Businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are invited to participate in a career fair at the University of North Texas at Dallas March 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The campus hosts the career expo every fall to connect students with local companies where they can work after graduation or even gain experience while finishing their degrees. Patricia Quinones, career development coordinator at UNT Dallas, also said students from other local schools and the public may come to the job fair.

“This is an excellent opportunity for employers to meet a diverse set of candidates and create fruitful connections with the new university in the Metroplex,” Quinones said.

To sign up or for more information, contact Quinones at (972) 780-1JOB (1562), or e-mailjaguarjobs@unt.edu. Registration is $75 for two representatives from for-profit businesses and $35 for two representatives from nonprofit organizations.

UNT Dallas is located at 7300 University Hills Blvd. (formerly Houston School Road) one mile north of I-20, and one mile east of I-35E off Camp Wisdom.

Today, University of North Texas System Chancellor Lee Jackson, announced sitting Dallas U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson as the Founding Dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law; on schedule for the opening of the Downtown Dallas location to begin accepting students in Fall 2014.

Judge Furgeson’s appointment brings to conclusion, an exhaustive search process that began late in 2009. The appointment also marks another milestone in the creation of a public law school as a cornerstone of the overall University of North Texas at Dallas vision. Judge Furgeson will assume his duties as dean of the law school in April 2013.

“I’m encouraged by the appointment of Judge Royal Furgeson as the Founding Dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law,” said Senator Royce West. “His academic and legal career as a practitioner and most recently as a noted United States jurist brings a wealth of experience that will enable him to lead the development of the law school program.

“I’m excited and Dallas should be excited about his appointment,” said Senator West. “I look forward to working with him.”

In 2009, Senator West authored SB956, creating the city’s first and only public law school. It will be located in Downtown Dallas, at the Old Municipal Building, once Dallas’s City Hall, at Harwood and Main Streets. Efforts to secure the UNT Dallas College of Law came to be through a partnership between the City of Dallas and the UNT System. The building was donated by the City of Dallas which will provide part of the funding for its renovation, along with the state. Overall funding for the law school will be appropriated by the state.

The creation of a law school is one of two “centers of excellence” as coined by Senator West in his vision for UNT Dallas. This year, the second of those, a School of Pharmacy, began its eventual journey to brick and mortar with the Texas Legislature’s agreement for its creation as a joint venture by UNT System schools, including UNT Dallas. Making higher education opportunities accessible and affordable to all who aspire to earn a college degree remains a fundamental goal of Senator West.

Remarcus West

The University of North Texas at Dallas has announced a $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor to establish the Remarcus L. West Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Texas State Senator, Royce West’s late son, Remarcus, who recently passed away after a prolonged illness.

Remarcus West graduated from Duncanville High School in 1997 and attended the University of North Texas and Prairie View A&M University.  He is remembered as a talented coalition builder among his peers.  “He was a person who would often bring people with multiple, even opposing interests together,” said his father.  Remarcus had hopes to continue his education by studying photography in New York, but his illness prevented him from achieving that goal.  “He would always take one step forward with his education and then two steps back when he would get sick,” said Senator West, “He knew what it was like to have to overcome obstacles to complete his education and so creating a fund that will help others surmount barriers to their dreams is a significant way to honor him.”

“We are all very saddened to learn of Remarcus’ passing.   My heart goes out to his family and friends,” said Dr. John Ellis Price, president of UNT at Dallas.  “We are privileged to be able to create this memorial fund in Remarcus’ name, and deeply appreciative of the anonymous donor’s generous lead gift.  With the Remarcus L. West Memorial Scholarship Fund, we can help students attain the educational goals that were a challenge for him, and continue his legacy by teaching others the art of building coalitions.”

“We hope that the lead gift to endow this Scholarship Fund at the University of North Texas at Dallas in memory of Remarcus will encourage others to contribute,” said Douglas Smith, vice president for university advancement of UNT at Dallas.  “Providing educational opportunities for the young people of greater Dallas, Best Southwest Cities and the North Texas region is of paramount importance to the West family, and a most fitting tribute to Remarcus.”

In working jointly with state and local officials to establish UNT at Dallas, Senator West is credited with being the driving force in bringing the first and only four-year state university to the City of Dallas.   Legislation was passed in 2001 which called for the creation of the new Dallas university, and the first building was completed in 2006.

Donations to the scholarship fund may be made by check and mailed to the University of North Texas at Dallas, Office of University Advancement, Attn:  Remarcus L. West Scholarship Fund, 7300 University Hills Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75244, or online ­­­­at https://development.unt.edu/givenow/dallas.htm .   If you wish to make a wire transfer, please contact Douglas Smith at Douglas.Smith@unt.edu or call (972) 780-3616.  For additional questions, please contact Ana Rodriguez at Ana.Herrera@unt.edu or call (214) 536-0655.

