D E C A D E O F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N Under the leadership of President Neal Smatresk, UNT has transformed into one of the largest Tier One research universities in the nation. With more than 85,000 graduates entering the workforce during his tenure, UNT is creating career-ready, innovative leaders to propel the North Texas region, the state of Texas, and the nation forward.
STUDENT SUCCESS AND ENROLLMENT GROWTH Ranked a Tier One research institution by the Carnegie Classification and designated a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution, the University of North Texas offers 250 degree programs and a thriving community of nearly 47,000 students. UNT, the fastest growing and 3rd-largest university in Texas, serves the North Texas region and helps drive the state’s economy through innovative research, educational excellence focused on career readiness, and a spirit of entrepreneurship. Together, with its branch campus in Frisco, UNT is working to close the gap between higher education and the corporate world to provide increased opportunities for students, ensuring creative spaces focused on collaboration, real-world learning experiences, networking opportunities, and built-in pathways for internships. With increased recruiting and retention efforts, focus on career-readiness, and a continuing commitment to fostering a strong academic, caring, and inclusive culture, UNT is moving forward as the school of choice for students and their families.
Eagle Express fixed-rate tuition plan introduced, the first of many innovative decisions to bolster undergraduate enrollment Class Concierge established to help seniors troubleshoot course scheduling roadblocks that could delay graduation
2014
Division of Enrollment created to implement strategic enrollment and recruitment strategies that promote sustainable growth and improve the quality and diversity of the student body UNT Food Pantry created to help students battling food insecurity and has served 23,799 students to date
2015
Began harnessing technology to increase efficiencies and improve the student experience UNT’s service to students in Collin County expanded with the opening of UNT at Frisco
2016
GROWTH: AT A GLANCE Percent change from FY14 to FY24
Enrollment Total Enrollment continued to 30% (36,168 to 46,940) grow with virtually no Graduate Student Enrollment disruption during the COVID-19 98% (6,678 to 13,268) pandemic because of the Degrees Awarded strong UNT team 41% (8,186 to 11,567) working together to serve students and overcome the most challenging UNT opened the times in modern first permanent history building at the UNT launched
GRAD SUCCESS Degree holders since 2014: 85,143 Potential Annual Earnings: $5.4 billion Minority graduation rate gap: 2.2% (7% in 2014)
Intense college-level work began to improve retention and reduce time to degree, paying particular attention to differences in outcomes based on gender and race/ethnicity
2017
Excellence Scholarships redesigned to become more competitive in the market and promote affordability Sage Hall renovated to become the Academic Success Center and home to student tutoring, advising, resources, and support services
2018
Navigate student success and predictive analytics platform launched to increase student retention Best Practice Incentive Program Start Green Stay launched for freshmen Green initiative launched to ensure financial Transfer challenges Excellence do not inhibit Scholarships a student’s announced retention and overall UNT named a Top 10 U.S. Public University on the Rise by College Gazette
2019
scholarship funds redistributed to benefit a greater number of students
2020
UNT at Frisco branch campus, the first fouryear institution in Collin County, offering 27 undergraduate and master’s level programs
ELEVAR, Texas’ second program for young adults with intellectual disabilities, and in 2023, the program earned the Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board FirstGeneration Success Center established
Launched Career Readiness First Year Seminar
bienvenidos.unt. edu, a Spanishlanguage welcome website, launched, serving more than 8,000 users to date
Named an HSI Fulbright Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
2021
2022
Joined the American Athletic Conference Opened two new career centers: the Satish and Yasmin Gupta Career Center at UNT at Frisco and The Wilson Jones Career Center in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Launched UNT One Stop to better serve students with admissions and financial needs Texas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 5 to create the Texas University Fund (TUF), a transformational investment in UNT, Texas higher education, and the state’s economy, which will help accelerate research innovation, keep top talent in Texas, elevate UNT’s national rankings, and propel the university to greater national prominence
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LEADING WITH CARE UNT is a place where students’ dreams take flight thanks to support from caring faculty and staff.
