News about global economic instability caused, in part, by a slowing of China's $10 trillion economy has created uncertainty about whether the Federal Reserve will announce today, Sept. 17, the first key interest rate increase since 2006. A live press conference at 2:30 p.m. Eastern will follow today's announcement. Guillermo Covarrubias, senior lecturer in the University of North Texas...

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- John Ishiyama, University Distinguished Research Professor of political science at the University of North Texas, has received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Political Science Association.

Founded in 1903, the American Political Science Association is the leading professional organization for the study of political science and serves more than 13,000 members in more than 80 countries. The APSA Distinguished Teaching Award honors an outstanding contribution to undergraduate and graduate teaching of politic...

DENTON (UNT), Texas – Five University of North Texas alumni leaders have committed to helping some of the best and brightest students in the nation achieve their educational goals at the university by agreeing to fund UNT's National Merit Scholars for four years – gifts totaling $600,000.

"The pledge our five alumni have made is a commitment to the future of the university," UNT President Neal Smatesk said. "These gifts will make a difference in the lives of our National Merit Scholars, allowing them to concentrate on their education. This also gives UNT a competitive edge as we conti...

DENTON (UNT), Texas – With gifts totaling more than $2.6 million, local businessman and UNT alumnus, Jim McNatt ('66), and his wife, Linda, have made an immediate impact through their generosity supporting the University of North Texas Mean Green Athletics and university academic and research initiatives.

The McNatts will provide $1.25 million to enhance Mean Green athletic initiatives and $1.36 million to establish endowments for logistics and autism research, support the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series and promote academic excellence by providing additional funding to attract National Mer...

Three large wildfires burning near Sacramento, California, have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and state officials have ordered evacuations.

Laura Siebeneck, assistant professor and coordinator of the Emergency Administration and Planning Program in UNT's College of Public Affairs and Community Service, can discuss individual and family...

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- On Sept. 23, 1846, 169 years ago, astronomers discovered Neptune using mathematics. Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun.

Director of the UNT Astronomy program and NASA Ambassador Ron DiIulio is available for interviews to discuss Neptune's anniversary. DiIulio is available by email at Ronald.DiIulio@unt.edu or by phone at 940-369-8213.

Neptune facts:

• Neptune's atmosphere is made up of Hydr...

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Parades, picnics and Powder Puff Football are just some of the events scheduled for the University of North Texas' Homecoming festivities taking place Oct. 5 – 10. This year's theme is "Forever Mean Green: A Journey through Time."

The celebration is a collaboration between Mean Green Athletics and the Division of Student Affairs. All of the events are open to UNT students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

Kandice Horton, the student director of the 2015 homecoming crew, said this year's celebration is going to be one to remember.

"This y...

CNN will host 16 Republican candidates for president at its debate Sept. 16 (Wednesday) at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. As they were in the Fox News Channel debates on Aug. 6, the candidates will be placed into one of two groups based on their average ranking in national polls, with the top 10 candidates in the main debate and the rest in a second-tier debate. The debate will take place two days after the frontrunner, Donald Trump, holds a rally in Dallas.

The following University of North Texas faculty members are available to discuss the debate and Trump's rally....

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The University of North Texas Giving Week, a 125-hour long fundraising campaign created to commemorate UNT's 125th anniversary, will begin Sept. 14 and end Sept. 19. The campaign is the first-ever in the university's history to span more than one day and to include all of UNT's constituents.

David Wolf, UNT alumnus and vice president of advancement at UNT, said this is a great way for different communities to come together to celebrate the history, and the future, of UNT.

"We're excited about the UNT community a...

DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas welcomed 37,231 students this fall, a record enrollment and a nearly 3 percent increase over the previous school year.

"This is our biggest enrollment boost in the past few years, and coupled with the notable growth in the quality, diversity and breadth of our student population, is a sign of important change and momentum," UNT President Neal Smatresk said. "It's clear that more students are making UNT their first-choice university."

Adding to the boost in enrollment were a large number of new graduate students. Graduate studen...