Regents approve major expansion of Student Recreation Center

Date of release: 11/21/05

SAN MARCOS—The Texas State University System Board of Regents has named architects to design several new construction projects at Texas State University-San Marcos.

The regents Friday authorized the university to employ Marmon Mok architects of San Antonio to design the Student Recreation Center addition and renovation. The project carries a total estimated cost of $22 million, which will be paid for by an increase in the Student Recreation Fee from $47 to $94 per long term and from $23.50 to $47 per summer session, effective in the 2008 fall semester.

The project was approved in a student referendum in April 2005 and involves the construction of a two-level, 89,000 square-foot expansion of the existing Student Recreation Center. The expansion will house a natatorium, a rock climbing facility, a multi-purpose exercise and weight room, four playing courts and office and auxiliary space. The renovation of the existing center will create an additional 20,000 square feet of as well.

The regents also hired Carl Walker Parking Consultants of Frisco, Texas, to do a feasibility study for and design the Matthews Street and Speck Street parking garages, at an estimated total project cost of $24.4 million. The new parking garages are part of the university’s recently adopted Campus Master Plan. They will provide an additional 1,715 parking places for the campus.

The regents hired TBG Partners of Austin to design the Tomas Rivera/Student Center Drive/Buckner Loop realignment project. That project was also defined in the Campus Master Plan and will address increasing traffic in that portion of campus. The estimated cost of the project is $3.1 million.

Huitt-Zollars of Austin was hired to design the Jowers Center renovation that carries an estimated price tag of $1.5 million.

The regents also dealt with several other construction projects at Texas State. In those actions, the regents:

  • Approved preliminary and final plans prepared by Garza Bamberger of San Antonio for renovation of the Health Science Center.
  • Accepted as substantially complete the Alkek Library first floor renovation project as designed by Graeber, Simmons and Cowan Architects of Austin and completed by Stokes Construction Co. of San Marcos.
  • Accepted as substantially complete the Student Health Center as designed by Garza Bamberger of San Antonio and completed by SpawGlass Construction of Austin.
  • Authorized the university to issue purchase orders not to exceed $868,000 to Your International of Austin for chiller replacement at the Co-Gen Plant.
  • Authorized the university to grant a wastewater utility easement to W.F. Karam Inc. to be deeded to the City of San Marcos upon completion on Texas State property at McCarty Lane and Interstate 35.

In other Texas State related business, the regents:

  • Authorized the university to increase designated tuition from $76 per semester credit hour to $88 per semester credit hour, effective in the 2006 fall semester. The regents also approved increasing the existing advising fee from $40 to $45 per long term and from $20 to $22.50 per summer session, the existing extension fee from $327 to $483 per three hour course, the existing off-campus course fee from $23 per semester credit hour to $30 per semester credit hour; and to implement an international student operations fee of $60 per long term and $30 per summer session, and an electronic course fee of $100 per hour.
  • Accepted the annual reports of the Texas State Alumni Association, the Bobcat Athletic Foundation, the Development Foundation, the Friends of the Fine Arts and Communication Foundation, the Parents Association and the Support Foundation.
  • Authorized the university to issue purchase orders not to exceed $500,000 for upgrades and expansion of departmental micro computer labs and not to exceed $450,000 to expand disk storage capability.
  • Accepted gifts to the university of $5,000 or more and gifts in kind to the university.

A gift from the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation will support five Mitte Chairs at Texas State. The Mitte Foundation also made a gift in support of the Mitte Scholars Program at Texas State and contributed in support of fellowships in the Department of Geography’s Ph.D. program.

A gift resulting in the sale of property and assets from the estate of H. C. Vivian will benefit the Business Endowment in the McCoy College of Business Administration.

Beckman Counter Inc. donated toward the purchase of laboratory equipment for the Department of Biology.

ScottCare Company donated computers and printers to the Department of Physical Therapy.

The W.D. Kelley Foundation made a donation in support of the Counseling Practicum Clinic at the Round Rock Higher Education Center.

An anonymous donor made a contribution in support of the Graduate College scholarship program.

The Strahan Foundation made tow gifts to the Bobcat Athletic Foundation for membership, one in honor of Robert W. Storey Sr.

The Bobcat Athletic Foundation received gifts in-kind from Time Warner Cable, Quail Creek Country Club, San Marcos Auto Outlet, Advantage Rent-A-Car, Classic Honda, Outback Steakhouse, Brown Distributing, Cecil Atkission Motors, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Red Simon Ford and San Marcos Toyota.

An anonymous donor made a gift to the Bobcat Athletic Foundation for membership.

Albert Gonzalez and Susan Angell-Gonzalez donated gifts in kind as auction items in support of the Athletic Department.

Mr. and Mrs. Glynn C. Key donated in support of the Department of Agriculture.

Mr. and Mrs. Alan R. Wiley donated in support of the Bobcat Athletic Foundation.

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation donated in support of the Southwest Regional Humanities Center’s Jerome H. and Catherine E. Supple Professorship.

The McCombs Foundation donated in support of the Gary V. Woods Business Endowment in the McCoy College of Business Administration.

Mr. and Mrs. Gary V. Woods made a gift to the Gary V. Woods Business Endowment in the McCoy College of Business Administration.

CenturyTel Inc. donated for a named sponsorship for the 2005 Chartwells/CenturyTel Texas State University-San Marcos Celebrity Classic.

Strutter Director Susan Angell-Gonzalez and her husband, Albert Gonzalez, donated to a variety of programs in the Athletic Department.

CenturyTel Inc. donated to the CenturyTel McCoy College of Business Endowment.

Mary Agnes Taylor made a donation to her named scholarship.

The Willard Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education received a bequest from the estate of Allene P. and Fred. C. Willard.

Fleishman-Hilliard Inc. donated for an advertising contest prize to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

William Ross King donated to the Crown Scholarship in the International Studies Program.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. McKeen made a donation to the Southwest Regional Humanities Center for the publication of a collection of poetry by their deceased son.

La Quinta made a donation in support of the Sam Barshop Professorship in Entrepreneurial Studies.

  • Authorized the university to contract with McLemore Building Maintenance for custodial service at the Student Recreation Center.
  • Amended the bylaws of the Emmett and Miriam McCoy College of Business Administration Development Foundation.
  • Authorized the university to transfer funds from quasi endowment accounts to fund projects on campus.
  • Approved out of country study programs in China, England, France, Greece, Italy, Austria, Spain, Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
  • Approved the 12th class day report for the 2005 fall semester.
  • Approved out of state and out of country travel reports.
  • Approved routine personnel matters, curriculum changes, budget adjustments and course fees.

The TSUS Board of Regents governs Angelo State University in San Angelo, Lamar University in Beaumont, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Lamar State College-Orange, Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas State and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, including the Rio Grande College with campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Uvalde.

Members of the board are Alan W. Dreeben of San Antonio, chair; Kent Adams of Beaumont, vice chair; Dora G. Alcala of Del Rio; John E. Dudley of Comanche; Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso; Bernie C. Francis of Addison; Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo and Greg Wilkinson of Plano. Charles Matthews is chancellor of the system.