Academic Publications

Catalogs, Academic Calendars & Class Schedules

Office of Academic Publications

About Academic Publications

The Office of Academic Publications is a sub-unit of the Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing and produces the print and online versions of the official undergraduate and graduate catalogs, academic calendar and graduate studies brochure. We also publish the print edition of the class schedule and the online working catalog (undergraduate).

As experts on academic policy and the UNT degree inventory, we help others on campus with academic regulations and procedures.

Staff

Kay Selby, Director
Kay directs the production of the catalogs, academic calendar, schedule of classes and other academic publications. Kay monitors the UNT degree inventory and is a liaison to the Provost’s Office, Graduate School and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Bonus material: As a lifelong employee of UNT, Kay has exceptional knowledge of university history.

Lynn Bissett, Assistant Director
Lynn works with departments, schools and colleges to write and edit catalogs for both print and web publication. She also manages the print edition of the schedule of classes, editorial files, curriculum documentation, faculty data files and other project tracking files.

Sanden Cottongame, Computer Support Specialist
Sanden designs and develops the online versions of the official catalogs, academic calendar and working catalog. She researches and implements software for new online publications, most recently the working catalog content management system. She ensures that the academic publications on the Internet comply with accessibility standards. She also assists with the printed materials by proofreading and making changes to documents prior to publication.

Kayla Dobbins, Editorial/Computer Support Assistant
Kayla is responsible for the layout of print publications. She helps fact-check, edit and produce academic publications. She manages on-campus ordering, delivery and tracking of academic publications and the reciprocal catalog collection.

Awards

2003 Admissions Advertising Awards, Merit for the 2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog
2004 Admissions Advertising Awards, Merit for the 2004-2005 Undergraduate Catalog
2004 Admissions Advertising Awards, Merit for the 2005 Schedule of Classes
2005 Admissions Advertising Awards, Merit for the 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog
2005 Admissions Advertising Awards, Bronze for the 2006 Schedule of Classes

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I get a catalog or a schedule of classes?
Kayla says: Print copies are available for current students at the Eagle Student Services Center Information Desk. We ask that faculty check with their department office first, then, if you are still unable to get a copy of the publication you need, please call me at (940) 565-4668.

Is there a way to see at a glance all the degrees UNT offers?
Kay says: Both the print and online versions of the graduate and undergraduate catalogs have the Academic Program Options chart, which lists degrees and areas of concentration.

Where do I find the academic calendar? Can I find the information in a monthly calendar?
Sanden says: The academic calendar is available online in three formats: a monthly version (web2.unt.edu/academic/calendar); the yearly and semester versions (www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm); and a PDF of the printed version (www.unt.edu/catalog/pdf/calendar.pdf).

How do I go about changing information in the catalog?
Kay says: For program, degree or course requirements, you must first work with your department's curriculum committee. Approved items work their way up through your school or college curriculum committee to the University Curriculum Committee or the Graduate Council. Some changes require approval by the Board or Regents and/or The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before we can change the catalog. Other catalog changes can be made during our annual revision process each fall. Please contact us if you are unsure how to proceed.

Bonus material: Each year's surplus catalogs are recycled. The Eagle Ambassadors give them to prospective students.

What's the deadline for getting changes into the catalogs?
Lynn says: Undergraduate curriculum changes, including new programs and courses, must be approved no later than the April meeting of the University Curriculum Committee. Graduate curriculum changes must be approved by the October meeting of the Graduate Council. Changes unrelated to curriculum can be incorporated during catalog revisions each fall.

How can I know whether a curriculum change will need to be approved by the Coordinating Board?
Kay says: All new degree programs must be approved by all campus curriculum committees, the Board of Regents and the Coordinating Board, which may take up to a year to complete. New courses become part of the course inventory that the Registrar's Office sends to the Coordinating Board each year. Courses that were approved in time (undergraduates by April, graduates by October) get Coordinating Board approval for the next academic year. Name changes of official units must be approved by the Coordinating Board (for example, the Department of Marketing becoming the Department of Marketing and Logistics; or the School of Music becoming the College of Music) Of course, the Board of Regents and Coordinating Board must approve a complete reorganization of an existing college or school.

Do all curriculum changes have to appear in the catalog before they become effective?
Kay says: It depends on the type of change. Changes that do not negatively impact students, such as changes to minors, unofficial tracks or other areas under a specific major, may be implemented prior to the next catalog. If the change could cause hardship for a student, such as new standards for the core curriculum, then it's usually implemented at the start of an academic year. Each undergraduate catalog has an eight-year life. Even when requirements are imposed by an outside agency, these changes should start with a new academic year. You can learn more in the current catalog's academic section by scrolling down to the “Graduation Under a Particular Catalog” heading.

What is the working catalog?
Kay says: The working catalog is a draft of the next year's undergraduate catalog that includes curriculum changes plus edits and revisions submitted by academic and administrative offices across campus. The working catalog does not replace or supplement the official catalog of the university, which is an agreement with out students about degree requirements. However, each page within the working catalog is linked to the corresponding information in the official catalog in order to provide a better planning tool for faculty, staff and students. The working catalog also serves as an additional important tool for current and future students who want to know what major changes may affect their academic plans, or what programs will be available to them during their academic career.

How do I use the working catalog?
Lynn says: Information in the working catalog is organized under general information, schools and colleges, courses and faculty. Highlighted text shows major substantive change in curriculum deadlines or other requirements made since the most recent official undergraduate catalog went to press. Other revisions submitted by academic departments and administrative offices are included but are not highlighted. Deletions of text are not indicated except in the Courses of Instruction, where notes indicate courses deleted. The working catalog is a work in progress: content is subject to change as edits are made periodically. Content of the working catalog will become official only when the next official print and online catalogs are released on July 1.

How can I get a copy of an old course description?
Lynn says: Previous editions of the catalog, back through 1997-98, are available online at www.unt.edu/catalog/archive. You can call or e-mail me for courses before 1997. When you do, be sure you have the course number, title, and both the year and semester that you took the course. I'll either mail or fax a copy of the course description to you, so please include your contact information as well.

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