SFA University
June 25, 2021 — Stephen F. Austin State University’s DeWitt School of Nursing was recently ranked No. 8 in Texas by RN Careers, an online program guide.
RN Careers ranks programs based on tuition costs and national licensure exam pass rates, among other criteria.
The DeWitt School of Nursing received a 97% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination in 2020 and prepares students for success with personal attention from faculty.
“Our nursing faculty are engaged and focused on student success,” said Dr. Tamara Harris, director of the School of Nursing. “We have testing procedures that mimic the NCLEX testing and faculty that accompany students to clinicals for the purpose of reinforcing concepts from lecture content.”
With advanced simulation labs and rigorous coursework, students are equipped to provide exceptional patient care in a variety of nursing fields.
“Our students graduate with job offers,” Harris said. “SFA’s School of Nursing has a reputation across the state of providing a great education for nurses.”
To learn more about the School of Nursing, visit sfasu.edu/nursing.
By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Dr. Christopher Schalk, SFA assistant professor of forest wildlife management, and Dr. Daniel Scognamillo, SFA adjunct professor of forest wildlife management, participated in the first nationwide survey of mammals initiated by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. The survey, known as Snapshot USA, comprises 1,509 motion-activated camera traps throughout 110 sites in the U.S. Pictured is a common raccoon documented at the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest during the survey.
June 16, 2021 — Have you ever felt as though you were being watched? If so and you were a mammal roaming the 2,560-acre Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest during fall 2019, your suspicions likely were correct.
Dr. Christopher Schalk, Stephen F. Austin State University assistant professor of forest wildlife management, and Dr. Daniel Scognamillo, SFA adjunct professor of forest wildlife management, are two of more than 150 researchers from across the continental U.S. to participate in the first nationwide survey of mammals initiated by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
The survey, known as Snapshot USA, comprises 1,509 motion-activated camera traps throughout 110 sites in the U.S.
“Our goal was to provide a space for researchers from all 50 states to contribute a subset of their data to a broader initiative to maximize our coverage of the country and better understand drivers of mammal distributions to best inform conservation as rapidly as possible,” said Michael Cove, curator of mammalogy at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Schalk and Scognamillo deployed 19 camera traps throughout the SFA Experimental Forest during September and October 2019 and recorded numerous observations of more than 10 mammal species, including white-tailed deer, Southern flying squirrel, bobcat, coyote and nine-banded armadillo.
“These data are really valuable because they allow researchers to address questions and problems on the ecology and conservation of mammals at broader spatial scales,” Schalk said.
The results of Snapshot USA were featured in Ecology, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Ecological Society of America. The 2019 survey data also is publicly available at emammal.si.edu/snapshot-usa.
Story by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.
The ongoing collaboration between art education students at Stephen F. Austin State University and the Nacogdoches membership of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas has resulted in an art show available for viewing from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
June 14, 2021 – The first Boys and Girls Club Art Show will be presented from noon to 5pm Saturday, June 19, at The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
The show is part of an ongoing collaboration between art education students at Stephen F. Austin State University and the Nacogdoches membership of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas. On display will be artwork created as a result of art education student-lead art lessons presented at the Boys and Girls Club since March.
“SFA art education students have been providing art lessons continuously since the summer of 2020,” said Dr. Maggie Leysath, professor of art education at SFA. “The art lessons are part of an initiative by the art education department to help the BGC build an after-school art program by providing art lessons taught by SFA art education students.
Lessons were initially provided virtually because of the pandemic. But in March, art education students were able to resume face-to-face art lessons at the club facilities and develop a body of work that will be on display in the art show and is representative of the on-going collaboration, according to Leysath.
“BGC members as well as interested community members are invited to join us to share the artwork created by BGC members after school and during the Summer 2021 session,” Leysath said.
Light refreshments will be served just outside the upper gallery where the exhibition will be held. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St.
For more information about the show, contact Leysath at leysathmn@sfasu.edu or 936-468-4262. For more information about summer programs with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, visit bgcdet.org. For more information about the School of Art, visit art.sfasu.edu.
Construction continues on Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. The Fine Arts Expansion Initiative will extend the building along North Street. The renovated and expanded state-of-the-art building will also include two dance studios, two new theatres, recording studio, sound stage, audio and video editing rooms, an art gallery, multiple classrooms, rehearsal facilities, faculty offices and the offices of the College of Fine Arts dean. The facilities will house the CFA’s sound recording technology, filmmaking, theatre, dance and musical theatre programs.
