University of North Texas 
The University of North Texas celebrated the investiture and formal installation of Dr. Harrison Keller as the 17th president on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Read the UNT News Story
About Harrison Keller
17th president of the University of North Texas, the third-largest university in Texas and the flagship of the UNT System
Harrison Keller became the 17th president of the University of North Texas in August 2024, bringing with him a deep commitment to advancing student success and elevating UNT’s rich tradition of academic and research excellence.
Dr. Keller is known as an innovator and leader with more than 25 years of experience in state educational budget and policy, university administration, fundraising, and building coalitions among higher education institutions, school districts, and policymakers to expand opportunities through education.
Traditions of the Investiture
Investiture
The investiture is the ceremony in which the president is formally “invested” with his official position, and typically takes place during the first year of a new leader’s term. The use of the word originated in the 14th century, and it comes from the Latin verb “investire” which means to clothe in, cover, or surround.
University of North Texas Symbols and Traditions
The University of North Texas Seal
At the top of the UNT seal is the lamp of learning, burning with an eternal flame
representing academic achievement and excellence. The laurel wreath represents honor,
and the beveled Lone Star in the center symbolizes the great state of Texas.
UNT REGALIA
Regalia traditions are beloved and timeless, and they span decades. Donning regalia
reflects the dedication each person has shown to their field and the love they have
for their alma mater. The custom of recognizing the accomplishments of scholars through
distinctive dress, color, and ceremony began in the Middle Ages and has been adopted
by various academic institutions throughout the world. American academic regalia developed
from the English traditions originated at the University of Cambridge and Oxford and
has been in continuous use since Colonial times.
The regalia worn by the deans and faculty members reflects distinguishing customs
from the universities from which they earned their degrees. Regalia worn by members
of the President’s Cabinet, the president, UNT System regents and the chancellor represent
UNT. Specifically, the UNT president’s regalia features official UNT green chromespun
fabric with white piping and four black chevrons on the sleeves paired with the satin-lined
green and white hood and the traditional black velvet six-pointed tam.
THE UNT MACE
Originally, the mace was a weapon to be used in battle dating back to the Middle Ages,
thus accounting for the very large head that originally graced the top of the piece.
When soldiers went to war for the monarch, they were armed with swords, while the
bishops who accompanied them carried maces with the royal coat of arms engraved at
the bottom of the shaft. Gradually, however, the mace became a symbol of the monarch’s
authority instead of being used as an actual weapon.
On the academic side, the mace as a “scepter-staff” represents the worthiness of
the rector, or president, and the university itself. Inasmuch as the mace was a weapon,
it helped to stress the authority of the rector and the university.
The University of North Texas Mace was designed by Professor Emeritus Harlan Butt,
who taught from 1976 to 2017 in the College of Visual Arts and Design. It was made
by four of his graduate students.
The head of the mace contains a silver-plated bronze medallion replica of the official
seal of the university. Atop the mace is a silver eagle, UNT’s mascot. The rounded
foot of the mace, composed of green-enameled silver and copper, is inset with the
star representing the state of Texas.
