"Every student who walks on to our campus comes with hopes, dreams and aspirations. They are looking for an opportunity to better themselves and we have to help them succeed. We must provide the human touch, help them overcome hurdles and connect them to resources so that they do not leave UNT before they are prepared to achieve their dreams."— President Neal Smatresk
2020 State of the University
Watch President Smatresk's 2020 State of the University,
Planning for the Future
Like everyone in the UNT community, President Neal Smatresk has big dreams for UNT. He sees a UNT that excels at providing the best education to students and transforming an increasingly first-generation student population into the workforce and leaders of tomorrow. He sees a UNT that is a first choice university and partner, known around the world for its excellence and creative bent. And he sees a UNT that one day is among the top public research institutions in the nation, delivering the innovations and intellect that will solve global problems and power the economy.
President Smatresk’s vision for UNT is rooted in concrete plans with clear action and accountability — plans that are both a to-do list for today and a roadmap for tomorrow.
“Plans are not a set of goals. Plans are a series of action steps that you use to achieve your goals and that you measure yourself against with metrics,” Smatresk says.
Each year through planning implementation workshops, the president and UNT stakeholders develop an action plan that details what the university should accomplish in the academic year to make progress and move closer to its goals and dreams. President Smatresk unveils the action plan at the annual State of the University in September and assigns implementation teams. By the end of the academic year, the teams report their progress with metrics and next steps.
The annual planning cycle includes:
- Planning Implementation Workshop: Annual summer meeting to develop priorities for the coming academic year from broad internal and external stakeholder input
- State of the University: President’s annual address to campus detailing progress from the past year and priorities going forward. Learn about the 2019 State of the University.
- Periodic and Annual Reporting: Updates from the Planning Implementation teams throughout the year and in the year-end report
2019 Planning Implementation Workshop: Collaborating for Student Success
2018 Planning Implementation Workshop: Roadmap to Retention
2017 Planning Implementation Workshop: Transforming Education
- Read the message to campus about the 2017 Planning Implementation Workshop
- Read a summary of the 2017 Planning Implementation Workshop
2016 Planning Implementation Workshop: UNiTed by Purpose
- Read the message to campus about the 2016 Planning Implementation Workshop
- Read a summary of the 2016 Planning Implementation Workshop
2015 Planning Implementation Workshop: Owning Excellence
- Read the message to campus about the 2015 Planning Implementation Workshop
- Read a summary of the 2015 Planning Implementation Workshop
- Read the 2014-15 Planning Implementation Reports