Initiatives & Priorities

As a place where science and art converge, UNT has a creative culture that fuels technology, innovation and progress and will help UNT claim our place among the nation’s top universities.

President Smatresk is focused on making UNT a nationally prominent research university that gives students the best educational experience in the state and that transforms them into leaders in a global marketplace.

President Smatresk’s Priorities

Planning Implementation

At the annual State of the University, President Smatresk reviews UNT's accomplishments and priorities for the coming academic year. He also established the Talon Team, a process improvement group dedicated to identifying and addressing problematic functions and processes at the university, division or department level. The Talon Team group was changed to the Problem Solving Concierge in 2019.


The Road to National Prominence

President Smatresk and UNT’s leaders from the Office Research and Innovation are developing a vision and master plan for how UNT will advance as a nationally prominent research university.


Diversity and Inclusion On Campus

President Smatresk and UNT leaders from across the university worked together to create an action plan – Moving Forward Together: UNT’s Action Plan for Improving Diversity and Inclusion on Campus – to ensure our university better incorporates initiatives targeted at advancing diversity and inclusion on campus.


UNT's New College at Frisco

Launched in January 2016, UNT's New College at Frisco offers classes and degree programs that span many disciplines, combined in innovative ways to provide a career-focused education. The New College represents a new way of thinking, a new way of doing business and a new kind of education.


Student Success

To give students a great education and the foundation for a lifetime of success, President Smatresk is creating initiatives such as the Eagle Express Tuition Plan, which encourages students to graduate in four years and helps them save up to $4,000 if they do. Launched in Fall 2014, the plan helps students go farther, faster. And through the university initiative, Succeed at UNT, students have access to tips and resources to stay on track and finish on time.


Faculty Success

At UNT, faculty excellence comes from having distinguished faculty whose research, scholarship and creativity push the boundaries of knowledge and discovery. Students benefit from being at an institution with leading scholars, innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment because they learn in an environment that is rich in opportunities.


Staff Appreciation

UNT staff members are the backbone of the university, providing essential support to students, faculty, administration and each other. They are vital to the success of students and the university. Twice a year, President Smatresk hosts Staff Sack Lunches to recognize staff excellence and outstanding departments. The town hall style sessions also include an open-ended Q&A during which the preisdent and administration address questions from staff members.


Job Evaluation and Grading Project for Staff

To attract and retain talented employees and provide for their professional development and career growth, UNT, in partnership with UNT System Human Resources, is reviewing job titles and descriptions in a yearlong project to ensure the university has fair and consistent procedures to determine job duties, job titles and competitive salaries


President’s Council Donor Society

The President’s Council at UNT was established in the early 1970s, coinciding with the inauguration of UNT President C.C. Nolen (1971-1979). This society includes generous donors who have given $25,000 to $99,999 to UNT.