University of North Texas facts for kids

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University of North Texas

Former names	Former name list Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute (1890–1894) North Texas Normal College (1894–1901) North Texas State Normal College (1901–1923) North Texas State Teachers College (1923–1949) North Texas State College (1949–1961) North Texas State University (1961–1988)
Type	Public research university
Established	1890; 135 years ago (1890)
Parent institution	University of North Texas system
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	URA ORAU Space-grant
Endowment	$291.6 million (2022)
Budget	UNT: $958 million UNTS: 1.4 billion
Chancellor	Michael R. Williams
President	Neal Smatresk
Provost	Michael McPherson
Academic staff	3,327
Students	46,940 (Fall 2023)
Undergraduates	33,672 (Fall 2023)
Postgraduates	13,268 (Fall 2023)
Location	Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex , Texas , United States 33°12′35″N 97°9′0″W / 33.20972°N 97.15000°W / 33.20972; -97.15000
Campus	1,000 acres (4.0 km²)
Newspaper	North Texas Daily
Colors	UNT Green White
Nickname	Mean Green
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – The American
Mascot	Scrappy the Eagle

The University of North Texas (UNT) is a large public university focused on research. It is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area of Texas. UNT's main campus is in Denton, Texas, and it also has a smaller campus in Frisco, Texas.

UNT offers many different study programs. You can choose from 114 bachelor's degrees, 97 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees. UNT is the main university in the University of North Texas System, which also includes other universities in Dallas and Fort Worth. UNT was started in 1890 and is now one of the biggest universities in the United States.

In Fall 2023, UNT had a record number of students, with 46,940 enrolled. This makes it the largest university in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is also the third largest university in Texas, after Texas A&M and UT Austin. The main campus in Denton covers 900 acres. This includes the academic area, the Eagle Point sports area, and Discovery Park. UNT also has a campus in Frisco, which is about 100 acres.

The U.S. Department of Education has recognized UNT as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). This means it supports a diverse student body. UNT is also known for its "very high research activity." The State of Texas calls it an "Emerging Research University."

UNT's sports teams are called the North Texas Mean Green. They have sixteen teams that compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. North Texas is part of the American Athletic Conference. UNT's official colors are Green and White. Its mascot is an Eagle named Scrappy.

Exploring the UNT Campus

The Hurley Administration Building at UNT

The main campus of the University of North Texas is in Denton. Denton is a town of about 150,000 people. It is in the northern part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which is one of the largest city areas in the United States. UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. This system has grown a lot over the years.

In 2004, UNT opened UNT Discovery Park. This is a 300-acre area in north Denton. It has special facilities for science and engineering research. In 2011, the College of Visual Arts and Design opened the Design Research Center in downtown Dallas.

UNT also has a campus in Frisco, Texas. In 2018, UNT opened Inspire Park there. Nearly 2,000 students from Collin County take classes at UNT's locations in Frisco and McKinney. In 2020, Texas approved UNT building a new branch campus in Frisco. This campus will offer advanced and graduate courses.

Special Recognitions for UNT

Business Leadership Building

In 1976, the Carnegie Foundation recognized North Texas as a top university for doctoral degrees. Forty years later, in 2016, Carnegie gave UNT its highest rating. This means UNT is a university with "highest research activity."

In 1992, UNT became a full member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2011, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board named UNT one of eight "Emerging Research Institutions" in Texas.

In 2020, the Department of Education recognized UNT as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

In 2023, the state of Texas created the Texas University Fund (TUF). This fund helps expand research at four Texas universities, including UNT. The goal is to make them some of the best universities in the country. The fund started with $3.9 billion and gets $100 million each year.

What You Can Study at UNT

UNT offers many different degrees. As of 2024, it has 112 bachelor's degrees, 94 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees. These programs are organized into 14 colleges and schools. UNT has been officially approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1924. As of 2020, the university had 37 research centers and institutes.

Student Numbers at UNT

UNT had a record number of students in Fall 2023, with 46,940 enrolled. It is the biggest university in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is also the third largest public university in Texas. In 2022, UNT awarded 12,352 degrees to its students.

As of 2024, there are 26 students for every one teacher at UNT. Also, almost 30 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. Some of the most popular degrees in 2022 were in general studies, psychology, biological sciences, and business fields like marketing and accounting. As of 2024, about 60% of students at UNT graduate, which is similar to the national average for four-year universities.

UNT's Colleges and Schools

UNT has fourteen main colleges and schools where students can study:

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
College of Science
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Information
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
College of Music
College of Health and Public Service
College of Visual Arts and Design
Honors College
Mayborn School of Journalism
Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science
Toulouse Graduate School

College of Science

UNT has offered Bachelor of Science degrees for over 100 years. It has offered Master of Science degrees since 1935 and Doctor of Philosophy degrees since 1964. UNT is part of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). This group helps universities work with national laboratories and companies on scientific research.

G. Brint Ryan College of Business

The College of Business has five main departments. These include Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Marketing, and Management. It offers many different programs for undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. students. In 2011, the college moved into a new, modern building. This building is very eco-friendly and cost $70 million. The college has been officially recognized for its business programs since 1961 and for its accounting programs since 1987.

College of Education

The College of Education is a very important part of UNT's history. The university started as a teachers college over 130 years ago. The college has four departments and one special center for autism. It offers many bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. In 2010–2011, the college trained over 1,147 teachers. This was the second highest number in Texas for a university.

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering was created in 2003. It has three research centers. One of these is the Net-Centric Software and Systems Center. This center works on new computing models for the future. These models will allow services to be created and used instantly, even when people are out in the field.

College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism

This college has one of the biggest merchandising programs in the country. It also has large programs for hospitality and tourism management. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in areas like digital retailing and hospitality management. They can also get master's degrees in hospitality management and sustainable tourism.

College of Music

Winspear Hall, inside the Murchison Performing Arts Center

The College of Music is very well-known around the world. Its history goes back to when UNT was founded over 130 years ago. It has the largest number of students of any music school approved by the National Association of Schools of Music. The music library has one of the biggest music collections in the United States. It has over 300,000 books and scores, and about 900,000 sound recordings. North Texas was the first university in the world to offer a degree in jazz studies. The U.S. News & World Report ranked its jazz studies program as the best in the country for several years. The One O'Clock Lab Band has been nominated for 7 Grammy Awards.

College of Visual Arts and Design

The College of Visual Arts and Design is one of the largest art and design schools. It is the second largest among those that offer doctorates. Art classes started at UNT in 1894. The college also takes care of the Texas Fashion Collection. This collection was started by Stanley Marcus in 1938.

Honors College

The Honors College offers special classes and programs for students who achieve high grades. It helps these students learn at a higher level and develop leadership skills. Students who graduate from the Honors College receive a special medallion.

Mayborn School of Journalism

Journalism studies at North Texas began in 1945. In 2009, the journalism program became its own college. It was named the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. Eight Pulitzer Prizes have been won by five of its former students, including Bill Moyers. The school's news program has been officially recognized since 1969. The school also hosts the annual Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference.

Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science

The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) is a special program. Since 1987, it has allowed very smart Texas students to start college early. These students would normally be in their junior and senior years of high school. TAMS was the first program of its kind in the nation.

Toulouse Graduate School

The Toulouse Graduate School was founded over 75 years ago. It manages all the graduate programs at UNT. It handles admissions and helps recruit new students. It was renamed in 1990 to honor Robert Bartell Toulouse. He was a professor and dean at UNT for many years.

UNT Libraries

Willis Library, Onstead Plaza and Promenade, and Jody's Fountain

UNT Libraries have four main locations and two storage facilities. Willis Library is the main library on campus. It holds collections for business, education, humanities, and social sciences. It also has the Music Library, government documents, and rare books.

The Media Library has a large collection of movies, audiobooks, and video games. You can also check out video recording equipment and gaming consoles there. The Sycamore Library has government documents and law collections. It also has a space for group study and multimedia projects. The Discovery Park Library supports the College of Engineering and the College of Information.

Intensive English Language Institute (IELI)

The IELI was started in 1977. It is the largest program in North Texas that helps international students learn English for college. IELI is part of UNT International Affairs. This group helps with international teaching, research, and study-abroad programs. Since 2015, IELI has been located in Marquis Hall on the Denton campus.

Student Life at UNT

Living on Campus

All first-year students are required to live on campus. About 15.5% of all UNT students live in residence halls. Many other students live in Denton or nearby areas.

Residence Halls

There are 14 residence halls on the Denton campus. UNT also has a program called Residents Engaged in Academic Living (REAL) Communities. This program lets students live with others who are studying the same major. This helps them connect and take part in activities related to their studies. In 2011, Maple Street Hall became the first all-vegan college cafeteria in the country.

The Pohl Recreation Center is a student recreation center on campus.

Greek Life

UNT has 42 fraternities and sororities. These groups are part of four different councils. About four percent of undergraduate students are members of these groups. Fraternities and sororities at UNT offer chances to do community service, make friends, and develop leadership skills.

UNT Traditions

School Colors

North Texas chose green and white as its official colors in 1902–1903. The university also uses black as a third color, but it is not an official "school color."

Mascot

In High Places eagle statue

UNT's mascot is the American eagle. Students chose the eagle on February 1, 1922.

The eagle mascot has had two nicknames. It was first called "Scrappy" in 1950. The human-costumed eagle, which started in 1963, was called Scrappy until 1974. Then, students changed the name to "Eppy." But since 1995, the name "Scrappy" has been used again.

Sports Nickname

The name "Mean Green" was first used by fans and media in 1966. It was for a North Texas football team that was very good at stopping opponents. That season, Joe Greene, who later became a famous NFL player, played on the football team. The nickname "Mean Joe Greene" became popular when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. People thought "Mean Green" came from his nickname, but it was actually the other way around! By 1968, "Mean Green" was used on shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers.

Fight Song

The university's fight song is "Fight, North Texas." It was written in 1939 by Francis Edwin Stroup. The lyrics have changed a little over the years to match the university's name changes.

Alma Mater

In 1919, Julia Smith, a music student, and Charles Kirby Langford, a football player, wrote "Glory to the Green and White." This song became the school's alma mater in 1922.

Other Traditions

The Spirit Bell is a 2,000-pound bell brought from Michigan in 1891. It was used as a curfew bell from 1892 to 1928. In 1964, a student group called the Talons got the bell. They put it on a wagon and started the tradition of ringing it around the football field to cheer on fans. A similar 1,600-pound Spirit Bell is now used at games.

On Homecoming Fridays, the Talons light a bonfire made from wooden pallets. This tradition has been going on since the 1930s.

"Boomer" is a cannon fired by the Talons at football games since the 1970s. It is a smaller version of an old military cannon.

The Mean Green Machine is a green and black 1931 Ford Model A car. The Talons Motorpool Committee drives it at football games and special events. It was given to UNT in 1974.

McConnell Tower is the clock tower on top of the Hurley Administration Building. It is lit up in green light when UNT teams win. The clock is shown on the official class ring. It shows 1:00 for the One O'Clock Lab Band and 7:00 for the old curfew time.

The eagle talon hand signal is made by curling your thumb, index, and middle fingers forward.

"In High Places" is a 22-foot tall bronze statue of a flying eagle. It was created by Gerald Balciar and dedicated in 1990.

UNT Media

Broadcasts

KNTU (88.1 FM) is the university's radio station. Students operate it, and it has been broadcasting for over 50 years. Jazz music has always been a big part of the station. In 1988, KNTU increased its power, reaching about a 60-mile area. KNTU is part of the Mean Green Radio Network.

NTTV is UNT's 24-hour cable television station. It shows programs made by students and about student life.

Student Publications

North Texas Review is a yearly publication by the English Department. It features art, poetry, and stories by UNT students.

Student yearbooks used to be published, but they stopped in 2007 due to the digital age.

The North Texas Daily is the official daily newspaper of the university. Students write and produce it. It is published during the school year. The paper started in 1916 as The Campus Chat.

UNT Sports

UNT DATCU Stadium

As of 2012, North Texas has fifteen sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I. These include football, basketball, track & field, cross country, and golf for both men and women. Women's sports also include diving, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. North Texas was a member of Conference USA until it joined the American Athletic Conference in 2023.

The Mean Green teams have won 130 conference championships. Thirty-four of these wins have happened since 2000.

Football

The North Texas football team has a long history, going back over 100 years. They have won 24 conference championships. Their last four wins were from 2001 to 2004. As of 2014, the team has played in thirteen bowl games, winning three of them. From 1952 to 2010, home football games were played at Fouts Field. In 2011, UNT started playing in the new DATCU Stadium.

Men's Basketball

The North Texas men's basketball team won the Sun Belt Conference championship in 2006–07. They then went on to the NCAA Tournament. They won the Sun Belt Conference championship again in 2009–10 and returned to the NCAA Tournament. The UNT Coliseum has been the home for Men's basketball games since 1972.

Sustainability at UNT

Wind Turbines at DATCU Stadium

In 2008, UNT became the first large public university in Texas to sign a pledge to reduce its carbon footprint. The goal is to become carbon neutral by 2040. This means the university aims to have no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Also, all new university buildings must meet high eco-friendly standards. In 2017, UNT bought enough renewable energy credits to power the university with clean energy for a year.

The Life Science Complex, built in 2011, was UNT's first building to earn a Gold rating for its eco-friendly design. This building is a modern research facility for biology and plant sciences. It has special greenhouses and advanced aquatic labs. Also in 2011, DATCU Stadium, the football stadium, became the first newly built sports stadium in the nation to earn the highest eco-friendly certification. It has wind turbines, uses eco-friendly building materials, and has native plants around it.

In 2012, The Princeton Review listed UNT as one of the top "Green Colleges." It noted that 40 percent of the energy on campus comes from renewable sources. Also, 43 percent of the buildings have been updated to use less energy. The university has recycled almost 1,000 tons of waste since 2009. UNT also offers graduate degrees in Environmental Science.

Images for kids

UNT Logo
Seal of UNT