SFA University
October 31, 2018 Nacogdoches - Members of Stephen F. Austin State University's Board of Regents acknowledged the institution's 95th anniversary by approving the launch of one of the largest building initiatives in SFA's history. Construction projects approved include a welcome and student support center, expansion of buildings utilized by the College of Fine Arts, construction and renovation of student residential and dining facilities, and a basketball practice facility.
Dr. Steve Westbrook, vice president for university affairs, said the projects will allow the university to provide learning and living environments that foster collaboration and connections with others and prepare students for life-long learning and career responsiveness in the 21st century.
"For the past 95 years SFA has had an impact on both our state and our region," Westbrook said. "To continue that impact, we must position the university to meet the needs of our future students and to provide transformational experiences for them in an exceptional setting. These construction projects will help us enhance the experience for all students, beginning as early as their first year on campus."
The Kennedy Auditorium, constructed in 1966, will be renovated for use as a welcome center and "one-stop shop" for prospective students and visitors. To support the welcome center and expand one-stop-shop student services, the Rusk Building will be renovated to include student support services provided by departments including admissions, academic advising, business office, financial aid, registrar and residence life.
A recent study of the SFA campus conducted by Facilities Programming and Consulting, a strategic facilities planning agency, examined ways to provide additional service and support for prospective students, visitors and currently enrolled students. Among the agency's recommendations was the creation of a welcome center staffed by university employees who provide information about a variety of topics, including admission and academics, billing and payments, financial aid, and campus life and housing.
Erma Nieto Brecht, executive director of enrollment management, said the study also recommended the renovation of the Rusk Building to consolidate expanded delivery of those services.
"We live in a technology-driven world; however, selecting a college is a significant decision for the student and the family," Brecht said. "In order to enhance the SFA experience for both prospective and current students, it is important to find a balance of both automation and personal service."
Brecht said a process will be implemented so information is provided to prospective and current students without the need for them to be "ping-ponged" between buildings across campus. The estimated cost for the welcome center and student support services project is $13 million.
The Facilities Programming and Consulting study also identified needs in the College of Fine Arts.
"This is an absolutely unprecedented time in the history of the College of Fine Arts," said Dr. Buddy Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "New construction will allow the College of Fine Arts to alleviate concerns for space, grow to its potential in enrollment, be competitive with similar programs in Texas and fully capitalize upon student markets for new programs."
Construction will more than double the size of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, which was built in 1959, while maintaining some of the historic components. Among the new facilities will be a 350-seat main theatre and an intimate black box theatre.
Himes explained that the facilities will allow SFA to merge the dance program, currently housed in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, with the School of Theatre, and to begin a new program in musical theatre. The new facilities will allow the School of Art's filmmaking program to move from the 1923 "film house" on Starr Avenue to modern facilities specifically designed for that discipline.
The estimated project cost for the fine arts expansion initiative is $37 million.
"Music's sound recording technology program will have a new recording studio. This, combined with two full time SRT faculty members and a corps of some 80 majors, will make our program the premier SRT program in Texas," Himes said.
The university's campus master plan includes the development of a new first-year student residence hall and the renovation of existing residential facilities to enhance student life and increase the attractiveness of these facilities for prospective students. In addition, the renovation or replacement of the current East College Dining Hall and renovations to other existing dining facilities will more efficiently provide the flexibility needed to meet the demand for contemporary food-service options.
"East College Cafeteria was opened in 1968, and the way it was constructed, while modern at the time, has proven a challenge for us when trying to accommodate the needs of a contemporary dining services program," Westbrook said. "We will determine if we can adequately renovate the existing structure to meet our students' needs or if it will need to be replaced by a new facility."
A new 400-bed residence hall is planned for construction on the east side of Lumberjack Landing, a residence hall constructed in 2010.
"This project is part of our long-term strategy to continue updating our student residential facilities, both by the construction of a new, state-of-the-art residence hall and by the on-going renovation of existing residential facilities," Westbrook said.
The estimated project cost for the student residential and dining facilities project is $39.5 million.
Regents selected Kirksey Architecture as the firm to design the welcome and student support center, fine arts facilities, and student residential and dining facilities. Based in Houston, Kirksey Architecture has decades of experience and designed SFA's new Cole STEM Building and Lumberjack Landing.
The university's current campus master plan also includes development of athletic facilities. At the January 2018 meeting, regents selected Gensler Architects to conduct an athletic facilities assessment. The agency's proposal to the Board of Regents' Athletic Subcommittee recommended support space for men's and women's basketball, including a practice court, locker rooms, athletic training room, office and lounge areas, and equipment storage.
