Today@Sam Article
Board of Regents Approve Active Learning Center, Dynamo Stadium Partnership
May 2, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti
During its quarterly meeting at Texas State University on May 1-2, the Texas State University Board of Regents approved Sam Houston State University’s proposals for the construction of the new Active Learning Center and a partnership between SHSU and Dynamo Stadium, LLC for the Fall 2025 football season among other items.
The contract between the Bearkats and the Dynamo was approved as the university continues executing its 2023-2033 master plan with the construction phase of the Bowers Stadium Press Box Replacement underway. The partnership will be in effect from Aug. 29, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, and includes a licensing fee of $80,000 per game, totaling $400,000 for the season, plus reimbursement for expenses estimated between $105,000 and $123,000 per game, and repairs to the natural field turf up to $500,000.
Design development documents for the Active Learning Center were also approved. The major project will establish a new learning facility at the site of Academic Building III on SHSU’s Huntsville campus. The facility will total 46,421 gross square feet (GSF), including 10,300 GSF of repurposed space, and will support active learning instruction across academic programs. The total estimated project cost is $40 million, funded through TSUS Revenue Financing System (RFS) Bonds.
In other construction projects, the university reported interior construction is underway on all four floors of the Health Professions Building, along with the installation of exterior wall panels, curtainwall steel, and roofing. Feasibility studies of two potential sites for the Track and Field Complex are complete, with a third potential site currently being examined and programming is ongoing for Phase 2 of the Gibbs Ranch Equestrian Facility and Agriculture Labs.
The university was also approved to spend up to 10% ($1,350,000) of the total project cost ($13,500,000) prior to Design Development Submittal approval for The Woodlands Center Renovation Project. Following the release of 10% of the fund will allow the university to acquire the construction documents and equipment needed to reach substantial completion of the renovation by Fall 2026.
A contract between SHSU and Arbor Lodging Management was approved for comprehensive management services for the University Hotel spanning from June 1, 2025, through Aug. 21, 2035. Compensation includes a three percent share of total revenue and fixed fees. The partnership will ensure pre-opening support, technical advisement and ongoing hotel operations and management once the new University Hotel is constructed.
In academics, the university was approved to add two new programs, an undergraduate certificate in Gulf Studies and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Business. The nine-semester credit hour certificate in Gulf Studies will be offered starting in Fall 2025 and educate students on the multi-faceted issues facing the Gulf Region with a focus on East and Southeast Texas. The program was proposed to prepare the workforce for upcoming demand and to establish place-based learning in line with the National Academies’ regional education development efforts.
The new Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Business degree will officially launch Spring 2026 and offer a pathway to a four-year degree for two distinct populations – applied associate degree transfer students and Lee College associate degree graduates enrolling at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Wynne Unit.
Also, in the academic portion of the agenda, the university was approved to streamline its program offerings by reducing credit hour requirements from 36 to 30 for both the Executive Master of Business Administration in Banking and Financial Institutions and the Master of Science in Project Management effective Fall 2025. The move ensures both programs remain in alignment with their departments and competitive with similar online programs in the state and beyond.
The deletion of the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications degree was approved by the regents and will be effective Fall 2031. The program’s deletion was based on enrollment in the program never exceeding 39 students within the 11 years it has been offered.
All academic affairs program changes are to be implemented upon final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
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