The Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) Board of Regents voted Tuesday to join the University of Texas (UT) System, according to a report from East Texas NBC affiliate KETK that was ran by Austin sister station KXAN.
Per the report, the measure to accept the system’s offer for affiliation passed on an 8-1 vote.
“With today’s affiliation announcement, the next step is for SFA and UT System officials to collaborate with legislative leaders on the legislation that will enable this governance change during the upcoming session,” SFA’s Twitter account announced citing interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook.
According to the Nacogdoches-based university, the vote followed what it described as “a comprehensive process” that involved feedback and responses from the school community and members of the public.
“We are excited about the enormous opportunities this affiliation will provide for our students, faculty and staff,” SFA Board of Regents chair Karen Gantt said in a press release. “We know that the future of SFA will be enhanced by becoming a member of the leading university system in the country.”
SFA, which was established in 1923, has an undergraduate enrollment of at least 10,000.
Austin FOX affiliate KTBC reported that SFA had fielded invitations from Texas A&M University (TAMU) System, Texas State University (TSU) System and Texas Tech University (TTU) System before accepting the UT System’s offer.
The university said that the board voted to waive its rules pertaining to the selection of its next president so the search can start under the UT System Board of Regents’ presidential selection rules.
Westbrook assumed the presidency on a temporary basis in April following Dr. Scott Gordon’s decision to vacate the office.
UT System Board of Regents chair Kevin P. Eltife said that the system and its leadership are “honored and enthusiastic” about SFA’s eventual membership.
“Our proposal to SFA outlined our sincere commitment to helping the university build upon its programs, traditions and culture that have made the university unique for nearly a century, while adding resources to help amplify those strengths and ultimately serve more Texans,” Eltife said in the release.
Founded in 1876, the Austin-based UT System has 13 higher educational institutions throughout the Lone Star State.