"The new basketball performance center will provide us with an opportunity to continue to grow our athletics department," said Ryan Ivey, director of athletics. "Having quality and functional facilities is something that is critical to our ability to achieve long-term success. Our vision is to become the leading mid-major athletics department in the nation, and this is the first step in achieving that vision."
Regents selected Populous to design the new athletic facilities. Consistently ranked the most innovative company by Fast Company Magazine, the Populous firm has designed more than 2,500 facilities, including projects at London Olympic Stadium and Wimbledon Centre Court.
The board selected Kingham Dalton Wilson as the construction company for all of the approved construction initiatives. A Houston-based company, KDW has more than 115 years of experience and has completed more than 1,000 projects.
To fund the construction, a series of revenue financing system bonds will be issued in an amount not to exceed $125 million. The university will utilize cash reserves to fund construction-related expenses prior to the bond issuance, but regents authorized administrators to obtain short-term financing for expenses, if necessary. If a short-term financing proposal is selected, terms and pricing will be brought back to the Board of Regents at a later meeting for approval.
Regents approved a $10 increase in the university services fee, to be set at $83 per semester credit hour, effective fall 2019. Regents also approved a 6.5-percent increase in room rates for both the fall 2019 and fall 2020 semesters. After the increases, SFA room rates will be 22 percent below the median rate for suite-style residence halls charged by other Texas universities and 26 percent below the median rate for halls with common bathrooms, according to Westbrook.
Regents approved SFA's 2020-21 Legislative Appropriations Request to the Texas Legislative Budget Board, which included a $2 million biennial request to fund a STEM/early childhood initiative and a tuition revenue bond capital request to construct a $48 million Natural Resources Science and Innovations Laboratory.
While the $46.4 million Cole STEM Building was considered substantially complete when classes began in the fall 2018 semester, Regents approved an $850,000 increase in the project budget, bringing the total budget to $47.25 million.
According to Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration, since the project began, tuition revenue bond proceeds have been invested, and current investment earnings total $778,491. Using current interest rates, those earnings are expected to amount to $850,000.
"Utilizing those earnings, along with savings that have accumulated as a result of construction costs that have come in under budget, we have an opportunity to complete components of the Cole STEM Building project that were planned initiatives, which we expected to complete at some point in the future," Gallant said.
A portion of the funding will be utilized to improve the Griffith Drive entrance to the facility.
With the board's approval, the university will purchase property located at 1521 Baker St. to enhance student parking, along with a new shuttle bus to transport students to and from parking lots, at a cost not to exceed $200,000.
Regents approved the purchase of a 52-passenger bus at a cost not to exceed $615,000.
Regents approved a contract with SirsiDynix for a cloud-based integrated library system and the purchase of Nuventive Improve assessment software. The assessment software will allow the university to collect data from multiple sources and tie that data to existing goals and objectives in order to make data-informed decisions associated with the SFA Envisioned Strategic Plan through student learning outcomes.
The university will continue to lease office and classroom space at the Lone Star College's university center in The Woodlands to offer courses to Houston-area students.
Curriculum changes approved for fall 2018 include music performance courses for Italian, English, French and German diction and various courses in English and interdisciplinary studies. The board approved adding a graduate certificate in teaching psychology and a graduate course in psychology.
Additional items approved during the meeting Monday include:
- financial affairs, academic and student affairs, and building and grounds policy revisions, as well as revisions to board rules and regulations;
- the receipt of an audit services report and the annual audit report and audit charter;
- an additional $113,484 in grant awards for fiscal year 2018 and approximately $3 million for fiscal year 2019;
- an extension on a medical insurance billing contract with Vivature through Dec. 31, 2019, for the university health clinic; and
- course fee changes and minutes from the July Board of Regents meeting.
Regents heard reports regarding contract monitoring, current campus construction and enrollment management. Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Jason Reese and Student Government Association President Jeffrey Agouna-Deciat also delivered reports to the board.
October 30, 2018 - Stephen F. Austin State University's Board of Regents approved various leadership changes during its Monday quarterly meeting.
Dr. Mark Sanders, professor, was appointed associate dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Sanders has been a part of the SFA faculty since 2008, serving in various roles such as department chair and English professor. He has more than 40 years of experience in education at the collegiate and secondary education levels.
