SFA University
January 6, 2025 - Happy New Year! Below is Stephen F. Austin State University’s calendar of events and key dates for January 6 through 20.
Note: This calendar is not intended to be comprehensive; click the calendar links below for more events.
- Men’s basketball vs. Houston Christian University at 6:30pm on January 6 in the Johnson Coliseum.
- Women’s basketball vs. Southeastern Louisiana University at 6:30pm on January 9 in the Johnson Coliseum.
- SFA Gardens Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7pm on January 9 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building. SFA Gardens’ January lecture series guest speaker will be Monika Maeckle, the founder of the Texas Butterfly Ranch and the Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Festival, who will present “The Monarch Migration: Its Rise and Fall.”
- Spring 2025 classes begin January 15. Important dates, deadlines, frequently asked questions and course registration guides, among other resources, can be found on SFA’s spring 2025 guide.
- SFA Gardens Lunch Bunch is at Noon on January 15 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building. Dr. David Creech, SFA Gardens director, will be the featured speaker during this monthly lunch social for garden-minded individuals.
- Campus closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20. University offices will reopen January 21.
Look ahead:
- Scholarship application deadline - February 2
- Showcase Saturday - March 1
University Calendar - https://graphite.sfasu.edu/events/
Athletics Calendar - https://sfajacks.com/calendar
December 10, 2024 - Happy holiday season! Below is Stephen F. Austin State University’s calendar of events and key dates for December 9 through 23.
Note: This calendar is not intended to be comprehensive; click the calendar links below for more events.
- A Nutcracker Dream - SOLD OUT - 7pm December 10 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, Turner Auditorium. Students in the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts Music Preparatory Division will perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Op. 71” along with a selection of Christmas music. Gobel School of Dance students will serve as guest dancers during the performance.
- SFA Gardens Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is at 7pm on December 12 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building. SFA Gardens’ December lecture series guest speaker will be Dr. David Creech, SFA Gardens director, who will present “Plans, Plants and People Making a Difference at SFA Gardens.”
- Village Nac Open House is at 11am on December 13. Village Nac is located at 1188 County Road 823, Nacogdoches. Construction management students in the James I. Perkins College of Education’s School of Human Sciences will host a public open house featuring the tiny home they built this fall.
- Fall 2024 commencement at 2pm and 6pm December 13 and 14 in the Johnson Coliseum. SFA’s fall 2024 commencement will be split into four ceremonies. Schedule details, including the day and time each college will participate, can be viewed on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
- Men’s basketball vs. Texas Wesleyan University at 6:30pm December 20 in the Johnson Coliseum
- Campus closure for winter break December 23 to January 1. University offices will be closed for the winter break and will reopen January 2.
Look ahead:
Residence halls reopen - January 11
Spring classes begin - January 15
Campus closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 20
University Calendar - https://graphite.sfasu.edu/events/
Athletics Calendar - https://sfajacks.com/calendar
Two Stephen F. Austin State University students in the James I. Perkins College of Education’s aviation sciences program were
awarded the Wings Over Houston Airshow scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year.
December 4, 2024 - Senior Johnna Edwards from Athens, Texas, and sophomore Sayer Swinford from Magnolia received the $1,000 scholarship intended to assist and reward students who have demonstrated academic potential, leadership and extracurricular involvement.
“Johnna is a leader among her peers and is always one of the first ones to step up to help the under classmates,” said Allen Wilson, SFA’s aviation program director. “Sayer is a natural born leader and promotes camaraderie and teamwork among his classmates. They’re both very deserving of this honor.”
For more information about SFA’s aviation sciences program, visit sfasu.edu/hms/academics/aviation.
November 26, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University is excited to introduce a new way to stay informed about the many events happening on campus!
University Marketing Communications is introducing a biweekly media advisory with a curated calendar to keep our news outlets and community members informed about the wide variety of campus events and key dates. This list will not be comprehensive, but we will include a link to the full University Calendar at the end of each announcement. For questions, email umc@sfasu.edu.
Below are SFA events and key dates for November 25 through December 8.
Campus closed for Thanksgiving break
November 28-29
Residence halls will close and classes will not be held beginning November 25. The university will remain open November 25-27, then all university offices will close November 28-29. Classes resume and offices will be open December 2.
