  This paper constructs a novel Hopf algebra
$\mathsf{cf}(\mathrm{UT}_{\bullet})$ on the class functions of the unipotent
upper triangular groups $\mathrm{UT}_{n}(\mathbb{F}_{q})$ over a finite field.
This construction is representation theoretic in nature and uses the machinery
of Hopf monoids in the category of vector species. In contrast with a similar
known construction, this Hopf algebra has the property that induction to the
finite general linear group induces a homomorphism to Zelevinsky's Hopf algebra
of $\mathrm{GL}_{n}(\mathbb{F}_{q})$ class functions. Furthermore,
$\mathsf{cf}(\mathrm{UT}_{\bullet})$ contains a Hopf subalgebra which is
isomorphic to a known combiantorial Hopf algebra, previously used to prove a
conjecture about chromatic quasisymmetric functions. Some additional Hopf
algebraic properties are also established.