In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Michele Harris, chemistry professor, was named associate dean. Since 1994, Harris has been a member of the SFA faculty, where she has served as assistant professor, associate professor, professor, graduate advisor, and assistant chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Regents also appointed physician Dr. Janice Ledet as director of health services. Ledet was licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and began practicing at SFA's health clinic in 1986.
BUSINESS
Faculty appointments approved for the Rusche College of Business included assistant professors Thomas Branton and Jose Vega, accounting; Wenjing Li, management and marketing; and Rebecca Davis, economics and finance.
In the Department of Management and Marketing, Antoine Busby was approved as a visiting assistant professor, and William Kirkpatrick was approved as clinical instructor. Lecturers Nicole Brantley, accounting, and Laurie Rogers, business communication and legal studies, also were approved.
EDUCATION
Brandon Fox, James I. Perkins College of Education associate professor, was appointed as interim assistant chair of the Department of Elementary Education. Professor Gloria Gresham was appointed as interim assistant chair of the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership.
Amber Wagnon, who formerly served as a lecturer of English and creative writing, was approved as associate professor of secondary education and educational leadership, and Cyndra Krogen-Morton, a Title IX specialist, was approved as visiting lecturer of kinesiology and health science.
In the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Mi Hae Bae was approved as assistant professor, and Sharon Rice was approved as an instructor. Assistant professors Shannon Darst and Summer Koltonski, human services, and Mychelle Smith, secondary education, also were approved. Mandy Seybold was approved as lecturer of human services.
Regents approved the SFA Charter School appointments of Juliana Akerson, Madison Taylor and Brooke Taylor-Johnson as teachers, and Jacklyn Hamilton as a substitute teacher.
FINE ARTS
The promotion of David Campo from associate professor to professor of music and director of bands was approved. Christopher Kaatz was approved as assistant professor of music and assistant director of bands, and Pierre-Alain Chevalier was approved as visiting lecturer and director of orchestral activities.
The following changes also were approved: Alexander Amato, from lecturer to assistant professor of music; Tamey Angley, from assistant professor to professor of music; Lee Goodhew, from visiting assistant professor to associate professor of music; Kirsten Nelson, from assistant professor to lecturer of music; and Kenneth Verdugo, from visiting assistant professor to assistant professor of theatre.
In the School of Theatre, Rosemary Brownlow-Calkin was approved as visiting professor, and Jennifer Malmberg and Jackie Rosenfield were approved as lecturers.
Nicholas Lambson was approved as visiting lecturer of music and Thomas Nixon as accompanist. Margaret Leysath was approved as visiting assistant professor of art.
FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE
In the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Sheryll Jerez, associate professor, was named interim associate dean of the college. Jason Paul was approved as instructor of forestry, and Sabrina Thomas was approved as an agriculture lab associate.
LIBERAL AND APPLIED ARTS
Professor Mark Barringer was appointed as director of research, and Matthew McBroom, associate dean of forestry, was approved as interim chair of English and creative writing.
Aparecida Cordeiro Dutra, a Heritage Research Center associate, and Kelsey Pelham, visiting lecturer, were approved as lecturers in languages, culture and communication.
In the Department of Mass Communication, Yiran Wang was approved as assistant professor and Phillip Anderson was approved as instructor.
Approval was received for Megan Fleming, lecturer of government, and Jennifer McLaughlin, visiting lecturer of English and creative writing.
The following changes also were approved: Rhanda McGee, from adjunct faculty to lecturer of English and creative writing; Kristi Warren, from adjunct faculty to lecturer of psychology; and Charles White, from visiting instructor to lecturer of psychology.
SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS
In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, William Bradford, Brooke Busbee and Cheryl Janusa were approved as lecturers of mathematics and statistics, and Marissa Rotenberry was approved as a visiting lecturer.
Also approved were:
- Erin Childress, lecturer of biology, and Ray Kamps, visiting assistant professor
- Kelley McDonald and Vanessa Pacheco, clinical instructors of nursing
- Puntitra Glendowne, assistant professor of computer science
- and Adrienne Bay, STEM programs coordinator.
In the Steen Library, Edward Kownslar was approved as librarian III.
In Information Technology Services, regents granted the following changes of status: David Justus, from associate director of library technology to compliance coordinator; Jon Laurent, from technical support specialist I to security specialist I; Timothy Lewallen, assistant manager of technical support to assistant director of customer service; and Jennifer Stringfield, from assessment specialist to project analyst.
