Johnson Coliseum scoreboard project

The next time you're in Johnson Coliseum, look upward for the new scoreboard, apparently both started and completed this week.

Bowers Scoreboard project

The installation of the Bowers Stadium scoreboard is complete, having started May 15.

April 2006 Regents Report

Today@Sam reports that the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the construction of a $30 million Academic Building V and a $2 million expansion to the present Campus Mall that requires removal of the Frels-Wilson complex.

SHSU President James Gaertner told the regents that the new academic building will house the College of Humanities and Social Sciences offices and classrooms in 143,301 square feet of space. Also housed there will be additional faculty offices, the post office, accounts payable, purchasing, the business office and human resources. It is currently planned for the area south of the Smith-Hutson addition and east of the Lee Drain Building.

Gaertner said that the 80,000 square feet expansion of the mall south of the Lowman Student Center "will give our expanding student population a spacious area to gather for relaxing and socializing, and to conduct student activities and events."

Also approved were preliminary plans for a $980,000 recreational area to be known as Bearkat Camp, on 345 acres of land adjacent to the Trinity River that was deeded to SHSU in 2002 by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The recreational area for students, faculty and staff will include a covered pavilion, campsites, fishing, canoeing, nature trails, and rest rooms.

The Fastest Growing University in Texas

Last fall in the 35 public Texas colleges and universities, there was an enrollment increase of 2,875 students. At Sam Houston State University alone, the increase was 975 students, or just over a third of the entire state total.

Even with the increase of students, University President James Gaertner notes, “...we are not running out of space on our grand old campus."

SHSU Benefitting From High School Sporting Events

The Huntsville Item reports (Apr. 29, 2006) that university facilities have become quite popular - with the high school crowd:

Each year, high school athletes get a chance to take advantage of the same fields, courts and track that the Kats compete on. Over the last few weeks, SHSU has hosted tennis regionals at the McAdams Tennis Center, and this weekend, Bowers Stadium is full of young athletes competing for a chance to advance to state at the Class 4A Region III track and field meet.

And if that’s not enough, the new Bearkat Baseball/Softball Complex is being used for high school playoff games.

So, with all this exposure to high school kiddos that have the potential of making the jump to the collegiate level, how does all this benefit the SHSU athletic department?

“Definitely the exposure part of this gives Sam Houston State the chance to show off our top-notch facilities,” said Bobby Williams, SHSU director of athletics. “That’s a big positive for us. We have always done a good job bringing in high school playoff games, but the new baseball and softball complex is a major factor. Everybody wants to play there because it is such a beautiful facility.

Beginning this weekend, and going well into May, high school baseball and softball playoff games will be played under the lights at the new complex.

SHSU at One Hundred Twenty Seven

On April 21, 1879 Texas Governor Oral Roberts singed legislature to set up an institution named after the hero of San Jacinto, Sam Houston Normal Institute. Only Texas A&M and its associated Prairie View campus had been established earlier, in 1876, as state-supported institutions of higher learning, making SHSU the third-oldest university in Texas. The Normal received top students that were recommended on a quota basis from each Texas senatorial district.

VP Says SHSU Not Anticipating Fall Housing Problem

Vice President for Enrollment Management Heather Thielemann is quoted in an Today@SAM article that during the fall 2006 semester, “the temporary closing of Belvin-Buchanan will account for the loss of 209 beds and the closing of Smith-Kirkley Hall will account for the loss of 500 beds; however, Raven Village’s opening will give the university 400 beds, and 200 beds in Smith Hall will be used in the event of an overflow of students wanting to live on campus.”

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.

New Baseball/Softball Complex Opens

The Bearkats win big as their new baseball and softball fields open - and fans loved it, as noted in the Huntsville Item (Feb. 12, 2006):

A large fan base braved the cold, windy weather Saturday for a first look at the Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball and Baseball Complex.

Huntsville resident Dave Smith said he’s watched the complex grow from the ground up.  “I really like it,” he said during the Bearkat women’s game Saturday. “I live near here, so I got to enjoy watching it go up.  I used to walk here when it was woods. I used to find cougar and deer tracks here,” he said. “And, now we’re playing softball here. It’s just beautiful.”

“It’s just a lot nicer,” [student Cordy] Raney said, just as the Bearkats hit their first grand slam in the new softball park. “And, now I don’t have to worry about my car getting slammed anymore.”  The old parking at the softball team’s former home on Avenue M was located directly behind home plate. At the new facility, parking was only one of the many things considered when building.

Opening Day Only Five Days Away

Preparing for opening day at the new Bearkat baseball and softball fields as reported in the Huntsville Item (Feb. 5, 2006):

Opening day at the brand-new Bearkat Baseball and Softball Complex is just a few days away. On Friday, the Bearkat baseball team throws out the first pitch at its fabulous new facility above Bowers Stadium. Texas Southern comes to town for an evening game under the lights, and the Tigers stick around for a three-game weekend series.

Softball season starts Saturday afternoon at the Bearkats’ new stadium next door to the baseball park. The Bearkats play Louisiana Tech at 3:15 p.m. in the opening game of the Domino’s Pizza Bearkat Invitational.

Having worked out in the new facilities since last fall, the Bearkats say they can’t wait to show off their new homes. Baseball and softball players at SHSU finally have something to be proud of, and they look forward to hitting the field for the 2006 season in front of overflow crowds.

One of the most impressive things about the new baseball/softball complex is an indoor facility that has spacious locker rooms, indoor batting cages, coaches’ offices and conference rooms. There is also a place for players to meet before or after practices and games.

Down the hill a bit at the new softball complex, the Bearkats feel the same way as the baseball guys. SHSU’s softball players are taking full advantage of some of the new features that weren’t available to them at the old, off-campus field on Avenue M.  They now have a chance to play or practice at night thanks to the new stadium lighting. There is also a state-of-the-art sound system, chairback seats, and even bathrooms in the dugouts.

Besides all the new bells and whistles, the softball field is like most others. The dimensions are 190 feet down the right- and left-field foul poles and 220 to center.  At the Bearkat Baseball Complex, it’s 330 feet down the lines, 375 to the power alleys and 400 to dead center, where there’s a 30-foot wall staring hitters straight in the face.