Opportunities that Open Doors
UNT ranks 46th nationally for the number of degrees awarded to ethnic minority students.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine
At the University of North Texas, discovering new knowledge is a serious undertaking. It also is exciting, boundless and liberating. While students live and learn at UNT, they expand their horizons, participate in research and study abroad opportunities, get to know their professors and peers, and define their futures.
Support services begin with the University’s First Year Experience program, which includes initiatives such as One Book, One Community, a yearlong reading program. Students also take advantage of mentoring, financial literacy training, career development and academic support programs, while participating in internships and a nationally accredited cooperative education program. A $1.9 million federal grant is expanding the University’s early-alert programs to ensure that students are successful in the classroom and on track for timely graduation.
Two new living-learning communities opened in campus residence halls in 2008 to help students engage with campus life. The University has 14 residence halls that house nearly 6,000 students, making it the third largest residential campus in Texas and the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. UNT also has more than 300 student organizations.
Wen Chyan, a student at UNT’s Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, won the $100,000 national championship in the 2008 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology and was named a finalist in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search for his work. He engineered a polymer coating that could help prevent common and sometimes deadly bacterial infections resulting from prolonged use of invasive medical devices in hospitals.
UNT stands out in Texas for achieving the important state mandate to attract more students to higher education. The University has welcomed more than 700 students into its two-year-old Emerald Eagle Scholars program, an innovative student achievement program that ensures financial restrictions do not prevent academically talented students from attending college.
The University celebrates its diverse campus community and offers an inclusive environment — ethnic minority students make up nearly a third of the student body. A more-than-century-old Fine Arts Series brings renowned personalities to campus for performances and lectures, which complement film and literature series, art exhibitions, dance and theatre productions, cultural celebrations and more than 1,000 musical concerts each year.
As graduates of UNT, today’s students will join a family of more than 316,000 former students who are committed to lifelong learning.
Fulfilling College Dreams
Nothing should hold an eager, talented student back from earning a college degree. UNT’s innovative Emerald Eagle Scholars program, now in its second year, has given more than 700 academically talented students the chance to attend UNT by covering tuition and fees while providing mentoring and other support services. A new, bold partnership with Education is Freedom, an organization dedicated to helping high school students go to college, will expand the program. During the next four years, about 250 Dallas-area students who have completed the program will be admitted as Emerald Eagle Scholars. UNT also is the first university in the region to sign the College Board’s CollegeKeys Compact, validating its commitment to support first-generation college students and students from under-represented populations and low-income families.
Providing Hands-on Learning
UNT students at every level in all schools and colleges have the chance to do hands-on work. They probe ideas and theories in the lab and in the classroom, conducting research to solve real-world problems. As more than 1,000 Honors College students pursue their course work, they are researching diverse topics such as the Bracero program that brought Mexican agricultural workers to the United States as a source of cheap labor during World War II, and the impact of interest rates and caps on consumer credit.
"The Emerald Eagle Scholars program opens up so many opportunities."
Harris Martin, Emerald Eagle Scholar who studied abroad in Thailand
Exploring the World
UNT students study abroad in countries on virtually every continent and interact with the more than 2,000 international students and scholars representing 128 countries who study at UNT each year. This summer, Emerald Eagle Scholars learned about sustainable development in Thailand, while marketing and merchandising students studied the apparel supply chain in Asian factories for the sixth consecutive year. Whether they’re exploring London’s trash art or earning a dual degree with the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, UNT’s students have the edge in competing in a multicultural world.
Focusing on Transfer Students
UNT ranks 6th nationally among public schools for its number of transfer students.
UNT is a top draw for students transferring from community colleges and other institutions. The University leads Texas and ranks sixth nationally among public universities for the number of students who choose it as the place to complete their degrees. It also leads the way as an authority on the study of the issues transfer students face through the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, established by the student development division. The institute launched the national Association for the Study of Transfer Students, forming a network of individuals around the country who will conduct research and explore partnerships to ensure the success of transfer students. The association draws upon UNT’s long-established partnerships with institutions and advocates and will serve as the institute’s professional organization.
Leading the Learning Curve
Instead of just learning dates in history, UNT students are transported back in time and put their critical thinking skills to the test to learn about historical events. “U.S. History to 1865” is one of 14 Next Generation courses currently offered, with six more in development, that transform teaching to better help students learn. By taking advantage of technology and encouraging student engagement, UNT faculty are carving out small-class, intensive learning experiences in large lecture courses to enhance learning. UNT’s Next Generation Course Redesign Project, used as a model nationwide, was named a 2008 Texas Education Star Award finalist by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Closing the Gaps
UNT has risen to the top of the ranks in Texas for meeting the state’s Closing the Gaps goals to enroll and graduate more students. In 2008, UNT’s university-wide enrollment management program received the Texas Higher Education Star Award for its strides — making UNT a back-to-back winner of this prestigious honor. UNT ranks first in Texas for the increased number of degrees awarded and second for increased total enrollment. Since 2000, UNT increased enrollment by 28 percent — more than 7,600 students. At the same time, UNT increased the number of degrees awarded by 48 percent.