President’s Annual Report The President’s Annual Report is published by the Division of University Brand Strategy and Communications, University of North Texas. Postmaster: Please send requests for changes of address, accompanied if possible by old address labels, to the University of North Texas, University Brand Strategy and Communications, 1155 Union Circle #311070, Denton, Texas 76203-5017. The University of North Texas (UNT) prohibits discrimination and harassment because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in its application
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PROMISING ASPIRATIONS Surpassing Expectations As a record 42,372 students flocked to UNT this fall, they joined a campus community resolutely committed to advancing achievement, inclusion and ingenuity. Just look at all we accomplished over the past year, building upon our already impressive foundation of forging a better future for our students — and society at large. We saw an all-time high of 10,500 degrees awarded, a testament to the resilience of our students, staff and faculty in even the most challenging of circumstances. Our academic reputation further grew as 88 exemplary degree programs ranked among the nation’s top 100, including 20 recognized by U.S. News & World Report. And our dedication to diversity and inclusion earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the fourth straight year. If it seems like UNT is soaring to new heights, it’s because we absolutely are. We offer a vast range of degree programs, support services, breakthrough Tier One research, championship athletic teams, and a growing diverse and inclusive campus located in the best college town in Texas. We are the university for all.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT After a challenging year, our return to campus was a true homecoming for our Mean Green Family. Our caring and resilient faculty and staff welcomed our largest-ever freshman class, as well as many students who had spent previous semesters online. As the pandemic unfolded, we dedicated our resources to the important work of navigating the many challenges UNT faced — both as a community and as an institution of higher education. But the hard work toward our strategic plan never stopped, and we continued to make substantial progress on our institutional goals. As part of our holistic approach to supporting students both in and outside the classroom, we launched new initiatives, strengthened campus mental health services, and implemented targeted, data-driven advising services that keep our graduation rates at an all-time high. We have awarded over $47 million and are on track to distribute a total of $71 million in grants-in-aid through Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to help our students continue their education. We also allocated $8 million of those institutional funds to eliminating debt for students with large unpaid balances. And we deepened our commitment to making UNT a first-choice institution and a best place to work for faculty and staff by investing in mentoring, training and leadership development programs, as well as expanding our research funding and facilities to support the critical work that our student and faculty researchers do on campus each and every day. As the landscape of higher education evolves to address the needs of a rapidly changing job market, UNT will implement comprehensive career exploration and development initiatives to help students achieve professional success long after graduation day. Our four-year goal is to ensure that every graduating student is exposed to the relevant skills, career resources and practical experiences that will help them not only in their first job out of college, but through multiple careers and transitions. Our return to campus has reinvigorated our mission toward UNT’s goal: empowering students to become the next generation of leaders who will transform the world.
UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk, President president@unt.edu @UNTPrez
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First-generation students comprise 41.5% of the undergraduate population at UNT.
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EMPOWERING STUDENTS Going the Extra Mile LAUNCHING NEW RESOURCES The beating heart of UNT is the students, which is why we have worked tirelessly this year to ensure all of our more than 42,000 scholars are happy, healthy and holistically supported, whether on campus or off. That has meant rolling out more resources, including Navigate, a comprehensive student success platform that helps UNT faculty and staff better serve students by allowing them to be more strategic in meeting individual needs. This year also saw the opening of the First Generation Success Center that, in partnership with departments across campus, is designed to boost firstgen student achievement through programs and workshops that address areas such as financial literacy, academic support, career and leadership development, and community resources. The Center for Counseling of Diverse Populations also launched this year with a focus on the safety and wellness of UNT’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students through counseling, crisis intervention, training and community engagement. And planning for a standalone Multicultural Center building is underway, with expected completion in 2023.
SUPPORTING SUCCESS UNT added more staff in the Math Lab and Writing Center to bolster students’ academic attainment, and the university’s Neurodiversity Initiative continued to expand with the addition of the Neurodiversity Professional Network — which aims to support neurodivergent employees and educate allies — and ELEVAR, a self-sustaining four-year inclusive postsecondary education program model for young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). The program’s vision is to empower young adults with ID who wish to continue post-secondary education to become self-determined, independent and healthy adults readied for integrated competitive employment. And to further support career readiness for all students, the UNT Alumni Association expanded its Mean Green Mentors program, where alumni can give back through a professional networking platform designed to foster relationships that make a difference. UNT’s partnership with Kroger also paid off in our battle to fight student food insecurity — the grocery chain donated $250,000 to the UNT Food Pantry, ensuring that shelves remain stocked and that it can employ two student workers to assist with inventory, volunteer management and the online order system put in place during the pandemic.
