The university

The University of North Texas is a place where students transform their lives through education and opportunity.

Ranked a Tier One research university by the Carnegie Classification and designated a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution, UNT is the flagship of the UNT System and is located in Denton. Boasting 250 degree programs and a thriving community of nearly 47,000 students, UNT serves the North Texas region and helps drive the state’s economy through innovative research, educational excellence focused on career readiness and a spirit of entrepreneurship. Together, with its branch campus in Frisco, UNT students earned more than 12,000 degrees last year. 

UNT has been ranked in the nation’s Top 100 for students graduating with least debt by U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review continually names UNT as a Best in the Southwest school and Forbes has listed UNT as an America’s Top College for 16 consecutive years. 

Location

UNT is in Denton, a town of about 140,000 people located 40 miles north of Dallas and Fort Worth. UNT occupies over 1,017 acres across three counties and maintains 180 buildings including Discovery Park, a 610,000-square-foot research facility, accessible from the main campus by shuttle buses. The main campus is easy to walk or bike to, as are residence halls, athletic facilities and other areas of campus. UNT is teaching more than 3,100 students at its Frisco Landing and Inspire Park locations. Born from a partnership between UNT and the City of Frisco, Frisco Landing’s 135,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building was designed with a focus on student success and is the first permanent building to be built on the UNT at Frisco campus, located at the southwest corner of Preston Road and Panther Creek Parkway.  

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one of the largest, most dynamic regions in the United States and home to many of the nation’s fastest growing cities. UNT fuels the North Texas region through innovation, education and research; forming partnerships with many businesses, industry, education, government and cultural organizations. 

The university’s mission

At the University of North Texas, our caring and creative community empowers our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The university’s purpose

Our students will be the innovative leaders of tomorrow.

The university’s vision

We will become globally known for collaborative and imaginative educational innovation and scholarly activity that transforms our students and benefits the world around us.

Achieving the vision

The UNT community is guided by five shared values — Courageous Integrity, Be Curious, We Care, Better Together and Show Your Fire. To achieve our vision, we will work together to solve complex issues and find ways to empower our students to succeed in the face of a rapidly changing world. This challenge calls on us to become more nimble and collaborative as an institution. Because we are a caring, creative campus, we value important connections that happen through collaboration, interdisciplinary engagement, connectivity and synergistic solutions to challenges at our university, in DFW and beyond. Thus, we will dedicate ourselves to creating a stronger collaborative environment where we hear and respond to the voices of our diverse internal and external communities to empower our students and meet the needs of Texas. The cross-cutting synergies and connectivity created by building a culture based on our values will drive our success across all planning areas and enhance our reputation as an innovative, next-generation institution. 

History of the university

UNT was founded in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teachers’ Training Institute. Joshua C. Chilton, the founding president, leased facilities above a hardware store on Denton’s square to establish a teacher training institute. His opening-day remarks remain an important part of UNT’s value system: “It will be our aim to become leaders in the education of the young men and women of Texas, fitting them to creditably fill the most important positions in business and professional circles. We desire the cooperation of all who believe in higher education and who want to see our state in the very front of intellectual as well as material progress.”

The university has had seven names through the years:

1890: Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute
1894: North Texas Normal College
1901: North Texas State Normal College
1923: North Texas State Teachers College
1949: North Texas State College
1961: North Texas State University
1988: University of North Texas

Incoming students choose UNT for its innovative programs designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the future. UNT “firsts” through the years include: 

• First jazz studies program in the U.S.
• First undergraduate emergency administration and planning program in the U.S.
• First bachelor’s degree in digital retailing and in consumer experience management in the U.S. and first Master of Science program in merchandising offered completely online
• First retail program in the U.S. to integrate courses in merchandising, digital retailing, store operations, finance and retail strategy
• First school library certification program in the U.S. offered completely online
• First graduate applied anthropology program in the U.S. offered completely online
• First undergraduate program in applied behavior analysis in the U.S. and first accredited master’s program in behavior analysis in the world
• First and only Ph.D. program in art education in Texas
• World’s first graduate program in environmental philosophy and world’s first field station in environmental philosophy, science and policy at Cape Horn, Chile
• First four-year aviation logistics program at a university in Texas and only such program in the nation
• First master’s program in international sustainable tourism in the U.S. and the first to require a year abroad
• First M.S. program in artificial intelligence in Texas

Faculty

At the heart of the university’s efforts to carry out its mission are the faculty. Individually, UNT faculty members have been singled out for contributions to their teaching and research fields through diverse national and international awards.

