Sul Ross State University

News Release for Aug. 22, 2008

U.S. CONGRESSMAN RODRIGUEZ HONORED FOR SERVICE TO SUL ROSS, TSUS

U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez drew high praise for his service to higher education and regional interests during a visit to Sul Ross State University.

Rodriguez, San Antonio, who serves Texas' 23^rd Congressional District, was feted at a breakfast reception Aug. 14, hosted by Sul Ross. President R. Vic Morgan and Dr. Charles R. Matthews, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, also presented Rodriguez with a framed aerial photograph of the Sul Ross campus.

Rodriguez was in the midst of a week-long tour of his 20-county district.

Matthews commended Rodriguez for his ability to work with his colleagues and for his efforts in passing some landmark legislation for Texas.

"In my experience, I have never seen a Congressman who has become so well-liked in such a short time," he said. "Your relationship with your colleagues is outstanding."

Matthews cited Rodriguez' previous work as a Texas State Legislator, drafting the Texas law guaranteeing acceptance of the top 10 percent of high school graduates to any public four-year institution in the state. He also noted Rodriguez' development of the dual credit program, allowing high school graduates to earn college credit for advanced courses.

"Among all of the studies that have been done shows that (dual credit) program is the most effective way to get high school students to make a smooth transition into college," Matthews said.

Morgan noted Rodriguez' support in obtaining and renewing grants. He mentioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to conduct research of freshwater resources in the Rio Grande Watershed. The research is conducted through the Rio Grande Research Center at Sul Ross, with collaboration from researchers from four other universities within the Texas State University System. He also cited a System-wide Department of Defense grant and a recent Title V award to aid retention.

"He has worked very hard and is truly a staunch supporter of programs that help Sul Ross, help Alpine and Brewster County and help the region."

Rodriguez, who briefly dropped out of high school, reiterated his passion for education. He also stated that a strong relationship with Mexico was essential to the well-being of Texas and the nation.

"Our security means that Mexico and Canada are secure," said Rodriguez. He added that Mexico is Texas' number-one trading partner.

He also stressed four priorities in his Congressional service: education, including increase in technical professionals; affordable health care; repairing the infrastructure, including roads and bridges; and an emphasis on military readiness.

"Right now, we have less than one-third of the equipment necessary to defend this country," he said.

AUG. 29 RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR CBBS DIRECTOR ROBERT J. MALLOUF

Retirement for Robert J. Mallouf merely means shifting priorities.

Mallouf, director of the Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State University since 1995, steps down from his position Aug. 31.He plans to spend more time with his son, Parker, and publish his past research.

A reception for Mallouf will be held Friday, Aug. 29, 2 p.m. in the University Center's second floor foyer.

Mallouf has spent over 36 years in the archaeological field with the State of Texas, including nearly a quarter-century with the Office of the State Archaeologist, Texas Historical Commission. Prior to coming to Sul Ross and the CBBS, he worked progressively as field archeologist, survey archeologist, director of the Department of Archeological Surveys, director of Archaeological Surveys and Research, assistant State Archaeologist and State Archaeologist.

At Sul Ross, he succeeded Dr. Earl Elam as director of the CBBS. In 13 years, he built a program with a $15,000 budget and a part-time secretary to 17 staff and a $600,000 budget (including a $200,000 state budget and additional private grant funding).

"What I set out to do was to build an archaeology program and to preserve the history portion of the Center that Earl had started," he said.

"When I applied for this position (after Elam's retirement), I felt that Sul Ross was the perfect place. This region is a major natural laboratory and it was one of my favorite areas to do research."

A native of Brownwood, Mallouf attended Howard Payne University, then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a B.A. in anthropology in 1970. He also studied at the University of California at Berkeley and the American University of Cairo, Egypt, as a scholarship recipient, and received an M.A. in anthropology from UT-Austin in 1985.

Mallouf has pided his time teaching, excavating, administrating and fund-raising since coming to Sul Ross. He helped establish the Friends of the Center for Big Bend Studies, which has attracted several million dollars in grants and private donations. The CBBS expansion has allowed them to do contractual archeology as well, including a major project in Big Bend National Park.

Mallouf calls the Center a "pure research organization. We are able to select what we want to research."

He praised his staff, both for their field work and published research, as well as strong support from the Sul Ross administration.

"It's a good time for me to pass this (directorship) on to someone younger," said Mallouf, noting that long-time associate W.A. "Andy" Cloud will be his successor. "We are four years into a five-year research program (the Trans Pecos Archaeological Program) and I am confident we will be able to obtain another five years."

"This university is perfectly situated for an archaeological research program, and it offers potential in other areas as well."

Upon retirement, Mallouf plans to write at least two books on his past research.

"Getting to work in an area that I love and building a program at a small university has been fun. I have enjoyed it," he said. "I think the program has a future and I think we have the people to make it happen."

He hopes that Sul Ross will eventually offer a bachelor's degree program in anthropology (a minor is presently available).

"One of the big things about archaeology is that most people are interested in it for one reason or another," Mallouf said. "We try to appeal to that basic interest in fund-raising and building a program."

SUMMER ENROLLMENT REPORTS, GIFTS AMONG SUL ROSS REGENTS' ITEMS

Reports of fourth class day enrollment for both summer sessions and acknowledgment of more than $236,000 in gifts and contributions are among Sul Ross State University agenda items at the Aug. 21-22 meeting of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System.

The Board will meet in Austin.

Fourth day class enrollment reports will be given for both the Alpine Campus and Rio Grande College. Sul Ross-Alpine enrolled 776 students during the first summer session and 720 during the second. RGC fourth day enrollments were 552 for Summer I and 489 for Summer II.

Gifts and donations include:

* $11,500 from the Houston Safari Club, Houston, to further an ongoing research project studying mule deer habits.

* $25,000 from the Roxan G. Catto Advised Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, San Antonio, to the Borderlands Research Institute Fund.

* $5,000 from Armando Garcia Segovia, South Padre Island, to the Borderlands Research Institute fund.

* $10,000 from John Martin Davis, Sr., Kerrville, to the Museum of the Big Bend – Donations for Museum Support.

* $20,000 from the Welch Foundation, Houston – the third installment on a three-year departmental research grant – to be used for undergraduate student research in the chemistry department.

* $5,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Herald L. Ritch, Greenwich, Conn., to the Trans Pecos Archaeological Program of the Center for Big Bend Studies.

* $160,000 from the Estate of Laura P. Schmidt, Peggy Landis Matli, Executor, of Fredericksburg. The gift will create the Gilbert A. and Laura P. Schmidt Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Endowment.

Other Sul Ross agenda items include: fund balance reports and operating budget and related adjustments; personnel changes; authorization of a bank depository contract to be awarded to West Texas National Bank for the period of Sept. 1, 2008-Aug. 31, 2014; and review of the audit plans, budgets and capital improvement plan.

NEW SUL ROSS ENDOWMENT TO BENEFIT AG, NATURAL RESOURCES MAJORS

A $160,000 endowment will provide scholarships for Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences majors at Sul Ross State University.

Peggy Landis Matli, Fredericksburg, and her nephew, Heath Landis, New Braunfels, and Sul Ross President R. Vic Morgan recently signed documents establishing the Gilbert A. and Laura P. Schmidt Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Endowment and Scholarship Fund.

The Schmidts were long-time ranchers in Blanco, Kimble and Gillespie counties. Peggy Matli, a niece, and Landis, a great-nephew, are both Sul Ross graduates.

Scholarship applicants must be Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences majors, with preference given to graduates of Blanco, Kimble or Gillespie County high schools. Continuing students must be full-time students in good disciplinary standing. Beginning freshmen must be fully admitted to Sul Ross. Returning students must be making normal progress toward a degree with a per semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

Scholarship selections will be recommended to the University Scholarship Committee by the Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Scholarship Committee.

"My aunt Laura did not choose to go to college, but always said this was the place she would choose to go to school," Matli said.

"Going to Sul Ross was a given in our family, and this (scholarship endowment) is the right place to honor Laura and Gilbert."

Matli's brother, Jack Landis, also attended Sul Ross. Peggy Landis Matli later worked as an administrative assistant for Bob Posey, vice president of Student Affairs, then was a teacher and counselor at Alpine High School for 19 years. She later moved to Fredericksburg, working as an assistant principal in the Fredericksburg Independent School District, retiring in 2008 after a 35-year education career.

Heath Landis graduated from Sul Ross in 1998 and has been a pharmaceutical representative in animal health for the past 10 years.

"I enrolled in the veterinary tech program," he said. "I was going to spend two years here and then go elsewhere. After two years, you couldn't drag me away from Sul Ross."

"Heath's career has been exactly what he went to Sul Ross to study," his aunt said. "You can go to Sul Ross and get a great education, but more importantly, you can walk out the door, get a really good job and do well."

"Sul Ross gives you people skills and confidence," Matli said. "For us, it was a good foundation for getting out and dealing with people.:"

Morgan said, "Sul Ross has long been recognized for providing solid career preparation for its students. We are grateful to the Schmidt and Landis families for their acknowledgment of our mission and their generosity in providing opportunities for present and future students."

Sul Ross endowments now approach $13 million with 214 separate endowments.

For more information on endowments, contact Leo Dominguez, (432) 837-8033 or leodo@sulross.edu

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE HEAD OUTLINES CHALLENGES

Human demographic growth and land and water management issues pose distinct challenges to fish and wildlife, according to the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Carter Smith, who assumed his new duties earlier this year, gave the keynote address Thursday (Aug. 14)

at the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference, hosted by Sul Ross State University's Borderlands Research Institute. More than 200 landowners, wildlife enthusiasts and other participants attended the two-day event.

The conference was co-sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Conference seminars included sessions on wildlife issues and management and mule deer issues and management. The event also included a half-day field trip to the Catto-Gage Ranch to study management practices.

Smith, who has worked with conservation and wildlife agencies for nearly two decades, stated that public education leading to increased use of the outdoors was a major challenge. While land management and water availability and use are major issues, "people issues" are the state's biggest challenges, according to Smith.

He said 82 percent of Texas' residents live in large metropolitan areas, and many have little involvement with outdoor activities. Building connections to outdoor activities is essential.

"Up to four generations of residents are removed from family-owned lands and the outdoors," Smith said. "They're scared to death of the night sounds of the cicada and the coyote."

Introducing a growing Hispanic population to the advantages of hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities is another challenge. Making nature relevant to children – who spend an average of over six hours per day using electronic devices – is also a key.

Smith said TPWD has 46 programs targeted to promote outdoor involvement, to get families out-of-doors and develop lifelong activities.

"We are trying to provide places they can access, as well as help children take wildlife and nature into their electronic worlds...and encourage them to get outside."

"Our private land management plays a vital role in shepherding public values," Smith said. He added that Texas' fish and wildlife economy is a $16 billion enterprise, employing 140,000 people.

The mission of the Borderlands Research Institute is to help conserve the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands through research, education and outreach. The BRI, organized in 2007, is managed by Dr. Louis Harveson, Sul Ross professor of Natural Resource Management. Eleven advisory board members have been appointed.

For more information, contact Harveson, (432) 837-8488 or harveson@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS CASHIER ANABELL SARTAIN RECEIVES STELLAR STUDENT SERVICE AWARD

Anabell Sartain is the most recent recipient of The Stellar Student Service Award at Sul Ross State University.

Sartain, a cashier in the Controller's Office, received the award Aug. 15.

Sartain is the third recipient of the award, and was given the traveling trophy to showcase in her office until the next recipient is chosen. Along with the trophy she received her choice of a day off with pay, a $50 gift certificate for a local restaurant, a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore or a parking spot on the circle for a month. In addition, she will also receive an engraved paperweight as a reminder of her selection as an outstanding supporter of students.

