SFA University
August 29, 2016 - A thrum of light chatter and crinkling snack bags filled the Academic Assistance and Resource Center on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus as 45 incoming first-generation freshmen settled into their afternoon break.
Fresh out of a training module on Microsoft’s OneDrive file sharing application — preceded by an hourlong session on dealing with stress — students of the Generation Jacks Summer Leadership Academy continued to buzz with excitement.
“I love it,” said Ashlynn Beard of Arlington, incoming SFA freshman and GenJack academy participant. “The group already feels like a family. I feel like I really can open up to a lot of people in here because we have all gone through the same or similar things with our parents. Probably all of our parents struggled because they didn’t go to college and things were probably a lot harder for them.”
Generation Jacks began in fall 2014 as the brainchild of Dr. Marc Guidry, associate dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and Dr. Michael Walker, assistant dean of Student Affairs Support Services and associate professor of psychology.
“I got an email from SFA about GenJacks, my mom and I talked about all the perks and decided this is what I wanted to do,” said Denis Castillo of Grand Prairie, an incoming SFA freshman and academy participant. “What stood out to me about the program was the fact that all four years of college, we are going to be with the same group of people until we graduate. If we fall behind, someone here will be able to help.”
The aim of GenJacks is to provide an academic and social support system for first-generation students who often don’t have the benefit of a close family member with college experience.
“There has never been a program like GenJacks at SFA before, so we are charting new territory, creating higher expectations for our first-generation students, and breaking through barriers to help them become both scholars and servant-leaders at SFA,” Guidry said. “The difference between when we started the program three years ago and now is like night and day. We have never done a weeklong summer leadership academy with our students until now. We believe this new, concentrated orientation to SFA is going to boost our students and enable them to go even higher.”
Begun on Sunday, the academy is a crash course on all things college. GenJacks wake up at 7 a.m. each day and attend a consortium of sessions, modules and student-led reflections on the day’s events. The sessions teach them everything from understanding financial aid to time management.
“The rigor is intentional,” said Chelsea Heidbrink, SFA coordinator of student success. “It isn’t to bog them down or overwhelm them, but really just to give them as many tools, resources and information as we can to ensure they don’t have any doubts about their abilities or about choosing to spend their future here at SFA.”
The academy itself is an extension of the overall GenJacks program, which allows first-generation students to take courses together for their first three semesters. They then become mentors to new first-generation students and to high school students seeking to attend college.
“This highly integrated approach to student engagement, both academically, professionally and socially, will continue to demonstrate success for our students,” Walker said. “It will embody the SFA Way and provide those transformative experiences that will allow our GenJacks graduates to succeed well beyond our campus.”
GenJacks participants and leaders raved about the academy and the bonds already forged in a few days’ time.
“I am most excited to see them transform themselves in just a week,” Heidbrink said. “First-generation students are incredible students. I was a first-generation student, as well, and so it is personal for me, too. FG students are resilient and determined and for me to see that come to fruition as it relates to college is just a really amazing experience — for them and for me.”
According to data collected and kept by Guidry and Walker, retention rates have improved for first-generation students participating in GenJacks. GenJacks, as a whole, also have a higher GPA than their first-generation peers who are not in the program.
August 25, 2016 NACOGDOCHES, Texas — This fall, Stephen F. Austin State University students will again partner with Cotton Incorporated to collect denim for the Blue Jeans Go Green project.
This recycle program encourages people to donate denim to be “upcycled” into UltraTouch denim insulation. Jamie Cupit, fashion merchandising instructor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences, is helping coordinate the project on campus.
“Participating in Blue Jeans Go Green for the third year in a row is really exciting for me and the students. We have enjoyed working closely with Cotton Inc. and appreciate their staff members’ willingness to showcase the denim collection efforts of our students on campus and in the community,” Cupit said.
SFA fashion merchandising students enrolled in a fashion promotion course and the Fashion Merchandising Club will plan and execute the denim drive on campus. A table will be set up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. September 20 and October 4 in front of the Baker Pattillo Student Center for students and faculty and staff members to donate denim.
In fall 2015, SFA fashion merchandising students collected approximately 6,000 pieces of denim during their second year of participation, which surpassed the 1,800 pieces the students collected during their first year. Cupit said it is their goal to collect more than 10,000 pieces of denim this fall.
SFA has partnered with Goodwill of East Texas during previous drives to collect denim for this effort, and Goodwill has donated thousands of pieces for the cause.
“Blue Jeans Go Green enhances students’ awareness of sustainability efforts and teaches them that denim can be transformed into another eco-friendly product after its useful life as apparel has expired,” Cupit said.
A highlight of the denim drive is the “Green is the New Black” recycled fashion show and gallery exhibit scheduled for October 12. Fashion- and event-planning students are working on this event with Cupit and Dr. Gina Causin, assistant professor in the School of Human Sciences.
August 23, 2016 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a soap-making workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 10, in Room 101 of the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.
The Gifts from the Garden workshop will be led by Elyce Rodewald, SFA Gardens education coordinator. Participants will use the cold-press method of soap making and will take home samples of luxurious soap they create.
“The soap will be made from coconut and palm kernel oil, lye, essential oils and dried herbs,” Rodewald said. “Participants will learn the step-by-step process of soap making, so they have the skills to make soap at home on their own. This is great soap. Once you use it, you’ll never go back to store-bought soap.”
Cost for the seminar is $25 for SFA Garden members and $30 for non-members. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register for the seminar or for more information, contact the SFA Gardens education office at (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
August 19, 2016 - Hundreds of Stephen F. Austin State University education students who will soon graduate and begin teaching attended SFA’s Student-Teacher Orientation Thursday, Aug. 18.
Throughout the day, James I. Perkins College of Education faculty members discussed student-teaching guidelines, handbook policies and student-teaching tips, as well as answered questions about this next step in preparing students to become educators.
Dr. Janet Tareilo, associate dean of the college, explained the students’ focus should now be concentrated on student teaching.
“SFA has a tradition of being ‘the’ teachers’ college, as it began as a teachers’ college and is one of the top universities for teacher education in Texas,” Tareilo said. “We continue to mold our students to enter this profession and join in this tradition.”
Senior education major Susan Cortez, a transfer student who completed her coursework online at SFA and plans to student teach world cultures at Birdville Independent School District, said she enjoyed attending the orientation because it brought her to campus where she was able to network with like-minded individuals.
“The information is wonderful and so helpful for student teaching,” Cortez said. “It was great to come here and meet people who are doing the same program.”
During the event, teacher candidates also met with their field supervisors and had the option to attend a résumé-writing workshop.
August 18, 2016 - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will present as its first exhibition of the 2016-17 academic year, “Christopher Troutman: Drawing and Narrative,” which runs Aug. 31 through Oct. 14 in Griffith Gallery in the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus.
Troutman’s beautifully rendered drawings portray scenes from urban daily life, defining the form and space of figures within their environments, according to John Handley, director of galleries at SFA.
“His work touches on the idea of illustration,” Handley said. “In the artist’s own words, they ‘examine storytelling inspired by personal narrative.’ His images are complex in their narrative and visual representation as well as in their use of unusual perspective.”
Handley describes Troutman as “a master draftsman, able to create visually compelling imagery that touches on the real and the imaginary.”
“Having a command of drawing is a foundation of great art, even if the artist abandons it for abstraction,” he said.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Peoria, Illinois, Troutman has lived since 2013 in Beaumont, where he teaches all levels of drawing at Lamar University. In his work, Troutman uses drawing to define the form and space of figures and environments, as well as examine storytelling inspired by personal narrative.
He earned a B.F.A. from Bradley University in Peoria. After later moving to Japan, he and his wife opened a conversational English School in Kagoshima City. While living in southern Japan, he was the first foreign resident of Kagoshima to be awarded the Grand Prize at the 52nd Kagoshima Prefectural Art Exhibition in 2005. After completing an M.F.A. in drawing and painting at California State University, Long Beach, Troutman taught in at Eastern Kentucky University, Vincennes University and Eastern Illinois University.
He has had solo exhibitions in Japan and at several locations throughout the U.S. Troutman’s work has appeared in numerous drawing publications and in juried drawing exhibitions. He was recently awarded the Grand Prize (Paris Prize) at the 66th Miyanichi Sougou Art Exhibition in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. He and his family return to Japan annually.
Admission to the exhibition, which is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum, is free. A reception with the artist will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in Griffith Gallery.
Gallery hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information, call (936) 468-1131. Griffith Fine Arts Building is located at 2222 Alumni Drive.
August 5, 2016 - Members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s American Marketing Association chapter will sharpen their skills during the AMA Collegiate Case Competition this fall.
The yearlong competition brings together top marketing students from around the world to work on a marketing challenge submitted by a sponsoring organization, according to ama.org.
The competition’s purpose is to “provide AMA undergraduate members the opportunity to collaborate on a problem that typifies a real, working marketing situation” and “to provide the Case Competition sponsor direct contact with the very best marketing students with possible real-world solutions to its marketing problem,” according to the website. This year’s competitors will develop a comprehensive marketing campaign for eBay, an online auction and shopping website.
Corey Johnson, an SFA senior marketing major from Dallas and executive vice president of the university’s AMA chapter, has been leading the project. Once the fall semester begins, Johnson said the SFA team would begin working more in-depth and start creating an advertising and social media campaign for eBay.
“I truly feel honored every time I get to compete with our team and represent SFA,” Johnson said. “I have started conducting preliminary research for the Case Competition, which includes researching eBay and its competitors and creating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analyses for each entity.”
Dr. Marlene Kahla, SFA professor of management, marketing and international business and AMA co-adviser, stated the university’s chapter is again poised to compete after a several year hiatus. The group placed in the top three from 2002-06 during the international competition.
“I wanted to enter this competition because I saw an opportunity for SFA to reclaim the crown as the best marketers in the nation,” Johnson said. “Our professors work extremely hard to teach us to be successful marketers, so I feel we owe it to them and the university to compete and give it our best.”
July 29, 2016 – The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music is accepting scholarship applications for its fall classes.
The music program features the study of a variety of musical instruments. Upper-level musicians as well as SFA faculty and students teach classes.
Partial scholarships are awarded to music students based on need, according to Pat Barnett, Music Prep director. Application forms and information about the various programs offered are available on the Music Prep website at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. Deadline to apply for scholarships has been extended to Aug. 10.
The fall program begins the week of Aug. 22. Students may enroll for 16 private lessons or 12 private lessons for the semester. Also offered are the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, the Adult Piano Class and the Choristers.
A Music Prep open house will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 20, at 3028 Raguet St. Prep faculty will be present to talk with parents and children about private and group lessons.
The Music Prep office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, contact Barnett at (936) 468-1291 or at musicprep@sfasu.edu. Visit the Facebook site at SFA Music Prep.
July 27, 2016 - The “artful spirit” of Gary Frields will again be made available to admirers of the late Stephen F. Austin State University art professor when The Beautiful Gary Q. Frields Art Show & Sale takes place Aug. 4 through 27 in Reavley Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
A reception is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, hosted by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts. Half of the sale proceeds will benefit the Gary Q. Frields Art Scholarship the FVA awards annually to an SFA student.
It’s been three years since Frields passed away, and his wife, Tamara Robertson, decided it was time to allow the public an opportunity to enjoy his artwork once again.
“I want Gary’s artful spirit to continue enriching other people’s lives as he did while on this earth,” she said, “making them laugh, making them stop and contemplate the incredible beauty of the world and what it means to be a sentient being.”
“I had the privilege of knowing Gary for nine years in total before he passed away, and the even greater privilege of being his wife for his last three years,” Robertson wrote in an email interview. “I have held his artworks close to me for these three years since he passed, unready to part ways with important things of his.
“It has made me sad to know so much of his work sits, unappreciated, as I have only so much room for display,” she said. “It is time to remedy this situation and release the beauty of Gary’s persona back out where it belongs – in public.”
Known among his peers as a great advocate for SFA’s art students, Frields taught courses in design, drawing and sculpture and served as graduate program coordinator for the School of Art before his retirement in 2012. He was a recipient of the SFA Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award and was appointed to the board of directors for the Texas Association of Schools of Art. Frields’ involvement in national juried exhibitions helped in establishing the SFA Texas National, originating the concept, name and designing the logo. The event brings to Nacogdoches some of the most celebrated contemporary artists as jurors. He originated the Art Prom and was a founding member of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, creating the logo and contributing to concept planning.
Frields’ best friend, Michael Donahue, described him as “an art evangelist,” Robertson said. “Gary was filled with gratitude to be able to live an artful life, create art and share his passion for art, UFOs, Elvis and Mr. Peanut with his friends and students,” she said.
Frields’ philosophy regarding art was “open-ended,” she explained. He did not believe there was any one “right” way to begin an artwork, or any one “right” style of art, or even that an artist was confined to creating work in one style alone.
