University of North Texas to Measure Success by Meeting State’s Talent Demand
As Texas faces a workforce shortage, the University of North Texas will measure its success by how well it meets the state’s talent demand, President Harrison Keller said Wednesday in his State of the University address.
“Across our region and beyond, employers consistently say that their workforce needs are changing faster than they anticipated — in many cases, faster than they understand,” Keller said. “We must take responsibility for our region’s talent needs.”
Employers are struggling to find Texans with in-demand skills and credentials to fill their open jobs, threatening the state’s position as the world’s eighth-largest economy. The challenge is especially evident in North Texas, which is projected to add 7 million jobs by 2050.
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University’s Plan to Meet Talent Demand
In a navy blue suit and green tie, Keller paced around the stage at the Murchison Performing Arts Center and gestured with his hands, his voice echoing throughout the auditorium. Faculty members, students, alumni and elected officials crowded into seats, clapping throughout a speech in which Keller presented his plan to keep up with the region’s imminent transformations.
People applaud UNT President Harrison Keller as he announces various initiatives during his State of the University address at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Denton.
Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer
Over the next five years, university officials will change how students learn and reconsider which programs the school offers to align with the region’s and students’ needs. The university also will overhaul how professors are evaluated and promoted to align with the school’s new measures of success.
Civil Discourse Initiative
During his speech, Keller announced the creation of a civil discourse initiative, as employers desire workers who can “respectfully and productively” engage with different perspectives, he said. The university is looking to incorporate civil skills in the curriculum and extracurriculars, feature public events and establish faculty trainings, he said.
Civil discourse “is central to our public responsibility, which is the development of our students as adults, as colleagues, as citizens who can engage in open and respectful dialogue,” he said in his address.
Capital Campaign
The school also launched a $100 million capital campaign to focus on accelerating student success by supporting scholarships and financial assistance related to housing or food insecurity. The money will go toward advising services and career preparation. Already, donors have gotten the school nearly halfway to the $100 million goal, Keller said.
“Every graduate can be equipped with knowledge, skills and transformative experiences that allow them to take their talent as far as they can go,” Keller said of the campaign.
A statue of a UNT class ring is seen on campus, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Denton.
Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer
Support for Key Demographics
The university is targeting support for key demographics, like doctoral students. UNT will fund health insurance for all
