Friday, February 27, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to provide a brief update about some of the tangible next steps we will take to address our budget challenges while advancing our commitment to student success.

Next month, course registration opens for students to enroll in summer and fall classes. We will soon launch a broad course redesign effort to adopt a flipped classroom/hybrid learning model to ensure every UNT student benefits both from a small class learning experience and online lecture and delivery that is adaptable to their needs. For the fall semester, over 40 courses will be offered in this new format, and we look forward to adding more courses over time. Next week, we will be sharing more information about the support structures being built with and for faculty who will be doing this important work, to help us modernize our teaching practices and better support student learning.

For our first-year students, transfer students, and learners in foundational courses, this approach could be transformational for their UNT student experience. Many introductory-level courses are high-stakes by nature given their connection to upper-level courses and progression to degree, and the experience of other institutions and the research literature overwhelmingly supports these approaches to facilitate student academic success. 

This is one example of how our immediate budget challenges provide opportunities to examine and improve our processes, building on the innovative work to support teaching and learning already underway at UNT. Of course, addressing our budget deficit will also come with difficult decisions. Some course offerings need to be expanded to meet demand. We are also examining courses and programs that may need to be realigned, consolidated, or eliminated due to their high costs of delivery, challenging postgraduate employment outcomes, or low enrollment. All these decisions will be weighed carefully.

As we consider next steps, our commitment to student success remains paramount. Every UNT student should have clear academic pathways, timely support, and opportunities for career development from their first connection to the university, through graduation, and into their early careers. These efforts will lead to better retention and graduation outcomes, more meaningful learning experiences, and graduates who leave UNT with confidence, purpose, and preparation for what comes next.

I appreciate the partnership and input of our deans, faculty, students, and alumni as we develop our plans, and we will continue to share updates with our university community. Working together, we will get through these challenges and emerge as an even stronger University of North Texas.

Respectfully,

Harrison Keller, Ph.D.
President