Today@Sam Article

Additions To Ag Complex Among Items Approved By Board Of Regents

Feb. 24, 2023
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

New enhancements to the first phase of Sam Houston State University’s future Agricultural Complex were among the items approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents at their regular quarterly meeting on Feb. 23.

In planning and construction, consent was granted for an amendment to design development documents for the Gibbs Ranch Equestrian Facility and Agriculture Labs (phase 1) to reflect an increase in the scope of work and total project cost. The original project included a classroom building, horse stalls, greenhouses, animal science and horticulture labs, a covered arena, learning center, plant sciences facility with head house and three greenhouses, meat sciences and food technology facility, a multi-purpose agricultural center and associated site improvements. Thanks to generous support from SHSU donors, the project scope has been expanded to include approximately 334,386 square feet of additional asphalt paving in the RV parking lot and roads located in front of the head house, learning center, and multi-purpose agricultural center.

In academic affairs, a graduate certificate in Marriage, Family, and Counseling was approved with an implementation date of Fall 2023. Housed in the Department of Counselor Education, the main objective is to help students meet the requirement of the Texas Marriage and Family Therapist License (LMFT) to address the shortage of LMFTs in the market.

The university received approval to implement two changes to its General Education Core Curriculum course requirements effective Fall 2023. Those changes include the addition of UNIV 2112: Career Ed and Development to Component Area IX: Core Component Option, and the addition of PHYS 1401: Physics Bootcamp to Component Area III: Life and Physical Sciences.

Approval was granted to change the title of the Master of Science in Statistics to the Master of Science in Statistics and Data Science with an implementation date of Sept. 1, 2023. The title change will better reflect the emphasis and focus of the program’s modern course offerings.

All academic affairs program changes are to be implemented upon final approval by the TSUS Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Under finance items, to assist SHSU in meeting its goal to provide a quality food service program on campus, an amendment to the May 2005 food service contract between SHSU and Aramark Educational Services of Texas, Inc. was approved.

SHSU was authorized to charge a program fee of $5,995 in lieu of the standard tuition and fee structure for the alternative teacher certification program. Comprised of 12 semester credit hours at the master’s level, the program culminates with a year-long paid internship in a school district as teacher of record, with direct supervision and mentoring by College of Education faculty.

Among miscellaneous items on the agenda, SHSU received approval to name the SHSU observatory the Dominey Observatory. Barbara Dominey has funded a new structure at the observatory and purchased a telescope for the observatory in honor of her late husband. The gift will also expand and replace the current observatory space and add an additional teaching and observatory structure with a retractable roof. The facilities will be the cornerstone for recruiting and outreach strategy for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

- END -

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office:

Director of Content Communications: Emily Binetti

Asst. Director Content & Social Media: Emilee White

Communications Manager: Mikah Boyd
Telephone: 936.294.1837

Communications Specialist: Campbell Atkins
Telephone: 936.294.2638

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu