Visitor and Alumni Center Naming Ceremony

Alumnus John R. Ragsdale will be honored during 2007 Homecoming festivities in recognition of a $1.25 Million gift to the university. The recently completed Visitor and Alumni Center will be named for Ragsdale during a ceremony Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Today@Sam: Annual State of the University

Campus construction was one of many topics discussed during SHSU President Jim Gaertner’s annual State of the University address Wednesday afternoon.

Current areas of the university’s physical growth include the $2.25 million mall area extension, scheduled to be complete by October; new surface parking where the Colony Apartments are located will add 350 new spaces by November; the $30 million classroom and office building, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (formerly AB5), is expected to be completed by this time next year.

Future construction projects that have been planned, some of which are awaiting approval by the Texas State University System Board of Regents, include a $7.25 million dining facility across from the Student Health Center, with construction expected to begin in May 2008; $35 million performing arts building for dance, music and theatre, with a 15-18 month construction anticipated to begin in the summer of 2008.

In addition, the university has sold the 13.2 acres where the university’s agricultural operations are currently located, across the highway from Raven’s Nest Golf Course, for new hotels and a conference center. By January 2009, Huntsville should have completed a new Fairfield Inn and a Garden Inn, both by Marriott, and a 7,000 square foot conference center with three new restaurants to be constructed on site. The agricultural facilities will be consolidated at Gibbs Ranch with a $2.5 million allotment to do so.

Finally, plans are being made for the finalization of the 2009-2018 Master Plan, “our blueprint for what should be done on this campus” that is anticipated to be completed by May 2008.

Regents: Buildings Named, etc.

During the recent meeting of Boards of Regents of the Texas State University System, the group approved changing the name of the Visitor and Alumni Center to the John R. Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center in recognition of the gift of $1.25 million from Ragsdale, a 1959 graduate.

The regents also approved changing the name of Academic Building V, which is under construction, to College of Humanities and Social Sciences. At a cost of $30 million and with 150,000 square feet of space, it will be the largest academic building on campus and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008.

Other building news included the relocation of the university's telecommunications operations at a cost of $4.2 million. The equipment, including phone, computer and Internet functions, is currently located in the small building on the edge of the university's new landscaped mall area between the student center and Lee Drain Building (think the small, northern half of the old post office). The relocation of these functions will be completed by July 1, 2008, so that the building can be demolished and the mall area completed. With that exception, the mall is scheduled for completion early this fall.

In other news, Sam Houston State University President James Gaertner will give his annual state-of-the-campus message Wednesday, August 22 in the Criminal Justice Center Killinger Auditorium.

Today@Sam: Reception To Officially Open Visitor, Alumni Center

The Visitor Center and Alumni Relations offices will show off their new home on Friday, April 27 during the Visitor and Alumni Center grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.

University president Jim Gaertner, Alumni Relations director Charlie Vienne and Visitor Center director Joey Chandler will speak at 4:30 p.m., when the ribbon cutting ceremony with the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce will be held.

The come-and-go reception, which will be held until 5:30 p.m., will include ice cream and other refreshments, music and an appearance by Sammy the Bearkat.

In addition, the first 300 people will receive free gifts.

Farewell to Frels, Wilson

Today@Sam: Work is well under way toward removal of the Wilson and Frels dorms from the center of the SHSU campus. On Monday a piece of heavy machinery sorted through what was left of Wilson. Frels is scheduled for the same fate in the next few days (photo credit: Brian Blalock).

Houstonian: Center of Attention

Tuesday's Houstonian discusses the mall expansion being planned once the Frels and Wilson Buildings are demolished:

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In a new project called the "SHSU Mall Extension Project," planners are saying goodbye to the Frels and Wilson Buildings and saying hello to green.

With this project considered as the new heart of the campus, the slightly less than 1.5 acre plot of land is going to be transformed into a new place where students will be able to study, eat and hang out, as well put on small performances.

"The Frels and Wilson buildings have long been on our list to demolish because of their age," said Doug Greening, Physical Plant Department Director. "Dr. Gaertner desired to tear the buildings down and build a new mall area for the students."

The focus for this new project was to allow a clear and spacious circulation path for students designed for outdoor plazas and outdoor study gardens.

"This will be the new main focal point, or hub, of the campus," said Greening. "Students will be able to congregate there. We also felt that putting up a new building would really go against the grain of allowing for circulation of the students."

"In May 2006, the board approved the use of $2 million for the new project," Greening said. "The money will come from designated tuition, better known as a general use fee."

As the plans are made and construction is ready to begin, Greening says the project should be completed by Summer 2007.

"We are hoping to get the project [park] started by with in the January/February timeframe," Greening said. "It is projected to be finished next summer before the students come back in the fall."

We're Gonna Pay a Call on the Adams Family

Remember how Adams House was converted from housing to offices? Wondered who's living there now? The Office of Research and Special Programs will open the doors of its new location in the Roy Adams House to faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, September 19.

The Bells Toll for Alumni

The Administration Building is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year – what is that, two sapphires? The impressive building’s century mark should be properly celebrated next decade.

To its east is the new crown jewel on campus – the bell tower. I’d seen pictures but it is a lot more imposing when you’re standing beneath it and looking dizzily into the bells above. As I’ve been wandering the campus this morning it hasn’t been hard to hear the sounds emanating from the heart of campus. Makes me wonder how the people living in nearby Smith Hall deal with noise. I guess that won’t be a problem for much longer.

I linger around to listen for some of the music played by the bell tower but I must admit I don’t recognize any of the tunes. Have you seen the playlist? The Alma Mater and Bearkat Fight Song are in rotation – but how many students know the songs? Maybe KSHU could sponsor a contest of sorts – correctly identify the tune the tower plays at 8:15 AM and win an autographed CD of some local band.

A Farewell to Frels

Around the corner we go – past the tennis courts and intramural field - to the HKC and the new recreational sports addition. Boy, that took forever to finish, didn't it? I'd been reading various comments on this one. Glad to know it's done – and I hope to the students' liking. On the south side is the pool: sparkling clear water today, stirred gently by the wind picking up.

A cool 78 degrees claims the marquee near the stadium.

From the HKC it's a quick drive toward the heart of campus and the parking lot between the Frels and Wilson buildings. Talk about remnants from a long ago era. The fact they were once apartments surely isn't lost on anyone and with them gone – as they should be soon – it will really open the mall area up. Does that mean the Post Office is being razed too? Haven't heard anything on it.

And from behind the Post Office comes the first sight – and sounds – of the new bell tower. Wow. Impressive. More on that later.

President's Update

A few odds and ends from SHSU President Jim Gaertner:

The regents have already given us the approval to remove the Frels and Wilson complex, which is being used for offices, and the Smith-Kirkley residence hall. When we decide to do so, it will be the first step in a series of moves that will give us additional office and classroom space.

The Frels-Wilson removal will allow us to expand and consolidate the present mall/commons area, which will greatly add to the beauty of our already-magnificent campus.

A key element in that series of steps will be construction of an estimated $30 million Academic Building V. It is currently planned for the area south of the Smith-Hutson addition and east of the Lee Drain Building.

While the timelines for these projects have not been set, we hope to have sufficient planning completed to present the ABV project for board approval at their May board meeting, and to proceed with first approval for a new dining facility in August or November.

In our somewhat more distant facility plans are projects that will be of great benefit to our academic capability.

We are continuing to work toward a new performing arts building to provide space and facilities for music, theater, and dance. These programs have been attracting national attention and credit, and as a result are of interest to a growing number of area, state, and national students.

This facility will include classrooms, practice rooms, and recital and concert halls. The discussions of what we would like in such a facility, and what we can realistically afford, are continuing.

Another project that we are planning will be an expansion of the Criminal Justice Center, which was built by inmate labor some 30 years ago at a bargain price to the state and nation, but which is now operating at full capacity.

The Criminal Justice program has brought more national and international attention to Sam Houston State University in its relatively short period of existence than any other on our campus. We are committed to maintaining its reputation for service and preeminence in its field, and having a quality facility is a key to that goal.