“To me, he was a Picasso,” she said. “He began most of his art with no attempt to make any particular thing, but would proceed relentlessly, relying on intuitive reactions to his chosen material. While exploring various (and often new) materials, he would respond as unplanned things happened in his process of discovery. The forms, images, and narratives revealed would seem to invent themselves almost independently of Gary in an open-ended process that could merge any style (classical, minimal, expressive, nonobjective, naïve, abstract, etc.) with aspects connected to his life. Discoveries made during his working process built trust in creating through this working method.”
Each of Frields’ artworks has a different message, Robertson said. “Sometimes it is silly, sometimes serious, sometimes he was simply expressing his passion for life. There is certainly something in his work for everyone to connect with, regardless of their level of art education.”
Frields was “sincerely touched and proud” when the FVA announced it would honor him with a scholarship in his name, Robertson said.
“He was thrilled he would still be able to continue to encourage students of art even after he was no longer a teacher in the classroom,” she said. “Gary was always a champion of his students and took every opportunity to give back to the arts. He was an ardent believer that art would allow and encourage students to become more informed and transformed into authentically original, creative, open-minded, charitable individuals.”
“Scholarships advance a student’s self-belief and cognizance that their rigorous effort to acquire knowledge and skill is rewarding and respected,” Frields wrote. “I hope this scholarship allows someone to follow their passion and live their dream as I have been so fortunate to have done.”
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Reavley Gallery is on the second floor. At the close of the show, the remaining artwork will be moved to the Culinary Café on the SFA campus.
For more information about the show and sale, call (936) 468-6557.
View Frields’ artwork at http://GaryQFrields.wix.com/garyqfrields.
July 27, 2016 - Members of the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved a Master of Arts in professional counseling program during its quarterly meeting Tuesday.
Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education, explained that this approval will meet new accreditation standards and consolidate SFA’s existing counseling programs into a required 60-hour licensure program. Three concentrations will be offered: Clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling. The program will be available this fall pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
“As accreditation progresses, we seek to evolve our programs to reflect the expectations of the professional organization, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs,” Abbott said. “Maintaining our program accreditation supports graduate students in completing a rigorous, current program that reflects the standards and expectations of professionals in the field of counseling.”
Additionally, regents heard an update on SFA’s Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building by Kirksey Architects, the Houston-based firm designing the facility. With the design and development phase now complete, the university is moving forward with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Nov. 6 and completion in June 2018. The four-story building will feature a 50-foot dome for a new planetarium, glass atrium, labs, third-floor terrace and more.
Regents approved a $6 million capital plan budget for scheduled maintenance and renovation projects, including enhancements to the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom and fire safety improvements to classrooms and buildings across campus. Classrooms also will receive technology upgrades in the form of projection units, TVs and additional equipment to enhance instruction and activities.
“There are 117 classrooms on campus, and our goal is to significantly upgrade 40 percent of these rooms,” said Dr. Steve Bullard, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are transitioning these classrooms into active-learning spaces to further engage students in the learning experience, which is an overarching goal of our strategic plan.”
In other business, the board received a report from the SFA auditor and approved the annual audit plan. Board members also heard updates on the university’s marketing campaign and new SFA website, which is scheduled to launch in September.
During its three-day meeting, the board approved the following:
• a list of firms to provide legal consulting services on an as-needed basis
• grant awards totaling $611,037
• building and grounds, financial affairs, and academic and student affairs policy revisions
• revisions to the intercollegiate athletic policies and procedures manual
• fiscal year 2016-17 institutional operating budget of more than $250 million
• submission of the 2018-19 legislative appropriation request
• information technology services capital fund
• network infrastructure upgrades and replacements to wired and wireless networks
• the refinancing of bonds if a 3-percent savings would result and
• the university’s holiday schedule.
Additionally, the board approved the minutes of the April and June meetings and heard reports from SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo, the Faculty Senate and the Student Government Association.
July 18, 2016 - The Music Preparatory Division in the School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University will offer Piano Safari Camp Monday through Friday, Aug. 1 through 5.
Taught by Dr. Mario Ajero, associate professor of piano at SFA, the class will meet for one hour each day in Room 223 of the Boynton Building on the SFA campus. The camp, which is limited to 10 participants, is for beginning students with no piano experience in the first through third grades.
“Piano Safari Camp will help students explore the wonderful world of piano,” said Pat Barnett, director of the Music Preparatory program.
The class will meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuition is $80 for the week. A registration form can be downloaded from the website at www.music.sfasu.edu/outreach.php?link=prep.
For information, contact the Music Preparatory Division at (936) 468-1291 or at musicprep@sfasu.edu. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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