A Message from Chancellor Jackson

This note is to inform you that Dr. John Ellis Price is announcing today at UNT Dallas something that he has discussed with me and the Board of Regents for several months, which is his decision to end his tenure as president of UNT Dallas at the end of his current contract. His last day as president will be on August 31, 2013. As you can imagine, this was a difficult decision for him because Dr. Price has been in the primary leadership position for the development of this new campus since 2001, when he was asked to leave his tenured position in the UNT Department of Accounting to guide the boot-strap effort that brought the university from the drawing board to reality. He started with 55 students who attended classes at a UNT branch campus in leased space on Hampton Road in southern Dallas County. Today, UNT Dallas offers 19 graduate and undergraduate degree programs to more than 2,000 students who attend classes in state-of-the art facilities on its 264-acre campus. After holding the titles of Executive Director, Vice Provost, Vice Chancellor and President Designate, he became the first president of UNT Dallas on September 1, 2010, when the institution achieved its goal of becoming the first public, four-year university in the City of Dallas and the 38th general academic institution in the State of Texas. In June of this year, UNT Dallas was notified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) that its application for separate accreditation has been approved. As a result, UNT Dallas is one step closer to its goal of becoming an independent institution. In addressing the significant challenges that come with building a university from the ground up, President Price has been collaborative, diplomatic, energetic, and above all, focused on the mission of the institution. He also has built bridges with businesses and civic groups that are strategic to the long-term success of UNT Dallas. Much of his work has been in coordinating the vitally needed support that came from the faculty and staff of UNT and that was so critical for success. John knew many of our UNT campus and system leaders from long personal experience which helped him be effective in ways that a leader from outside the UNT family might not have been. Through the work of the Commission on Building the University of the 21st Century, President Price has provided the vision and leadership to formulate a new operational model for UNT Dallas. While the work of the Commission is not yet complete, I commend Dr. Price for this innovative approach and his desire to provide UNT Dallas a conceptual framework that could

provide a strong foundation for its future success. The UNT System Board of Regents and I stand ready to help UNT Dallas in any way that we can as it considers this new model. Dr. Price has assured me and members of the UNT System Board of Regents that he will continue to provide the leadership necessary to move the university forward and achieve its goals for the next academic year. I have personally enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with John Price, who has been dedicated, unselfish, loyal, and collaborative. Please join me in congratulating Founding President John Price on the many milestones and accomplishments of UNT Dallas. These achievements by our entire team between 2001 and 2013 will always be recognized as his personal legacy of achievement. We will, of course, continue to work with him as he completes his tenure as president, helps UNT Dallas complete its next several initiatives, and then considers the next stage of his career. The search for President Prices successor will begin as soon as the Board and I consider the composition of a search committee to identify the universitys next president. I will also work closely with Dr. Price over the coming year to ensure an orderly and smooth transition to new leadership.

Lee F. Jackson Chancellor