Moves Like Jagger from UNTD on Vimeo.

Members of the community and prospective students are invited to attend a special first-ever open house event, “Discover UNT Dallas,” at the new university Oct. 6 from 4-7 p.m.

Discover UNT Dallas offers guests a chance to search for prizes in a campus scavenger hunt, observe a college lecture and enjoy a “Taste of Southern Dallas.” UNT Dallas mascot Jagger the Jaguar will also be on hand to greet visitors and pose for photos with guests. All activities are free and no registration is required.

Immediately following the event, UNT Dallas will host a concert featuring local 70’s, 80’s and 90’s dance, rap and party band The Vegas Stars. The group performs hits from Montell Jordan, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang and the Commodores.

Jasmin Brand, a staff member in the Office of University Advancement and the organizer of the event, said the open house will help potential students and members of the community become familiar with the university and learn more about its affordable degree programs and course offerings.

“We want Dallas to experience firsthand its one and only university, to know what it is like to have the college experience and discover the benefits of higher education at UNT Dallas,” Brand said. “By exploring the university, observing a lecture and meeting faculty and staff, we believe visitors will understand why UNT Dallas is such a special place and why it should be their first choice in higher education.”

September 7, 2011. The University of North Texas at Dallas and Bain & Company have entered into a multi-year partnership to create a Commission on Building the University of the 21st Century, an initiative focused on defining the new university’s role in Dallas and the North Texas region and creating a national model of best practices for emerging universities. Bain & Company is providing $1 million in pro bono consulting services to UNT Dallas to help it develop critical components to the work and success of the Commission.

The 21st Century Commission will be comprised of leaders who share a passion for education reform and urban transformation. Bain & Company will assist with the identification and selection of business, community, civic, education and philanthropic stakeholders to serve as commission members. 

To date, 10 Texas leaders have agreed to serve: Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymund Paredes; State Rep. Diane Patrick; National Math and Science Initiative CEO Mary Ann Rankin; education philanthropist Eric Reeves; Linus Wright, former undersecretary of education for President Reagan and former superintendent of Dallas Public Schools; Dumas M. Simeus, founder of Simeus Foods International, Inc.; Johnnie King, former principal and founder of The King Group advertising agency and an entrepreneur; and Al Silva, COO of Labatt Food Service and a regent of the University of North Texas System.  Additionally, Kim Clark, president of BYU-Idaho and former dean of the Harvard Business School, and Clayton Christensen, well-known author and professor with the Harvard Business School, have accepted membership on the Commission. 

The Commission will oversee the development of a University strategy to build upon and implement UNT Dallas’ first strategic plan – Vision 2020 – with the overarching goal of providing high quality education at a lower cost than traditional universities, thus improving access to a large segment of the state’s population that has been traditionally underrepresented in higher education, particularly in greater Dallas.

Bain & Company will also assist the Commission’s efforts in shaping the priorities of identifying the best methods for instructional delivery, developing degree programs that meet emerging job market demands, reviewing contemporary higher education financing models and establishing methods for evaluating the success of changes enacted at the Commission’s recommendation. The changes could have an immediate impact on the 2,100 students currently enrolled at UNT Dallas and the 16,000 students projected to enroll by 2030.

“As the first public, four-year university in Dallas and as a brand new educational institution, we are in the unique position to create a new paradigm for how universities operate in the 21st century,” said UNT Dallas President John Ellis Price. He indicated that “the overarching goal of the Commission is identifying and creating innovation in education that will help change the national landscape of higher education and dramatically expand access to higher education through a lower-cost, high-quality delivery system. “We are deeply appreciative that Bain & Company, with its extensive experience in higher education consulting, has generously offered their expertise and resources to make the 21st Century Commission a reality.”    

Mark Gottfredson, the founding partner of Bain & Company’s Dallas office, stated, “We have always been committed to helping non-profit institutions of higher learning improve their capacity to operate strategically and cost-effectively. We are supporting UNT Dallas in the mobilization of the 21st Century Commission because we believe it can be a significant force for education and economic development in Dallas and the region, and as a relatively new University has the opportunity to offer a new paradigm in higher education both in Texas and on a national level.”

The Commission’s work will be executed in three phases: 1) identification of additional members and establishment of the Commission’s charter; 2) design and evaluation of the future university model; and 3) refinement and implementation of the model within the context of UNT Dallas’ transformative Vision 2020 strategic plan.

