UNT Insider: President's newsletter

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UNT President Neal Smatresk photographed asking UNT trivia questions in the UNT Trivia Tram on the UNT campus in Denton, Texas on August 27, 2018

The 2018-19 academic year got off to a rolling start Monday with the introduction of the UNT Trivia Tram. Students answered UNT trivia questions and earned prizes as I chauffeured them to class.
Watch a video of the fun!

Straight from Smatresk

Dear UNT supporter,

Thousands of new students joined our Mean Green family this week, each coming with their own hopes, dreams and desires to change their lives in a positive way. As you know, college is an exciting time of transformation, opportunity and academic exploration. But it's also a time full of transitions, which can be difficult for many students. However, it doesn't have to be.

UNT is the most caring community I've ever been a part of and we have countless resources and services to help every student succeed. At this summer's annual Planning Implementation Workshop, university leaders took a data-driven look at student retention and identified ways to improve student success. I know that with a little understanding, support and help, every student can achieve their dreams and fulfill their goals.

President Neal Smatresk speaking with a student This fall is shaping up to be an exciting one and I will unveil our top priorities for the future at my 2018 State of the University address at 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. Please join us! A reception will follow in the Gateway Center Ballroom honoring Dr. Richard Dixon, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, as a newly elected Fellow of the Royal Society.

We're also anticipating excellence from our Mean Green Sports teams this fall. Volleyball and soccer are already underway, and football season begins at 6 p.m. Saturday when the Mean Green takes on SMU at Apogee Stadium. After a successful season as Conference USA West Division champions and an appearance in the New Orleans Bowl, I anticipate good things for head coach Seth Littrell and his team. Wear green and be loud and proud!

As our latest video shows, UNT is a place with its own unique brand and where we celebrate creativity. We are central to the growth of the creative economy and are a place where creativity and technology unite to drive innovation in the digital age!

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez

The Inside Scoop

Drug-detecting
device

Guido Verbeck, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, found a way to detect drugs such as meth, opioids and marijuana on a person's breath. He's working with Frisco-based InspectIR to license the technology for law enforcement and medical uses. Dr. Verbeck is licensed by the DEA to create certain substances for his research and to properly test his device. Research like this happens on our campus every day and makes a true impact on the world.

Campus cuisine receives
recognition

UNT landed the No. 2 spot in Delish.com's list of "Colleges with the Best Campus Food You've Ever Seen" and I'm not surprised — everything created by UNT Dining is delicious! The ranking featured 30 colleges and calls attention to our very own Mean Greens — the nation's first vegan dining hall. Our campus boasts five dining halls, including Champs, Bruce and Kerr, which were recently featured in "The Dish on Dining" videos on the UNT Facebook page. Our dining halls are open to the public, and you're welcome to join us any time.

Learn more about
UNT Dining »

UNT named best employer
for women

UNT provides opportunities for women in STEM research

UNT cares deeply about every student and employee, so I was proud to learn of our place on Forbes' inaugural "Best Employers for Women" list. Of the 300 employers named, we're first in Texas and 10th in the nation within the higher education category. We're also among 10 companies named within the North Texas region. Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to develop the list and surveyed 40,000 employees — including 25,000 women — working at businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Female participants filled out additional questions about parental leave, discrimination and pay equity.

View UNT job
postings »

Mean Green
Family Weekend

A family poses wth Scrappy at the Super Pit

We'll welcome our extended Mean Green family into our nest Sept. 28-30 for Family Weekend. This annual event allows families to reconnect with their UNT student during a weekend full of events and fun. From Scrappy's Extravaganza, a 5K fun run, the President's Breakfast, and a tailgate prior to the football game against Louisiana Tech, there is something for everyone!

Spotlight on Excellence

Dr. Andrew Torget photographed before his Guinness World Record attempt at the longest history lesson

26-hour lecture earns professor Guinness World Record

When I was teaching, my students often thought my lectures were the world's longest, but I now have proof that isn't true! Over the weekend, 35 students and countless community members participated in a 26-hour lecture given by Andrew Torget, associate professor of history. The 1,000-plus slide lecture covered the entirety of Texas history and set a Guinness World Record for longest history lesson. Dr. Torget is an engaging, entertaining teacher and I'm proud of his accomplishment. More than $23,000 in donations were made to The Portal to Texas History, a gateway to rare, historical and primary resource materials from or about Texas, administered by the UNT Libraries. Read more about his experience from CBS DFW, Inside Higher Ed, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Mean Green Athletics is building champions

Last year was a banner year for Mean Green Athletics, achieving its winningest fall season in 40 years and I can't wait to see what occurs this year. Our men's basketball team recently swept the competition on a nine-day Italian tour through Rome, Florence and Venice to play European professional basketball teams. Head Coach Grant McCasland said this opportunity to travel and experience other cultures is what college is all about. Our soccer and volleyball teams are already into their seasons and have given us numerous opportunities to Light the Tower so far this year! To get you excited for UNT's Homecoming festivities, Oct. 22-27, I'm giving away a four-pack of tickets to one winner in a random drawing for the Oct. 27 Homecoming game against Rice. Email president@unt.edu by 5 p.m. Sept. 10 with "Homecoming game" in the subject line. Please include your phone number and T-shirt size.

UNT alumni shine as startup stars

At UNT, we prepare the creative leaders of tomorrow and equip them to join our successful alumni network of 420,000. Don't miss The North Texan story that showcases innovative UNT alumni who are launching and leading many of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's industry-disrupting startup companies. The Mean Green movers and shakers include ReadyRosie founder Emily Roden ('01), CalcuQuote founder and president Chintan Sutaria ('05 TAMS), Xpire co-founder and CEO Jesse Stauffer ('15), EverThread founder and CEO Nicole Mossman ('13), and Jill Schriefer ('91, '93 M.B.A.), teleCalm's co-founder and vice president of customer success.

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Office of the President

University of North Texas
Hurley Administration Building, Room 201
Mailing Address:
1155 Union Circle #311425
Denton, Texas 76203-5017
940-565-2108

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