Collectively, the faculty have contributed significantly to research and scholarship within various fields through numerous publications, presentations at scholarly conferences, concerts, recitals, exhibitions and performances.

Faculty leadership in teaching, research, creative activities, performance and service activities has created national and international reputations for excellence for a number of academic programs within the university’s 12 schools and colleges.

Student life

 A wide array of student organizations gives UNT students the opportunity to build friendships with people of both similar and varied interests and provides avenues for organized and meaningful service. Student organizations represent many areas of interest, such as service professional, political, academic, spiritual, athletic, residential, and Greek. Being involved in a student organization promotes a sense of community and connection to the university, while serving to enhance the social, intellectual and developmental growth of students. For more information, see the Campus Resources section of this catalog, call the Student Activities Center at 940-565-3807 or visit studentactivities.unt.edu.

UNT libraries

A wide range of student- and faculty-centered services are the cornerstone of the Libraries’ integral role in the UNT community. As an essential component of education and research at UNT, the Libraries offer access to more than six million print and digital items, along with expert personnel to assist patrons in achieving their academic and scholarly goals. Visit us online at library.unt.edu.

Services

UNT Libraries’ services include:

• Willis Library open 24/7 during long semesters
• Mac and PC laptop checkout
• Free video games, movies, music and more
• Electronic resources, including journals, books and other research materials
• Library instruction, subject guides and tutorials
• Research assistance from subject experts
• The Spark Makerspace in Willis Library, a service promoting the creative use of technology
• Accessible tables, study carrels, and computers in Willis, Sycamore, and Discovery Park libraries

Libraries and collections

UNT Libraries have many exceptional collections:

• The Music Library is one of the country’s largest music collections, with an extensive phonographic disc and tape collection, and the private jazz collections of Stan Kenton, Don Gillis, Whit Ozier and Leon Breeden.
• Special Collections preserve and provide access to an incredible wealth of materials that document the history and legacy of Texas, as well as touch on numerous topics of national import. Collections include the history of the university, oral histories and Texas county records. Other important archival collections include those of Sarah T. Hughes, Enid Justin and Ruth Salmon. The holdings also feature an outstanding miniature book collection; the private library of Anson Jones, President of the Republic of Texas; Texas Society of Sons of the American Revolution; the Weaver Collection of Juvenile materials; and examples of important early publishing, printing and binding styles. Other collections include the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Archive; the Latino/Latina Archive; and the Photography and Visual Materials Collection, which includes the photographic archives of several prominent photographers.
• The Government Information Connection contains U.S. and Texas government documents, including the Texas Register. The library has received national recognition for its efforts to preserve online government information through the CyberCemetery and participation in End-of-Term harvests of U.S. government web sites. The UNT Libraries have the distinction of being one of nine affiliated archives of the National Archives.

• The Media Library houses a large collection of audiovisual materials, including videos, 16 mm films and audio CDs. Video-on-demand service is provided for curriculum support. The Media Library is also home to the Nest, an e-sports and game design space. 

• Through collaborative efforts such as the Portal to Texas History and the UNT Digital Library, the Libraries provide digital content to a worldwide audience. The Portal is a gateway to Texas history materials from over 480 partners at libraries, museums and archives across Texas. The UNT Digital Library includes UNT electronic theses and dissertations, the Federal Communications Commission Record, UNT Scholarly Works, a Virtual Music Rare Book Room and the World War poster collections.

In addition to Willis Library, UNT Libraries include the following:

• The Discovery Park Library, which supports the College of Engineering and the College of Information.
• The Sycamore Library is home to the Juvenile and CMC Collections, government documents, law, political science, geography, business collections and is also UNT’s Funding Information Network location. The Collaboration and Learning Commons, housed within the library, offer student computing services, group and individual study spaces and two study rooms with presentation capabilities.
• The Library Annex and the Research Collection Library—both located off-campus—provide storage and house office space for a variety of library faculty and staff.

University Information Technology Services

The AITS Campus Helpdesk provides support services for students, faculty and staff for account-based issues as well as the usage of UNT issued resources, such as email, Virtual Labs and more. Users can request support over the phone, in person or online for any issues related to their UNT account or related resources. The AITS Campus Helpdesk can be reached at 940-565-2324, in Sage 330 or at helpdesk.unt.edu.

