Nov 13 2014

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THURSDAY

NOVEMBER 13, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 40 www.UniversityStar.com

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University employees undergo sexual misconduct training By Nicole Barrios ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Texas State held training to teach Title IX sexual misconduct investigators as the university updates its policy in the wake of new national guidelines. Title IX investigator training was held Oct. 27 and 28 with administrators from the university and other institutions in the Texas State University System, said Gilda Garcia, chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator. The NCHERM Group, LLC, a law and consulting practice, came to Texas State to conduct the training, Garcia said. “It was two full days of training,” Garcia said. “Anybody that’s gonna be conducting Title IX or sexual misconduct investigations attended that training, and as a result they will be certified to perform sexual misconduct investigations on campus.” Administrators and staff who attended the training received an overview of Title IX information—what it is and the requirements and techniques involved in conducting sexual misconduct investigations, Garcia said. A working session was held on Oct. 29 to rewrite the sexual harassment policy into a sexual misconduct policy that follows the guidelines of the TSUS, she said. “We have a working draft that came out of that meeting, and that draft has been forwarded to the secondary reviewers,” Garcia said. “We’re doing everything we can to expedite the adoption and approval of (the updated) policy.” The TSUS Board of Regents updated its sexual misconduct policy in August. The university is now changing its policy in accordance with the system-wide mandate, Garcia said. “We’re pretty close to finalizing the Texas State policy,” said Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs.

See TITLE IX, Page 2

A feasibility study is the driving force behind new renovations to Alkek Library.

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Library renovation to include updated technology, study spaces By Mariah Simank SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

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lkek library could undergo a major face-lift bringing new infrastructure and technology renovations. The final report for a feasibility study was received in May 2012 and is now the driving force behind three phases of renovation to the library. The project is currently in its fundraising process, and a start date for renovation has yet to be determined. Sarah Naper, director of Research and Learning Services, said the renovations will move floor-by-floor, with the excep-

tion of the first and third levels, beginning with the second. The plan includes collaborative spaces for group work, areas for individual study and technology upgrades such as interactive screens and visualization walls. The final stages of the project will take place on floors five, six and seven, Naper said. The feasibility study and phasing the library is currently planning does not include an eighth floor, but the building is capable of having one, said Lori Hughes, director of Administrative Services. “The building was designed with a floor weight capacity that says you could add anoth-

er level—if you need to—at the top,” Hughes said. “Currently it isn’t part of the plan, but it is something that is a possibility in the future.” The money to pay for the project will come from internal university funds as well as donor contributions, Hughes said. “That’s really the phase we are in right now, is building that fund and doing a lot of fundraising,” Hughes said. Naper said the infrastructure must be updated before technology-based renovations can begin. “In the coming years, we

See ALKEK, Page 2

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Emergency operations plan to serve as model for universities in Texas to follow By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER The Texas State Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) will soon serve as an example for other university plans throughout the state. Every university and state agency in Texas is required to have an operations plan in case of disaster, said Russell Clark, director of Environmental Health Safety and Risk Manage-

ment (EHSRM). Texas State has always had a business continuity plan, but the State Office of Risk Management (SORM) changed the name to COOP last year, said Bill Nance, vice president for Finance and Support Service. “COOP prepares us for everything from a tornado making the campus inoperable to a hurricane evacuation at one of our sister colleges,” Clark said. Nance said Texas State was

the first institution audited by SORM due to its proximity to Austin and the advanced nature of the plan compared to those of other universities. Clark said the auditors wanted to make the Texas State’s COOP a model for other institutions. “(Clark) and (Hollingsworth) have really taken the lead to make sure Texas State is in line with the best plans,” said Jake Palmer, emergency management coordinator. “The

state has sent auditors down, and they’ve said this is going to be a model for other universities.” Clark said the eight institutions in the Texas State University System rely on each other to set up a base of operations in case the campuses are inoperable. The universities would only relocate enough staff to continue essential operations

See COOP, Page 2

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Texas State ranked 17th for Hispanic students By Benjamin Enriquez NEWS REPORTER BestColleges.com ranked Texas State as 17th in the nation’s “Top 50 Colleges for Hispanic Students” in 2014. The rankings are based on academics and the number of Hispanic students currently enrolled, according to the website. This fall semester, 11,606 Hispanic students are enrolled at Texas State,

said Joe Meyer, director of Institutional Research. The university set a goal of becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution over ten years ago, Meyer said. The university achieved HSI status in 2011. “In fall 2004 there were 4,980 Hispanic students enrolled, and in fall 2014 there are 11,606 Hispanic students enrolled,” Meyer said. The additional 6,626 students equates to a 133 percent increase

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Students sign in for the Hispanic Policy Network Symposium Nov. 6 at LBJ Student Center.

from the Hispanic enrollment level of ten years ago, Meyer said. “The 6,626 increase in Hispanic enrollment at Texas State University represents two-thirds of the net growth of 9,956 students between 2004 and 2014,” Meyer said. The U.S. Census Bureau currently estimates 38 percent of the Texas population is Hispanic, Meyer said. “Because 32 percent of the enrollment at Texas State is Hispanic in fall 2014, we are approaching a Hispanic enrollment at Texas State that is representative of the Hispanic population in Texas,” Meyer said. Increased Hispanic enrollment in colleges is important for the future Texas workforce, Meyer said. The Hispanic Policy Network, a group of Hispanic faculty that creates policy to benefit students at Texas State, helped the administration reach its goal, said Israel Nájera, HPN founder and Counseling Center senior counselor. “We accomplished that goal two years ahead of schedule,” he said. HPN’s new priority is to retain the Hispanic students who enroll at Texas State, Najera said. “We don’t only want to bring students in, but our goal now is

to retain them,” Najera said. “We wanted to make sure the students got the services they needed and deserved.” Hispanics have not always been a focus in higher learning, said Daniel Vasquez, associate director of Campus Recreation. “Historically, (Hispanics) haven’t always been invited to be a part of higher education,” Vasquez said. “Now that demographics are shifting, we see more young people coming in and being a part of the higher academic community.” Vasquez said having Hispanics enrolled at universities is good, but getting them to graduate is better. “As one of the fastest-growing populations in the state of Texas, we still have one of the lowest graduations rates in the state,” Vasquez said. “If the overall population increases and no one is graduating, then we get into a big problem.” Selena Escobedo, bilingual education senior, said incoming Hispanic students should take advantage of the services the university provides for them. “When I was a freshman, I was in Student Support Services and the Bobcat Bridge Program, and it

helped out a lot,” Escobedo said. “I was able to meet with advisors and plan things out.” Laura Ayala, healthcare administration junior, said she loves how far Texas State has come in its diversity. “I feel accomplished,” Ayala said. “My freshman year I didn’t see interaction with the Hispanic community and the school, but now I see it through the Multicultural (Greek) Council.” Ayala said the university should continue to build on what it has started by promoting Hispanic events on an equal level with other functions. Amy Indalecio, radiation therapy sophomore, said she is glad to attend a university with the level of diversity of Texas State. “By having the different organizations that we do, it allows everyone to get to know each other,” Indalecio said. Indalecio said Hispanic students should not be afraid to take steps toward their personal success. “Sometimes you have to go out and do things on your own,” Indalecio said. “The resources are there. You just have to look for them.”


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