Thursday, March 19, 2026

Dear UNT Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

Over the past several months, we have spoken openly about the financial challenges facing our university and our shared responsibility to address them thoughtfully and strategically. As we continue this work, we want to share an update about the ongoing evaluation of UNT’s academic programs. 

After careful review and consultation with deans, we have made the difficult decision to begin the process of closing or consolidating certain academic programs. Students already enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees as planned. However, new students will not be able to enroll in these majors or minors. We will support faculty and advisors to ensure these changes do not disrupt our students’ academic progress. Students who are directly impacted will receive more information from their programs. 

While these decisions are painful, they are part of a broader effort to position UNT for greater long-term stability in an increasingly dynamic time for higher education. Programs were selected after a thorough evaluation of multiple factors, including student demand and enrollment trends, time to value, resource efficiency, and alignment with our mission. New programs that are still working to reach their enrollment goals are not included and will have the opportunity to grow.

The most substantial change is the merger of the Department of Linguistics and the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the phasing out of all degrees offered by the Department of Linguistics. This department has experienced a consistent decline in enrollment in its undergraduate and master’s program since 2021, as well as relatively lower time to value and higher costs of instruction. The merger will be effective September 1, 2026. In addition to the linguistics degrees, the university will phase out:

  • 3 master’s programs due to low enrollment (an average of 15 or fewer students per year over the past five years)
  • 1 undergraduate major due to low enrollment as well as relatively lower time to value and higher cost of instruction
  • 25 undergraduate minors that have average enrollments of 20 students or fewer since 2021
  • 21 graduate and 21 undergraduate certificates that have average enrollments below two students per year

We are in active conversations with other institutions in our region to design pathways for our students who are interested in pursuing credentials that we do not offer. We believe such arrangements would help students at all participating institutions.

These decisions are not made lightly. Every academic program reflects years of dedication, scholarship, and care, and we are grateful for the contributions of the faculty, staff, and students who have built and sustained them. 

At the same time, we must adapt to meet the changing needs of our students, employers, and communities across Texas and beyond, especially by providing degree and credential pathways that translate into opportunities beyond graduation. By making these difficult but necessary decisions, we will be able to strengthen the quality and impact of our current academic programs while investing in new areas that help us build momentum for the future.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to UNT. Together, we will navigate these challenges and emerge an even stronger University of North Texas.

Respectfully,

Harrison Keller, Ph.D.
President

Michael A. McPherson, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs