V. Lane Rawlins

Dear Alum,

Sustainability is important in everything we do as a university. It's one of the many ways we're preparing our students to work in today's global economy, while building on our commitment to being environmentally responsible.

This commitment is evident in our programs and our practices. We have a longstanding legacy in water research and have made a name for ourselves with innovative research to develop renewable products and support conservation around the world. We're the first university in the country to offer graduate degrees in international sustainable tourism and environmental ethics, and we have a strong program in environmental science.

We're also leading the way as a green campus by building facilities designed in the most environmentally friendly way. The new LEED Platinum certified Apogee Stadium is the nation's first newly constructed collegiate stadium to earn this highest level of certification, which means it was built according to the most stringent green design standards. The stadium is UNT's second building to earn LEED certification, and more certifications are expected.

UNT also is fast becoming a hub for green research and collaboration. We have several collaborative research clusters working to develop renewable products and energy and to support conservation.

The new greenhouse complex at Discovery Park will support groundbreaking work in the Renewable Energy and Conservation research cluster. And our new partnership with the Chinese research institution Future House Real Estate Co. Ltd will expand our role as a leader in research for sustainable energy and zero-energy technologies. Our own Zero Energy Research Laboratory is under construction now at Discovery Park.

Our green practices and facilities show our commitment to provide students with the very best education in Texas by providing them with a forward-thinking and responsible learning environment.

Sincerely,
V. Lane Rawlins
President

Features

Moving Forward: Students, graduates earn top honors

At UNT, the quality of our students and graduates continues to increase and many are showing their talents and academic prowess by earning prestigious scholarships, awards and top honors. Some recent student successes include:

• Honors College graduate Marcelo Ostria was named a finalist for the 2012 Marshall Scholarship, a prestigious postgraduate scholarship.
• Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships were awarded to international studies major Shar-Né Warren, journalism graduate student J.K. Nickell, and alumna Laura Dominguez, a graduate of the Honors College who majored in international studies.
• Kevin Chang, a student in UNT's Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, is a national finalist in the 2011 Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology and will compete for the $100,000 grand prize. UNT had 19 TAMS students to earn top spots in the competition, more than any other school in the nation.
• Recent graduate Joshua Spires won the 2011 U.S. National Kodak Film School Cinematography Competition for his work on the film The Whale, an RTVF class assignment.
• Brady Jackson, a communication design student, was named a finalist for an international Adobe Design Achievement Award.

Ram Dantu

Professor's research earns inaugural NSF Innovation Corps award

Innovative faculty research continues to shine. Ram Dantu, professor of computer science and engineering, recently received the inaugural Innovation Corps award from the National Science Foundation. Dr. Dantu is the only professor in Texas to receive the award and one of only 21 awardees in the country. He and a team of researchers will use $50,000 in seed money that accompanied the award to develop his Mobile Life Guard program for a commercial audience. His program will allow drivers to integrate their smartphones with their cars' on-board computers, allowing the smartphones to analyze driver behavior and road conditions, and then send alerts to the driver or other drivers in the area.

Scholarship funds help early college high school students attend UNT

Highly motivated early college high school graduates will be eligible for scholarships to attend UNT and earn a bachelor's degree thanks to a $605,000 Greater Texas Foundation grant. The grant supports students who finish up to 60 hours of college credit while earning their high school diploma. UNT, which expects to enroll 125 early college high school graduates in the next five years, was among five Texas universities receiving the grant funding and was the only university from the North Texas region. The funds establish the state's first scholarship program designed specifically for the growing number of early college high school graduates in Texas.

Mean Green men's basketball team play at a conference game.

Mean Green basketball season off to a strong start

Men's and women's basketball kicked off this month and we're in for another great season. The men’s recruiting class ranks No. 30 in the nation -- the best in Mean Green history. HoopScoopOnline.com supplied the ranking and noted standout new recruits, Jordan Williams, Forrest Robinson, Chris Jones, Trey Norris, Casper College, Brandan Walton and Niko Stojiljkovic. I hope to see you in the Super Pit cheering on the Mean Green, both the 2010 Sun Belt Conference champion men's team and the women's team, which is off to its second best start in Mean Green history. To purchase tickets, contact the Athletic Ticket Office at 800-868-2366 or visit MeanGreenSports.com.

Students participate in Call Mean Green Phonathon.

Call Mean Green Phonathon supports student success

We recognize that our alumni play a major role in ensuring our students and programs continue to succeed, and we appreciate the support and commitment that each of you continue to offer your alma mater. Our Call Mean Green Phonathon helps support academically talented students and programs such as the Emerald Eagle Scholars program. In the coming weeks, you are likely to hear from some of these bright young people as they reconnect and reach out to our alumni and friends for support. Learn about the phonathon and more ways to support your alma mater.

David Stout

Faculty Focus: David Stout

David Stout, professor of composition studies, is bridging the arts with science and technology through UNT's Initiative for Advanced Research in Technology and the Arts research cluster, one of 15 multidisciplinary research clusters addressing complex scientific, technological, environmental and societal issues through collaboration and innovation. Stout, who serves as coordinator of iARTA, is involved in live cinema performance, video-dance, experimental film and animation, printmaking, mixed media installation, electro-acoustic music composition, sound-art and large-scale telematic video events. He is working with a team of researchers from the University of Denver and the Santa Fe Institute on a new interactive installation project.

Traditions: Master of Public Administration program celebrates legacy of service

In 1962, UNT’s Master of Public Administration program came to life with the help of a handful of students and faculty members who worked together to start an academic program for students interested in public service. Nearly 50 years later, this tradition continues with faculty providing support to more than 1,200 graduate students in the program. Today more city executives in Texas have a master's degree from UNT than any other university, according to an analysis of members of the Texas City Management Association. UNT's MPA program also is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the top program of its kind in Texas and one of the top 10 programs in the United States that specializes in city management education.

Business Leadership Building

Featured Link: Business Leadership Building Video Tour

UNT's new Business Leadership Building opened to students and faculty in the College of Business this fall. If you can't come see it in person, you can take a video tour of the new 180,000-square-foot facility with Finley Graves, dean of the College of Business, who shares information about the facility's open concept design, state-of-the art computer labs, and meeting and classroom spaces. UNT's College of Business is one of the nation's largest colleges of business and currently serves more than 5,000 students with more than 100 faculty members. And because its design integrates business and sustainability, the Business Leadership Building is expected to receive LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

UNT Alumni Association

The UNT Alumni Association’s 2011 holiday ornament makes the perfect gift for family and friends or collector's item to show your UNT pride. The ornament highlights the inaugural season of UNT’s Apogee Stadium, incorporating the limited-edition initial stadium logo trimmed in 24-carat gold. I’m giving away an ornament to the first five people to email me at president@unt.edu with “Stadium Ornament” in the subject line by 5 p.m. Nov. 28. You also can buy an ornament for $20, which will help fund student scholarships and networking events for alumni. To learn more about the UNT Alumni Association, visit www.UNTalumni.com or contact the association at alumni@unt.edu or at 940-565-2834 or 800-UNT-1153.