SFA regents vote to join UT System

NACOGDOCHES – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents voted on Tuesday to accept the University of Texas system offer for affiliation. According to our news partner KETK, the decision was approved in an 8-1 vote by the board with one member opposing, saying they feared the decision would eventually lead to the name of the university being changed. Officials said SFA will now officially accept the university system’s offer so they can begin the process of affiliation. “We are honored and enthusiastic about taking the next steps together in this process with confidence that this union will make each of us stronger,” said Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, as quoted in a news release.

During the special called SFA regents’ meeting at which the vote was taken, the system affiliation evaluation subcommittee earlier recommended that SFA join the UT System. Representatives said during a presentation that the subcommittee focused on financial impact, and found that joining any of the four systems that offered affiliation would be beneficial to the university’s growth. The university was evaluating offers from the Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Texas, and Texas State systems.

Among other things, the UT System included additional funding for scholarships, the forestry program, and mental health resources in their offer. Eltife tells KTBB the action will have to be officially approved by the Texas Legislature, and he hopes that will happen in the upcoming legislative session. He says SFA’s name, mascot, and colors will remain the same.