Discussions about whether to put the University of North Texas' main campus in Denton and the school's Fort Worth health science center under the same academic umbrella have been tabled.
Instead, the University of North Texas System has renewed its focus on getting an M.D. program for Fort Worth and top research status for the flagship campus in Denton.UNT System Chancellor Lee F. Jackson said Wednesday that he decided to table "further discussion of the concept of a merger of our two universities indefinitely so it will not be considered in 2013."The decision was made at a board of regents meeting earlier this month. Jackson said the primary goal for the UNT Health Science Center is to gain approval for a new "M.D.-granting" college to complement existing programs at the Fort Worth institution.The topic of a possible merger also came up during a "town hall" type meeting Wednesday at the health science center with school President Scott Ransom and its employees, school officials said.In August, Jackson said officials wanted to study a possible merger because it was a structure that could help with research. At the time, Jackson pointed to similar efforts by the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.But in a Nov. 14 letter sent to community leaders in Denton and Fort Worth, Jackson explained that "we believe there is broad regional recognition of the potential benefits of reorganization, but given other priorities now is not the best time to pursue this proposal."He wrote about the renewed effort to get a M.D. program for the health science center, saying "we are confident in and appreciative of the local community and legislative support for this proposal."Legislation to create the M.D. program, which would complement the school's osteopathic program, did not materialize during the 2011 session.Additionally, the UNT System is moving forward with plans to open a College of Pharmacy next fall at the health science center, a four-year program."We have all balls in the air," said Myron "Mike" Jacobson, founding dean of the UNT System College of Pharmacy. "Everything is in play."Jacobson said the school is hiring faculty, building a new curriculum and working toward accreditation. The college will be fully accredited when the first class graduates in May 2017, Jacobson said. About 100 students are projected to be in the first class, he said.Interest in the program is high. "We get hundreds of e-mails and phone calls," Jacobson said.Diane Smith, 817-390-7675Twitter: @dianeasmith1
Is Fort Worth feeling UNT's growing pains?
UNT regents fire president of Fort Worth center, citing 'disruptive' opposition to merger talks
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