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Brief History of the Project
August 2001 - Student Initiation of Project
Students attending the Campus-Wide Leadership Retreat in August 2001 identified the inadequacy of the University Center as a major campus problem that needed student attention.
Student Organization leaders expressed deep concern with the lack of meeting space, programming space, office space and student services space.
All students present expressed concern about the negative image the current University Center presents to prospective students, parents and the general public. They expressed that this created a lack of pride and satisfaction among involved students.
Student Discussion
Throughout the fall semester of 2001, students across campus engaged in discussion about the best way to address the issues facing them regarding the need for expanded student space in the current University Center.
Student Action
In the spring of 2002, the Student Government Association debated and passed a resolution requesting the Board of Regents to establish a committee that could study the needs for student space in the current University Center and to discuss the feasibility of addressing that problem.
Board of Regents Action on the Student Resolution
In July of 2002, the SFA Board of Regents, at the request of SFA students, asked President Guererro to appoint a University Center Expansion Committee to study the needs outlined by the students during the discussions over the past year.
Presidential Action based on the Student Resolution
In August 2002, President Guerrero appointed the University Center Expansion Committee.
Co-Chairs: Steve Westbrook and Dr. Jack Nelson
Members:
Aurora Amaya - Student Activities Association
Chris Anderson - Student Publications
Mitzi Blackburn - Alumni Association
Erin Bosworth - Student Government
Charlie Hueber - Student Affairs
Justin Jackson - Student Government
Nick Pesina - SFA Multicultural Center
John Rulfs - Physical Plant
Karl Seelbach - Student Government
Pat Spence - Student
Donnya Stephens - Faculty Representative
Student Participation on the Planning Committee:
a.) 50% of the project planning committee was comprised of students.
b.) The committee met biweekly from September 2002 through January 2003 with breaks during holidays.
c.) During the fall of 2002, the student committee members, along with staff support, visited Student Centers at seven other higher education institutions in Texas:
October 10:
Sam Houston State University
Lowman Student Center
Southwest Texas State University
LBJ Student Center
October 11:
University of Texas at San Antonio
University Center
November 7:
University of North Texas
University Union
Texas Woman's University
Student Center
November 8:
University of Texas at Arlington
Hereford Student Center
Southern Methodist University
Hughes-Trigg Student Center
d.) In December 2002, each student member of the planning committee was given an opportunity to review and comment on the 43 RFQ responses from architectural firms related to this project.
e.) Student members of the committee met in detail with the architectural firm during their last two visits.
Student Government Involvement:
The Student Senate considered, debated and passed a resolution supporting an increase by the Texas State Legislature of the University Center student fee cap to a maximum of $100 per semester.
Student Focus Groups:
The Student Focus Group subcommittee or the University Center Expansion Committee invited all 215 student organizations that were registered as of November 10, 2002 to attend focus group sessions. These sessions were divided based upon organizational registration categories:
• Academic/Professional Student Organizations
• Greek Life Organizations
• Special Interest Organizations,
• Religious Organizations
In addition, a special focus group session was conducted with the Residence Hall Association, representing the students living in campus residence halls.
Student Needs Assessment Survey:
The Student Needs Assessment Survey subcommittee of the University Center Expansion Committee prepared a written survey with student demographic and programming data included.
These surveys were administered to students in three ways:
- at booths set up both in the University Center and at the SFA statue in the academic mall.
- in classrooms as arranged with instructors by the student members of the planning committee.
- at each of the focus group sessions outlined above.
The Student Activities Association assisted with the administration of the survey campus-wide and offered the incentive of a drawing from among survey participants for a free DVD player.
Student Media:
The student newspaper, the Pine Log, has been very involved in publicizing the activities of the committee and the planning process to the University community. Several editorials and stories regarding the project have been written.
Expansion Website Launched
In November 2002, a microsite detailing the UC Expansion project was launched to keep students updated with information about what was happening with the process. A student comment box is included on the site so students have an opportunity to comment on the project at all times.