CARING CULTURE
ENGAGED COMMUNITY
As a social mobility elevator, every student at the University of North
At the heart of the university are faculty and staff who strive to
Texas has the opportunity for success. Faculty teach students how to
help students’ dreams become reality as they earn UNT degrees.
approach challenges with a growth mindset, and staff help students
With unprecedented growth under President Smatresk’s leadership
succeed. UNT’s Soar for More retention initiative emphasizes how
comes the obligation to ensure faculty and staff are supported with
the contributions of faculty and staff can ensure students have the
a positive work environment, fair and competitive compensation,
resources they need to move them toward graduation. UNT offers a
and a healthy work-life balance. Based on feedback from Gallup
caring environment that helps students soar.
Engagement Surveys and other opportunities for regular feedback, changes and improvements are made to further UNT’s mission
ELEVATED LEADERSHIP The success of UNT’s mission increases through the work and dedication of senior leadership. Every dean and all but one vice president has been hired during President Smatresk’s tenure, bringing fresh perspectives to the team. New leadership positions have been added, including vice presidents for digital strategy and innovation, enrollment, and planning, as well as a new dean of students. UNT has brought in top-notch faculty and staff who are leaders in their fields to help enhance UNT’s reputation for research and growth.
to be a best place to work. Programs such as the AccoUNTable Supervisor Program, a people-first leadership and development program for UNT supervisors, have been created directly because of Gallup feedback. President Smatresk has prioritized faculty and staff compensation, with the goal of ensuring salaries reach at least 90% of market value. To promote greater work-life balance, UNT expanded remote and flexible work, added more wellness initiatives, and increased the frequency of regular meetings with faculty and staff to help promote increased internal culture and pride.
WELCOMING SPIRIT UNT students represent nearly every state in the nation and 138 countries, from all backgrounds and walks of life. Faculty and staff bring students together through class projects, more than 450 student organizations, and a variety of campus life events. Students have opportunities to find friends with similar interests and backgrounds as well as those with views and experiences different from their own. As a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution, UNT reflects the diverse population of Texas.
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RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC REPUTATION Since 2014, the University of North Texas has earned designation as a Carnegie-ranked Tier One research university, added high-demand degree programs, made countless cutting-edge research discoveries, joined the Association of National Research Libraries, and secured record funding from major national agencies to carry forward UNT’s mission of research excellence.
Tier One research status earned from Carnegie Classification
BioDiscovery Institute
UNT’s research enterprise continues to attract top students and faculty, drive innovation and technology through high-level discovery and scholarship, and contribute significantly to the North Texas region and state through intellectual capital and economic development
Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research
SACSCOC reaccreditation
Institutes of Research Excellence launched: Advanced Environmental Research Institute Promotion and tenure standards aligned with Tier One and national prominence standards Technology Transfer unit created
2014
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute
2015
2016
College of Arts and Sciences split to become College of Science and College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 100 new doctoral lines funded for Fall 2017 The investment in additional Ph.D. lines helps build UNT’s research output and fuel the university’s climb in the Carnegie Tier One rankings, as doctoral degree production is an important metric for Carnegie
2017
Alumnus G. Brint Ryan gifted $30M New endowed chair and additional funding for academic program initiatives were made possible through UNT’s largest-ever gift, which also named the G. Brint Ryan College of Business Center for Agile and Adaptive Additive Manufacturing launched with $10M appropriation from the Texas Legislature Washington D.C. Research Faculty Fellows Program established Through the training program, pretenured junior faculty are introduced to agencies of federal funding and given opportunities to engage with agency program managers
2019
Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution designations granted Active research faculty growth continued with more than 50 new hires since 2014
2020
Record growth in research productivity led to $50M in total sponsored awards, a 25% increase from the prior year
2021
Rose from 118th to 86th in Carnegie Tier One rankings, making UNT the highest-ranked Carnegie institution in North Texas
2022
Received highestever total of sponsored project awards with more than $86M in funding from national agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation
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UNT AT FRISCO In 2023, the University of North Texas opened Frisco Landing, the first permanent, state-ofthe-art building on the UNT at Frisco branch campus. Project-based and multidisciplinary learning is the cornerstone of the UNT at Frisco experience, with innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of high-demand fields and subject areas. Students enrolled at UNT at Frisco are well-equipped to transform their lives and impact the world.
