News Release for Feb. 28, 2008

REGENTS APPROVE SUL ROSS LAND LEASE NEGOTIATIONS; NOTE $386,000 IN GIFTS

Approval to negotiate a long-term lease of surplus Sul Ross State University property was approved by the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System.

The Regents, meeting at Beaumont Feb. 21-22, also acknowledged over $386,000 in gifts and donations among Sul Ross agenda items.

Regents granted authority for Sul Ross to negotiate and sign, with appropriate System Office approvals, a long-term lease with Brown-Miller Management Inc., Beeville, on approximately eight acres of land on the south side of East Highway 90. Brown-Miller Management proposes to build a 60-unit franchise hotel on the site. Negotiations are still in progress, and no formal lease has yet been signed.

In July 2007, Sul Ross sold surplus duplex housing units located on the site. The surplus buildings, empty since the construction of the Lobo Village Residential Living Complex, were removed by the buyer. The university determined it had no planned use for the land due to its separation from the main campus.

Gifts exceeding $386,000 were acknowledged by the Regents. Donations include:

• $5,000 from the Beryl L. Rice and John W. Rice Foundation, Fowlerton, to the Museum of the Big Bend education program.
• $7,5000 from the Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston, to the Brown Foundation Surface Geology Studies Fund and the Brown Foundation Rodeo Trailer Maintenance Fund.
• $10,000 from Dr. Barbara Hazlewood, Alpine, to the General Scholarship Endowment.
• $5,000 from Big Bend Ranch Rodeo, Alpine, to the Big Bend Ranch Rodeo Scholarship Fund.
• $115,000 from Mr. And Mrs. Robert Eaves, McCamey, to the Robert P. (Robo) Cross Memorial Scholarship Endowment, Robert P. Amacker Memorial Geology, Chemstry and Mathematics Scholarship Endowment, Geology Excellence Fund, General Scholarship Endowment, Alumni Association Endowment and Laura A. Eaves Scholarship Endowment.
• $30,000 from Ms. Mayme B. Brotherton, Dryden, to the History Endowment and History Excellence Fund.
• $10,000 from Michael L. Klein, Midland, to the Trans Pecos Archaeological Program for the Pinto Canyon Ranch archaeological study.
• Ten photographs, valued at $8,500, from William "Bill" Wright, Jr., Abilene, to the Museum of the Big Bend Endowment.
• $50,000 from the AT&T Foundation, San Antonio, to the Museum of the Big Bend education program and renewal campaign.
• $5,000 from Don and Romona Munsell of Ramona Munsell and Associates Consulting, Inc., Bella Vista, Ark., to the Endowment for Excellence, with funds designated as a Gear-UP Scholarship match.
• $10,000 from Alvin A. and Roberta T. Klein Trust, Klein, to create the Klein Trust Botanical Research project.
• $25,200 from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund to fund graduate research assistantships.
• $10,000 from Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Beeville, to further an ongoing research project studying mule deer habitats.
• $5,000 from Robert and Richard Nunley, Sabinal, to further an ongoing research project studying mule deer habitats.
• $5,000 from John B. Poindexter, Houston, to the Borderlands Research Institute Fund.
• $5,000 from Col. and Mrs. Richard Beck, San Antonio, to the Richard W. Beck and Elsie R. Beck Scholarship Endowment.
• $50,000 from John Franklin Fort, Houston, to the Friends of the Center for Big Bend Studies.

The Regents also approved a four percent increase in meal plan rates and seven percent increase in room rates, effective fall semester 2008.

During fall and spring semesters, the seven-day, 20-meal plan with $70 Lobo Bucks would rise from $1,195 to $1,240 per semester; the seven-day, 16-meal plan with $95 Lobo Bucks would increase from $1,175 to $1,230; and the seven-day, 12-meal plan with $120 Lobo Bucks would go from $1,135 to $1,180.

Summer semester plans of 7/20 with $35 Lobo Bucks would rise from $430 to $450; 7/16 with $48 Lobo Bucks from $420 to $440; and 7/12 with $60 Lobo Bucks from $405 to $425. Increases were requested by ARAMARK, the university's food service provider, as an inflation adjustment to address added costs of operations.

Increased room rates were requested due to increased costs of operation of the new apartment-style facilities, including wear and tear and utilities.