June 8, 2021 - Despite the obstacles created by Mother Nature and a worldwide pandemic, construction and renovation work at Griffith Fine Arts Building on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus continues to move forward.
This summer, those passing the building situated on the corner of North and East College streets will see “a building rise from underground and new life be given to the existing structure,” according to Jessica DeWitt, project manager and assistant director of projects and construction at SFA.
The Fine Arts Expansion Initiative will extend the Griffith building along North Street. The project will include renovations to W.M. Turner Auditorium, and the state-of-the-art building will also feature two dance studios, two new theatres, recording studio, sound stage, audio and video editing rooms, an art gallery, multiple classrooms, rehearsal facilities, faculty offices and the offices of the College of Fine Arts dean. The facilities will house the CFA’s sound recording technology, filmmaking, theatre, dance and musical theatre programs.
“This new, fantastic facility is going to be a beehive of activity for decades to come,” said Gary Wurtz, interim dean of the College of Fine Arts. “Watching the progress from a window or through a chain-link fence is both exciting and a test of our patience. The opportunities it will offer for teaching, learning, performing and exhibiting are endless, and we simply can’t wait to move in.”
Building design is by Kirksey Architecture and construction is by KDW. The project, which was designed to take place in two major phases including renovation of the existing building and construction of a new addition, is in various stages of work, Dewitt explained.
“In the renovation of the existing building, there is a lot of above-ceiling rough-in work for plumbing, electrical, internet and air distribution,” she said. “These activities are going to take care of the building’s deferred maintenance needs and bring those systems back online more efficiently.
“The construction of the new addition is in the critical stage of pouring the foundation and underground structure,” she said. “This has been quite the feat, given we are building down instead of up. We’re having to adapt to the slope of the site and maintain the overall relationship to the existing building.”
Adding to the anticipated challenges of a project like this, major winter storms and recent rains, along with a wide range of delays relating to materials and labor as a result of the global pandemic and overall changes in the world have created additional trials, DeWitt explained.
“Thankfully, KDW has picked up some ‘lessons learned’ from the construction of SFA’s new basketball facility to keep work on track,” she said. “As a project management team, it is our job to watch the market, stay in contact with sources, and keep things flexible at all times. To say a project is going ‘as planned,’ or not, is an unfair assessment to the process; the plan is always moving, but our target is clear.”
While it is still too early to narrow down a completion date, DeWitt said the project management team has “strong expectations” that the building will be available for occupancy in mid 2023.
To view design plans and artists’ renderings, and for up-to-date construction progress, visit finearts.sfasu.edu/expansion.
Zachary Hutchens, a student in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Biology, was recently awarded the Student Field Natural History Award by the Southwestern Association of Naturalists for his work studying the Sabine shiner in the Lanana Creek watershed.
June 4, 2021 — For the past nine months, an SFA biology student has ignored unforeseen weather extremes and other hurdles to wade into the waters of Banita and Lanana creeks in search of a threatened fish – the Sabine shiner. The Southwestern Association of Naturalists recently recognized his efforts with the Student Field Natural History Award.
Zachary Hutchens, a senior from Nacogdoches, is conducting research to assess the status and habitat conditions of local populations of Sabine shiner in the Lanana Creek watershed.
“In winter and summer sampling trips, we face extreme conditions, such as freezing and scorching temperatures,” Hutchens said. “Regardless of the weather, we maintain a consistent sampling schedule in order to standardize our data collection.”
The Sabine shiner is a small fish found in clear, shallow streams and is currently classified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Texas, necessitating a need for tracking its geographic distribution in East Texas waterways.
Using a seine, Hutchens and his faculty mentor, Dr. Carmen Montaña, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, collect the fish and mark them with visual implant elastomer tags to study their movements in the creeks.
“It is a species lacking research into their movement patterns,” Hutchens said. “My project has shown that there is an isolated population of the Sabine shiner in Banita Creek, and it does not move very far from the tagging location.”
Because the last study on the fish was conducted 20 years ago, Hutchens’ research will provide a much-needed update.
“That study reported a much higher abundance and stable populations of Sabine shiner compared to what we are finding today,” he said. “This presented a great opportunity to investigate exactly how much this population has changed and search for reasons as to why.”
Once collected, results from Hutchens’ study will be compared to the previous study.
“As a faculty member and a mentor, I am proud of our students,” Montaña said. “They work very hard in the field and lab settings to produce quality scientific data and increase their involvement with scientific research.”