A NEW ERA BEGINS In 2016, a new era of higher education
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP AND GROWTH
began in Frisco, a city on the move in Collin
With enrollment at Frisco Landing on the
County. UNT at Frisco began through an
rise — more than 3,140 students in Fall 2023
off-site instructional facility at Hall Park, and
— and through business growth in the
in January 2023, opened the stand-alone
booming city, UNT at Frisco is poised for
building Frisco Landing. A partnership
success, nurturing and developing future
between the City of Frisco and UNT, Frisco
leaders that will complete their degrees
Landing is an open and collaborative
and seamlessly enter an exciting and
space where faculty and students
demanding workforce. At Inspire Park, the
communicate with transparency. The
50,000-square-foot business incubator
branch campus offers 27 innovative, hands-
that opened in 2018, students work directly
on, career-focused undergraduate and
with startup and tech companies through
graduate programs, including degrees
public-private partnerships. With business
such as the Bachelor of Applied Arts and
partners like Omni PGA Frisco Resort,
Sciences program, the project-based
Ericsson, the Dallas Cowboys,
bachelor’s in applied project design and
and PGA of America, UNT at
analysis, data analytics, and the M.B.A. in
Frisco provides learning
sport entertainment management.
opportunities no other university can offer.
CAREER READINESS A focus for all students on all campuses, career readiness is a critical component of each student’s path to success. Through a generous donation from the Gupta family, the Satish and Yasmin Gupta Career Center offers scholarship opportunities and access to resources such as networking, job shadowing, and internships to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow.
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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE Generating an annual impact of $1.65 billion in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the University of North Texas has continued financial stewardship excellence through revenue as well as asset and endowment growth. Throughout the last decade, students have benefited from more than 17 major building or renovation projects designed to provide enhanced support in academics, athletics, and enterprise.
Total Revenues FY14 $575M
Endowment FY14 $124M FY23 $299M
FY23 $945M
Net Position FY14 $570M
Gifts and Pledges FY14 $25M
FY23 $1.45B
FY23 $33M
Fiscal challenges surrounding state benefits resolved and financial leadership team rebuilt New accounting software implemented Greek Life Center opened UNTs first comprehensive campaign of $210M closes
2014
Texas Legislature awarded $70M in Tuition Revenue Bonds for College of Visual Arts and Design building Rawlins Hall opened University Union opened
2015
PeopleSoft 9.2 accounting upgrade completed
2016
Welcome Center opened Support and Services Building opened Lovelace and McNatt Families Practice Facility opened
Data Warehouse launched Diamond Eagles Society founded by Debbie Smatresk and Cathy Bryce UNT named Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), adding additional programming with future gifts totaling $2M from the Bernard Osher Foundation
2017
Science Research Building renovated Super Pit concourse renovated Soccer and Track and Field Stadium opened Inspire Park purchased
2018
Biomedical Engineering Building opened at Discovery Park CVAD Building opened Joe Greene Hall opened Fouts Field and parking lot demolished
2019
Eagle Landing dining hall opened
Advanced Air Mobility (UAAM) Test Center at Discovery Park opened as the largest in Texas and one of the largest in the nation
UNT’s Dining Services are ranked #1 in the nation by Niche.com and #2 in the nation by Delish.com
Music Jazz Lab renovation
Administrative IT Services transitioned from UNT System to UNT’s Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation Texas Legislature awarded $113.4M in Tuition Revenue Bonds for Science and Technology Building Bruzzy’s UNT Golf Facility opened
2021
UNT at Frisco opens first permanent building, Frisco Landing, in Collin County
CVAD Art Annex opened Terrill Hall renovated
2022
STEM Building planning underway New residence hall planning underway, among other projects
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ONLINE GROWTH AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
UNT ONLINE As one of the largest providers of
AN EPICENTER FOR CAREER SUCCESS
online credit courses among Texas
To promote career readiness for
public universities, UNT offers
students, UNT fosters mutually
degrees and certificates, some of
beneficial partnerships with global,
which can be completed in as few
national, and regional businesses,
as 12 to 18 months. Many programs
working together to help prepare
The University of North Texas has
include flexible learning options at
the next generation of leaders.
emerged and set itself apart from
both Denton and Frisco campuses.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has
Partnering with Coursera, the world’s
the fourth-highest concentration
leading online learning platform,
of Fortune 500 companies in the
UNT offers over 1,800 online courses
U.S., including Lockheed Martin,
to students all around the world.