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NEXT-GENERATION LEARNING Opportunities for Success UNT is setting the pace for next-generation learning in the North Texas region, taking it out of the classroom and into the community. Construction on our new Frisco branch campus is well underway, and it’s shaping up to be the hub for UNT’s forward-thinking initiatives that unify higher education and the corporate, private and public sectors. Future-focused degrees. Our integrative studies and project-based degrees are growing in popularity, and for good reason. They exemplify the needs of the workforce of the future, offering flexibility, personalization, hands-on learning experiences and industrydriven knowledge and skills that will sustain the many career transitions our graduates will make throughout their lives. Corporate engagement. Our corporate partnerships continue to flourish, largely thanks to our robust online programs, innovative completion degrees and growing corporate training programs. We’ve welcomed a number of national and international partners to the UNT Family in recent years — including American Airlines, Liberty Mutual, PGA of America, JPMorgan Chase, Toyota, Google and Stadia Ventures — and these relationships have built a foundation for unparalleled research, learning and internship opportunities for our students. Training opportunities. Through our partnership with Stadia, we’ve expanded our sport entertainment management curriculum and added unique internship opportunities across Stadia Ventures events and cohorts. We’re taking our game-changing Coursera B.A.A.S. program to the next level with Google Career Certificates, integrating its certificate and technology training programs into our degree plan to help students further their careers at any stage. And our longstanding partnership with the Dallas Cowboys is stronger than ever, with industry leaders actively involved in teaching and curriculum development, pictured right. Because of our thriving industry partnerships and flexible degrees designed for real-world students, UNT is solidifying its reputation as an educational leader of the future — a place where meaningful learning isn’t confined to the classroom, and the path to career success starts long before graduation day.
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UNT offers more than 80 online program options.
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35 centers and institutes advance interdisciplinary and externally funded research and development. president.unt.edu
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH Synergistic Solutions UNT experienced record growth in research productivity this year, with unprecedented gains in new research grants and proposals, and overall research expenditures reflecting the university’s rise as a major national research university. The total value of research proposals rose 17%, reaching $251.4 million in fiscal year 2021. UNT also secured its highest-ever level of external funding, with a 25% increase from $39.9 million to $50 million in sponsored awards. And faculty once again proved their innovative prowess, including Ifana Mahbub, assistant professor of electrical engineering, who is the first UNT recipient of a prestigious Young Faculty Award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Mahbub will use the award to develop a wireless power transfer network of unmanned aircraft systems that would allow drones to be charged wirelessly in the field by other drones. UNT’s biomedical engineering program debuted a new Ph.D. program and is supporting forward-thinking research to reshape peoples’ lives, including that of assistant professor Melanie Ecker, pictured left with a student, who is using smart polymers for biomedical applications. Additionally, UNT saw big successes with the Texas Legislature. Not only did UNT’s Center for Agile and Adaptive Additive Manufacturing (CAAAM) receive another $10 million for the next two years, but the university was awarded a Tuition Revenue Bond for $113.4 million for a new Science and Technology Research Building for faculty to carry out solutions-based research.
$5.5M NSF CAREER AWARDS
ARMY LAB GRANT
EPA APPOINTMENT
This year, UNT had three NSF CAREER Award
Researchers with the Advanced Materials and
Alexandra Ponette-González, assistant professor
winners (making for eight total on campus),
Manufacturing Processes Institute received
in the Department of Geography and the
including Diana Berman in the Department of
an additional $5.5 million grant from the
Environment, was one of only seven scientists
Materials Science and Engineering; Hua Sun
Army Research Lab to devise new bulletproof
selected to serve on the Environmental Pro-
in the Department of Electrical Engineering;
protection materials that are lighter and able
tection Agency’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory
and Hui Zhao in the Department of Computer
to withstand impacts for a longer time with
Committee. She will bring her ecosystem effects
Science and Engineering.
less damage.
of air pollution expertise to the committee.