Hutchens recently presented his research to judges, students and other scientists at the 68th annual meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists where he was recognized for his outstanding oral presentation and the strong field component in his research.
“This conference gave students a platform to present their research to a diverse group of scientists and graduate and undergraduate students working in the fields of ecology and conservation,” Montaña said. “Their participation in this meeting allowed our students to grow as scientists.”
To learn more about the Department of Biology, visit sfasu.edu/biology.
May 25, 2021 – Chartwells Higher Education, a food-service company providing dining options to 300 higher education institutions around the country, will begin preparing and serving meals to Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks July 1, replacing Aramark.
Chartwells is the food service provider for several Texas universities, including Texas State University, the University of Texas at Dallas and Texas A&M University at College Station.
The decision for SFA to transition to Chartwells came after a request for proposal and a thorough selection process that included input from students, faculty, staff and administrators.
SFA’s Board of Regents reviewed feedback submitted by the RFP evaluation committee during its quarterly meeting in April and selected Chartwells as its preferred partner. The partnership will provide added meal plan flexibility, greater menu variety and an innovative retail dining experience. SFA’s contract with Chartwells will last seven years.
“Cooked-from-scratch foods, menus developed by season, supporting farmers by sourcing locally, and offering vegan, vegetarian and allergen-friendly options are all trademarks of Chartwells,” said Carrie Charley, SFA director of auxiliary services. “The new dining program will be rebranded as Lumberjack Eats, representing a fresh, student-centric approach to campus dining. Lumberjacks can look forward to a refreshed dining experience with new dining stations in the Baker Pattillo Student Center and East College Dining Hall.”
“The G8 station will be a fresh addition to both dining halls,” Charley said. “It will offer menu selections prepared without the eight major allergens, including wheat. Throughout the dining halls, Chartwells’ menu and nutrition labeling system will help guests make safe and healthy choices.”
For fall, students can expect to see their favorite national brands, including Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and Einstein Bros. Bagels. New additions to retail dining include Jax Burger, serving burgers, tots and shakes, and Above the Board, featuring customizable, made-to-order salads and sandwiches.
All meal plans will remain the same in structure through June 2022. SFA and Chartwells will work collaboratively to develop future meal plan options that provide the best value and flexibility for SFA students, faculty and staff.
Hourly Aramark associates currently working at SFA will receive an employment offer from Chartwells that meets or exceeds their current wage, pending background check, Charley said. SFA will continue to have its own registered dietitian, whose services are free to students, and a new executive chef employed by Chartwells will work with SFA stakeholders to develop new menu items and dining options across campus.
“The SFA community can look forward to a culinary experience that emphasizes quality, made-to-order food, menu customization and value,” said Shannon Mariani, regional vice president for Texas, Chartwells Higher Education. “With ongoing feedback from students and the SFA community, our chefs will create menus Lumberjacks will crave. Diverse and authentic flavors will be infused into stations, and scratch cooking will define the foundation of the dining program. Beyond the plate, we look forward to engaging guests with culinary education through our Teaching Kitchen program and creating memorable experiences through innovative dining events.”
Students are encouraged to apply for campus dining positions. Additionally, Chartwells will launch a Student Success internship program, which provides student access to hands-on work in community health and wellness, hospitality management, marketing, social responsibility and sustainability.
Chartwells also will explore partnerships with departments across campus to build greater opportunities for career exploration with Chartwells and Compass Group, Chartwells’ parent company.
Questions regarding SFA’s transition to Chartwells can be emailed to LumberjackEats@sfasu.edu or to Charley at carrie.charley@sfasu.edu.
May 21, 2021 – Select fine arts summer camps at Stephen F. Austin State University are back for 2021.
The School of Art will offer its Educators’ Summer Art Studio for high school, middle school, elementary and community college educators, according to Dr. Bill Nieberding, professor of art and coordinator of the session.
The studio experience offers a unique opportunity for teachers interested in the arts to work with professional artists using a variety of media and processes to explore shared experience and develop community among Texas arts educators. Participants will explore media and processes applicable to the art classroom and develop and refine studio art-making practices toward a goal of creating pin-up exhibition in the art galleries on campus. Due to Covid and space limitations, the workshops must be limited to 16 participants who will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Residential and commuter options are available. For registration and payment option information, visit art.sfasu.edu/summerartstudio.