Student Participation in Selection of Architect
On January 9, 2003, the SFA Board of Regents met in Houston to hear presentations from architectural firms regarding the University Center expansion project. Erin Bosworth, Student Body President and Karl Seelbach, Student Body Vice-President, were both in attendance at the meeting. These students participated in the questioning of the candidates and the Regents solicited their input as the selection was being made. The architectural team of Prozign and Sasaki Associates were selected to design the new SFA Student Center.
Architect Team Meets with Students
On January 24-25 and Feb. 11-12, the architect team from Prozign/Sasaki conducted workshops with students to gain student input on the preliminary design of the new student center. Over 30 hours of discussions were held with stakeholders from all areas of the university; including:
• Alumni Association
• Faculty Senate
• Multicultural Center students
• Multicultural Center Staff
• Auxiliary Services Staff
• Student Publications Students and Staff
• Student Affairs Staff
• Student Government Association
• Student Foundation
• Student Activities Association and Staff
• Residence Hall Association
• Residence Life Staff
• Regents
• Student Leadership Programs Students and Staff
• Student Organization Services
• Student Organization Users
Open Student Forums Conducted
Two open forums were conducted in the University Center Spirit Lounge for all students. The first forum was held on February 11 at 5:30 p.m. with a second open forum conducted at noon on February 12.
Student Needs are Addressed in the Preliminary Plans
At the conclusion of the two visits between architects and students, the architect team verified that all of the inclusions students indicated as most important was possible in a design of approximately 95,000 square feet. The site was determined after several site analysis options were discussed with students.
Students Conduct Fee Referendum
Student Government, comfortable that SFA students had been heavily involved in the building process from the beginning, the administration and Board of Regents were strongly supportive and students had been given opportunities to have their questions and concerns addressed felt it was time to conduct the referendum that would determine if SFA students supported an increased fee to finance the construction and operation of a new Student Center addition.
Students Approve Fee by Large Majority
On March 5, 2003, students turned at to the polls in record numbers for a fee referendum at SFA to show support for the Student Center project.
Here are some referendum facts:
Election Date: March 5, 2003
Poll Hours: 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Poll Location: University Center
Ballot wording:
"Stephen F. Austin State University will charge and collect, from students registered at the institution, a fee of $9 per hour, with a minimum total fee of $35 and a maximum total fee of $85, per semester for the purpose of constructing a STUDENT CENTER addition to the university center and the future operations of that STUDENT CENTER."
Headcount Enrollment for Spring 2003: 10,789
Student Voting in Election: 1,398
Percentage of Headcount Enrollment Voting: 13%
Students voting for the fee: 1,126 (80.5%)
Students voting against the fee: 269 (19.5%)
Ballots illegible: 3 (0.002%)
Students Voters by Classification:
Graduate: 37 (2.6%)
Senior: 205 (14.6%)
Junior: 260 (18.6%)
Sophomore: 406 (29.0%)
Freshman: 490 (35.0%) percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding
Legislation Passed to Allow Fee
HB 882 (sponsored by Rep. Wayne Christian) and SB 334 (sponsored by Sen. Todd Staples) were introduced during the 78th Session of the Texas Legislature to allow the cap on the Student Center fee at SFA to be increased as requested by the SFA students.
