Dear Alum,

In the face of the state's projected $9.9 billion budget shortfall, funding for UNT's Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science was in jeopardy. But, thanks to a bill authored by Rep. Myra Crownover and sponsored by Sen. Craig Estes, TAMS is safe.

TAMS is a two-year residential program that allows teen-age whiz kids to complete the first two years of college while still earning their high school diplomas. Legislators approved a bill that continues the majority of TAMS funding, and Gov. Rick Perry signed it July 23.

The corporate community helped remedy the remaining deficit. A TI Foundation grant is subsidizing the academy fees of 65 talented and economically disadvantaged students who otherwise could not afford to enroll in TAMS. And, Verizon Southwest made a substantial gift to create a TAMS student technology center.

I'm thrilled to see such a great program at UNT receive this level of support from the state and the community.

Until next time,
Norval

August 2003
STORIES BELOW 

Your advice to students

The ol' college try
When it comes to college life, you've been there. You're out in the real world now, and maybe you've learned a thing or two that you wished you knew before college. Consider sharing this advice with our incoming students. We'll run the best tips on the university home page when the fall semester starts.
www.unt.edu/president/insider/aug2003/advice.htm

Top academic officer
UNT's newest administrator is provost and vice president for academic affairs Howard C. Johnson. Dr. Johnson, a 30-year academic veteran, comes to UNT from Syracuse University in New York. By Oct. 1, Dr. Johnson will advise me on academic matters and lead the faculty in achieving UNT's vision for 2015.
http://web2.unt.edu/news/index.cfm?id=1657

Whodunit? Mystery in archives
A New York engineering firm contacted us recently. They found a 1936 blueprint of our university's Library Building (now the Information Sciences Building) among original drawings for a New York state post office, circa 1907. They have no clue how it got there. And, neither do we. It's a fun mystery, and we now have acquired the historical document for our archives. Click here to discover what other mysteries and treasures lurk in the university's archives.
http://www.library.unt.edu/archives/default.htm

Lady BUGS
Do 4th- and 5th-grade girls like BUGS? You bet they do! BUGS, or Bringing Up Girls in Science, is an after-school program that exposes elementary school girls to science pursuits. UNT's Mean Green Environmental Machine transports 30 students from Denton schools to the UNT Elm Fork Education Center each week. The National Science Foundation funded the program with a $900,000 grant.
http://www.coe.unt.edu/bugs

Family Weekend
I am hosting a President's Brunch during Family Weekend Sept. 26-28. Hundreds of students and their families will come together for a chili cookoff and the UNT vs. University of Louisiana-Lafayette football game. The weekend's highlight will be a "UNT Tuition Draw" among current students. The winner, announced during the game, will receive a 12-credit-hour spring semester scholarship—a $1,810 value! If you're a parent of a UNT student, I hope to see you there.
http://www.unt.edu/events

Cool link: UNT Spirit Around the World
The North Texas Exes launched a UNT Spirit Around the World campaign this summer. Already alumni have sent in photos of themselves flying the UNT flag in Afghanistan, Scotland and England. Where will the UNT flag turn up next? Visit the UNT Bookstore at www.unt.bkstr.com to purchase your flag and participate in the program. I hope to see you soon at the link below.
http://www.unt.edu/alumni

UNTrivia: The UNT Fact Book questions from last month were popular, so here are a couple more:

• Are there more men or women who attend UNT?
  Answer
• How many undergraduates take a full load of 15 hours per semester?
  Answer
  

Join the North Texas Exes for an early holiday treat of "Dickens on the Strand" in Galveston Dec. 5-7! Reservations and payments must be made by Sept. 26. For other important new developments with the North Texas Exes and ways to become more involved with the alumni association, please visit www.unt.edu/alumni.

Spread the word! If you enjoy reading this e-mail newsletter and know a fellow alum or any UNT loyalist who you believe might also benefit from it, please forward it on. Anyone can sign up for a free, privacy-protected subscription by clicking www.unt.edu/president/insider.

North Texas Insider is an e-mail digest of fun and interesting facts about the university brought to you by the Office of the President at the University of North Texas. If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, simply go to www.unt.edu/president/insider.

Privacy policy for North Texas Insider

Read all issues of the North Texas Insider

UNT home page
President's web site
The North Texan
magazine
Resource magazine

North Texas Exes Transcripts
Career Services
UNT Bookstore

UNT news site
UNT events calendar
Athletics
Support UNT