UNT faculty member John South flying a drone with three students

Geography and the Environment lecturer John South guides students (from left, Ph.D. candidate Mawulikplim "Joshua" Kafui and master's candidates Jenish Chauhan and Jesse Reyna) in the UNT Drone Mapping Project.

Faculty Success Newsletter

March 2026

Message from the Vice Provost for Faculty Success

Greetings Mean Green Colleagues,

Happy UNT Staff Appreciation Month! In addition to recognizing our amazing staff, we are also set to celebrate many faculty award winners who will be formally recognized at next month’s Salute to Faculty Excellence event. Our honorees come from almost every discipline and enrich our university community through their outstanding commitment to teaching, leadership, research, mentorship, and service.

We encourage you to stay updated on UNT’s efforts to increase revenue via the new budget webpage. Last week, President Keller announced UNT's plan to launch a broad course redesign effort to adopt a flipped classroom/hybrid learning model. You'll hear more about this important initiative soon, and I encourage you to think about how this model might help enhance your courses.

Are you interested in broadening your digital presence, pursuing a Fulbright, learning about Faculty Development Leave, considering a leadership opportunity in the Faculty Senate, or just taking a break in the Faculty Lounge? We got you! Read on to see some of the ways Faculty Success and our partners can help you soar to success. Please also consider the many events sponsored by the Division of Research and Innovation to support your research endeavors at every stage.

As we inch closer to Spring Break, I hope you each find some time to calm your wings and kick up your talons to have some fun.

Talons Up!

Holly Hutchins, Ph.D. (she/her)

Vice Provost, Faculty Success

On the Calendar

March 6

Teaching Hub Book Club First Meeting

Teaching Hub

Fulbright Series: First Friday Virtual Workshop

International Affairs

March 16

Educator Support Hour @ the Teaching Hub

Teaching Hub

Campus Connect Suicide Prevention Training

Counseling & Testing Services

Spring 2026 NIH Grant Writing Workshop Series

March 19 & 26, April 16

The Division of Research and Innovation hosts this intensive, hands-on program designed to equip researchers with essential knowledge and skills to enhance the competitiveness of their NIH grant proposals. Principal investigators (PIs) interested in pursuing NIH funding are strongly encouraged to apply.

Session 1: Strategizing Your Proposal Development
Session 2: Writing and Reviewing Your Science
Session 3: Mock Study Section

March 19

Be More Approachable with EASY DIY Canvas Studio Videos

DSI CLEAR

March 23

Why Students Cheat & What We Can Do About It: Encouraging Ethical Learning Practices

DSI CLEAR

March 25

March Research BREAKS: NIH Loan Repayment Program Information Session

Research & Innovation

March 31

Early Career Faculty Funding Series: Essential Supporting Documents for Your Research Proposal

Research & Innovation

April 9

Faculty Writing Group

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Bruce Hall Concert Room

CETO Faculty Panel: A Practice in Flux: Making Changes to Improve Teaching Effectiveness

DSI CLEAR

Developing Your Digital Presence: Moving a Career Forward

Faculty Lunch & Learn

Tuesday, April 7

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Willis 250H

Publishing is just the beginning in today’s global community of scholars. This interactive session led by Dr. Jeff Allen, professor of information science, explores practical strategies for building a strong digital presence that increases your research visibility, strengthens your scholarly identity, and supports your career goals. Lunch is provided.

hand stacking blocks with arrows pointing up

Faculty Development Leave Workshop

Tuesday, April 21

11 a.m. to noon • Willis 250H

Join Faculty Success for a workshop designed to demystify the Faculty Development Leave application process. Gain insights from previous FDL recipients and a Faculty Senate committee representative who reviews FDL proposals.

You'll leave with actionable tips to strengthen your application and ideas on how FDL can revitalize your research, creative pursuits, and teaching excellence.

hand holding light bulb with plant growing inside

Faculty Spotlights

Dr. Jaime L. Baxter-Slye, clinical assistant professor for ecology education, earned the 2026 Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Educator Outstanding Performance Award. The award honors her exceptional teaching and her transformative work with the City of Lewisville, including the Garden Ridge pollinative median and numerous student-led projects supporting the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA).

Institutional Effectiveness Awards

University Accreditation recently hosted their annual Institutional Effectiveness Awards Ceremony recognizing faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to enhance student outcomes through meaningful improvement. The College of Public Affairs and Health Sciences (pictured) took home a slew of awards, including Outstanding College of the Year. See the full list of winners.

College of Public Affairs and Health Services team photo at IE Awards ceremony

Catch Up with The Lab

How might North Texas become the center of the global sports industry?

Dr. Bob Heere, professor of sport management, discusses the opportunities coming to North Texas with the 2026 World Cup and the challenges faced by international sports brands wanting to expand to the U.S. market.

The Lab video thumbnail with play button graphic

How Much is Lack of Sleep Costing You?

Dr. Danica Slavish, associate professor of psychology, discusses her research into the far-reaching negative impacts of insufficient sleep, from compromised physical and mental health to financial challenges.

Emeritus Honors

Congratulations to the faculty members who were approved for emeritus status at the February UNT System Board of Regents meeting.

Kent D. Chapman, Biological Sciences
Robin Henson, Educational Psychology
Dee K. Knight, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
Wendy Middlemiss, Educational Psychology
Jaime Javier Rodriguez, English
C. Edward Watkins, Psychology

AI in Action 2026

Designing the Future: Human-AI Interaction in Learning and Work

April 10 • Noon to 5 p.m. • EESAT Building

This annual event hosted by the Departments of Data Science and Analytics and Technical Communication brings together educators, researchers and practitioners to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping learning, research and work.

UNT Libraries

George and Ruth Christy Award Nominations Due April 1

Has a member of the UNT Libraries team gone above and beyond to give you an exceptional customer experience? Nominate them for the George and Ruth Christy Award, which honors the best and most helpful library employees with a $500 award funded by a generous endowment created by George and Ruth Christy, long-time members of the UNT community.

Faculty Senate Elections & Evaluations

The UNT Faculty Senate is gearing up for annual elections and faculty evaluation of administrators. Please watch your emails for announcements and for the Qualtrics surveys which will be coming out in March.

Due to new legislative requirements, there will be some changes in the structure of the Senate and in the processes and rules for elections. To comply with the new law while maintaining broad faculty representation, the Senate will implement a hybrid structure that includes college representatives, voting group senators and at-large senators.

Please reach out to the Faculty Senate office or your current senators if you have any questions. Senate leadership appreciates your flexibility and continued commitment to shared governance.