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In a corner of land almost hidden from view lies what many big universities may scoff at: a small soccer field next to the campus of the University of North Texas at Dallas. To some, the field represents a half-hearted attempt to bring sports to the school, but to students and faculty there, the field is a building block for a robust athletic program in the future. Since it became an independent center of education in 2009, officials say, UNT Dallas has made drastic changes to develop a better experience. One way to unite the student body may be through a sports program. Although school-sponsored sports would be a tough monetary pill to swallow, UNT at Dallas has shown a lot of desire to expand itself both externally and internally. The Office of Student Life staff is 100 percent new from this time a year ago and that staff brings new ideas to the campus and student life, said Jarred Cobb, director of the office of student life. The school has done various outreach activities and initiatives to ensure a vibrant student life for UNT Dallas students. Student leadership has played a major role in helping to create an organization on campus called JagSport, an intramural group with a membership that fluctuates from six to 15 members each semester. UNT Dallas plans to offer intramurals that will allow students to compete against their peers on campus this fall. University athletics is in the master plan, but I would estimate it is much further down the line, Cobb said. UNT Dallas also offers students a small recreation center and workout room, but plans to expand the center are still in the beginning phases. First we want to develop a student focused, student developed recreation center, Smith said. It could give us a chance for students to develop into leadership roles. The university had a steady enrollment of about 2,000 students in each of the last two years, nearly 85 percent of them undergraduates. These undergraduate students will determine the future of the schools sports and student life programs with their enthusiasm to see their school grow, said Doug Smith, vice president of university advancement. Read more: http://www.smudailycampus.com/news/metropolitan/unt-dallas-promising-athletics-and-more-in-near-future-1.3042776#.UYxds8u9KSN