Here is the history of those bills:
Description Date H Filed 02/12/2003 H Read first time 02/18/2003 H Referred to Higher Education 02/18/2003 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . . . 03/24/2003 H Considered in public hearing 03/24/2003 H Testimony taken in committee 03/24/2003 H Left pending in committee 03/24/2003 H Considered in public hearing 03/31/2003 H Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent 03/31/2003 H Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) 03/31/2003 H Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator 04/02/2003 H Committee report printed and distributed 05:27 PM H Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar 04/03/2003 H Considered in Local & Consent Calendars 04/07/2003 H Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar 04/10/2003 H Read 2nd time 04/10/2003 H Passed to engrossment 04/10/2003 H Read 3rd time 04/10/2003 H Passed 04/10/2003 H Record vote RV#189 H Reported engrossed 06:15 PM S Received from the House 04/14/2003 S Read first time 04/15/2003 S Referred to Education 04/15/2003 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . . . . 04/29/2003 S Considered in public hearing 04/29/2003 S Testimony taken in committee 04/29/2003 S Reported favorably as substituted 05/02/2003 S Recommended for local & uncontested calendar 05/02/2003 S Committee report printed and distributed 03:46 PM S Placed on local & uncontested calendar 05/19/2003 S Laid before the Senate 05/20/2003 S Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading 05/20/2003 S Three day rule suspended 05/20/2003 S Record vote 05/20/2003 S Read 3rd time 05/20/2003 S Passed 05/20/2003 S Record vote 05/20/2003 H Senate passage as amended reported 05/20/2003 H Senate Amendments printed and distributed 05:25 PM H House concurs in Senate amendment(s) 05/22/2003 H Record vote RV#646 H Text of Senate Amendment(s) 05/22/2003 S House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported 05/22/2003 H Reported enrolled 10:12 AM H Signed in the House 05/24/2003 S Signed in the Senate 05/26/2003 E Sent to the Governor 05/27/2003 E Signed by the Governor 06/20/2003 E Effective immediately 06/20/2003
Preliminary Hearing Before the Higher Education Coordinating Board's Facilities Planning Committee
SFA staff presented the Student Center Project to the Facilities Planning Committee of the Higher Education Coordinating Board in Austin on June 2, 2003. The committee voted to recommend the approval of the project to the full Board at it's meeting in mid-July.
The Chair of the SFA Board of Regents created an ad-hoc committee of the board, titled the Ad Hoc Committee for the University Center Expansion and Renovation, to oversee the Board's involvement in the expansion project
The SFA Board of Regent's Ad Hoc Committee for the University Center Expansion and Renovation heard a presentation on July 15, 2003 by Norris Strawbridge of Sasaki Associates regarding the Student Center project. After the presentation and numerous questions, the Board approved the "Program Phase" of the project and asked that the architect team move forward into the "Schematic Phase" of the project.
On October 6, 2003, the Ad Hoc Committee for the University Center Expansion and Renovation met in Dallas to hear presentations by Norris Strawbridge of Sasaki Associates and Alan Sadeghpor of Prozign Architects. Floor plans and concept elevations were presented and discussed. After questions and discussion the floor plans were approved and the concept elevation selected was approved.
On October 23, 2003, at the regular meeting of the SFA Board of Regents Norris Strawbridge of Sasaki Associates presented to the full board the current status of the project and the elevations and floor plans that had been approved by the ad-hoc committee on October 6.
On May 13, 2004, the Design Development documents were delivered to the University by Sasaki Associates. This represents 35% of the construction documents.
On May 17, 2004 Phase I of the project began.
May 17-30, 2004 the Student Affairs departments moved from their former spaces in the University enter to their temporary homes in the Birdwell Building. These offices will return to the new Student Center in the spring of 2007.
On December 20, 2004 several things happened that will allow Phase One of the Student Center project to wind down and to make preparations for Phase Two. Auxiliary Services offices moved to their temporary location on the second floor of UC in Room 220. Dinning Services offices moved to their temporary location in the Union Station food court. The construction containment walls were built inside of the current UC running east to west along the north side of what used to be the main hallway. Construction fencing to contain the initial Phase Two construction zone was erected.
December 20-25, 2004 the Dining Services office and Auxiliary Services moved from their former locations to their temporary homes for the duration of the project. Dining Services moved to the Union Station food court while Auxiliary Services moved to the second floor of the UC.
December 20-25, 2005 saw construction fencing encircle the portion of the building scheduled for demolition.
Dec. 31, 2004 was the last day of service in current Post Office.
Jan. 3, 2005 was the first day of service in new Post Office, downstairs in the UC.
January - April, 2005 saw demolition of the one-story section of the old building that made way for the new Student Center.
January 18, 2005 February 18, 2005 March 18, 2005 April 18, 2005
On May 12, 2005 the drilling began for the foundation piers of the new Student Center.
May 12, 2005