In the Department of Athletics, Jeffrey Byrd's appointment as interim head football coach was approved, along with Erin Scott's appointment as head tennis coach. Other approvals included Alisa Blair, assistant volleyball coach; Cody Dukquits, conditioning professional specialist; Ryan Friedline, marketing coordinator; and Hadrien Choukroun and Hunter Key, assistant track coaches.
In Residence Life, staff appointments were approved for hall directors Jamyia Barrett, Jonathan Boulanger, Jamil Frech and Natalie Roberts. Lori Havard was approved as area coordinator and LaShirine Howard as hall director.
Approvals in the student affairs division included Jalon Berry, assistant director programs for multicultural affairs; April Chaney, compliance specialist for Title IX investigations; MacKenzie Enderwitz and Clare Fite, counselor interns; Julia Denhollem, student engagement coordinator for Greek Life; and Rhylie Gachot, assistant director for orientation.
In Academic Affairs, Stephanie Weatherford was approved as Academic Assistance and Resource Center program director, and Mary Smith, assistant director of instructional technology, was approved as interim director.
William Boucher was approved as Campus Recreation coordinator for fitness and wellness, and Tierney White was approved as coordinator in the Center for Career and Professional Development.
In the University Police Department, Lt. Marcus Madden was approved as interim associate director and assistant chief. Kallie Westmoreland was approved as accountant II in the Controller's Office.
Regents approved the retirements of employees with 113 years of combined service to the university. Shelly Lackey, director of divisional operations for university affairs; Sean Lonergan, assistant track coach; Phil Stetz, professor of management and marketing; Larry O'Neal, associate professor of management and marketing; and Treba Marsh, professor of accounting.
October 23, 2018 - The SFA Experimental Forest will close to the public from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9, for managed deer hunts in cooperation with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Plants Material Center which is located in the Experimental Forest.
Additionally, the area will close Dec. 7-8, for a special hunt for persons with disabilities in cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen. Wheelin’ Sportsmen provides people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities.
Wildlife Biologist Bob Baker with the Pineywoods Ecosystem Project said the Experimental Forest provides a great opportunity for additional hunter recreation while managing deer herds in the area. “The Experimental Forest, Alazan Bayou Wildlife Management Area, and adjacent lands support a healthy herd of deer and wild hogs,” Baker said.
Hunters for the managed deer firearm hunts in the Experimental Forest and Alazan Bayou WMA have been drawn, but standby positions may become available. Details are available from the Pineywoods Ecosystem Project office at Alazan Bayou WMA at 936-569-8547.
For information regarding the Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt contact Mandy Chumley with the U.S. Forest Service at 936-897-1068.
October 22, 2018 - The SFA Experimental Forest will close to the public from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9, for managed deer hunts in cooperation with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Plants Material Center which is located in the Experimental Forest.
Additionally, the area will close Dec. 7-8, for a special hunt for persons with disabilities in cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen. Wheelin’ Sportsmen provides people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities.
Wildlife Biologist Bob Baker with the Pineywoods Ecosystem Project said the Experimental Forest provides a great opportunity for additional hunter recreation while managing deer herds in the area. “The Experimental Forest, Alazan Bayou Wildlife Management Area, and adjacent lands support a healthy herd of deer and wild hogs,” Baker said.
Hunters for the managed deer firearm hunts in the Experimental Forest and Alazan Bayou WMA have been drawn, but standby positions may become available. Details are available from the Pineywoods Ecosystem Project office at Alazan Bayou WMA at 936-569-8547.
For information regarding the Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt contact Mandy Chumley with the U.S. Forest Service at 936-897-1068.
October 19, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s online master’s degree in educational leadership has been named one of the best programs of its kind in the nation.
AffordableCollegesOnline.org, a website dedicated to helping prospective students find the best online programs, financial aid and major, evaluated more than 3,500 colleges nationwide to find the best online master’s degree in educational leadership and ranked SFA’s program in the top 1 percent.
“We are encouraged by this recognition,” said Dr. Jeanie Gresham, chair of SFA’s Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership. “It spotlights the hard work of the program coordinator, Dr. Barbara Qualls, and other faculty members who diligently teach and mentor candidates for future leadership roles.”
Universities were ranked on affordability, quality, flexibility and degrees offered. SFA’s 30-hour Master of Education in educational leadership leads to principal certification. Students who have completed a master’s degree and meet other admission requirements can enroll in the 18-hour principal certification program.
"In our seventh annual survey of online learning programs across the nation, we wanted to honor the colleges and universities that are providing innovative ways for students to complete a degree," said Dan Schuessler, CEO and founder of AffordableCollegesOnline.org. "These schools are going above and beyond the industry standard to help make online education programs more accessible and affordable."
SFA’s program engages students in data-driven decision-making, special programs, law, and school and community leadership. Students also have the opportunity to practice in the industry through field experiences and internships.
For more information, visit sfaonline.info/educationalleadership.
October 18, 2018 Nacogdoches - The following students received degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University during the August commencement exercises:
Center, TX
- Jordan DiVerdi, Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Communications and Corporate Education, Nelson Rusche College of Business
- Valiscity Kindle-Davis, Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences, James I. Perkins College of Education, with a minor in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Larry McDonald, Bachelor of Science in Sociology, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, with a minor in Athletic Coaching
- Jheri-Lynn McSwain, Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
- Ana Rafael, Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation, James I. Perkins College of Education
Joaquin, TX
- Samantha Cheatwood, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Nelson Rusche College of Business
- Johnathan Watson, Bachelor of Science in Spatial Science, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
- Allen Woodfin, Bachelor of Science in Geography, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, with a minor in History
Shelbyville, TX
- Jonathan Craig Jones, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, James I. Perkins College of Education
Tenaha, TX
- Mimi Creasy, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, James I. Perkins College of Education
October 11, 2018 Nacogdoches — A Stephen F. Austin State University student’s desire to make a difference in animal conservation took her more than 8,000 miles from her hometown of Jasper to the bush of Zimbabwe, giving her the chance to walk with lions.
Krista Ward, a senior biology major and forestry minor, spent two and a half weeks in Antelope Park, a private game reserve set on 3,000 acres of savanna. Working with the volunteer organization African Impact in conjunction with the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust, she assisted with a project measuring the effects of captivity on four lions kept on the property.
Every other morning Ward would walk two lions at a time for an hour.
“It was really scary because they told us there were nine-month-old cubs, so I was thinking they were small,” she said. “They were huge, and there were four of them.”
Ward would flush the lions out of their enclosure by walking behind them, following them wherever they went on trails around the property. Because lions attack from behind, she made sure to keep them in front of her or to the side. When the lions lay down, she could safely crouch beside them and interact with them.
“The first time seeing lions was heart-stopping,” Ward said. “I felt really scared at first, but as I walked that went away.”
She and the other volunteers made toys for the cubs out of elephant poop, grass and sticks and took behavioral data that would later be compared to data from wild lions. Other days, they would go into the park and help on different projects, looking for elephants and giraffes and recording observational and behavioral data. They also toured a nearby village and interacted with the locals.
“They have a different way of life, and it was really interesting to see it because they do just fine,” Ward said. “They survive with what they have, and they make the most of it.”
When she decided to travel abroad, she went to SFA’s Office of International Programs for help. The office did not have a program in Africa, but the study abroad coordinator, Inés Maxit, was more than willing to assist her in finding the best options available. Ward researched programs online and brought her findings to Maxit, who reached out to other schools for feedback.
The office works closely with students through every step of the application process, making sure students have as seamless an experience as possible, Maxit said.
“I have met with many students after their study abroad experience, and I can see how they have grown,” she said. “It is no doubt a transformative experience.”
While Ward primarily took the trip to further her education, she was impacted in ways she didn’t expect.
“I have definitely changed because of this volunteer experience,” Ward said. “I was humbled by the cultural differences and other ways of life and respect other cultures in ways I didn’t before.”
Though traveling can be unsettling, she said, every moment of uncertainty was worth it.
“I hope anyone thinking about studying abroad would do it, because it was an amazing experience,” Ward said.
For more information about SFA’s study abroad programs, visit sfasu.edu/oip/244.asp.
SFA student Krista Ward, a senior biology major from Jasper, spent two and a half weeks at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe conducting research with the volunteer organization African Impact. Ward assisted with a project measuring the effects of captivity on four lions kept on the property.
By Joanna Armstrong, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
The Stephen F. Austin State University student chapter of the Society of American Foresters clinched the national title of Society of American Foresters Quiz Bowl Champions, defeating 32 collegiate teams from across the U.S. Pictured from left to right are SFA quiz bowl team members Reid Viegut, Christopher Longman, Rachel Murray and Justin Blakeley.
October 9, 2018 Nacogdoches — For the first time in the chapter’s decades-long history, the Stephen F. Austin State University student chapter of the Society of American Foresters clinched the national title of Society of American Foresters Quiz Bowl Champions, defeating 32 collegiate teams from across the U.S. during this year’s national convention held in Portland, Oregon.
“It’s very rewarding to see the early morning practices, as well as the hard work and persistence finally pay off,” said Dr. Rebecca Kidd, assistant professor of forestry at SFA and SAF faculty advisor.
The competition, held annually at the SAF National Convention, is a quiz-based competition challenging student chapters to answer a broad range of technical and academic questions that span the discipline of forest resource management. Kidd said student chapters must sign up months in advance to be organized into a tournament bracket.
“The range of topics includes forest resources, which encompasses wildlife, habitat management, hydrology, soil science, silviculture, ecology, spatial science, agro-forestry, recreation management, policy and economics,” Kidd said.
Christopher Longman, forest management senior and president of the SFA student chapter, said when forming a quiz bowl team, the chapter makes sure to include students from a range of forestry majors offered through the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.
“One of the questions we answered correctly was something we just learned in forest hydrology two weeks ago,” Longman said.
Although the team displayed a strong showing throughout the competition, besting universities such as Pennsylvania State University and the University of California at Berkley, Longman admits there were a few nerve-wracking moments.
“In our quarterfinal match, we went into overtime in sudden-death format,” Longman said. “That was probably the most nervous moment we experienced.”
Longman added that the team’s victory is a definite reflection on the quality academics offered at SFA.
To learn more about the majors offered through SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, visit atcofa.sfasu.edu.
October 9, 2018 Nacogdoches — As a marketing coordinator and camp counselor for middle school girls, Maxine McFadden knew uprooting her life to pursue a degree wasn’t an option. However, thanks to a new online degree program at Stephen F. Austin State University, she can now work toward her educational goals.
Recently, SFA launched a completely online bachelor’s degree in human sciences with an emphasis in human development and family studies. For McFadden and other nontraditional students this program is a perfect fit.
“Being enrolled in this online program has helped me continue to work full time while providing me with the flexibility of going to school on my time,” McFadden said. “I didn't have to uproot my family to go to school. I was able to remain in Tyler and continue my everyday life.”
Through this program, students learn to become “caretakers of our society,” said Dr. Rachel Jumper, assistant professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. Students learn to understand the growth, change and development of children, adults and the family while integrating a lifespan, multi-contextual and family systems approach.
“The best part is I still get one-on-one help from my professors because of virtual office hours,” McFadden said. “My biggest concern about the online program was that I wasn't going to be able to get the personal attention I needed. I was very wrong about that.
“I work 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is hard to work full time and go to school. The online program has given me freedom to work on school work when it is convenient for me, but it still gives me strict deadlines,” she said.
Along with the new program, SFA has partnered with Tyler Independent School District Head Start to offer a place for SFA students in the Tyler area to conduct observation and volunteer hours, which are requirements of the program.
Upon graduation, students have a variety of career options, including becoming early intervention specialists, lobbyists, directors of child care and senior citizen facilities, Head Start teachers, parent educators, camp directors and more.
“The most valuable lesson I have learned from this program is to not give up. You always have someone in your corner cheering you on and helping you,” McFadden said. “Everyone in the program cares about children and their families and graduating quality people from this program.”
To learn more, visit sfaonline.info/human-development-and-family-studies.
By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Two performances of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” on Wednesday, October 17, will open the 2018-19 Children’s Performing Arts Series at SFA
October 5, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will open its 2018-19 season on Wednesday, October 17, with two performances of the Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Based on the classic story by Washington Irving, this musical version with book, music and lyrics by Paul Deiss takes audiences to Tarry Town to join Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, the lovely Katrina Van Tassel and, of course, the Headless Horseman, as they live the story made famous by the legend.
“This autumnal classic is faithful to the original story written in 1819 and will thrill and perhaps chill audiences,” said Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series. “But we promise it is not too scary for young audiences.”
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in W.M. Turner Auditorium, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.
Presented by the SFA College of Fine Arts, the Children’s Performing Arts Series annually features five shows designed to entertain, educate and engage young audiences of all ages, according to Peterson. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.
Other upcoming CPAS performances include “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Tuesday, November 27; “I Have a Dream” on Friday, February 1; “Madeline and the Bad Hat” Wednesday, March 6; and “The Jungle Book” on Thursday, May 16.
To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.
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