Sept 2020 - On The Move

September 8, 2020
Greetings Trailblazers,
We start the new academic year having learned so much about
ourselves and our entire university community in a time of crisis.
Throughout this crisis, UNT Dallas administration has met almost
daily and has carefully formulated plans that will ensure we
emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever. I am confident of
that.
My greatest inspiration truly has come from our resilient student
body. I want to thank you all and congratulate you on your
perseverance and your commitment to pursue your degree.
President Bob Mong
You not only accepted the most unprecedented challenges in modern history when the pandemic
hit and closed our campus in March, you exceeded all expectations.
You quickly adjusted to virtual learning formats to complete the Spring 2020 semester. That
experience has prepared you to succeed – and has also made our professors more skilled than
ever to teach and communicate with you -- as we continue virtually through the Fall 2020
semester.
As universities across the country are having difficulties maintaining enrollment because of this
ongoing crisis, UNT Dallas students have decided to continue their college journey. It would
have been an easy, and understandable, decision to take this semester off and instead
concentrate on working or helping to care for family impacted physically or economically by
COVID-19.
Instead, you chose to take on all challenges.
That’s what Trailblazers do.
Have a terrific Fall 2020.

Enrollment team achieves
success during challenging
recruitment season
When COVID-19 hit in March, shutting down campuses and school districts everywhere,
university enrollment divisions faced an unprecedented challenge to reimagine the recruiting
and enrollment process. Formulating strategies to virtually engage students and parents took
top priority. Stephanie Holley, Vice President of Student Access and Success, and her team of
about 65, also found that prospective students were either hesitant to start college during a
pandemic or chose to remain in their comfort zone at a local community college. Across the
country, enrollment divisions are struggling to match the previous semester's enrollment, let
alone meet growth goals for fall that are critical to a university's budget. Many are falling well
short. Holley's division, however, is not. They are finding new ways to reach students by
conducting virtual online sessions and implementing other new concepts. UNT Dallas set
record enrollment during Summer 2020. And through tireless work, enrollment for Fall 2020 is

ahead of last year -- a full 2% in headcount and 3% in credit hours. Holley's team is now
closing in on Fall 2020 enrollment growth goals. These are rare positive numbers during
COVID-19, achieved because of intuitive leadership, a creative and determined team and a
message that resonated with students that UNT Dallas is here for them at this difficult time.
Mobile market project gets
a new name and the bus
gets a fresh look
The UNT Dallas mobile market project has recently undergone a tremendous transformation.
Under the guidance of Dr. Kelly Varga and made possible with a grant from Toyota, the mobile
market will deliver fresh food to area neighborhoods. Local community members participated
in virtual and telephone interviews to help select an official name -- Community Basket: A
Mobile Farmers Market. The bus, donated by DART and retrofitted by automotive students at
Cedar Valley Community College, has a new look and will deliver fresh produce in
neighborhoods with limited access to grocery stores. Due to the pandemic, the official
Community Basket rollout may be delayed until spring 2021. However, new ways to utilize the
mobile market and support our local communities are being explored with Toyota.

In the news: UNT Dallas makes 3
appearances in 1 week in the DMN;
Move-In Day gets TV treatment
Dee Goines, Director of Housing, Residence Life & Conference Services, was featured
in two television news reports covering our residence hall Move-In Day. Dee provided
excellent insight during this time of COVID-19 restrictions and did so while wearing his
stylish UNT Dallas face covering. View the two reports here: NBC5 and FOX4.
UNT Dallas was also prominently placed in the Dallas Morning News (DMN) three times
in one week last month. Vice President of University Advancement Dr. Monica
Williams was one of three Dallas women interviewed for a piece on the 100th
anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The Dallas 826 Project spearheaded by Director
of External Relations and Special Events Cynthia Perez, received excellent play in
this DMN piece. The Dallas 826 Project is Texas’ first official chapter of the nationwide
community centers that tutor students in writing and publish their work. President
Mong was quoted in this education story in the DMN about North Texas universities
starting the Fall 2020 semester amid a pandemic.
Also, Dr. Patsy Sosa-Sanchez, assistant professor and Bilingual/ESL Program
Coordinator, served on a panel for a Univision livestream Town Hall that
discussed parents' concerns about K-12 children returning to the classroom. Dr. Sosa-
Sanchez also serves as a Denton ISD Board Trustee.

C.R. Moore III
College of Law, 2017
Hometown: Frankston, Texas
Employer: Law Office of Eddie D. Moore Jr., PLLC
Position: Attorney and Counselor at Law
Position responsibilities: I primarily practice in the areas
of estate planning and probate, in addition to estate and
trust administration. In those areas, I either help people
build a comprehensive legal plan to manage their assets in the event of incapacity or
death, or I help them carry out the last wishes of a loved one.
Alumni Q&A
How did UNT Dallas College of Law prepare you for your professional
career?
The College of Law provided a strong understanding of the basic legal doctrines
needed not only to pass the Bar Exam, but also to succeed as a lawyer.
Did you have a favorite class or professor? Why?
My first year Contract Course with Professor David Epstein really sticks out. Besides
being one of the preeminent authorities on contract law, Professor Epstein had a great
sense of humor and was very approachable.
What advice would you give an incoming College of Law student?
Be prepared to treat law school like a job. Joining associations and networking are
important, but it is all for naught if you don't really learn the legal doctrines covered in
the various courses.
How do you plan to stay connected to the law school as an alum?
I will stay connected through the UNT Dallas College of Law Alumni & Friends
Organization, as well as the UNT Dallas College of Law LinkedIn page.
Alumni Fun Facts
Favorite quote: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue
that counts." -- Winston Churchill
Favorite book: Great Expectations
Life motto: "Don't mistake activity for achievement." -- John Wooden

