The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board voted Jan. 24 (Thursday) to approve the expansion and renovation of UNT’s University Union. Construction is expected to begin in June 2013 with completion planned for June 2015.
The expansion and renovation of the University Union means UNT will be able to provide its growing student body with the space it needs to get involved with campus life.
A student’s level of involvement in campus life and student organizations – academic, cultural, service and social – has an incredibly high correlation to their success.
The expansion and renovation of the University Union will more than double the amount of student organization space provided in the current union, and will provide double the space for student lounges and art galleries. The new union also will provide more food service and entertainment space, auditorium and meeting space, a larger bookstore, state-of-the-art technology and sustainable design.
The new union is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
UNT is committed to providing a world class education that includes the best undergraduate education experience.
UNT has the third largest undergraduate enrollment in Texas and our freshman class is expanding rapidly. UNT also awards the state’s third largest number of degrees each year (behind UT and Texas A&M only), but is committed to helping even more students graduate.
Keeping the cost of a top quality education affordable also is important. UNT is proud to be one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for 17 consecutive years, as well as the most affordable research university in Texas according to the THECB’s 2009-10 Access and Affordability at Texas Public Universities report.
Construction of the union will be funded by a variety of sources, primarily student fees which were voted on and approved by students for this purpose.
The University Union is a critical tool for making the educational process more effective.
Editor’s note: All information above may be attributed as quotes to Kelley Reese, university spokesperson.