UNT selected for national collaborative to better prepare students with workforce experiences

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Denton, Texas (UNT) — The University of North Texas (UNT) was selected as one of eight institutions nationwide to participate in Arizona State University’s (ASU) new Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator. The Accelerator helps institutions develop new, scalable work experience opportunities to better prepare students for the future of work.

As a participant, UNT is creating a pilot program in its College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) that will offer students new opportunities to connect classroom learning directly with the realities of today’s workforce. This includes embedding real-world projects, leveraging employer partnerships and bolstering practical experiences directly into CLASS programs.

“At UNT, we are redefining what it means to prepare students for meaningful careers and lifelong success,” said UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. “As one of the nation’s most innovative public research universities located in the heart of the world’s eighth largest economy, UNT is committed to ensuring every student gains the knowledge, confidence, and workforce experience necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.”

The seed funding will also allow UNT to incorporate technology-enabled solutions to help students incorporate relevant work experience opportunities into their academic pathways.

“We are working to ensure every UNT student — regardless of background or field of study — can access high-impact, career-connected learning opportunities,” President Keller said. “The partnership with ASU will help us accelerate this for our students.”

The Accelerator will help develop new, scalable work experience opportunities for UNT students.

ASU’s bold national initiative is backed by a $1.75 million commitment from JPMorganChase and a $280,000 commitment from Strada Education Foundation that aims to bring together higher education institutions, employers and education-technology startups to codesign and pilot innovative work-integrated learning models. Other institutions selected are Bowling Green State University, Morgan State University, Oregon State University–Cascades, Rowan College at Burlington County, University of Central Florida, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

“JPMorganChase is dedicated to expanding access to work-based learning that prepares students for today’s workforce. We are proud to support Arizona State University’s National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator, which connects classroom education to industry needs. By participating in this initiative, the University of North Texas is helping students to build meaningful career pathways and contributing to a stronger economic future for Texas,” said Belen Garren, Commercial Banking Region Manager for North Texas and Vice Chair, North Texas Market Leadership Team, J.P. Morgan.

CLASS’s participation in the program comes at a critical time for the North Texas region, which is expected to grow to more than 35 million people within the next decade. These focused efforts are critical for UNT, which boasts an undergraduate population that reflects the vibrancy of the North Texas region, including 42% of students who identify as first in their families to attend college and 48% who are eligible for Pell grants.

“Our ambition is to strategically apply intelligent design principles to cultivate an innovative and transformative learning ecosystem. This will not only amplify the inherent value of our students' liberal arts and social sciences degrees, but also more seamlessly bridge their academic pursuits with an exciting and encouraging outlook toward early and sustained success in their professional careers,” said Dr. Albert Bimper, executive dean of CLASS.

“UNT stands on a proud foundation of audacious, student-centered innovation, driven by our unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for every student. We must still be relentless in asking how we can uplift and empower, especially our first-time in college students, transfer students, and all those historically excluded from high-impact practices, ensuring their path to success is clear and meaningful.”

The program will help provide a proven pathway to meet these goals by blending classroom learning with industry-informed, career-aligned experiences that build confidence, increase student success, and enhance the value of a UNT degree.

“We are inspired by Arizona State University’s leadership and the support of national partners in launching this bold initiative,” President Keller said. “We are eager to make this pilot a success, and we stand ready to invest our time, talent, and resources to make the promise of work-integrated learning a reality for all of our students.”

From UNT News – Featured News