Dear Alum,

I've been working hard to make sure UNT's voice is heard this legislative session, which comes as Texas' legislators have the chance to make powerful investments in higher education.

The state Legislature has an opportunity to create a pathway for emerging research universities like UNT to become a national research, or tier one, university by providing matching fund incentives. Becoming a national research university would help UNT earn more recognition and funding that would elevate all of our programs.

I am very encouraged by some of the bills filed that would create a matching grant program with clear-cut guidelines for institutions and their donors. The Texas Legislature is showing great leadership and vision in this important initiative.

UNT also is asking for support to enhance our Next Generation Course Redesign Project, to decrease our student-faculty ratio and to create a new home for our College of Visual Arts and Design.

In addition to the legislative session in Austin, a lot is happening in Washington, D.C., including the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that provides opportunities for universities to help stimulate the economy. UNT is doing our part to ensure that the economy is strong in North Texas, and we will continue to seek measures that will enhance research and economic development in the region.

In a recent trip to D.C., I also met with federal legislators to discuss the innovative research happening at UNT, such as the work being done in our Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation. While there, I also met with one of our many successful alumna, the Honorable Lorraine C. Miller, who is the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Ms. Miller, who earned her B.S. in political science at UNT, is the first African American and third woman to serve as an officer of the House of Representatives and has a long track record in government.

You can read more about the important work we are doing to help our students and to advance UNT in my President's Report 2008.

With green pride,
Gretchen M. Bataille
President

Features

Third annual Emerald Ball is a success
President Bataille and Emerald Eagle Scholars celebrated the success of the Emerald Eagle Scholars program last month at the third annual Emerald Ball, joining our many alumni and friends who turned out in force to support the program. Because of their belief in what this program offers students, UNT has secured more than $400,000 in commitments since last year's ball. This signature program covers four years of tuition and fees for high-achieving students with financial need.

UNT professor featured in National Geographic documentary
For more than 40 years, the case of northern California's Zodiac serial killer has remained unsolved. The killer's identity and one of the coded messages (or ciphers) he sent to police are still mysteries. Sixteen undergraduates in a computer science class, led by faculty member Ryan Garlick, developed software to try to crack the 340-cipher. While their codebreaking efforts weren't successful, their work did attract the attention of National Geographic. Dr. Garlick, an assistant visiting professor in computer science and engineering, appeared in Code Breakers, a National Geographic documentary about codes, ciphers and cryptographs. The documentary premiered March 1 on the National Geographic channel. See highlights of the program.

Moving Forward: UNT to offer graduate business courses in India
As part of our commitment to offer an internationally focused education and to contribute to our global economy, UNT launched a partnership with the Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust to facilitate graduate business courses to Indian students at the Khambatta Center for Excellence in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This partnership strengthens UNT's ties to India, a fast-rising industry hub and increasingly important player in the world economy. Our College of Business faculty will implement and teach the existing curriculum both online and in person at the center in conjunction with local faculty hired by the Trust, giving the Indian students valuable business know-how and leadership skills. If the students successfully complete their sixth semester on the Denton campus, they will be awarded an M.B.A. from UNT.

UNT System, Denton enter negotiations with hotel-convention center developer
The UNT System and the city of Denton are negotiating with developer John Q. Hammons to establish an upscale hotel and convention space on the site of the former Radisson Hotel, located at the intersection of I-35E and I-35W. Creating a hotel and convention complex on the university-owned property would enrich campus life, especially when it comes to athletic, academic and cultural events, while giving Denton a convention center to host large conferences, conventions and training seminars. The negotiation process could take up to six months. If built, the hotel and convention facility would be operated by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, which is based in Springfield, Mo., and has more than 80 hotels under management, including four in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The facility would be located near the planned UNT stadium.

UNT offers variety of resources to help job seekers
UNT has a variety of resources to help people find and change jobs, whether they are current students or alumni. Our Career Center regularly holds recruiting events and offers career counseling, and you can find a list of upcoming events by visiting http://careercenter.unt.edu/events. Starting this summer, the Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning will offer online programs to assist people who are re-entering the work force by identifying their job skill needs and providing an online training program. UNT has partnered with the National Business Services Alliance to offer this program so individuals can stand out in today's struggling economy. And leaders in our College of Business's Professional Leadership Program offer tips on employment trends every weekday at 6:02 p.m. on 100.7 FM KWRD.

UNT is Texas' first university offering accredited forensic science program
UNT recently became the first Texas university with an accredited forensic science program and is one of only 20 universities nationwide to receive accreditation. The recognition elevates the profile of our program, ensuring that we will continue to attract top students and provide opportunities for internships, jobs and scholarships. With this accreditation from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the forensic science program also expects to increase enrollment to 100 students. Students and graduates of the program work in area police departments, federal agencies and laboratories for ballistics, DNA and arson investigations.

Faculty Focus: Alan Albarran
Congratulations to Alan Albarran, professor of radio, television and film and the founding director of the Center for Spanish Language Media, who has been given the Distinguished Scholar Award by the Broadcast Education Association. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to media research and scholarship, and Dr. Albarran is the only recipient of this year's award. He is the author or editor of nine books, including the forthcoming The Handbook of Spanish Language Media, and has received numerous awards for his work. Under Dr. Albarran's direction, our Center for Spanish Language Media was established as one of the first comprehensive training and research programs to meet the growing demand for Spanish-speaking media professionals.

UNT Traditions: Environmental Stewardship
UNT is celebrating its environmental stewardship with campus-wide Earth Week events April 20-24. Co-hosted by the University Program Council and UNT's North Texas Energy & Environment Club, Earth Week extends the momentum of our We Mean Green campaign. It also celebrates our long track record of supporting the environmental movement, which started in the 1930s with the work of J.K.G. "Doc" Silvey. Dr. Silvey researched Texas lakes and pollution as a professor, and later as chair, of biological sciences. He also founded the Institute of Applied Science in 1970 to develop interdisciplinary research and public service projects. To get ready for Earth Week, I'm giving away We Mean Green water bottles to the first 50 people who e-mail me at president@unt.edu by April 2 with "Earth Week" in the subject line.

Featured Link: New video spot and billboard ad
Our targeted brand campaign, which we launched last fall to enhance UNT's reputation, has been a hit. We started by showcasing our size and we are now highlighting the breadth of our academic programs to communicate UNT's excellence. Keep an eye out for our new billboards, which are located throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including boards on LBJ Freeway, Stemmons Freeway, North Central Expressway and I-35. And look for our new television commercial airing on WFAA during the morning and evening news broadcasts and new radio spots on KERA, WRR, KLUV, KTCK and KRLD.

UNT Alumni Association
I hope you will join us in April for two important events at which we will celebrate our alumni and their accomplishments and honor our current students' steps toward joining our alumni ranks. On April 17, we will honor standout alumni, including the recipients of this year's Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus and Honorary Alumna/Alumnus awards, at the Alumni Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Gateway Center Ballroom. And on April 23, we will host our UNT Ring Presentation Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Gateway Center Ballroom. I am excited to see that more of our students are taking part in this ritual to receive their class rings, enduring symbols of Eagle pride. Ring sales grew nearly 70 percent this semester and attendance at our Fall 2008 ring ceremony nearly doubled from last spring. For more information about attending each event, visit www.untalumni.com or contact the alumni association at alumni@unt.edu or at 940-565-2834 or 800-868-1153.