The University of North Texas Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously approved postponing the opening of a free-standing university in Dallas until fall 2010.

It’s the second delay in almost three years.

UNT leaders said the schedule change is warranted.

John Price, UNT Dallas’ vice provost, said leaders would use the time to develop academic programs, policies and procedures and secure funding for the opening.

“We need more time,” he said. “This isn’t about doing it quickly. It is about doing it right.”

In its first delay, UNT officials pushed the opening date of the campus back from 2007 until 2009 because fewer students than expected enrolled.

The current enrollment is 766, but officials say enrollment is expected to break the 1,000 mark in the next year.

The campus needs to hit the 1,000 mark to become independent and offer its own degrees.

Along with continuing to build on enrollment, the campus will also need to make up a shortage of more than $6.3 million to cover its anticipated operating expenses, Price said.

Money is also needed to hire additional staff and faculty for the Dallas campus, he said.

Today, regents are expected to approve a budget for the campus that would allow them to hire 18 faculty and five staff members. Price said the campus still needs 105 faculty and staff members to open.

— Dan X. McGraw