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COMMUNITY BUILDERS Creative Perspectives As the world and our campus reopened, the UNT community was opening opportunities for others. They created innovative solutions to combat social issues, and made art and music that added a spark to our lives — earning national and international recognition for their efforts. Opening perspectives. Regents Professor of art history Nada Shabout, pictured right, received the Kuwait Prize for Arts and Literature, known as the “Arab Nobel Prize,” from the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences for her work in the study and teaching of modern Arab visual art. And recent graduate Hillary Shah (’21) has taken an active role on numerous social issues and has registered hundreds of voters — endeavors that earned her the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship for her public service work. Opening spaces. Students in the College of Health and Public Service are helping others enjoy the outdoors. Led by Lauren Ames Fischer, assistant professor, the students are building a new park as part of an initiative from the City of Lewisville to have a park within 10 minutes of each resident. Opening opportunities. UNT teamed up with Catholic Charities Fort Worth to help underserved students, such as those who are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented, to provide resources and mentorship through their Education Navigation program. Opening minds. The galleries of the College of Visual Arts and Design welcomed back visitors with the works of New Yorkbased artist Matthew Ritchie, including soundscapes and a joint performance with musician Shara Nova (’98). And more than a dozen alumni earned Grammy Award nominations across 15 categories. Four students and Dave Meder, assistant professor of jazz piano, won Fulbright Awards.
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1,700 distinguished faculty include scholars, researchers, artists — experts in their fields.
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MEAN GREEN CHAMPIONS Upward Momentum The McConnell Tower was consistently beaming green this year to celebrate the multitude of game victories. The men’s basketball team won its first victory in the NCAA tournament — an overtime triumph over Purdue that delivered a taste of “March Madness” for Mean Green fans and busted brackets for many others. The women’s golf team, men’s basketball team and softball team captured Conference USA championships, as did Zion Hill in the men’s javelin — one of nine all-conference honors earned by the track team — while the women’s soccer team completed its 27th straight winning season. Golfers Audrey Tan and Vicente Marzilio won Conference USA championships in the women’s and men’s divisions, and we were proud to cheer on alumni Sebastián Muñoz (’15) and Carlos Ortiz (’13) at the Tokyo Olympics. The football team advanced to play in the inaugural Frisco Football Classic — UNT’s 13th bowl appearance. And when softball pitcher Hope Trautwein (’20) pitched a perfect spring game, she did it in spectacular fashion — striking out every batter and drawing national attention for the unprecedented feat.
ACADEMIC HONORS
GOLF FACILITY OPENS
NEW CONFERENCE
North Texas Athletics posted its highest
Student golfers will benefit from the state-of-the-
UNT was accepted as a member of the American
Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in program
art Bruzzy’s UNT Golf Facility, which opened
Athletic Conference — set to join as early as
history with a score of 87. Four UNT programs
this fall. The $3 million facility includes a driving
Fall 2023 — elevating its national presence
posted perfect scores of 100 — women’s golf,
range, short-game area and putting green, and
with increased brand exposure. The conference is
soccer, tennis and volleyball. A record 218
was made possible by alumnus Jerome “Bruzzy”
home to schools with great academic reputations
student-athletes made it to the Conference USA
Westheimer (’65), who contributed more than
and the move will help continue building our
Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2020-21 year
half of the donations.
Mean Green spirit.
for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average.
