History Timeline

Dr. Keller, former commissioner and chief executive officer of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, becomes the seventeenth president of UNT. He succeeds Dr. Neal Smatresk.

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 that will provide transformational research funding for the University of North Texas, Texas State University, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University.

University leaders, healthcare professionals, elected officials, and community partners broke ground on an innovative, state-of-the-art $100 million STEM complex at the University of North Texas at Dallas. The facility will pave the way for a new level of instruction, research, and collaboration.

Dr. Cindy Weston will lead the strategic planning, recruitment of personnel, and development of partnerships for the college, which is set to launch in the fall of 2024.

In February, the UNT System Board of Regents voted to approve the College of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

A ribbon cutting ceremony at the UNT at Frisco branch campus with UNT President Neal Smatresk opens the new state-of-the-art 135,000-square-foot Frisco Landing building before the start of the Spring semester on January 17.

Dr. Trent-Adams became the seventh president of HSC, succeeding Dr. Williams. She served as HSC’s executive vice president and chief strategy officer prior to being elevated to president. Dr. Trent-Adams also served from 2015 to 2018 as the Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Building of the Frisco Landing structure began in fall 2020, and classes are expected to begin at the campus in Spring 2023. The UNT at Frisco master plan will guide the growth and development for decades.

Full approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) provides even more opportunities for UNT Dallas College of Law students and prospective students.

Michael Williams, former president of UNT Health Science Center, takes office as the fourth Chancellor of the University of North Texas System. 

The UNT System and its member institutions completed and opened four new, or renovated, facilities totaling more than $300 million, including UNT's College of Visual Arts & Design, HSC's Interdisciplinary Research Building, UNT Dallas' Student Center and the UNT Dallas Law Center. 

UNT Dallas launched its NAIA intercollegiate athletics program in September 2021 with its first-ever cross county meet. The Trailblazers began intercollegiate competition in three sports for both men and women -- cross country, basketball and track & field.

Lesa Roe, former Deputy Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), takes office as the third Chancellor, and first-ever woman, of the University of North Texas System. 

UNT Dallas College of Law is granted provision accreditation by the American Bar Association in the same year its first class graduates. 

UNT System acquires the City of Dallas Municipal Building (106 S. Harwood) to become the permanent home of UNT Dallas College of Law.

UNT Dallas breaks ground on its first campus residence hall, a milestone signifying the university’s continued growth. 

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education™ ranks UNT among the nation's 115 top-tier research universities.

UNT Dallas College of Law files application for provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association for 2016

UNT Dallas names former Editor-in-Chief of the Dallas Morning News, Bob Mong, as President.

UNT Dallas College of Law admits its first class consisting of 150 students.

The UNT System College of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy program is awarded Candidate Status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

University of North Texas names Dr. Neal Smatresk as President.

UNT System College of Pharmacy admits first class

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) grants accreditation to UNT Dallas to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs HB 4 establishing the UNT System College of Pharmacy.

The University of North Texas at Dallas officially opens as the third independent institution of higher education in the UNT System.

UNT System headquarters moves to 1901 Main Street in downtown Dallas.

The State of Texas approves UNT Dallas College of Law and earmarks $5 million of the State’s 2011-2012 budget for the law school.

Gov. Rick Perry signs Senate Bill 629, allowing UNT Dallas to become a stand-alone institution.

UNT System acquires 1901 Main Street in downtown Dallas as an eight-story classroom and office facility.

UNT System acquires Majestic Lofts, located at 1900 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, next to the UNT System Headquarters building.

Dr. Al Hurley retires as UNT System Chancellor and the Board of Regents appoints Dallas County Judge Lee F. Jackson as Chancellor.

UNT System acquires 202 acres of attractive, undeveloped land between Camp Wisdom Road and I-20 to be the permanent campus of UNT Dallas.

Gov. Rick Perry signs Senate Bill 576, formally approving the creation of an independent University of North Texas at Dallas.

Formal UNT System status takes effect on January 1 with System offices headquartered on UNT campus in Denton.

Board of Regents appoint Dr. Norval Pohl as President of UNT, while Dr. Hurley becomes the UNT System's first full-time Chancellor.

Board of Regents separate Chancellor and UNT President positions.

Senate Bill 751 passes to formally create the University of North Texas System.

TCOM is renamed the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

North Texas State University is renamed the University of North Texas.

Board of Regents appoints Dr. Al Hurley as Chancellor and President of North Texas State University System and Chancellor of TCOM.

Senate Bill 216 placed the then-private TCOM under the oversight of the North Texas State University Board of Regents, making it a state-supported medical school and the second public institution in the UNT System.

Private Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) is founded by doctors in Fort Worth, laying the foundation for what will later become the University of North Texas Health & Science Center.

North Texas State College awards first doctoral degrees

North Texas State Teachers College is renamed to North Texas State College.

North Texas State Teachers College establishes first "Jazz Studies" degree in the nation.

North Texas State Normal College is renamed North Texas State Teachers College.

Intercollegiate football begins at North Texas State Normal College.

Enrollment at North Texas State Normal College surpasses 1,000.

J.S. Kendall (1849-1906) became the first principal (the title "president" was not extended to the heads of Texas teachers' colleges until about 1910) of North Texas Normal College. He pressed for increased state funding for the construction of new facilities and the repair of existing facilities on the 10-acre campus.

North Texas Normal College is renamed North Texas State Normal College.

Legislation is signed to make North Texas Normal College a state college.

Texas Normal College and Teachers' Training Institute is renamed North Texas Normal College.

UNT is founded as Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute by President Joshua C. Chilton.