Holiday on the Plaza
5:30 to 8 p.m. December 2 in the Plaza in front of the Austin Building
Faculty, staff, students and their families can enjoy delicious treats, participate in holiday-themed activities, and count down to the lighting of the SFA campus.
Earth Explorations: A Third-Grade Learning Excursion
Two sessions: 9am and 11:30am December 3 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building
Hosted by SFA Gardens staff and volunteers, this program will focus on the Earth's surface and resources.
SFA Symphony Orchestra
7:30pm December 3 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, Turner Auditorium
Celebrate the next generation of musical prodigies with the SFA Symphony Orchestra. The event will showcase the music of the 2024 Student Concerto Competition winner.
The Big Dip
All day December 6 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Grand Ballroom
One of SFA's most beloved traditions, students graduating in the December 2024 commencement ceremonies will be given their class ring and ceremoniously dunk their hand in purple-dye water.
Deck the Halls: Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays
1pm to 4pm December 7 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building
Hosted by SFA Gardens, participants will create elegant holiday decorations using materials from nature under the guidance of Dawn Stover, agronomist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
SFA Combined Choirs "Seasonal Celebration"
7:30pm December 7 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, Turner Auditorium
The SFA choirs will present the popular annual holiday concert featuring beloved selections of Handel’s “Messiah” and many perennial holiday favorites.
Look ahead:
- Final exams - December 9-13
- Fall commencement - December 13-14
- Spring classes begin - January 15
- University Series: comedian Greg Warren - January 30
- SFA Jazz alumni concert - February 1
University Calendar - https://graphite.sfasu.edu/events/
Athletics Calendar - https://sfajacks.com/calendar
November 21, 2024 – Stephen F. Austin State University will be expanding its Purple Promise Guarantee Program, which covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students, to students whose families make up to $100,000 annually beginning fall 2025 following an announcement Wednesday from The University of Texas System.
This is the second major investment by the UT System in SFA’s long-running Purple Promise initiative. In September 2023, the program was bolstered by a $1 million annual investment from the UT System's Regents' Promise Plus endowment, increasing the household income threshold for eligibility from $30,000 to $80,000. This second investment sees that threshold increase even more, enabling more Lumberjacks to attend SFA tuition-free.
“To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution,” said Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the system Board of Regents.
The Purple Promise Guarantee Program covers the remaining balance of flat-rate tuition and regular fees not addressed by other financial aid for qualifying first-time, full-time students.
Prior to SFA’s affiliation with the system, approximately 266 students were in the Purple Promise program in 2022. In the 2023-24 academic year, UT’s investment expanded that number by 86.8%, awarding funds to 673 students. Yesterday’s announcement of this most recent expansion is expected to significantly broaden access to higher education for families across Texas.
"By raising the income threshold, we're opening doors for more students to pursue their dreams of earning a college degree without the burden of excessive financial stress,” said SFA president Dr. Neal Weaver. “This program represents a transformative opportunity for students and their families to access higher education in East Texas, and we are incredibly grateful to the Board of Regents for their continued investment to make those opportunities possible.”
According to the UT System release, the average student debt at UT institutions not only has steadily declined over the past five years, but it is also 10% lower, on average, than across Texas public four-year universities. Moreover, the percentage of UT graduates with debt has declined from 53.6% in 2019 to 47.8% in 2023.
According to seekUT — a UT System free online tool for families that provides data on the earnings and educational outcomes of UT graduates — the numbers are even more impressive in critical workforce degree programs like nursing, computer science, accounting and biology, where fewer than 45% of UT graduates take on debt.
"The Purple Promise program offers peace of mind to families knowing that tuition and fees are covered,” said Courtney Burns, interim vice president of enrollment management. “It ensures students can focus on their education while parents can feel confident about managing the costs of higher education."
For more information about eligibility and application requirements, visit sfasu.edu/purplepromise.
About Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
November 19, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University students, including members of the university’s American Marketing Association student chapter and graphic design majors, made their mark during this year’s District 10 American Advertising Federation Student Conference in Houston, earning top honors for their creative strategies and teamwork. Competing alongside students from across the region, SFA’s talented representatives brought fresh ideas, built connections and gained real-world experience by crafting full-scale advertising campaigns in a high-stakes, industry-style challenge.
The client for the 2024 AAF-Houston competition was Rodney Jones, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, who provided a budget of $1 million for the student teams to create media plans and creative strategies spanning one year. AAF-Houston officials randomly assigned students with varying majors from different universities to teams of six or seven. Those teams worked from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to prepare complete advertising campaigns for Jones on the first day of the conference.
“Each student who participated in this event just moved forward in their career development,” said Dr. Marlene Kahla, professor of management and marketing in SFA’s Rusche College of Business and faculty advisor for SFA’s AMA student chapter. “They entered the industry challenge, met new people and created a complete campaign within seven hours. Then, they selected people from their team to present their campaign to the industry judges. They are all winners.”
The graphic design students in the competition were mentored by Peter Andrew, professor of art, and Daniel Anguiano, associate professor of graphic design, in SFA’s Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.
“This is a yearly event that our students look forward to so they can showcase their design skills, and it’s an opportunity to network with the professional community of Houston,” Anguiano said. “We are always grateful to the Friends of the Visual Arts that provides the grants for our students to attend events like this for their professional development.”
Annabeth Wilkerson, first-year marketing student from Diboll, and Liz Canales, senior general business major from Houston, received top honors on the first-place team. Tess Cohen, first-year entrepreneurship student from Spring, and Charles Maples, graphic design junior from Longview, earned second-place honors with their team. Bradley Cavanaugh, junior English major with a marketing minor from Moscow, Texas; KJ Ghast, graphic design junior from Nacogdoches; and Moises Ordaz, graphic design senior from Houston served on the third-place team.
Other members of SFA’s AMA student chapter participating in the AAF-Houston competition were Madden C. Bennett, junior from Austin; Jorge Cantu, junior from Houston; Katie Carcerano, junior from Orange; Amanda Flores, junior from Houston; Alexis Gallego, senior from Cleveland, Texas, and president of SFA’s AMA student chapter; Isabel Jedmears, junior from Little Elm; Edna Rodriquez Mendoza, senior from Dallas; Caroline Oteiza, senior from Houston and vice president of SFA’s AMA student chapter; Emily Ponce, junior from Nacogdoches; and Jennifer Rivas, senior from Lufkin.
Other graphic design students participating in the competition were Addie Clausen, senior from Lumberton; Scott Cordray, junior from Douglass; Jacob Crosby, sophomore from Kyle; Julio Espinoza, junior from Henderson; Juliana Frigo, junior from Abilene; Gideon Gyimah, graduate student from Ghana; Rebekah Glasgow, senior from Spring; Joycelyn King, junior from Crowley; Asher McAlister, junior from McKinney; Riley Troxel, senior from Katy; and Laney Wise, senior from Keller.
In addition to the competition, the conference offered résumé and portfolio reviews as well as a career fair to students.
“Several marketing professionals at the career fair said they met SFA students and were impressed by them,” Kahla said. “It’s so exciting when you can tell that your students got the big picture during the conference.”
For more information about SFA’s Department of Management and Marketing, visit sfasu.edu/mgtmkt. For more information about SFA’s School of Art, visit sfasu.edu/art.
November 14, 2024 – In a move aimed at easing the transition for transfer students and maximizing educational opportunities, Stephen F. Austin State University has increased its accepted transfer credit limit from 66 to 90 credit hours. This significant policy change provides incoming transfer students with greater flexibility in applying their previously earned credits, helping them to progress toward degree completion without the need to retake courses or sacrifice credits.
The decision to expand accepted transfer credit hours aligns with SFA’s commitment to supporting students at every stage of their educational journey, including those transferring from community colleges or other four-year institutions. This dedication is evidenced, as well, by SFA’s long-running transfer scholarships that automatically offer up to $2,000 to students based on GPA.
“By allowing students to transfer up to 90 credit hours, SFA is ensuring that more students can bring their hard-earned credits with them, creating a smoother and more efficient path to graduation,” said Courtney Burns, interim vice president for enrollment management. “This change reflects our commitment to providing every opportunity for students to succeed and make the most of their educational investment.”
The accepted credit hour increase will also allow SFA to create "3+1" pathway programs, where students complete three years at a designated community college then one year at SFA to receive a bachelor’s degree, explained Megan Kelley, SFA’s academic partnerships coordinator. These programs would offer students more direct, streamlined paths to specific degree programs, such as the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and human development.
