GIFT OF LAND

Mr. John David Monroe, a generous donor, gave to the UNT Foundation approximately thirteen acres of land, which is depicted on the enclosure, and the Foundation now wishes to transfer the property to the University.

The Physics Department of the College of Arts and Sciences is in the process of establishing a remotely controlled robotic observatory for undergraduate astronomy education on the gift of land, which is located approximately thirty-five miles north of the UNT campus, at the nearest nationally recognized dark sky site to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The robotic observatory will be used primarily for undergraduate introductory astronomy laboratories, making possible observational experiments that are difficult or impossible to perform using traditional methods. Current laboratory exercises will be adapted so as to be incorporated in the capabilities of the robotic observatory. The imagery will be archived on a server and will be accessible to students from a web page. Students will use the web site to set up imaging sessions on the robotic telescope and collect data, in much the same way that professional astronomers currently do.

The project was funded by the National Science Foundation, and will be a significant improvement in the University's academic programs.

The President recommends, with the concurrence of the Chancellor, that the Board of Regents accept the transfer of the designated approximately thirteen acres of land from the UNT Foundation to UNT.