- Changed its image to that of a metropolitan, public research university focused on becoming a top-tier public research institution
- Increased nationwide recognition for many of its academic programs
- Increased enrollment from nearly 19,000 in 1982 to more than 27,000 in 2000
- Grew its endowment from $850,000 to more than $45 million
- Transformed its campus with renovation and new buildings, including the Science Research Building, the Murchison Performing Arts Center and the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building
- Raised nearly $200 million in two capital campaigns
- Changed its name from North Texas State University to University of North Texas in 1988
- Established the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and admitted the first TAMS students in 1988
- Established the UNT Office of Postgraduate Fellowships in 1993 to help students seeking distinguished scholarship, research and study opportunities
UNT System's progress under Hurley
- Expanded the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and it becomes the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth in 1993
- Received legislative approval to establish what would become UNT Dallas, the first public university in the Dallas city limits
- Became designated by the Legislature as a formal system in 1999, making the UNT System one of six recognized higher education systems in Texas
Honoring Hurley
See a slideshow of the campus memorial service celebrating Alfred F. Hurley's life.
Read more about the legacy of Alfred F. Hurley
Hurley's leadership roles
- Chair (Texas), Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors
- Director, Association of Texas Colleges and Universities
- Co-chair, Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities
- First university chancellor/president and first person from Denton to chair the North Texas Commission
- Member of the Boards of Directors: Denton Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Irving Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Citizen's Council
- President, Denton County United Way
Timeline of Hurley's service
- 1980: Joined UNT as vice president for administrative affairs
- 1982: Became 12th UNT president and second chancellor of the informal UNT System
- 2000: Stepped down as UNT president to become first full-time chancellor of the UNT System after the offices of chancellor and president were separated
- 2002: Retired as chancellor and received the titles of UNT System Chancellor Emeritus and UNT President Emeritus