The flexibility offered by this increased transfer credit limit makes the university an attractive option for students seeking to complete their degree without losing time or resources. Although credit transfer policies vary by institution, SFA’s decision to accept up to 90 credits is among the highest limits in Texas, allowing SFA to offer robust transfer options to a wide range of students.
Through this initiative, SFA continues to solidify its partnerships with community colleges across the state, creating new pathways and ensuring that transfer students are well-supported throughout their transition.
For more information about transferring to SFA, visit sfasu.edu/transfer.
November 13, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s speech pathology clinic, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders, is celebrating its sixth consecutive year as the recipient of a Parkinson Voice Project grant that enables the center to offer the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program.
Developed by the PVP, the SPEAK OUT! program helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. This highly effective, evidence-based treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice, and continuous follow-ups. Patients are empowered to “speak with intent,” transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. “Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of losing their ability to speak,” said Samantha Elandary, Parkinson Voice Project’s founder and chief executive officer. “In addition, swallowing complications account for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population. Our vision at Parkinson Voice Project is to make quality speech therapy accessible to people with Parkinson’s worldwide.”
Housed within the James I. Perkins College of Education, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders is a teaching clinic on the SFA campus staffed by graduate students, under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist, as part of their required clinical hours. “Our services benefit all involved: they provide real-world experience for students aspiring to become speech-language pathologists while helping clients enhance their vocal intent and awareness,” said Deena Petersen, director of the center. “Our students all receive SPEAK OUT! training from the Parkinson Voice Project grant and are able to provide the therapy to clients with Parkinson’s disease in our clinic.
“Additionally, for individuals with Parkinson's disease, this therapy can be transformative as it incorporates cognitive exercises to keep the mind engaged and active. Many clients experience improved swallowing ability through vocal exercises, as well." Following the individual SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, participants can graduate onto a SPEAK OUT! group for continued group therapy. For more information about SFA’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders, visit gosfa.com/3uaRd6t or contact Petersen at petersend@sfasu.edu.
October 29, 2024 - Multiple departments at Stephen F. Austin State University collaborated with the Texas Forestry Association to host the annual Wild About Science event Oct. 18 and 25 for fourth and fifth grade students from regional schools. Faculty and staff from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFA Gardens and the James I. Perkins College of Education’s Department of Education Studies trained 71 SFA students to conduct three Project Learning Tree activities for the event. The preservice student teachers hosted 671 school children at their activity stations during the event at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
October 21, 2024 – Drs. Jessica Glasscock and Cord Eversole, assistant professors of forest wildlife management at Stephen F. Austin State University, have been awarded a grant of over $1 million from the Texas Department of Transportation. This funding will support their research project focused on the conservation and ecology of the alligator snapping turtle, a vital yet at-risk species in East Texas.
The five-year project, set to begin in spring 2025, will evaluate the effects of road construction and maintenance on the habitats of alligator snapping turtles. The research aims to understand how these activities influence turtle populations and to develop conservation strategies that can mitigate negative impacts on the species.
“Studies like ours enhance scientific knowledge and lay the groundwork for targeted management and conservation actions,” Eversole said. “For example, our project's results will improve the currently limited understanding of alligator snapping turtle nesting habitats and behaviors, as well as enhance our ability to manage anthropogenic disturbances and their effects on the species' life history characteristics and movement patterns.”
The alligator snapping turtle is considered an at-risk species due to perceived population declines across much of its North American range. In East Texas, the alligator snapping turtle is a vital component of freshwater ecosystems and contributes significantly to the region's ecological identity.
Glasscock and Eversole’s research will focus on studying how the turtles use bank habitats near culverts and bridges, as well as assessing in-stream environments. A key objective of the project is to design and implement a barrier fence that will prevent the turtles from entering construction zones, reducing the risk of harm to the species.
The project’s findings will be presented at scientific conferences, including TxDOT’s Environmental Conference and the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting, providing valuable insights for both the scientific community and transportation authorities. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2029.
The pair will collaborate with Chris Schalk, U.S. Forest Service, and Matt Buckingham U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on this project.
For more information about SFA’s forestry and wildlife management program, visit sfasu.edu/forestry.
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