University of North Texas

May 9, 2012

Dear UNT Community,

As we look forward to celebrating the close of this academic year with May graduations, we also are taking stock of our progress and planning for the next year.

During the past 14 months, Vice President for University and Community Affairs Herman Totten, right, has been focused on building a program that will help ensure UNT is able to achieve its fourth bold goal:

• Establish UNT as a nationally recognized, engaged university and regional leader by building and expanding mutually beneficial partnerships and resources.

Herman and his team have successfully established the President’s Council on Community Engagement, which is well on its way to building the framework for moving UNT from outreach to authentic engagement and is using five workgroups – economic development, engagement advisory, project-based learning, technology, and town and gown – to achieve its goals.

To better engage the university’s own retirees, Herman also has worked with the current Retired Instructors, Personnel and Spouses organization to transition the organization into a formal UNT Retirees Association.

And importantly, his team has established a signature community partnership between Big Thought, UNT’s new Design Research Center and the College of Visual Arts and Design. The partnership allows UNT faculty and students to help Big Thought achieve its goal of transforming K-12 education to better meet the needs of the 21st century by creating a pipeline of scholars who could advance the field of Integrated Arts Learning. The partnership will develop a fellows program, conduct research and use advocacy to meet Big Thought’s goals. The partnership is currently formalized with an MOU that establishes an 18-month planning and action process.

Herman’s vice presidential appointment was created to be full-time for one year. Now that he has established a base for success, he will be resuming his responsibilities of Dean of the College of Information while continuing to oversee the university and community affairs area. 

I am extremely grateful for Herman’s dedication to establishing this new program and look forward to continuing to work with him as a vice president even while he dedicates himself again to the success of our College of Information.

Herman’s vast experience at holding dual appointments along with the great work he and his team have accomplished already will make overseeing both operations possible.

Sincerely,

V. Lane Rawlins

UNT President