40 Hours for the Forty Acres 2020

Who We Are

The College of Education serves the people of Texas, the nation, and the world through transformational research and teaching.  Our work is guided by a deep commitment to community partnership and bridging research to practice.  We respond to the most urgent problems in the field by implementing effective programs and policies and by developing the next generation of leaders to carry this work forward.  We build upon individual, family and community strengths in order to combat disparities in education and health and to promote social justice.

What We’re Fundraising For

The College of Education remains committed to recruiting, enrolling and graduating talented students, who are dedicated to serving their communities and making an impact on the lives of others.  More than 30% of our undergraduates are first generation college students and a third of our current undergraduates have full financial need.

We know the economic fallout of COVID-19 will continue to create financial hardship for our students and their families.  In May 2020, the number of Texans filing for unemployment relief was up 2,000% compared to the same time last year.  These economic challenges will impact many of our students’ ability to pay for tuition and housing at UT this fall.

Now more than ever, scholarship support is crucial for our students and their families. Your gift of any size to undergraduate scholarships will help ensure that the Forty Acres experience remains accessible for students most affected by this economic crisis. By making a gift in support of student scholarships, you are providing a strong message to our students that they are important, and you are invested in their success.

Your Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the critical role that educators and health professionals play in our society.  Your gift is an investment in the future.  Whether you are supporting a kinesiology and health education student who plans to work as a physical therapist, or a future teacher who will impact hundreds of lives during the course of their career, your gift helps those preparing to make a difference in education and health.

Supporting Aspiring Teachers

Our future teachers are choosing to do something extraordinary with their lives.  For them, teaching is not just a profession, but also a calling.  Their work will make a lasting difference for children, families, schools and communities across the state of Texas.  

When the current global health crisis closed schools across the nation and the world, teachers quickly pivoted to meet the needs of their students in creative ways.  In the last few months, we have seen a surge of respect and appreciation for the good work that teachers do every day in classrooms across the country.  The college remains committed to preparing the next generation of educators who will be prepared to meet the needs of diverse learners across Texas.  Scholarship support is especially important during the 3-5 semester professional development sequence, when students learn the foundation of teaching through coursework and field experiences in area schools.

Supporting Future Health and Sport Leaders

Our kinesiology and health education (KHE) undergraduates are preparing to be health care professionals, sport management leaders and public health experts.

During 2018-2019, more than 170 KHE undergraduate students participated in internships in the health, sports and athletic training fields.  Closures related to COVID-19 disrupted many of the internships with sport teams and at rehab and physical therapy clinics but it did not stop our work to prepare these future health and sport leaders.  While some KHE interns were able to transition to online technology to apply what they learned, many others will complete required practicum hours in classes or intensive “boot-camp” workshops once it is safe to return to a clinical setting.

Thank you for supporting undergraduate scholarships. Your gift helps Texas Education students respond to the most urgent problems in the field, and develops the next generation of leaders to carry this work forward.