Dear UNT community,
It's been an incredible year of achievements for UNT and our students, faculty and staff. We awarded a record-breaking 9,465 degrees and are celebrating our largest-ever enrollment of 38,154 this fall. Our philanthropy surpassed more than $36 million, our research expenditures exceeded $37 million and we're continuing to build unique and innovative curriculum at our Frisco location. From media arts student Ciara Boniface winning the title of Disney's “Next Visionary Filmmaker” to Distinguished Research Professor Richard Dixon's induction to The Royal Society to Mean Green Athletics achieving its winningest season in 40 years, we have so much to be proud of.
Thank you for helping to make 2017-18 a record-setting year for UNT.
As I said at my 2018 State of the University on Thursday, creativity is a critical part of our identity. It is increasingly important that we position ourselves as leaders in the creative economy by embracing - and celebrating - the intersection of creativity and technology. Our new hires and programs will reflect this, and we will continue to build more agile degree programs that speak to the needs of our students, their skill development and the demands of employers throughout the North Texas region.
As I've said many times before, the Mean Green family is the most caring community I've ever known.
Students come to UNT seeking more than knowledge and a degree. They want to be transformed into successful professionals with strong skills, confidence and a network of friends. Our faculty and staff are the catalyst of that transformation, often extending a caring hand or offering a bit of guidance to help students along the path to graduation. Ensuring each student's success must be our top priority. This year, we will continue our efforts to improve student retention and show each student how #UNTCares.
UNT has accomplished so much in the past four-and-a-half years. It's time for us to dream big and to launch ourselves into national prominence. The union of creativity and technology will ignite our passions for research and scholarship. As our faculty, staff and partners work together, we will unleash our students' talents and empower them to become the creative leaders of tomorrow.
Rise with us and help us move our vision forward, so that together we can soar higher.
UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTprez