Administration

• Governance
• Accreditation
• Graduate Council
• University Mission

Governance

By legislative act, a nine-member Board of Regents, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, governs Stephen F. Austin State University. Each member serves a six-year term with three new appointments every two years. Each year, the governor also appoints an SFA student as a non-voting member of the Board of Regents to serve a one-year term. This board elects all members of the administration, faculty and professional staff, and sets general policies for the university’s programs.

Accreditation

Founded in 1923, Stephen F. Austin State University is an independent, comprehensive public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative work and service. Throughout the university, faculty and staff provide personal attention, engaging students in a learner-centered environment and offering opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community. SFA benefits the East Texas community and the state of Texas by providing a high quality, affordable education.

Initial institutional accreditation was received in 1927 as Stephen Austin State Teachers College from the accrediting body now known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). From 1951-68, accreditation as Stephen F. Austin State College was in place. Since 1968, accreditation as Stephen F. Austin State University is active. The last SFA SACSCOC reaffirmation occurred in 2021, and the next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2031. The following statement provides information regarding the current SFA institutional accreditation:

Stephen F. Austin State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials, such as certificates and diplomas, at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of SFA may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; by calling (404) 679-4500; or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website at www.sacscoc.org.​

Graduate Council

The principal advisory body for graduate education at Stephen F. Austin State University is the Graduate Council, chaired by the dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

The Graduate Council shall consist of six elected, three appointed and four ex-officio members of the graduate faculty. Each college shall elect one representative from the regular members of the graduate faculty in that college. Three members shall be appointed by the dean of Research and Graduate Studies, subject to the principle of proportionate representation from each college on the basis of regular members of the graduate faculty in the respective colleges, and subject further to the approval of the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Both elected and appointed members of the council shall serve three-year terms. The terms shall be staggered in order to ensure that only one-third of the terms expire each year. Should there be over- representation of any one-term year, an adjustment will be made through the designation of two-year term elections. Should such an adjustment be necessary, the membership will be surveyed to identify those members whose term will be adjusted. Upon the expiration of a term, the council member is ineligible for re-election or reappointment for three years.

A vacancy on the council shall be filled by election or appointment, whichever is applicable to the position vacated. Should a vacancy occur at such a time when the unfilled portion of a member’s term is one academic year or less, the chair of the University Graduate Council may appoint a regular member of the graduate faculty from the appropriate college to fill the partial term. Under these circumstances, the person appointed to fill the partial term shall be eligible for re-election or reappointment.

The registrar, the director of libraries, a representative of the faculty senate and a graduate student shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the council. Other ex-officio, non-voting members may be appointed to the council as determined by the dean of Research and Graduate Studies with the approval of the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

University Mission

Stephen F. Austin State University is a comprehensive institution dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative work and service. Through the personal attention of our faculty and staff, we engage our students in a learner-centered environment and offer opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community.