FALL 2020 TOWN HALL SET FOR SEPT. 10: UNT Dallas President Bob Mong and
campus leadership will welcome everyone to the Fall 2020 semester during a virtual
Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 3 – 4 p.m. A link will be provided via email.
Topics discussed will range from academic affairs and enrollment to the financial
stability of the university. We know these continue to be challenging times and we are
working hard to make sure the semester runs as smoothly as possible. If you have a
question you would like to have addressed, please email it to
news.information@untdallas.edu by Tuesday, Sept. 8.
DR. WILLIAM GARNER EARNS TWO GRANTS FOR
TOBACCO AND CANCER RESEARCH: The Assistant
Professor and Program Coordinator of Public Health was one of
five researchers to receive the 2020 Pilot Research Award from
the Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities
Program. Dr. Garner was also recently selected as one of two
researchers to receive the 2020 Pilot Project Award from the
Center for the Study of Tobacco Products at Virginia
Commonwealth University. To read about the work Dr. Garner and his students will
take on, click here.
WELCOME TO UNT DALLAS, STUDENT-
ATHLETES: History is being made as the first
student-athletes at UNT Dallas are officially
enrolled and taking classes. It's an exciting
time as Trailblazers basketball, cross country
and track head into their inaugural seasons.
Both basketball teams have started workouts at
the site where we will play home games -- Oak
Cliff Bible Fellowship. The church is located
only two miles from campus. The first-ever
Trailblazers basketball home games are
scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16 against LSU-
Shreveport. The women will tip-off at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m. Admission
is free. Fans will be screened prior to entering the gym. Seating will be socially
distanced and masks will be required. If you can't make it to the game, all Trailblazers
basketball games will be available via livestream. The cross country teams started
workouts in August, however it remains uncertain when the squad will make its
collegiate debut.
TWO DAYS OF TRYOUTS WILL FORM FIRST COMPETITIVE ESPORTS
TEAM: We're not only launching intercollegiate athletics this fall, but a varsity Esports
squad as well. Tryouts were held over two days during the first week of September.

The inaugural team will compete against colleges across the state and nation in
Overwatch. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Aaron Bartula, Associate Professor of Criminal
Justice/Sociology, and Kevin Rocha, Associate CIO and Esports Director, Esports is now
an exciting reality at UNT Dallas.
WELCOME WEEK 2020: A big thank you to our Student Affairs team for pulling off a
successful Welcome Week despite the obvious challenges. The week included virtual
events, including comedians, games and opportunities to meet other Trailblazers. They
also distributed nearly 500 Welcome Packs during a campus drive-through event that
included personal protective equipment.
STUDENT CENTER AWARDED ENVIRONMENTAL GOLD STANDARD: The UNT
Dallas Student Center, already the gold-standard of university campus buildings, has
achieved a new gold standard: the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold Certification. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in
the world and is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and
leadership. This award is the culmination of a lot of hard work by university leadership,
the design team and the construction team. LEED certified buildings reduce stress on
the environment, they are more energy and resource-efficient, generate less waste
and lower the use of energy, water and other resources. In May, the UNT Dallas
College of Law renovation project also received Gold Certification.
NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK MONTHLY MOBILE FOOD PANTRY SET THROUGH
DECEMBER: UNT Dallas extended its partnership with the NTFB and will host a
mobile food pantry on the third Friday of each month through December. Our next
event is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18 from 8 -- 11 a.m. Thank you to all of those in
the UNT Dallas family who have volunteered to make these critically important events
possible on our campus. The turnout each time tells the story of how dire the situation
is for many of our community neighbors.
AMERICAN
COUNCIL ON
EDUCATION
SPOTLIGHTS
UNT DALLAS IN
VIDEO: To launch
its national
Blockchain
Innovation
Challenge that
calls on teams to
design the new
infrastructure for the future of education and employment, the American Council on
Education created a video that spotlights UNT Dallas (1:43 mark) as an example
of a blockchain technology success story. The Blockchain Innovation Challenge asks:

How might blockchain be designed to increase access, provide opportunity and
promote success for all learners? UNT Dallas recently became the first four-year
university in the nation to make the blockchain technology GreenLight platform
available to students. GreenLight allows students to store and share their transcripts,
along with other verified records, with anyone, anywhere in the world without the
traditional hassles and wait time associated with requesting transcripts.
MISS LAST MONTH'S UNT WORLD COVID-19 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL?: You can
watch the entirety of the UNT World Town Hall: HR and COVID-19 Safety here.
COMING SOON: The upcoming Fall 2020 edition of On The Move will feature a cover
story on Desmond Morris, Director of the Office of Distance Learning and Institutional
Technology, a look at athletic recruiting during a pandemic and much more.
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