Effective fall semester 2008, rates in Lobo Village Residence Halls will rise from $1,735 to $1,855 in the fall and spring semesters and from $595 to $635 during summer semesters.

Lobo Village efficiency apartment rates will increase from $415 to $445 per month and family apartment rates will rise from $450 to $480 per month.

Other Sul Ross agenda items included:

• 12th day class reports, that showed 1,683 students enrolled at the Alpine Campus and 936 at Rio Grande College. Semester credit hours totaled 17,899 at Alpine and 7,341 at RGC.
• Approval of small class reports at Alpine and RGC and curriculum changes.
• Approval of an out-of-country study course, May 19-June 5, in Spain, France and Italy. A total of six semester credit hours will be offered, with three art courses and an intercultural communication course to be taught by Kristi Hext, Dr. Esther Rumsey and Carol Fairlie.
• Approval of operating budget and related adjustments and personnel changes.

FLYNT, LOBO FOOTBALL FEATURED IN MARCH TEXAS MONTHLY

Sul Ross State University alumnus Mike Flynt and the Sul Ross State University football program are featured in a March Texas Monthly article.

"Untitled Mike Flynt Project," written by John Spong, details Flynt's return to Sul Ross and the Lobo football team at age 59. Flynt's participation during the 2007 season attracted national and international media attention to Sul Ross and Alpine.

LADY LOBOS OPEN SOFTBALL SEASON AT UTPB

University of Texas Permian Basin displayed its early-season experience, posting 9-0 and 10-2 softball wins over visiting Sul Ross State University Wednesday (Feb. 20).

UTPB improved to 5-9 by slamming 21 hits in the twin bill while pitchers Jennifer Oso and Emily Morrow, an Alpine High School graduate, allowed just seven hits and two unearned runs.

The Lady Lobos, playing their first games of the season under new coach Sandra Chambers, opened at home Wednesday (Feb. 27, 1 p.m.) against the College of the Southwest.

UTPB used a pair of seven-run innings to end both games by the eight-run rule. The Lady Falcons scored twice in the first and seven in the fourth in the opening game, sparked by Megan Lowe and Jessica Mireles. The pair combined for five hits and seven runs batted in, while Oso pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out three.

Dee Dee De Lao (Alpine) and Shannon Reyes (Bandera) singled for the Lady Lobos' only hits. Valerie Olivarez (San Antonio) took the loss.

Morrow scattered five hits in the nightcap while Delynn Slough and Maci Schaefer each singled twice and drove in two runs each.

Sul Ross took an early 1-0 lead as Olivarez led off the game with a single, moved up on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a throwing error. UTPB countered with Slough's two-run single in the bottom of the second and Mireles' sacrifice fly in the third.

The Lady Lobos tallied again in the fourth as Kassie Fuller (Alpine) walked, Vanessa Pena (San Antonio) reached on a fielder's choice and De Lao singled to load the bases. Fuller came home on a two-out infield error.

UTPB erupted for seven run in the last of the fifth, using Schaefer's two-run single, RBI hits by Kim Smith and Mary Ward, two bases-loaded walks and a passed ball.

Olivarez and De Lao each singled twice for Sul Ross, while Fuller had the other hit. Kara Lick (Gatesville) was the losing pitcher.

LOBOS FALL AT SCHREINER, TEXAS LUTHERAN

Both Schreiner University and Texas Lutheran University avenged earlier losses with men's basketball triumphs over visiting Sul Ross State University last weekend.

Coach Greg Wright's team dropped a 68-63 verdict to Schreiner Thursday (Feb. 21) at Kerrville, then fell 55-52 to TLU at Seguin Saturday (Feb. 23). The Lobos ended the year 8-17, 7-14 in American Southwest Conference West Division play.

Schreiner avenged an 83-68 loss at the Gallego Center Jan. 17 and never trailed after the first seven minutes of play.

Roderick Gunter (Houston Westside) netted 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Lobos. His three-pointer with 21 seconds left pulled Sul Ross within 64-63, but Mark Mahaffy and Stan Crockett drained four free throws in the last 18 seconds to seal the verdict.

Behind balanced scoring, the Mountaineers led by as many as 14 points, 31-17, before settling for a 33-26 halftime advantage. Schreiner increased its lead to 13, 41-28, with 17:30 left and held a 47-37 margin with 13:45 to play before Gunter rallied the Lobos.

Three-pointers from Moises Morales (Fort Hancock) and Jimmy Martinez (El Paso Andress) cut the gap to 49-44 and Sul Ross stayed within reach throughout the rest of the game. A turnover with six seconds left and the Lobos trailing 66-63 ended their chances to tie.

Fili Torres (Clint) added 14 points for Sul Ross and Jermaine Packer (Midland Lee) and Henry Flores (San Antonio Stevens) each scored seven. The Lobos netted 40 percent of their field goal attempts (21-53), six of 26 from long range, and added 15 of 21 free throws.

Schreiner received 13 points from Ronnie Barney, 12 from Riley Battle and nine each from three others. The Mountaineers shot 51 percent from the floor (24-47), eight of 22 beyond the arc, hit 12 of 17 foul shots and held a 31-21 rebound advantage.

Brad Howard nailed a three-pointer with two seconds left to spark Texas Lutheran's Saturday win. The Bulldogs , 3-21, 3-17, led 29-22 at halftime and built a 43-30 margin before Gonzalez rallied the Lobos.

Gonzalez, playing his final game, nailed a three-pointer with 1:38 left to forge a 52-52 tie before Howard's last-second heroics. Torres and Martinez also supplied clutch hoops as Sul Ross climbed back into contention.

The Lobos shot just 28 percent (8-29) in the first half and finished at 35 percent (19-55), seven of 27 from long range. Sul Ross hit seven of 11 free throws and collected 34 rebounds, nine from Torres.

Gonzalez led the way with 17 points, while Gunter added 11 and Martinez 10.

Michael Hill scored 13 and Josh Scott 10 for the Bulldogs, who shot 43 percent (23-54), made four of 19 threes and hit five of nine at the foul stripe. The winners grabbed36 rebounds, nine by Scott.

Lobo Tracks...Gonzalez and Packer played their final games in Lobo uniforms, averaging 12.8 and 7.2 points, respectively, for the season....Gonzalez had 74 assistas and 29 steals, shot 41 percent from three-point range (69-170) and 84 percent at the foul line....Torres scored12 points per game and averaged 7.6 rebounds, blocked 31 shots and made 44 percent of his three-point tries (28-63)....Gunter was an offensive spark over the second half of the season and finished with a 11.7 scoring average....Abe Ely (El Paso Hanks) averaged 10.7 points through 12 games before missing the second half with an injury.

LADY LOBOS WIN SEASON FINALE AT TEXAS LUTHERAN

Angelique Benton poured in 36 points and snared 10 rebounds as Sul Ross State University ended its women's basketball season with a 77-62 win over Texas Lutheran University Saturday (Feb. 23) at Seguin.

Benton (El Paso Parkland) nailed seven three-pointers among 12 hoops as Sul Ross ended a nine-game loss string to finish 7-16, 6-15 in the American Southwest Conference West Division.

Monica Enriquez converted two free throws with five seconds left to lift Schreiner University to an 82-81 overtime win against the visiting Lady Lobos Thursday (Feb. 21).

Benton scored 17 points in the first half as Sul Ross cruised to a 40-25 lead. Janice Mitchell (Round Rock Stony Point) dished out a season-high eight assists and Isela Garza (El Paso Eastwood) grabbed ll rebounds to go with eight points. Mitchell added nine tallies and Nitra Woods (Andrews) seven points and eight rebounds.

Sul Ross extended its margin to 20, 53-33, six minutes into the second half and were never seriously threatened. The Lady Lobos shot 37 percent (25-67) from the field, but hit 10 of 22 three-pointers and 17 of 29 free throws. Sul Ross had 14 assists and just nine turnovers while grabbing 48 rebounds.

TLU, 0-25, 0-21, received 25 points from Amanda Usselman. The Lady Bulldogs shot 35 percent (24-68), including four of 19 from long distance, made 10 of 17 free throws and snared 49 rebounds.

On Thursday, Schreiner's Enriquez winning shots came 11 seconds after Woods netted one of two chances to snap an 80-80 tie. Schreiner's home-court win avenged a 62-54 setback Jan. 17 at the Gallego Center.

Morgan Johnson (Christoval) and Woods combined for 38 points to help Sul Ross rally from an early 11-point deficit. The Lady Lobos trailed by 14, 26-12, early in the contest and faced a 37-29 halftime deficit. Woods, Johnson and fellow senior Mitchell combined for their team's first 11 points of the second half, with Johnson's hoop providing a 40-39 lead with 16:42 left.