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UNT IN THE NEWS Making Headlines
FULL EXPERIENCE
BOTANICAL PRESERVATION
FIGHTING CANCER
“We’re ready to do anything we have to do ... so if we have to go remote or use HyFlex classrooms or hybrid, we can do it. We’d really not like to … the students came here because they want this experience.” — President Neal Smatresk on the opening of campus this fall for a full university experience, such as Carnaval, pictured left, after the COVID-19 pandemic
“What inspired me was this profoundly pessimistic and optimistic project,” where the “severity of climate change and declining biodiversity and agriculture had led to … the first truly global botanical backup system.” — Photographer and Distinguished Professor Dornith Doherty on her seed vaults “Archiving Eden” project
“They’re always going above and beyond to make sure that the patients are OK.” — UNT undergraduate Michael Mairs, who has raised nearly $50,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by receiving donations while playing video games on Twitch
PATHWAY TO SUCCESS
LIVING WITH HEAT
TEXTILE RECYCLING
“It has to be caught early, in childhood, or at least by adolescence, before the full manifestation in adulthood ...” — Craig Neumann, professor of clinical psychology, on research suggesting people with psychopathy could be helped much earlier, if only the scope of their issues was acknowledged
“I moved here (Dallas) from studying glaciers in the Peruvian Andes. In August ... I saw on the dash on my car that it was 116 with the heat index, and I didn’t know how people lived here.” — Anthropologist Courtney Cecale, who began the North Texas Heat Research Project to study how North Texans live in the heat
“… Salvation Army and Goodwill have connections with companies that will pick up unwearables. But if you’re located in the middle of rural Nebraska … the cost of sending a truck out to pick things up is not cost effective.” — College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism Dean Jana Hawley on textile recycling
PESTICIDE EFFECTS
MIND AND BODY
RENTAL DEBT
“This study is the first ... to estimate effects for a large number of specific pesticides in relation to CNS tumor subtypes.” — Epidemiology researcher Julia Heck on a study citing childhood tumor risk from pesticide exposure during pregnancy
“Craft seems, in some ways, with its repetitive gestures and sometimes repeated projects, to offer that opportunity for remaking a mind-body connection.” — Art history Professor Jennifer Way on crafting’s pandemic-prompted surge
“Will future landlords actually take them in and if they do, will it be at a higher price, and will that push rent up for everybody?”— Michael Carroll, director of UNT’s Economics Research Group on renters falling behind on payments during the pandemic
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FINANCIALS Fiscal Responsibility and Giving Impact Ranked a Tier One research university, UNT has been a catalyst for discovery and innovation since 1890 providing students opportunities and support to achieve their dreams. In addition to generating an economic impact of $1.65 billion in the DallasFort Worth area annually, UNT fuels the social and cultural vitality of the North Texas region and world. OPERATING AND CAPITAL SOURCES ($ in the millions)
2016
2021
State of Texas $157.78
State of Texas $172.33
Tuition & Fees $296.91
Tuition & Fees $363.52
Federal, State & Private Grants & Contracts $112.41
Federal, State & Private Grants & Contracts $201.71
Endowment & Interest $3.32
Endowment & Interest $30.13
Sales, Services & Other $25.72
Sales, Services & Other $18.29
Auxiliary $63.38
Auxiliary $58.33
OPERATING AND CAPITAL USES ($ in the millions)
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2016
2021
Instruction $186.14
Instruction $174.64
Research $18.25
Research $70.22
Public Service $10.85
Public Service $7.49
Academic Support $62.60
Academic Support $56.26
Student Services $55.46
Student Services $77.64
Institutional Support $36.65
Institutional Support $50.74
Operation & Maintenance of Plant $39.27
Operation & Maintenance of Plant $41.70
Scholarships & Fellowships $70.02
Scholarships & Fellowships $131.96
Auxiliary Enterprises $51.98
Auxiliary Enterprises $43.35
Capital Outlay $19.85
Capital Outlay $40.99
Other $1.08
Other $9.25
OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
TOTAL NET ASSETS
($ in the millions)
($ in the millions)
Capital
Operating
Net Assets
KEY REVENUES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUE
FUNDRAISING SUCCESSES UNT raised $32.7 million for fiscal year 2021 — making it the third-highest fundraising year in UNT’s history. • New commitments to endowments totalled $13.5 million, increasing the UNT endowment to a record high of $291.6 million. • Corporate and Foundation funding that supports students, programming and faculty research held steady at $8 million, with new six-figure gifts from NBC, the Scripps-Howard Foundation and Kroger. • The Diamond Eagles Giving Society funded its fourth annual project, “Mean Green Mobile Media,” which will provide educational experiences for students and virtual events for members of the UNT community.
Tuition and Fees
All Other
State Support
• UNT Alumni Relations continued to offer regional programming and chapters to the UNT Alumni Association’s 15,488 members, including the creation of the Latinx Alumni Network. 17
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