial engineering could begin in the 2004 fall semester.

Industrial engineering will be the second engineering program offered at Texas State. The university entered the engineering field three years ago when it began offering a program in manufacturing engineering through the Department of Technology.

The Technology Department recently moved into the new Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Art, Technology and Physics Complex. The new building includes 19 laboratories that provide the department with improved capabilities in such areas as computer aided design, robotics and computer integrated manufacturing, rapid prototyping, microelectronics manufacturing, metal casting and automated machining.

In other action, the board, meeting in Huntsville on the campus of Sam Houston State University, approved a master plan for the first phase of development of a permanent facility for the Round Rock Higher Education Center.

Design plans for the $27 million construction project will probably be presented to the board in early 2004 with groundbreaking likely in the spring. Preliminary plans call for a three-story main building and separate central plant.

The Round Rock Higher Education Center is a partnership of Texas State, Austin Community College and Temple College at Taylor.

The regents also authorized Texas State to increase designated tuition from $56 per semester credit hour to $61, the maximum student service fee from $150 per semester to $158, the medical service fee from $39 to $48 per semester and the student recreation fee from $45 to $47 per semester beginning in the 2004 fall semester.

The increase in the student service fee will pay for scholarship increases, salary and benefit increases and some program enhancements. The medical service fee increase is tied to the move to the new, larger Student Health Center in the 2004 spring semester. The student recreation fee hike is needed to keep pace with increased operating costs of programs and facilities.

The board authorized midyear pay raises for faculty and staff equal to 3 percent of budgeted total salaries. The par raises are funded by income generated from enrollment growth last year and in the 2003 fall semester.

The board also elected new officers. Elected chair was Alan W. Dreeben of San Antonio. Elected vice chair was Kent Adams of Beaumont. They will assume their offices in January.

In other Texas State related business, the board:
• Authorized the university to hire Durand-Hollis-Rupe Architects of San Antonio to prepare preliminary plans and design modifications for the LBJ Student Center game room.
• Authorized the university to contract with L.D. Tebben co. of Austin for roof repairs to Commons Hall.
• Renamed San Marcos Hall Phase II as San Jacinto Hall.
• Acknowledged gifts to the university of $5,000 or more.
The Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation in support of five Mitte Chairs at Texas State and in support of the Mitte Scholars scholarship program.
The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation in support of the library technology and faculty development programs in the Alkek Library.
The McCombs Foundation and the Gary V. Woods Foundation to create an endowment for excellence in the College of Business Administration.
The Angel Foundation in support of the Katherine Anne Porter creative writing project.
An anonymous donor in support of costs related to the name change of the university.
The estate of W. Morgan and Lou Claire Rose for creative writing scholarships.
The Intel Foundation in support of the Mathworks program.
The Shell Oil Company Foundation to support patent maintenance and research costs in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The IBM Corporation Corporate Support Programs to support the Asia Regional Contest, an international program sponsored by the Department of Computer Science at Texas State.
The estate of Weldon R. Durrenberger in support of the general campaign.
CenturyTel as part of a pledge to create the CenturyTel College of Business Administration Advising Center Endowment.
CenturyTel to the Bobcat Athletic Foundation for athletic sponsorship.
Hays Energy Limited Partnership in support of the Celebrity Classic Scholarship.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray M. Miller in support of the Bobcat Athletic Foundation.
Randall Morris and Associates in support of the Bobcat Athletic Foundation.
The Raytheon Charitable Gift Fund in support of the Texas Watch program.
The Texas State University Parents’ Association in support of the president’s discretionary funds.
UBS Financial Services in support of the Round Rock Higher Education Center.
Alan R. Wiley in support of the Bobcat Athletic Foundation.

The Women’s Sportfishing Foundation to support the International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.
• Authorized out-of-country study programs in Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua and England.
• Received 12th class day reports for the 2003 fall semester.
• Approved routine curriculum changes, budget amendments, 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, Texas State 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 Alan Dreeben of San Antonio, chair; Kent Adams of Beaumont, vice chair; Patricia Diaz Dennis of San Antonio; John E. Dudley of Comanche; Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso; Bernie Francis of Carrollton; James A. “Jimmy” Hayley of Texas City; Nancy R. Neal of Lubbock; and Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo. Chancellor Lamar Urbanovsky manages the system office in Austin.