The annual ceremony recognizing UNT units for excellence in documenting the effectiveness of their programs and services in supporting UNT's mission was held Oct. 20. Due to COVID, this year's annual ceremony combined the 2020 and 2021 winners.
The institutional effectiveness process at UNT — which complies with the principles of accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — is focused on improving UNT's student learning outcomes and services while increasing student success and institutional quality.
UNT has built institutional effectiveness plans for degree programs and academic departments as well as administrative, academic and student support, research, and public service units. Through these plans, the university can document that each area is identifying expected outcomes, assessing the extent to which it achieves them, and seeking improvement based on an analysis of the results.
The award winners go beyond compliance in their dedication to continuous improvement at UNT.
The 2020 administrative units recognized were:
- Career Center, Division of Student Affairs
- Digital Strategy and Innovation
- We Mean Green Fund, Division of Student Affairs
The 2021 administrative units recognized were:
- Admissions, Division of Enrollment
- Center for Student Affairs at Discovery Park, Division of Student Affairs
- Research Integrity and Compliance, Division of Research and Innovation
- Risk Management Services, Division of Finance and Administration
- Welcome Center, Division of Enrollment
The 2020 academic programs recognized were:
- Digital Retailing B.S., Department of Merchandising and Digital Retailing, College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
- Division of Vocal Studies, College of Music
- Kinesiology M.S., Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, College of Education
- Medical Laboratory Sciences B.S.M.L.S., Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science
- Merchandising B.S., Department of Merchandising and Digital Retailing, College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
The 2021 academic programs recognized were:
- Counseling Ph.D., Department of Counseling and Higher Education, College of Education
- Early Childhood Education M.S., Department of Teacher Education and Administration, College of Education
- Educational Leadership M.Ed., Ed.D. and Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education and Administration, College of Education
- Division of Keyboard Studies, College of Music
- Media Arts B.A., Department of Media Arts, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- Department of Technical Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Other awards, presented by Provost Jennifer Cowley, were:
Outstanding Administrative Department Award
The Outstanding Administrative Department Award recognizes the UNT administrative department demonstrating a strong commitment to institutional effectiveness and excellence. Administrative departments serve an integral part in supporting the institutional mission and many of them receive state and national recognition for the quality of their work. The departments receiving effectiveness awards were:
- 2020 - Diversity and Inclusion, Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access
- 2021 - University Libraries
Outstanding Academic Department Award
The Outstanding Academic Department Award recognizes the UNT academic department demonstrating a strong commitment to institutional effectiveness and enhancing student learning. The Outstanding Academic Departments were:
- 2020 - Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- 2021 - Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, College of Health and Public Service
Core Curriculum Excellence Award
The University Core Curriculum is designed to ensure that all UNT students graduate with a breadth of knowledge gained through their general classes as well as a depth of knowledge gained from courses in their major area of study. These core classes help students further develop important and fundamental skills while gaining an enthusiasm for learning and an intellectual capacity they will use throughout their lives after college. This new award recognizes the academic unit that is excelling in demonstrating effectiveness in the core courses it teaches. The areas receiving the award were:
- 2020 - Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- 2021 - First-Year Writing Program, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Outstanding College Award
The Outstanding College Award recognizes the UNT college for demonstrating a strong commitment to institutional effectiveness across all degree and certificate programs and administrative units. The Outstanding Colleges were:
- 2020 - New College
- 2021 - College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism