Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Dear UNT Students,

As we approach this week’s quarterly UNT System Board of Regents meeting, I want to share an important update about our university budget. This week and over the coming weeks, you will be hearing about issues related to UNT’s budget around campus, in the news, and on social media, and I want to make sure you’re informed.

Last August, when the university submitted its proposed budget for our current fiscal year to our Board of Regents, they approved a $31.2 million deficit budget for UNT for the current fiscal year. However, our most current projections have grown to a projected $45 million deficit for the current year.

Our projected budget deficit is structural, not just temporary, and the reasons for it are dynamic and complex. The two major drivers are that we received $32 million less from the state for instruction and operations during the last legislative session, and last year and this year we have experienced sharper declines in international master’s student enrollments than projected.

The University Budget Council has been working diligently to identify potential solutions to our current budget situation. While we have not determined all our next steps, we know they will inevitably require hard choices, and the impact will be felt across our university. Our goal will be to navigate our current fiscal challenges in ways that ultimately strengthen UNT for the long term.

So, what does this mean for students?

As president, I commit to you that we will navigate our budget challenges responsibly, deliberately, and most importantly, with great care and consideration for the impact on UNT students and other members of our community. We will not only remain steadfast but also will deepen our commitment and investment in the long-term success of our students — because student success is our most fundamental responsibility. Our core promise to create enduring value for students, our region, and our state will not change.

I believe it is important to be transparent with our community, and we will share frequent updates about our plans as they are ready to release. I encourage you to stay engaged through your elected student government, which has a seat at the table in my cabinet. At UNT, we pride ourselves on being a values-driven university, and we will get through these challenges and be better together. 

Respectfully,

Harrison Keller, Ph.D.
President