NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The board of regents at Stephen F. Austin State University has voted 8-1 to join the University of Texas System.
The following university systems made proposals for SFA to join: Texas A&M University System, Texas State University System, Texas Tech University System and University of Texas System.
In making their decision, SFA's Deans Council submitted numerous questions to the University of Texas System. Their answers can be found here.
The issue of becoming affiliated with a system was first presented during the university's fall welcome back meeting.
University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife said there were multiple reasons to support the proposal.
" A huge priority for our alignment is faculty pay, which needs attention and will be dealt with early on in this process," Eltife said. "Just some of the benefits that SFA will receive with this affiliation are approximately a million dollars a year from our promise program to beef up their scholarships, which will greatly help families attending SFA leer funding star funding direct and indirect campus support from the system will greatly help Stephen F. Austin going forward. And of course POF funding for much needed infrastructure improvements."
In a presentation, officials said all of the university systems agreed to keeping SFA's name and mascot the same. The proposals also agreed to the importance of finding a president to lead SFA by May 31.
Steve Westbrook has served in an interim role since April after former President Scott Gordon and SFA agreed that Gordon should step down.
Westbrook first began his employment at SFA in 1981 and he served as vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2020.
A university system affiliation must be approved by the Texas legislature.
U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, who represents the 17th District in Texas, congratulated SFA on the move to being a part of the UT System.
"The SFA Regent’s decision to join the greater University of Texas system will increase the quality of education in Texas and the 17th Congressional District," Sessions said in a statement on Twitter.