During a ceremony among staff members and university officials, Sul Ross President R. Vic Morgan read some of the comments left by students in suggestion boxes before presenting the award.

"Every time I have used the cashier's office, Anabell has been friendly and very efficient and often went the extra mile to help me."

"You made my day with a smile."

"She always asks how I am doing in a genuine way, personable."

Morgan said his favorite comment and the one that stood out the most was, "She makes fun of my dancing."

The award stems from Sul Ross' "60 Second Feedback Program," which includes a feedback card for students to complete in regard to the service of staff members. Once the cards are completed, students deposit them in the suggestion boxes, which are located in the hallways on the first and second floors of the Briscoe Administration Building.

Cards will be gathered and over the next few months and the award will be given again in late September or October.

NEW ACE DIRECTOR SEEKS TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

by Jason Hennington, News Writer

Dr. Kathy Stein intends to help Sul Ross State University ACE their academic challenges.

The new director of ACE (Academic Center for Excellence) intends to help students get off to a positive start.

In addition, she seeks to expand ACE's presence on campus by living as a faculty-resident in Lobo Village. As an on-campus resident, Stein will support residential assistants with programming for students.

"We want the program here to be synonymous with students' success," Stein said.

ACE focuses on three areas: developmental education, honors classes and tutoring in the Academic Learning Center. Each area has a specific goal that is beneficial to students. Developmental education plans to enroll students in their basic courses during their freshman year in order to get them off to a good start as college students.

"We hope to get more students in their core classes as quickly as possible," Stein said.

The honors program seeks to expand its current program.

"We hope to grow the program," she said. "The elements are in place already, and we want to recruit even more students."

The tutoring program seeks to expand to subjects beyond English, mathematics and writing. Plans call for adding supplemental instruction in courses including as Introduction to Botany, Introduction to Zoology and History 1301.

"We want to go outside the traditional areas," Stein said. "By offering the same benefits of tutoring in small group settings in more courses, we are getting more bang for our buck."

Stein previously worked as the director of the Tutoring and Learning Center at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). She was also the director of The Developmental Reading and Writing.

"Coming here gave me the opportunity to run multiple programs and gain experience of running multiple programs concurrently," she said.

At Sul Ross, Stein works with fewer students, but considers this a plus.

"The programs are much smaller," she said. "It's good because it gives me a chance to run multiple programs without getting overwhelmed."

While at UTEP, Stein said the idea of a faculty-resident had been discussed. At Sul Ross, it became a reality. Stein plans to host programs dealing with vocabulary building, speaking games in different languages, and a movie night. Tutoring will also be offered twice a week in the Lobo Village Community Center.

"I'm acting as a facilitator for professors who want to have review sessions in the Lobo Villages," she said.

Stein has already moved into her apartment in the Lobo Village, and has been welcomed by the Residential Living staff.

"Tramaine (Rausaw, director of Residential Living) has been very welcoming about this program and what it has to offer," Stein said. "I have a very nice apartment, and I am really excited about this opportunity and working with the RA's"

Stein wants the ACE program to be a success, and hopes that students will take full advantage of opportunities for assistance.

"When students have academic problems, we want them thinking 'ACE – I can get help there.' We will be defining what we want the program to be and how it will affect the Sul Ross community." she said. The goal of the program is to do everything to promote academic excellence in support of the retention goals of the university."

ACE will hold an honors reception Thursday, Aug. 21 from 3-4 p.m. in the Honors Library in Ferguson Hall room 209 for honor students and anyone interested in the honors program. ACE will also host an open house Sept. 18 from 4-6 p.m. in Ferguson Hall, Room 203.

Stein will spend part of her work week in the Residential Living office, and encourages anyone who has ideas on how to make the ACE program better to let her know.

For more information, contact Stein at (432) 837-8770 in the ACE office or 837-8419 in Residential Living, or e-mail kstein@sulross.edu.