UNT Launches College of AI and Advanced Analytics With $20M Gift
A donation from alumnus Vikas Sinha and his wife will fund new academic divisions and an applied research institute.
The University of North Texas is establishing a new college of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to accelerate workforce preparation and AI research. The initiative is powered by a $20 million gift from alumnus Vikas Sinha and his wife, Anuradha.
The $20 million contribution will fund six distinct endowments earmarked for college leadership, student scholarships, endowed professorships, advanced research, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship and incubation. The new college will be structured into two primary academic divisions: one dedicated to the construction of intelligent systems—encompassing AI, data science, and cybersecurity—and another focused on human-institutional interaction, specifically library and information science.
Additionally, the university will create an applied AI and data science institute. This body will focus on the development of emerging technologies tailored to the specific needs of Texas employers. The gift comes from Vikas Sinha, who earned a Ph.D. in data science from UNT in 2023 and currently serves as the VP of the mainframe software division at Broadcom.
Strategic Integration
This expansion follows UNT's recent approval of a bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, positioning the university as one of the first in Texas to offer such a program. By splitting the college between the "builders" of AI and the "stewards" of information, UNT is attempting to integrate technical proficiency with the social and governance frameworks required for responsible AI application.
"What excites us about UNT’s vision is that this college will go beyond teaching students how to use AI," Sinha said, noting that the goal is to prepare students to build, question, govern, and apply these systems responsibly.
Financial and Regional Impact
The launch of the college arrives during a period of significant financial volatility for the university. UNT is currently navigating budget deficits exacerbated by a sharp drop in international graduate student enrollment. Data indicates that this population fell from approximately 6,200 in fall 2024 to 3,400 in fall 2025, a decline attributed to federal visa restrictions.
Despite these headwinds, the university is doubling down on its role as a regional talent pipeline. By aligning the new institute with the needs of North Texas employers, UNT aims to secure a leadership position in the regional tech economy while addressing the critical demand for AI-literate professionals.
Future Outlook
As the college takes shape, the university will focus on operationalizing the six endowments to attract top-tier faculty and provide student financial aid. Observers will be watching how the university balances this aggressive growth in AI with its broader budgetary challenges and the ongoing impact of international enrollment trends on its campus ecosystem.