Wednesday, November 5, 2025
DENTON (UNT), Texas 鈥� The (UNT) unveiled its new five-year strategic plan 鈥� 鈥� outlining a bold vision to create enduring value for students, employers, taxpayers and communities across the North Texas region and beyond.
Under the leadership of , Ph.D., the plan emphasizes three core priorities: Develop, Discover and Drive. UNT will focus on developing the potential of its students and community members to meet the needs of the changing economy, discovering new insights and innovations that bridge disciplines to advance Texas鈥� competitiveness, and driving innovation, partnerships and economic growth to build a better tomorrow.
鈥淟ook North: UNT 2030 reflects our commitment to guide grit to greatness,鈥� Keller said. 鈥淎s North Texas鈥� largest university committed to creating enduring value for the public good, we are building new models that not only prepare students for success but also contribute solutions and leadership that benefit our region, our state and our nation.鈥�
With 75% of UNT鈥檚 undergraduates from the North Texas region, nearly half from low-income families and more than 40% being first-generation college students, the university has a deep commitment to providing access to an affordable, high-quality education that expands opportunities for students and communities. This commitment is reflected in UNT鈥檚 rising national recognition for advancing social mobility, including its , as well as the university鈥檚 ongoing efforts to reduce student debt and expand financial aid opportunities.
In conjunction with the five-year strategic plan, UNT unveiled its student success campaign aimed at raising $100 million to advance scholarships, student
support services, career-connected learning opportunities, and other strategies to
ensure every student has the support needed to earn their degree and launch into meaningful
careers.
鈥淏y investing in people and programs that remove barriers and strengthen pathways, UNT is positioning its students and faculty to drive the future of Texas and beyond,鈥� said Brandon Buzbee, vice president for university advancement. 鈥淭his campaign is about unlocking potential. When our donors invest in student success, they鈥檙e shaping the trajectory of our state鈥檚 workforce, economy and communities. Better Look North is an invitation to believe in the power of what鈥檚 possible when we give talent a chance to rise.鈥�
Through Look North: UNT 2030, UNT will:
- Invest in Talent: Modernize curriculum, expand student success systems and enhance faculty and staff development
- Scale What Works: Grow high-impact programs, deepen partnerships with industry and community leaders and connect more students to career-aligned learning opportunities
- Accelerate Innovation: Position UNT as a national model for public higher education that turns research into real-world solutions and drives collaboration across disciplines.
鈥淧eople come to Denton for places like UNT 鈥� it鈥檚 a catalyst for our community," said Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth. "UNT and Denton are joined in so many ways, and we work best when we collaborate, whether it鈥檚 welcoming new students, hosting community events or finding ways to grow smart together. It鈥檚 a delight to have President Keller here, someone who knows how to set a vision, build partnerships and bring people together. That partnership is what makes our city special.鈥�
President Keller speaks in the center of a room to a group of people sitting down facing him. He is flanked by two screens that say "Texas Talent Accelerator"
The new strategic plan emphasizes strong industry partnerships and flexible program delivery.
The plan also highlights UNT at Frisco, emphasizing strong industry partnerships and flexible program delivery to extend educational opportunities, applied research and regional impact in Collin and Denton counties. The university鈥檚 vision expands that impact, aligning its goals with the needs of North Texas communities and industries.
鈥淧resident Keller鈥檚 vision for the future of UNT is a strong indicator that the university will remain poised to drive North Texas鈥� economic growth and workforce development for generations to come,鈥� said Melanie Vest, president and CEO of DATCU. 鈥淲e are grateful to play a part in making his strategic plans a reality and to continue partnering with UNT to strengthen our community.鈥�
Sanger Mayor Thomas Muir said he sees UNT鈥檚 influence reaching across the region.
鈥淧resident Keller鈥檚 got a bold vision for where we鈥檙e going,鈥� Muir said. 鈥淚 love the
collaborative nature of what he鈥檚 doing with our faculty, students, workforce and
community. Anything this university does has a spillover effect that touches every
town and economic unit in North Texas. We鈥檙e starting to see that impact even in Sanger,
and it鈥檚 a win-win for everyone.鈥�
Implementation of the new UNT strategic plan will occur in three phases over five years, guided by measurable outcomes including student retention and graduation rates, research and innovation metrics and alumni success in high-demand careers. Laura Wright, a member of the UNT System Board of Regents, said the plan reflects UNT鈥檚 leadership across the system and the state.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very comprehensive plan that touched on students, faculty, staff and philanthropy,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淯NT is our flagship university and a big part of our system. This plan aligns perfectly with where we want to head across all three of our universities.鈥�
For more information, visit .
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About the 国产亚洲福利精品 Texas (UNT)
Ranked a Tier One research university by the Carnegie Classification, UNT is the flagship of the UNT System and is located in Denton, Texas. With 242 degree programs and a thriving community of nearly 44,000 students, UNT serves the North Texas region and helps drive the state鈥檚 economy through groundbreaking research, educational excellence focused on career readiness, and a spirit of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Across its Denton and Frisco campuses, UNT students earned more than 13,000 degrees last year.
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