Toyota, JPMorgan Chase, Liberty
other universities in Texas and the nation as a leader in online learning. With more than 85 online program options, UNT
Mutual, Southwest Airlines, among
remains committed to meeting
GOOGLE AND AMAZON
students where they are. Through
UNT, Google, and Amazon have
UNT’s growing list of corporate
partnered together to help students
partners, students have greater opportunity to become successful leaders of the future.
and working adults grow career skills and continue working toward a college degree. Through the Google IT Support Certificate, students can earn up to 12 college credits toward the IT concentration of UNT’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences. UNT is a preferred educator in the Amazon Career Choice partner network, providing Amazon employees with support for career success at Amazon or elsewhere.
a host of others, all offering student internships. With an array of degree programs like business and data science and analytics, UNT continues to fuel the economy and educate the workforce in Texas and beyond.
A PARTNERSHIP OF CHAMPIONS Forbes has crowned the Dallas Cowboys as the world's most valuable sports franchise, and since 2016, they have been an indispensable ally of UNT. The partnership offers students academic and internship prospects, as well as the 2020 launch of a groundbreaking online M.B.A. in sport entertainment management. This strategic partnership fosters invaluable connections and experiences among individuals, Cowboys staff sharing their expertise as adjunct faculty, dynamic guest speakers, and dedicated mentors. A significant number of Cowboys staff members are UNT alum. The organization has provided internships for more than 75 UNT students to date, solidifying their commitment to nurturing talent and forging enduring collaborations.
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MEAN GREEN ATHLETICS The University of North Texas’ decade of transformation has been extraordinary, and that transformation is evident in the indomitable rise of Mean Green Athletics. Through facility improvements, strategic leadership, donor generosity, and excitement from fans, Mean Green Athletics is building champions and leaders. UNT is now a member of the American Athletic Conference, a testament to the hard work and top performance of athletes, coaches, and athletic staff.
A PARTNERSHIP 87 YEARS IN THE MAKING
was named head coach, succeeding Grant McCasland. That same year, Jason Burton
BUILDING CHAMPIONS, PREPARING LEADERS
This year, UNT announced a 15-year
came to UNT with a championship vision for
UNT’s student-athletes remain focused
football stadium naming rights deal with
the women’s basketball team. In 2023, Luke
on achieving academic excellence and
longtime partner DATCU. Now named
Calcatera was named head coach of UNT
the support they receive from dedicated
DATCU Stadium, the agreement offers
men’s golf and Amanda Stone was hired as
coaches and staff plays a crucial role in
UNT financial support as it heads into the
the new women’s tennis head coach.
their success. In 2023, three UNT programs
American Athletic Conference. To improve and provide new facilities, UNT Athletics focuses heavily on receiving gifts from donors. An indoor practice facility, a new track and soccer complex, a golf practice facility, and support for renovating football and basketball facilities have all come from donor generosity.
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
posted perfect Graduation Success Rate
CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER Since 2014, UNT has won 23 conference championships, made NCAA postseason appearances in soccer, men’s basketball, softball, and both men’s and women’s golf, along with individual NCAA qualifiers in tennis, track and field, cross country, and both golfs. The football program reached six bowl games and two conference
A key to Mean Green success has been the
championship games. In 2021-22, UNT
strategic hiring of visionary, competitive,
Athletics posted its best overall winning
and driven leaders. In 2022, Jared Mosley
percentage across all sports in modern
was named vice president and director of
history, winning nearly 62% of competitions.
athletics, bringing with him a clear vision
Men’s basketball also has enjoyed a quick
built on the existing foundation of success.
rise, securing the program’s first NCAA
Texas native Eric Morris was hired as the
Tournament win in 2021 and the NIT
20th head coach in North Texas football
championship in 2023.
(GSR) scores of 100 — men’s basketball, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball — and overall, UNT Athletics recorded its eighth consecutive year with a GSR above 82 or better. Men’s basketball and women’s basketball each set new program records. UNT student-athletes posted the department’s best-ever semester GPA with a 3.207 during Fall 2023.
history in 2022, and in 2023, after serving as associate head coach of the men’s basketball team since 2017, Ross Hodge
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“What truly sets UNT apart is our caring nature and the support that we extend to our students. Our commitment to nurturing the potential of every student is at the heart of this institution. Together, we have created an environment where students not only receive a world-class education but also experience the warmth, encouragement, and mentorship that defines our community.”
AA/EOE/ADA ©2024 UNT UBSC 1/24. 24-092
— Neal Smatresk, UNT President