Students receive many online resources such as the Universities virtual lab offerings, Office 365 and LinkedIn Learning services. Active students can see a full list of services by going to helpdesk.unt.edu.

UNT offers many on campus resources including in person support, WiFi, and computer labs spread throughout campus, find a list of available computer lab resources at computerlabs.unt.edu. UNT offers WiFi in all buildings and most public spaces to all currently enrolled students, faculty and staff. Students can contact the Helpdesk at 940-565-2324 for more information regarding in-person support, or by going to Sage 330.

UNT has designated email as an official form of communication between the university and students. UNT provides email accounts to all students registered at the university through EagleConnect, eagleconnect.unt.edu. Students automatically are assigned email accounts during the application process, please contact the HelpDesk for more information.

Accreditation

University of North Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. University of North Texas also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of University of North Texas may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).   

Please note: SACSCOC should be contacted only to inquire about the accreditation status of UNT, to ask questions about the accreditation process, or to pursue procedures for filing complaints against UNT. General inquiries, such as admission requirements, financial aid, and educational programs, should be addressed directly to UNT and not SACSCOC’s office.

In addition, the University of North Texas offers programs accredited by the following organizations.

AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
ABET-Computing Accreditation Commission
ABET-Engineering Accreditation Commission
ABET-Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission
Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
American Academy of Forensic Sciences-FEPAC
American Chemical Society
American Library Association
American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Association for Middle Level Education
Behavior Analysis Accreditation Board of ABAI
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Council on Rehabilitation Education
Council on Social Work Education
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Association of Schools of Music
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
Texas State Board for Educator Certification
Textile and Apparel Program Accreditation Commission (TAPAC)

See Accrediting Institutions  for addresses of accrediting organizations.

In addition, the University of North Texas offers programs that are approved or recognized by:

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
Council for Exceptional Children
Educational Leadership Constituent Council
International Society for Technology in Education
National Council of Teachers of English
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Institutional memberships

The University of North Texas holds the following memberships.

Administration, faculty and librarians

See the Administration, faculty and librarians  section for lists of university officers, UNT System officers and academic deans.

Information regarding individual faculty members and librarians is available from the Faculty Profile System (faculty.unt.edu/index.php). Select “Faculty Profiles” from the Browse menu. To access faculty information from a specific department or from the Libraries, use the drop-down menu at the head of the faculty list.

Graduate faculty of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNTHSC) also are members of the graduate faculty of the University of North Texas and thus can serve as mentors or committee members of UNT graduate students appropriate to their graduate appointment. See the UNTHSC Graduate Catalog for UNTHSC graduate faculty listings.

UNT presidents

Joshua C. Chilton (1890–1893)
John J. Crumley (1893–1894)
Menter B. Terrill (1894–1901)
J.S. Kendall (1901–1906)
W.H. Bruce (1906–1923)
Robert L. Marquis (1923–1934)
W.J. McConnell (1934–1951)
J.C. Matthews (1951–1968)
John J. Kamerick (1968–1970)
John L. Carter, Jr. (acting, 1970–1971)
C.C. Nolen (1971–1979)
John L. Carter, Jr. (acting, 1979–1980)
Frank E. Vandiver (1980–1981)
Howard W. Smith Jr. (ad interim, 1981–1982)
Alfred F. Hurley (1982–2000)
Norval F. Pohl (2000–2006)
Gretchen M. Bataille (2006–2010)
Phillip C. Diebel (ad interim, 2010)
V. Lane Rawlins (2010-2014)
Neal Smatresk (2014-2024)
Harrison Keller (2024-present)

From 1981 until 2000, the president also carried the responsibilities and title of Chancellor of the University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Senate Bill 751 of the 76th Texas Legislature provided for the establishment of the University of North Texas System, and in July 1999, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board confirmed formal system status for UNT System Center (now in Dallas), including the Denton campus, UNTHSC at Fort Worth and the UNT Dallas Campus. In October 2000, the positions of president and chancellor were officially separated.

UNT chancellors

Frank E. Vandiver (1981)
Howard E. Smith (ad interim, 1981)
Alfred F. Hurley (1981–2002)
Lee Jackson (2002–2017)
Lesa Roe (2017-2021)
Michael R. Williams (2022-present)

On August 24, 2002, the UNT Board of Regents named Alfred F. Hurley Chancellor Emeritus of the UNT System and President Emeritus of the university.