new UNT Eagle Advantage Program

[UNT90]

Not if you're well endowed.

...

[greenit]

There has been an auto admit policy for all state schools if you are in the top 10% (until UT somehow changed the rules). Top 15% from any high school, any district gets you in UTD and UTD ranks top 150 USNWR. I don't see where stating top 20% from selected school districts is a big deal. Maybe it will help us get some of those top 20%‘ers, which would not bea bad thing.

[oldguystudent]

I was like "there's no way GMG will complain about this awesome program!"

I was wrong. Very wrong.

It depends on the goals of the university as a whole, really. In the ten years I've lived in Texas, the four of those in which I had nothing to do with UNT, my perception of the university was on par with a Cal State campus -- utilitarian, easy access, inexpensive, but not particularly noteworthy in a "I went to UNT, bow down to me!" sort of way.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with serving that purpose. I used to kinda mock people who went to Cal State Fullerton on the premise that they weren't good enough to gain admission to my beloved University of California. Well, those "state school" kids grew up to be titans of business (the pun there is that the Fullerton mascot is the titan). They grew up to not so much mind that their alma mater isn't particularly noteworthy because they drowned their sorrows in the cup holders of their new Mercedes.

However, UNT has stated time and time again that it aspires to be a "Tier 1" university. That involves research grants, notable faculty, nobel prizes, and undergraduates who carry their diplomas on their sleeves, constantly talking about "Well, I went to UNT. I am superior because of it."

You market to the top 20% of a class, which pretty much means a B average, give automatic admission, and advertise how inexpensive (cough...cheap...cough) you are in the process, you are shooting yourself in the foot for your stated aspirations of climbing to the academic elite.

So I suppose, in the end, if I'm complaining about anything, it's that UNT can't seem to decide on its identity. I really wish it would choose one or the other because its current operations serve neither.

[Quoner]

I was like "there's no way GMG will complain about this awesome program!"

I was wrong. Very wrong.

The program is great. I don't think anyone has an issue with it, just the packaging.

Let's make it more relatable.

Imagine if the university started a brand new cussing at refs and people program, but didn't cover how to flip an effective middle finger. I bet you'd kind of wonder how they missed that one. OR, even worse, imagine a defenseof the dark arts class that never even considered how to do a patronus. I would have some questions for Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge - I'll tell you that much.

[greenit]

I have a sneaky suspicion that the timing of the financialissue realization in Austin is in response to many of the action toward tier 1 status we have been tking lately and was a way to buy some time. Opening alaw school, trying to consolidate the HSC under the UNT umbrella, create a MD program, the inevitible nursing program (looking at you TWU), etc... all these things will go toward raising the profile of the university and endowment and combined research numbers, etc...

I don't think the recent activity has gone unnoticed and i am sure it has more than a few feeling a little uneasy in Austin.

[Quoner]

And if you haven't noticed, UNT did its best to slide the "Above the rest" campaign under the table because of the negative reaction. The program wasn't the president idea either.

If you squint when you open this page, you barely see it http://eagleexpress.unt.edu/?homepage=1

[oldguystudent]

So you're basing this on anecdotes.

Perception is reality, kid.

[Quoner]

Well, the reality is that North Texas already gets some of the highest performing students compared to our peer institutions according to THECB (other Emerging Research Universities.) On pace with the leaders in UH and UTD (which is admittedly a bit higher due to their focus in sciences) in fact. And our professors are more distinguished than many of peers, actually.

We're not too far below Tech and right underneath UH and gaining ground in measurable statistics.

So those are the facts, bud.

Those are all great facts and would make the center piece of a great, well thought out campaign. Since we've had thousands of dollars go into RFPs and support to do exactly this the last few years, can we not be a little dissatisfied with the end products to date and hope there is better to come or nah?

[Quoner]

Gone from billboards and commercials.

Cynic could say the ad budget ran out - and that your own website is a better reflection of what you want to communicate since it is owned and free.

However, while we're arguing, everyone on this thread seems to agree the key points are great and the 20% target is exactly what the school needs to be doing - the only quibbling is over the execution. It's really easy to second guess a campaign during and after the fact, so hopefully we see a new wave of materials that all fit with this and help us get away from being the Golden Corral of education (although a chocolate fountain would be bad ass.)

[VideoEagle]

The legislature committees last session were expressing a lot of concern over costs and the length of time it was taking the average student to graduate. Above the rest was poor execution of a legislative request. Complying with these kind of requests will make the legislature more likely to look favorably on you.

There is pressure this session to re-regulate tuitions without any increases in overall state funds for Universities beyond targeted Tier 1 funds. The Speaker doesn't like that idea, but he is being pressured to allow it.

By the way, I'm seeing the same number of billboards around but with different messages now. One I notice on 360 south of 183 read some to the effect of "more degree choices." I like that a lot better.

[Aldo]

There are a lot of reasons for this move, but I think it's a positive one.

Also: It's the economy, stupid.

Historically, enrollment increases during hard times, decreases when times are good. The economy is really picking up, and I'm sure enrollment the past couple years hasn't met projections.

Definitely a means to increase a money base, but the top 20% doesn't include idiots.

Also, what greenit said about building the law school, the situation with UNTHSC, the medical school, these are all direct actions taken by UNT to reach Tier 1 status. Which, imo, it has been doing with blinders on.

But all this is meant to appeal to a broad base of people (humanities and hard sciences). Great music program, math, psychology, teaching, computer science, etc. I had no idea what I wanted when I was 18.

[VideoEagle]

I had no idea what I wanted when I was 18.

A lot of the time I still don't.