Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: November 13, 2003

UT System News Release

U.T. System Regents Approve Degrees and Research Buildings

ODESSA - Approval of a master's degree in biotechnology at the University of Texas at Dallas and a Ph.D. in counseling at U.T. San Antonio were among the actions of the U.T. System Board of Regents on Thursday.

The board, meeting at U.T. Permian Basin, also authorized planning for an $85 million science and engineering research building at U.T. Dallas, a $75 million research and classroom building at U.T. San Antonio, and $13 million in infrastructure projects related to the new UTSA building. Design plans were approved for two student housing projects at U.T. Tyler with a total construction cost of $18.2 million.

The biotechnology degree at U.T. Dallas is designed to link the technical skills of graduates with the needs of biotechnology companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The counseling degree at UTSA will prepare students to become counselor educators, mental health researchers, clinical supervisors, and counseling practitioners. Both degree programs will require final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

In other action, the Board of Regents:

• Authorized a $200 million fund raising campaign by the U.T. Health Science Center at San Antonio. The focus of the campaign will be to raise money for a major research building as well as program support in cardiovascular and metabolic biology, neurobiology, developmental and regenerative biology, cancer biology, and biodefense and infection.
• Approved a plan for arena football to be played at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center at U.T. Austin, beginning next spring.
• Authorized U.T. Austin to lease 45.8 acres in North Austin to the Simon Property Group Inc. for development of a shopping center.
• Named the new biosafety level-4 facility at the U.T. Medical Branch at Galveston the John Sealy Pavilion for Infectious Diseases Research. The designation recognizes contributions of the Sealy & Smith Foundation for construction of the facility, which will conduct research on highly infectious materials. The board named the facility's laboratory in honor of Dr. Robert E. Shope, professor of biodefense at the Medical Branch.
• Participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for a student housing and clubhouse complex that will almost double the on-campus housing at U.T. Permian Basin.