The Art Academy will not be offered this summer but will return in June 2022. The School of Art may be reached at (936) 468-4804.
The School of Music will offer a number of camps this summer in limited capacity. For registration information, visit music.sfasu.edu/outreach to select camp options and view pricing.
The High School Band Camp will be offered as an invitational honors band camp June 13 through 18. Student inclusion in the camp will be predicated on factors including nominations submitted by school band directors and instrumentation, and enrollment will be limited, according to Dr. David W. Campo, summer band camp director. High school band directors may learn more about the camp and nomination process at bandoffice@sfasu.edu .
Due to logistical limitations, middle school band camp will not be held this year.
Drum Major camp is scheduled for June 20 through 24, and information will be posted soon at music.sfasu.edu/outreach.
SFA’s All-State Music Choir camp is scheduled for July 11 through 14 for large schools and July 14 through 17 for small schools. On-campus lodging and commuter options are available. The camp is designed for ninth through 12th grade students preparing for the TMEA All-State choir auditions. For questions, contact Dr. Tod Fish, camp director, at fishtod@sfasu.edu.
Strings camp is slated for June 27 through July 3 with on-campus residential and commuter options available. The SFA Strings Camp welcomes junior high and high school students. Students are placed into an orchestra based on placement auditions via video submission before camp begins. Young students should have either been involved in their school programs for one year or have completed Suzuki book 1 in private lessons. For more information, email the camp director, Ruby Ortiz, at sfastringscamp@gmail.com.
The Piano in the Pines Camp is also back in an in-person format July 18 through 23. Eligible students must be between grades 6 and 12 in the fall of 2021. On-campus housing and commuter options are available.
Students will get an opportunity to have daily private lessons with one of the piano faculty, receive coaching on piano duets or ensembles, and take supplemental classes in technique and history to improve their overall musicianship. Performance classes will help students prepare for performing on stage in a supportive environment while individual time in practice rooms between lessons will be given to refine their repertoire. The week culminates in performing in a duet/ensemble concert on Thursday, and a final solo recital on Friday in one of SFA’s concert halls. For more information, email the camp director, Mario Ajero, at ajeromp@sfasu.edu, call (936) 468-1389, or visit sfasu.edu/pianocamp.
The School of Music may be reached at (936) 468-4602.
The School of Theatre will offer both in-person and online options for the Junior Jacks Theatre Camp planned for Aug. 2 through 6 and Aug. 9 through 13. Access registration information and pricing at theatre.sfasu.edu/programs.php. The High School Summer Theatre Workshop will not be offered this year.
Junior Jacks Theatre Camp was started in 2009 to serve local youth while offering an opportunity for SFA theatre teaching certification students to teach students that are younger than high-school age. It was designed as a day-camp version of the well-established High School Workshop program. Children participate in theatre games, memorize and rehearse parts and perform for family and friends at the end of the camp. It is open to children entering third through ninth grades. Contact CC Conn at conncs@sfasu.edu for additional information.
The School of Theatre may be reached at (936) 468-4003
May 20, 2021 – The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Brass Band will perform at Stephen F. Austin State University in a free concert at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, in Cole Concert Hall in Wright Music Building.
The band of active-duty Marines is currently on a Houston-area tour under the direction of GySgt. Ken Ebo, who is also primary recruiter for the southeast region of the U.S. and is in charge of band auditions. Four additional Marine Corp recruiters will also be present at the concert.
For additional information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602 or Sgt. Selena Benitez, Recruiting Station Houston, at (936) 203-2350.
May 11, 2021 - Individuals interested in aviation will soon have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree that leads to aircraft pilot certification at Stephen F. Austin State University, following approval by the Board of Regents during a specially called meeting Thursday.
The university plans to partner with an aviation training school to offering the new bachelor’s degree. Two aviation training firms responded to a request for proposals issued by the university, and HCH Aviation was selected as a partner.
“We are excited to partner with HCH and expand our academic offerings,” said Dr. Scott Gordon, SFA president. “The aviation program will be a win for our current and future students, our partners and the community.”
According to Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the Perkins College of Education, the university will develop and implement the aviation science degree, and courses will be offered beginning in fall 2021.
“The students will begin their flight lab at the A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport, located on State Hwy. 7 west of Nacogdoches,” Abbott said. “By the end of the semester, they will have approximately 45 flight hours accumulated.”
