Last fiscal year, UNT budget units were asked to identify projects that addressed the institution’s 10 planning initiatives. These initiatives were adopted in 1998 by the University Planning Council and approved by the Chancellor. The Chancellor emphasized four planning themes that identified several areas for emphasis during the 2000 budgeting process.

For fiscal year 2001, unit heads are asked to use the following themes to request funding for special projects (new initiatives or increases in continuing initiatives). These themes are restatements of some of the institution’s planning initiatives and/or planning themes presented for fiscal year 1999-2000.

1. Implement high quality teaching, learning, and campus life strategies to improve undergraduate retention and graduation rates;
2. Increase graduate enrollments;
3. Strengthen scholarship, research, and creative activities to a level appropriate to the number and range of doctoral degrees offered by the university and to a competitive level with other Texas research universities;
4. Enhance effort to diversify further the university’s student body, faculty, and staff;
5. Continue to develop high-quality degree programs and outreach activities at the UNT System Center at Dallas; and to develop cooperative efforts with the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth;
6. Strengthen programs and initiatives that will help improve teaching and learning in grades K through 16;
7. Position the University to deal with the implications of the growing gridlock on I-35 and other Metroplex roadways; and,
8. Prepare for Capital Campaign.