A: The start of the Fall 2027 semester is when the finalized reorganization will be fully implemented. New school directors have been appointed and will begin in these leadership roles in the transitional year, beginning Fall 2026. While restructuring conversations have begun and are currently underway, we will have opportunities to adjust the proposed structure, as needed.

A: No. Under the new structure, departments will be organized into mission-themed schools to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and administrative efficiency.

A: Divisions and Schools.

A: The goal of this transition is to create a more sustainable and collaborative organizational foundation for the college. While the short-term focus involves identifying budgetary savings through streamlined operations, the enduring objective is to remove the silos that often hinder interdisciplinary work. This school-based model provides a framework for faculty to better connect with one another's research and teaching, leading to more consistent policies and a culture that actively invites engagement. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that administrative operations directly support scholarly and student success, providing a foundation for the college to drive UNT’s future growth and innovation.

A: The start of Fall 2027 semester.  The timeline above shows the anticipated steps toward completion of the college’s new structure.

A: To support the college's restructuring, CLASS is updating its website navigation and landing pages to prioritize new divisional units. Led by the Sr. Communications Specialist and the planning committee, all structural updates are coordinated through the Dean’s Office and University Communications. We are auditing faculty and staff listings for accuracy and implementing archival protocols to ensure historical data remains accessible as the primary interface transitions to the new model.

A: Restructuring into a school-based model is being designed to strengthen, rather than hinder, our research enterprise. The move toward more cohesive divisional units is intended to foster greater interdisciplinary collaboration and provide more robust, specialized administrative support for faculty. By streamlining these processes, the college aims to create a more competitive environment for grant seeking, ensuring that our infrastructure scales effectively with the university’s research ambitions and all current and future Carnegie R1 commitments.

A: The concerns of the CLASS community are being heard and are central to the ongoing planning process. We recognize and validate the serious concerns raised by faculty and staff, particularly regarding the potential loss of program identity, diminished academic reputation, and the possible erasure of existing interdisciplinary efforts. These issues, along with concerns about negative impacts on administrative and curricular coordination, require collective and thoughtful solutions. By addressing these challenges directly, we aim to ensure the transition is informed by the diverse perspectives and expertise of our faculty and staff.

A: Three staff representatives serve on the planning committee to provide input and perspective related to staff needs, roles and responsibilities across the college. 

A: There is support within the college for the potential benefits of a more integrated model, specifically:

• • Improve cross-team collaborations: Bridging units to enhance our capabilities to better tap into collective expertise and diverse resources while reducing redundancies more effectively.
  • Enhanced Coordination: Identifying newfound efficiencies in administrative and logistical workflows.
  • Modern Pedagogy: Aligning our curriculum with the needs of a modern workforce while maintaining our commitment to the human condition.
  • Ongoing Dialogue: We respect there are concerns and that some are reserving final conclusions as they engage in the learning process with us.

A: Yes, and your administrative affiliation will be in the school. 

A: Constructive feedback is essential to the success of this transition for our college and the university. Whether you have specific concerns or see new opportunities for synergy, we want to hear from you:

• • Ongoing listening and update sessions: Participate in unit-level meetings hosted by the school and/or divisional leadership throughout summer months and as well as the following 2026-27 academic year.
  • Direct outreach: Reach out to your school director/divisional dean to request a designated time to chat more.

A: Throughout the transition year and beyond, leadership will utilize ongoing feedback from the CLASS Faculty Council and other shared governance bodies to determine how effectively the school-based model supports the strategic priorities and long-term sustainability of the college. Impact will be assessed through a multi-dimensional and multi-factor evaluation of the college's operational efficiency, financial stability, and academic impact during and after the transition. The college will monitor key performance indicators such as the effectiveness of the new divisional model, the streamlining of administrative workflows, and our ability to strengthen resources within the broader university fiscal environment. Additionally, a significant measure of impact will be the consideration of the student experience and the degree to which the new structure fosters interdisciplinary research/scholarship/creative activity and collaboration.

A: Schools may decide to introduce roles such as program coordinators or associate directors to help manage program‑level operations, especially during the transition to the new structure. These positions could be temporary for the first year as schools adjust, or they may become permanent if ongoing needs justify them. Each school will have the flexibility to shape its own leadership model, so the specific roles and structures may vary based on the unique demands, size, and complexity of the programs within that school.

A: Each school will continue to have a Graduate Program Director. The number of individuals to serve in such a role will be determined over the transitional year and the specific scope of their responsibilities and administrative alignment will be determined in consultation with the new school leadership to ensure that these roles are effectively supported within the respective divisional framework.

