On The Move - Fall 2022 - UNT Dallas Newsletter

FALL 2022 HIGHLIGHTS
UNT DALLAS STRENGTHENS TIES TO
THE COMMUNITY WITH MONTHLY
MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES
What began as a way to support UNT Dallas
students experiencing food insecurity
during the pandemic has grown to become
a monthly rain-or-shine event that
residents across Southern Dallas depend
upon – especially as they face job losses
and the rising costs of food, gas and shelter.
Since 2020, UNT Dallas has deepened
its ties in the community by teaming up
with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) to
UNT CHANCELLOR DISCUSSES VALUES-BASED
CULTURE AT TOWN HALL
Recently, UNT System Chancellor Dr.
Michael Williams joined a UNT Dallas Town
Hall and shared his goal of establishing
a values-based culture across all UNT
System organizations. Establishing a
shared commitment to work-place values
will allow every employee to work toward
achieving common goals, provide best
of class customer service, and create an
environment where we all hold ourselves to
a higher standard. Values only matter if they
matter to each of us.
A values-based culture is the foundation
on which our vision (where we are going),
mission (what we do), and purpose (why we
exist) are built. It is a set of values with a
set of behaviors we agree to live by. In fact,
provide thousands of free food boxes to
families, individuals and students.
To date, more than 1.1 million lbs. of food
have been distributed during the drivethrough
mobile pantry events.
In early November, cars lined up around
the campus as UNT Dallas joined the NTFB
and Tom Thumb/Albertson’s to provide
Thanksgiving food boxes to 500-plus families
and turkeys for the first 250 participants.
as our new vision states clearly, we will be
values-driven:
By 2026, the UNT System is one team,
values-driven and customer-focused with
an emphasis on excellence, curiosity, and
innovation.
But what does “values-driven” actually
mean? I describe it this way:
It’s a people-first culture where we live by a
common set of values and behaviors
• We make our decisions about everything
we do based on our values
• It’s a culture filled with high levels of
trust, a one team mindset
• We believe more in serving others than
receiving for ourselves
• We no longer have silos keeping us
apart, we openly share information
• No more “we vs. them” mentality
• We celebrate each other’s successes
And UNT Dallas students – some who have
taken advantage of past food offerings – are
paying it forward by volunteering for the
monthly events.
Another festive food distribution is planned
for December and plans are to continue the
program into 2023.
• We care for each other
• We unleash the power of our combined
collaboration
• We innovate and never lose our
curiosity, we think BIG
• We treat each other and our customers
not by the Golden Rule, but by the
Platinum Rule (we treat others the way
they want to be treated)
During the coming months, the chancellor
will be listening to thoughts, dreams, and
ideas about how to make our UNT System
into a values-driven organization. Together,
we will co-create the future UNT System –
One System, one team working together for
the highest success of our students, their
families, our communities and all our UNT
family.
8 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2022