The University of North Texas at Dallas will serve as a host site for ¡Adelante! Con Los Padres, a free seminar on how Hispanic parents can prepare their children for success through education. The seminar will take place Sept. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Miller Lite and the Dallas Cowboys are also sponsors of the event as part of their “Scoring for Education”

Campaign. The ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund works with these organizations to inspire the best and brightest Hispanic students to graduate and lead through scholarships, internships and leadership development.

This year, U.S. Congressional Gold Medal winner Raul Magdaleno will be the keynote speaker. Born in Mexico City and brought to the United States by his parents at age two, Magdaleno had to become a leader early in life. His father died and his older brothers were convicted of crimes and sent to prison.

At 13, his mother and he moved into a domestic violence shelter. But Magdaleno kept pursuing his education and serving his community in Dallas. Today he speaks on faith, endurance and perseverance.

For more information on the ¡Adelante! event at UNT Dallas, go to www.adelantefund.org, or call 877.692.1971.

Fall 2011 full-time equivalent student enrollment at the University of North Texas at Dallas rose 7.3 percent over the previous fall semester’s figure, according to figures from the 12th class day or “census day.” FTE student enrollment stood at 1,104, compared to last fall’s 1,029 FTE.

This is the second fall semester that UNT Dallas has measured its enrollment independently of UNT. A total of 2,040 students are enrolled at UNT Dallas this term.

Most importantly for UNT Dallas, the number of credit hours taken by undergraduate students increased significantly (9.7 percent) over the previous fall term, attributable to the increased number of freshmen and undergraduate students enrolled at the new school.

The number of Hispanic students rose again this fall term by 12.2 percent. Thirty-one percent of the students enrolled at UNT Dallas now are Hispanic.

“This figure is significant because it demonstrates that UNT Dallas is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of our growing Hispanic population,” UNT Dallas President John Ellis Price said. “The data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the bulk of the growth in the Hispanic population in Dallas and the North Texas region will occur around or near UNT Dallas. This continued growth will allow us to seek federal funding as a Hispanic serving institution.”

Price said UNT Dallas continues to be one of the most diverse universities in the nation. Meeting the needs of this diverse population and developing workforce skills is one of the central foci of UNT Dallas’ mission, he said.

Jordan Patterson and Orfanel Espinoza in the Experience Aviation STEM Academy at the University of North Texas at Dallas paint a rocket they assembled Aug. 10. Students in the program will launch their rockets Aug. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Students in a unique summer program at the University of North Texas at Dallas put a coat of paint on miniature rockets they assembled Aug. 10.

Nine local public school students spent the past four weeks using a flight simulator and learning about aviation and rockets as part of their Experience Aviation STEM Academy at UNT Dallas. The program ends Aug. 11 with a reception at 3 p.m. after the students launch their rockets at 1:30 p.m.

In partnership with Experience Aviation Inc. of Opa Locka, Fla., UNT Dallas hosted the program for middle and high school students July 19 through Aug. 11. Designed by Capt. Barrington Irving, the youngest person ever and first African American to fly solo around the world, the purpose of the program is to motivate youth and address the shortage of technically skilled professionals in aviation, aerospace and related career fields.

Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) students at the University of North Texas at Dallas listen as speakers talk about college life July 7.

The University of North Texas at Dallas is hosting the Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) for the third year and will host a graduation ceremony for the students at 12:30 p.m. July 28.

Students will wear regalia and will receive a certificate of completion. Most of the students will become the first in their families to attend college if they continue on their current paths.

Attendance in the intellectually demanding, mathematics-based, academic enrichment program for middle and high school students jumped from 53 students last summer to 66 this summer—a 24 percent increase.

The curriculum emphasizes mathematical logic and reasoning as a basis for problem solving. In addition, Year 4 students are introduced to water science, computer science and research.

Six local college students share about college life during a panel discussion for Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) students at the University of North Texas at Dallas July 7. The college students are serving as TexPREP program assistants and mentors this summer.

The students come from the Dallas, Duncanville, Lancaster and DeSoto Independent School Districts, charter schools and private schools. Students attend classes seven weeks during the summer for four years. Guest speakers, hands-on projects, field trips and special events help students develop critical thinking, abstract reasoning and systematic analysis.

UNT Dallas is hosting Years 2 and 3 and, for the first time, Year 4 from June 14 – July 28. The TexPREP program falls in line with the new university’s mission of increasing the number of students in southern Dallas County who graduate from high school and earn a college degree.

The free program is open to students in seventh through 10th grades that have an interest in the “STEM” disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students reapply every year and receive high school elective credit for each summer of TexPREP courses successfully completed.