What: The logistics program at the University of North Texas celebrates its 20th year with an open house and unveiling of the newly expanded Complex Logistics Systems Laboratory.
Video/photo opportunities: The event will feature demonstrations of some of the latest technology being used in the lab, including 70-inch touchscreen monitors and multiple computer workstations to showcase 3D modeling software, interactive simulation and data visualization that will help UNT researchers solve the most daunting challenges in the supply chain industry.
Additionally, the founders and current leaders of UNT logistics will talk about how the program was born, what has been accomplished and where it is heading.
When: 11:15 a.m. April 22 (Friday). Media should arrive by 10:45 a.m.
Where: Room 150 of UNT's Business Leadership Building, located at 1307 W. Highland St. in Denton.
RSVP: Julie.Willems-Espinoza@unt.edu or 940-369-8442.
Media: Reporters may join invited guests and will be able to film, photograph and interview at the event. For press and parking passes, contact Monique Bird at Monique.Bird@unt.edu or 940-369-7782.
DENTON (UNT), Texas — The Dallas-Fort Worth area is a driving economic force. The region's web of interstate highways, railways and airports makes it North America's No. 3 distribution point. The location is prime for learning logistics, but two decades ago, no local university had a supply chain program, and the best job candidates often came from other states. That changed in 1996 when planning began for a bachelor's degree in logistics that would produce a strong stream of graduates for the North Texas region.
Now, the UNT logistics program marks its 20-year anniversary with an open house celebration at 11:15 a.m. April 22 (Friday). The event takes place in Room 150 of UNT's Business Leadership Building, located at 1307 W. Highland St. in Denton. To RSVP, contact Julie.Willems-Espinoza@unt.edu or 940-369-8442.
During the event, students will demonstrate the modeling and simulation equipment and other new technology in the Complex Logistics Systems Laboratory, one of the newest branches of the logistics program. There also will be a brief talk from the founders and current leaders of UNT logistics about how the program was born, what's its accomplished and where it is heading.
Since its founding, UNT logistics has expanded to include the Texas Logistics Education Foundation-Center for Logistics Education and Research and the Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research, along with the center. The three organizations allow student and faculty researchers to tackle supply chain challenges to save companies – and consumers – time and money, as well as to become a dominant player in logistics education. Among the accomplishments:
- Mid-1990s: the Texas Logistics Education Foundation was created by logistics professionals to develop degree programs focused on the logistics discipline and to create a pipeline to bring new graduates into the field for the North Texas region. This effort was led by Ron Hasty, Professor Emeritus of marketing at UNT, and several leading logistics professionals in the area.
- 1997: UNT became the first institution in the North Texas region to offer a logistics degree with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's approval of the Bachelor of Science in logistics and supply chain management.
- 1998 to 2010: Student teams won the Pittsburgh National Logistics Challenge in six out of 12 competitions.
- 2000: Four national corporations donated the $600,000 necessary to support the development and growth of the Texas Logistics Education Foundation at UNT. The Foundation provided the financial support to launch the TLEF-Center for Logistics Education and Research in 2000.
- 2010: UNT developed Texas' first four-year aviation logistics program.
- 2015: The logistics and supply chain management program was named third in the nation by Software Advice.
- 2016: Students in the logistics program defeated the defending champions to win the Operation Stimulus Case Competition. The win, a first for UNT, marked the first time UNT students won all three of the major case competitions for logistics and supply chain undergraduates during a calendar year. UNT students clinched the top prize at the IANA – University of North Florida Case Competition the previous May and the IANA EXPO Academic Challenge the previous September.
- See an extended history of the UNT logistics program.