Regents also approved the cost for tuition and fees for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies through the university’s partnership with the Texas A&M System’s RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan-College Station. The partnership will appeal to a new group of transfer students for SFA, according to Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to diversify our offerings in education,” Gallant said. “This is likely a group of students that we could not attract if we weren’t involved in this partnership.”
The tuition cost of $4,647.75 for a 15 semester credit hours is the same rate charged by other A&M institutions offering courses on the RELLIS campus. SFA’s program on the RELLIS campus will begin in fall 2021.
After an executive session, regents approved the acceptance of an invitation for SFA athletics to join the Western Athletic Conference in 2022. The WAC is currently home to California Baptist, Chicago State, Dixie State, Grand Canyon University, New Mexico State, Seattle University, Tarleton State, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Utah Valley University. Gordon will negotiate the terms of the agreement.
The regents also approved a reallocation of $200,000 that had been designated for computer acquisition and replacement. The funding will be used for security initiatives including an antivirus/endpoint protection solution, a multi-factor authentication solution and a self-service password reset portal. A portion of CARES Act funding will be used for critical computer replacements.
Regents authorized the SFA Charter School Board to approve the Audited Annual Financial and Compliance Report. The report is examined by an independent auditor and submitted annually to the Texas Education Agency.
For more information, visit www.sfasu.edu/regents.
May 10, 2021 - New students entering Stephen F. Austin State University may receive a housing scholarship of up to $3,000 per semester for up to two years.
The housing allowance program, recently approved by SFA’s Board of Regents, gives qualifying students even more reason to be part of SFA’s on-campus residential community, according to Dr. Brandon Frye, SFA vice president for student affairs.
“We want students living on campus,” Frye said. “Research shows the more engaged students are and the more active they are in university life, the better their chances for success.”
A new STEM Research and Learning Center quasi-endowment of $500,000 will provide funds to support student scholarships for students majoring in a STEM field within SFA’s College of Sciences and Mathematics. The funds also will support initiatives that reflect the teaching and learning mission of the STEM Research and Learning Center.
Based on the recommendation of a Campus Climate Steering Committee, regents approved a Diversity and Inclusion Statement to affirm the university’s commitment to creating an environment that respects, honors and values diverse experiences and perspectives.
The statement reads: At SFA, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is more than words—it is actions. We believe diversity and inclusion are keys to promoting more engaged individuals locally and globally. We at SFA are committed to amplifying a campus culture that nurtures belonging and embraces similarities while celebrating that every Lumberjack will be different. Those differences are valued, acknowledged and supported purposefully.
The 46-member committee includes faculty, staff, students and administrators.
“Our goal is to create welcoming learning environments and promote access and opportunity for all,” said Dr. Michara Delaney-Fields, SFA’s chief diversity officer.
Members of the board also approved a change in SFA’s food-service provider.
With objectives that include reimagining or replacing SFA’s East College Cafeteria and contributing to student satisfaction and enrollment growth, regents heard presentations by representatives with the current food service provider, Aramark, as well as competitors Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services and Sodexo.
A request for proposals for the food service contract, valued at approximately $73 million over seven years, was issued by SFA in November 2020. Aramark, Chartwells and Sodexo were the only three companies that submitted proposals.
Regents voted to authorize SFA President Scott Gordon to negotiate with Chartwells and, should the need arise, to subsequently enter into contract negotiations with Sodexo. Frye expressed appreciation to a committee of SFA employees, as well as Envision Strategies, an external consulting firm, for their assistance with the project.
“Student access and success are top priorities for SFA, and we look forward to working with the selected vendor, after the contract is finalized, to advance those priorities through our dining services program and services,” Frye said. “We will work to ensure a smooth transition to the selected vendor.”
Chartwells is the food service provider for several Texas universities including Texas State University, the University of Texas at Dallas and Texas A&M University at College Station.
Regents approved utilizing solely private donations to replace the turf and track at Homer Bryce Stadium and voted to name the field in honor of former SFA regent Jimmy W. Murphy. Regents also approved the naming of three areas in the Loddie Naymola Basketball Performance Center at William R. Johnson Coliseum: the Dr. Robert and Ruth Carroll Sports Medicine Offices, the Coach Harry and Tillie Miller Fan Observation Area, and the Joe Max and Jane Green Lobby.
Regents approved grant awards and a LaNana Trails campus project to reconstruct the trail on the university campus. The initiative is part of a Texas Department of Transportation project valued at more than $1.8 million, and SFA is contributing $362,255 as a 20% institutional match.
For more information, visit sfasu.edu/regents.
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