Successive three-pointers by Garza and Johnson built a 48-41 advantage with 14:54 remaining before Enriquez and Courtney Davis fueled a Schreiner comeback. Davis' free throws drew the Lady Mountaineers even, 51-51, with 11:13 showing, and Enriquez' bucket provided a 55-51 lead at 10:33.

Schreiner led by five, 70-65, with 2:50 left in regulation, but Johnson nailed a three-pointer with nine ticks left to force overtime with a 71-71 score.

Sul Ross played catch-up most of the extra session, with Shiloh Shugart's (Merkel) three-pointer forging an 80-80 tie with 1:03 left.

Woods rebounded her own missed shot and was fouled with 18 seconds left, sinking one of two chances. Enriquez, who led all scorers with 28 points, drew a foul with five ticks showing and drained both chances for the tying and winning points.

Johnson paced the Lady Lobos with 22 points, Woods notched 16, Benton 12, Mitchell 10 and Garza nine points and nine rebounds. Sul Ross shot 44 percent, 26-59, including 12 of 26 from three-point range, and netted 17 of 25 free throws. Woods added seven rebounds and she and Garza each had four assists and two steals. Rebounding was even at 35-35.

Davis added 24 points and Lee Richardson 14 for Schreiner, 7-18, 6-15 in the ASC West Division. The winners hit 23 of 59 shots for 39 percent, just one of 17 three-pointers, but meshed 35 of 40 free throw tries.

Lobo Tracks...Woods finished the season with a team-leading 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game....Mitchell scored 9.8 points per outing, had 92 assists and 33 steals....Benton (9.2 ppg,) and Johnson (9.1) also approached double figures....Benton blocked 34 shots.

SUL ROSS STUDENT JONATHAN SMITH BFA EXHIBITION THROUGH MARCH 7

"Art of Influence," a Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition by Sul Ross State University student Jonathan Smith, Galveston, will be on exhibition through March 7.

Smith's exhibit will be on display in the Main Gallery, Francois Fine Art Building. A closing reception will be held March 7 from 6-8 p.m. There is no admission and the public is invited.

"My art is influenced by events I've faced during my life," Smith said. "Being raised by a single mother has had an impact on my life and my art.

"I try to put my all into each of my paintings, just like my influences did in their own lives," Smith said.

TRAPPINGS OF TEXAS FEB. 29-MARCH 1 AT MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND

Classic western gear and art will headline the 22nd annual Trappings of Texas Exhibit and Sale, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1 at Sul Ross State University.

Trappings is a juried invitational exhibit that brings together the best contemporary cowboy gear and art. This unique event is hosted by the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross and has become a West Texas tradition.

This year's Trappings begins with a lecture, "Old Masters: Taos School of Art," presented by Michael Duty, guest curator of art, on Thursday, Feb. 28, 3:30 p.m. in Lawrence Hall, Room 309.

The main event, the Trappings sale and opening reception will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. at the newly renovated Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $40 per person or $75 per couple. The Trappings public auction will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 1 at Lawrence Hall, third floor, room 309. Items for the auction have been donated from gearmakers, artists and businesses from not only the Big Bend, but from across the globe.

For more information and tickets, contact Liz Jackson, (432) 837-8143.

SUL ROSS FACULTY PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Five members of the Sul Ross faculty participated in the 41st annual conference of the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies held recently in El Paso.

Dr. Mark Saad Saka, associate professor of history, presided as president over the conference, a position that he has held since 2006.

Dr. Jesus Tafoya associate professor of Spanish, presented a paper, "Comida festiva del norte de Mexico: La tradicion culinaria chihuahuense".

Dr. Rafael Azuaje, assistant professor of computer information systems, presented a paper, "Bridging the E-Commerce Gap in Latin America."

Dr. Jim Case, professor of political science and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences chaired the panel, "Politics and the Economy in the Borderlands and Latin America."

Dr. Justin Badgerow , assistant professor of music, presented a recital of the Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera's "Doce Preludios Americanos" in a night celebrating the Latin American Musical and composing Tradition.

After having served as president for two years, Saka turned the presidency over to Janet Adamski of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Saka will remain on the executive board as presidential advisor for a two year appointment.