A: The faculty. Faculty will continue to lead the creation and approval of curricula. This responsibility is unaffected by structural shifts.

A: The college will continue to maintain Personnel Affairs Committees at both the college and school levels within each division. At this time, it is unlikely that an additional division-level committee will be necessary. However, the upcoming transitional year provides a purposeful window for this conversation to unfold, allowing faculty and leadership to evaluate the process in practice and determine the most effective final landing spot for personnel review.

A: First-year Writing and the Writing Center will remain essential components of the college’s academic mission. A new governing committee will be formed early in the transition year to oversee these areas, reporting directly to the college and not any one particular school or division. The goal of this new structure is to broaden the scope of input and collaboration, ensuring we better serve the writing needs of students across CLASS, as well as those from other parts of campus who rely on these courses and the Writing Center for academic support. This administrative alignment is designed to enhance the visibility and impact of writing resources across the entire university community.

A: For some, yes, they will be reassigned to a new supervisor during this transition year, beginning this summer and no later than September. Such reassignments primarily apply to staff whose current supervisor is no longer in a unit leadership role under the new structure. These reassignments for the transitional year will be handled with clear communication to ensure a smooth administrative shift for all affected personnel.

A: Faculty will continue to play a central role in proposed changes to the CLASS bylaws through established shared governance protocols. In accordance with current procedures, any updates to the bylaws will be brought to the faculty by CLASS Faculty Council for consideration and feedback.

A: The schools will be determining all changes necessary of their new unit specific policies in the transitional year.

A: The management of unit-specific funds will be reviewed to ensure alignment with the new school consolidations within divisional budget models. While the transition aims to maintain a coordinated oversight of these resources, final protocols for fund management and reporting will be established as the school-based budgetary frameworks are finalized.

A: Each school will have a consolidated operational budget, providing the leadership with the autonomy to make decisions regarding the funding and hosting of school-specific events. This includes continuing to support traditional activities such as award recognitions, student and faculty research showcases, and end-of-year banquets within the school’s new budgetary framework.

A: Future faculty lines will continue to be determined based on the current strategic needs and priorities of the college as they exist at the time of the request. This approach allows leadership to remain responsive to shifts in enrollment, research opportunities, and instructional demands across the new school-based structure.

A: Faculty will be tenured in their home school.

A: Faculty teaching loads will continue to be determined based on the current instructional needs and strategic priorities of the college. There are no changes to the existing workload policies as a direct result of the restructuring.

A: Salary compression is a serious, ongoing issue that we are actively working to address. CLASS is working to align its budgetary resources to best support the university merit pool and strengthen its financial position within the new university budget model. While the administrative restructure is focused on organizational efficiency, the college will continue to evaluate salary compensation adjustments, including compression issues, based on available college resources and the broader fiscal environment at UNT. This ongoing evaluation remains a priority as we aim to balance institutional needs with a commitment to competitive compensation.

A: Administrative office locations for each school will be determined following a comprehensive assessment of our current footprint, conducted in close consultation with the university facilities management team. A primary factor in these considerations is the student experience, ensuring that offices are located and staffed to provide optimal access and support for the students we serve. This collaborative approach aims to balance efficient space utilization with the need for highly visible and accessible administrative hubs within each school.

A: Given the limited availability of space and the impact of ongoing renovation projects, physical locations for each school are currently being evaluated. It is possible that some units or individuals may be reassigned to new spaces to better align with the school-based structure and improve operational efficiency. Further determinations will be made as the transition year unfolds, and we will provide updates as specific plans are finalized in coordination with university facilities.

A: Yes.

A: Departments that have help centers will need to internally sort this out within their new school configurations. There is no impact from the college restructuring to services provided by CLASS, such as Take Flight. Additionally, the Career Center will still provide Career Coaches for all CLASS majors, barring any unforeseen change in Student Affairs. 

A: There is no impact from the college restructuring to services provided by CLASS including Academic Advising and Take Flight. We do not foresee a change in the current structure of faculty advising at this time. CLASS Advising's recommendation is that faculty advisors stay with the majors that they currently serve. That allows the depth of knowledge and expertise to remain with the degrees, which benefits students. 

A: Advancement is in the process of reviewing all impacted scholarships now and will reach out to donors to advise if modifications are necessary.

A: Yes, the scholarship documentation will indicate the specific degree/program and the college.