In addition, Tafoya has accepted the chair of the Awards Committee for a three-year appointment.

The Southwest Council of Latin American Studies is the largest regional Latin American conference in the United States and is held annually. It incorporates Latin American scholars from the United States, Mexico, and Central America.

The conference rotates its location and is held one year in Latin America and then in the United States. Last year's conference was held in Merida, Yucatan and next year's conference will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Its membership includes scholars from a wide range of interdisciplinary fields including history, languages and literature, political science, anthropology, gender studies, and sociology.

For more information, contact Saka, (432) 837-8304 or msaka@sulross.edu

THEATRE OF THE BIG BEND ANNOUNCES 43RD SEASON SCHEDULE

The Theatre of the Big Bend Summer Repertory will perform three shows, beginning June 27.

The summer bill opens with the musical, "Cowgirls," by Besty Howie and Mary Murfitt, followed by "Petra's Cuento," the second play in Rupert Reyes, Jr.'s popular bilingual series, and ends with "Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede," by Eric Coble.

All three shows offer fun and entertainment for all ages and audiences. "Cowgirls," directed by Dona W. Roman, is a country versus classical music mash up about a famous country-western saloon in jeopardy of foreclosure. The women of the saloon mistakenly hire a classical music trio in hopes to save the saloon. The misunderstanding leads to laughs, song and dance, and the coming together of two very different groups. Justin Badgerow will offer musical direction with vocal direction by Dr. Donald Callen Freed.

"Petra's Cuento," directed by Liz Castillo, continues the story of the lovable, superstitious and somewhat meddlesome Petra as she tries to reconnect with her daughter and grandchildren after a worrisome visit to the doctor. "This bilingual comedy serves up the wonderfully warm and loving characters we met in Petra's Pecado and introduces us to more of Petra's scattered familia." (Teatro Vivo; Austn, Texas)

"Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede," directed by Dr Keith West, is a larger than life, Pecos Bill tall-tale production the whole family can enjoy. Packed from beginning to end with action, laughs and the world's largest prairie dog, "Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede" is a show for the cowboy in all of us.

"Cowgirls" runs three weekends, June 27-July 13. "Petra's Cuento" runs three weekends, July 18-Aug. 3 and "Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede" runs our final weekend Aug. 8-10. Curtain time for all shows is 8:15 p.m. For more information, contact 1-432-837-8218 or 888-722-SRSU (7778).

SUL ROSS STUDENT DIES IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

Services will be held Friday (Feb. 29) in Dallas for Sul Ross State University student Ashley Tiara Stern, who died as a result of a one-vehicle rollover Feb. 22.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Peaceful Rest Funeral Home, 3302 East Illinois, Dallas. Visitation will be from 630-8:30 p.m. Thursday.

A passenger, Chantil Lacey Stapp, Junction, also a Sul Ross student, was airlifted from the scene to Odessa Medical Center Hospital, where she was treated and released.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the accident occurred about 6 p.m. Friday (Feb. 22), on Highway 67, about 12 miles south of I-10.

LOBO NINE WINS ONE OF THREE AGAINST VISITING UT-DALLAS

Richard Fraire's two-run, sixth-inning homer lifted Sul Ross State University to a 4-2 win over visiting Univeristy of Texas-Dallas Friday (Feb. 22) in the first of a three-game set at Kokernot Field.

UT-Dallas, 7-2, rebounded to win Friday's second game 9-0 and rallied for a 14-5 victory Saturday to claim the series. Sul Ross, 3-8, travels to Clinton, Miss. this weekend to meet another American Southwest Conference East Division foe, Mississippi College. Both Friday's (Feb. 29) double header and Saturday's (March 1) single game begin at noon.

Fraire (El Paso) snapped a 2-2 with a blast over the left-centerfield fence Friday. Chad Hudson's RBI double snapped a 1-1 tie in the top of the frame, but the Lobos answered as Zach Denson (Fredericksburg) was hit by a pitch, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Javier Arrieta's (El Paso) one-out single to left. Fraire followed with a two-out round tripper, and Jaime Rojo (Alpine) worked out of a mild jam in the seventh to gain his first win of the year.

Rojo struck out four, walked three and allowed five hits. The Comets took a 1-0 lead in the second on a walk, infield out, wild pitch and throwing error. Sul Ross responded in the bottom of the third on doubles by Adrian Zepeda (Clint) and Chris Rodriguez (San Angelo).

Arrieta had two of the Lobos' five hits off UT-Dallas' Drew Waggoner, who struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Chris Biguenet socked a three-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the second as the Comets built a 6-0 lead. Mark Cox scattered six hits and a walk over eight innings, striking out seven batters, while his teammates collected 15 safeties off Cody Kemmerling (Hitchcock) and Ritchie Ortega (Clint).

UT-Dallas added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Denson singled twice in four trips for the Lobos, Arrieta doubled, and James Johnson (Killeen), Rodriguez and Harvey Cardiel (Tornillo) all singled.

Sul Ross bolted to a 4-0 lead after four on Saturday, but the Comets exploded for nine runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to win.

Will Montano (El Paso) singled home a run in the second, an error plated two in the third and a single, passed ball and two wild pitches added another marker in the fourth.

UT-Dallas countered with a run in the fifth on Chase Whitehead's double and Biguenet's single, but Michael Otero (Houston) limited the Comets to six hits and a single run over five and one-third frames. Lucas Garza (Hebbronville) preserved the 4-1 margin until the eighth, when the Comets exploded for eight hits and used a costly error, a hit batsman and three walks to move ahead 10-4.

Chris Alfano and Jared Smith both had two-run doubles in the frame, and Alfano added a two-run double in the four-run ninth. Garet Norton also singled home two runs as the winners finished with 19 hits.

The Lobos scored once in the final frame as Johnson doubled and Eric Castillo (Del Rio) singled him home.

Denson doubled and singled twice in five trips for the Lobos. Johnson and Ricardo Vera (Hebbronville) doubled, while Arrieta, Andrew Ramos (El Paso), Montano,, Castillo and Ryan Kassner (Corpus Christi) singled.

Eddie Vela (Pecos) took the loss in relief, while Keith Bakker (Katy), Ortega and Arrieta also saw mound duty.

Lobo Tracks...Arrieta leads the team in hitting at a.447 clip, with three doubles, two triples and two homers among his 17 hits. He has scored nine runs, driven in 11 and stolen seven bases in as many attempts....Denson is batting.333 and Rodriguez.297 among the regulars....Rojo, Cardiel and Kemmerling each have one win for the mound staff.

SUL ROSS TENNIS TEAMS HOST COLLEGE OF THE SOUTHWEST

Sul Ross State University split tennis matches with visiting College of the Southwest Saturday (Feb. 23), winning the women's match 8-1 while losing the men's competition 9-0.

The Lady Lobos improved to 2-0 with a default win over the Lady Mustangs. Christina Gallardo (El Paso) defeated CSW's Stephanie Dixon 6-3, 6-0 in number one singles, while Judy Sarina (Fabens) lost 6-3, 6-0 to Whitney Kirisian at number two in the only singles matches played.

In doubles competition, Dixon/Kirisian won 9-7 over Gallardo/Sarina.

In men's competition, CSW swept all six matches played. The Lobos defaulted number five and six singles and number three doubles.

Taylor Crossland won 6-1, 6-0 over John Langerock (Austin); John Taylor (Godley) lost 6-0, 6-0 to Jonathan Lira; Felix Zapien (Alpine) lost 6-0, 6-0 to Josh Baker; and James Aldridge (El Paso) fell 6-0, 6-0 to Pete Garcia.

In doubles, Crossland/Baker defeated Taylor/Langerock 8-1 and Adam Faul/Garcia defeated Aldridge/Zapien 8-0.

Sul Ross hosts Schreiner University Saturday (March 1, 10 a.m.) in American Southwest Conference action, then meets Texas Lutheran University Monday (March 3, 2 p.m.) on the Lobo Courts.

QEP POSTER COMPETITION OPEN THROUGH MARCH 12

The best 50 posters chosen in the Sul Ross State University Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee poster competition will be displayed March 29-April 1.

Winning posters will be exhibited on the second floor foyer of the University Center. Preference for winners will be given to posters depicting ideas that somehow combine West Texas with student learning opportunities. All ideas are welcome. All posters will be made available to the visiting on-site review team from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) who will be on campus as part of Sul Ross's reaffirmation of accreditation, a process that occurs every 10 years.

Multiple entries are welcome from individuals, clubs, departments, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community at large. Suggested topics for posters include: incorporating the outdoors into academic subjects, generating student engagement with academic subjects, topics for faculty seminars to improve teaching methods especially in the outdoors, enhancing critical thinking in the classroom or in outdoor activities, Mixing student activities with academic learning, or anything else relevant to increasing the quality of an education at Sul Ross State University.

The posters should provide an exciting visual collection of our many regional assets and various plans for using those assets.

For the "poster-challenged" Tim Parsons will conduct a build-a-poster session using PowerPoint in the Library Classroom on Friday, Feb. 29, 4 p.m.

Deliver ready-to-hang posters to the Library Administration Office before 5 p.m.Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Winning posters will be hung during Spring Break.

For more information contact Barney Nelson at bnelson@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS QEP DOCUMENT MEETS DEADLINE

The supporting research document explaining Sul Ross State University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) has been completed and sent to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) five days ahead of the March 1 deadline.

A committee of 43 has been at work on the plan since fall 2006, with 11 new committee members added in fall 2007.

The QEP is part of the documentation and planning for Sul Ross'sreaffirmation of accreditation by SACS. President R. Vic Morgan said, "I'm pleased that our hard-working committee was able to meet this important deadline."

Student learning will be measured through administration of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the critical thinking portion of the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) test. These two instruments also represent the two categories, engagement survey and academic testing, required by the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) that has been designed and sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Sul Ross has registered for participation in the VSA. Thus, the QEP also fits neatly into a larger national transparency plan to help students and parents select a university that will provide the educational opportunities desired.

According to Morgan, "Sul Ross State University should look very attractive on the VSA website. We will rank close to the top for ratio of available laboratory equipment per student, number of full-time Ph.D. faculty who teach freshman courses, campus safety, and numerous other categories. We will rank close to the bottom in cost and class size.

"We also believe that our students will make significant progress in critical thinking during their four years at Sul Ross. The NSSE survey and the CAAP test should work together well to guide us toward demonstrating that our graduates receive a quality education for a reasonable price."

As research reviewed in the QEP document demonstrates, higher education is now focusing on "value-added learning" or measuring how much progress students make during their college careers, rather than using a university's endowment fund and the ACT/SAT test scores of entering freshmen.

A similar document was provided by a similar committee at SRSU's Rio Grande College campus. Both QEP documents will be evaluated by a SACS review team scheduled to arrive on the Alpine campus March 29-April 2.

Morgan has served several other universities as a reviewer for their QEPs. Prior to submission, he reviewed the QEP document for each campus.

"I feel confident that our reaffirmation team will find these QEPs satisfactory and that we can begin implementation next fall," he said.

QUICKBOOKS, SBA LOAN PROGRAM SEMINARS MARCH 5-6 AT SBDC

Seminars on QuickBooks software and the Small Business Association CDC/504 Loan Program will be offered Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6 at the Big Bend Region Minority Small Business Development Center.

Both seminars will be held at the Centennial School Building, 500 West Ave. H., Alpine.

QuickBooks workshops will be offered from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. The first workshop, "QuickBooks: Features," (10 a.m.-noon) will present an overview of available features that allow users to create and work in a company file, post checks and deposits, and execute basic reporting tasks. In the afternoon session, "QuickBooks: Strategies," (1-3 p.m.) participants will review "items" and invoicing, the construction of detailed reports, and strategies relevant to those in attendance, such as payroll and form customization.

There is no charge for participation, and those registering for both workshops will be provided with a sandwich platter lunch. The regular use of QuickBooks is a prerequisite for participation. Space is limited to 14 participants in each workshop and pre-registration is required. To pre-register, call (432) 837-8813 or e-mail dmiller@sulross.edu.

On Thursday, March 6, 11 a.m., Cruz Montoya, Senior Business Development Officer, Capital CDC, will discuss the CDC/504 Loan Program, restrictions, eligibility requirements and to answer questions. She will be accompanied by Manny Sermeno, CIT commercial lender. The CIT Group Small Business Lending is ranked the number one SBA lender for eight consecutive years providing commercial services and consumer finance solutions through 7(a) 504 and conventional business loans worldwide.

The SBA CDC/504 Loan Program is a long-term financing tool for economic development within a community. The program provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings.

For more information, call (432) 837-8813.