40 Hours for the Forty Acres September 2022

Who We Are

An academic unit located within the College of Liberal Arts, at the University of Texas at Austin - The Center for Women's & Gender Studies (CWGS) offers a unique interdisciplinary undergraduate program in WGS including: a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women's and Gender Studies, minors, an honors program, student scholarships, and a transcript-recognized Certificate program in LGBTQ Studies.  We are also home to a nationally recognized, interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies!

We recognize that ending gender discrimination requires ending the related discriminations against disability, ethnicity, gender identity, race, sexuality, and socioeconomic class.

Our mission is to create committed communities that address the challenges faced in the areas of gender, sexuality, diversity, and equity.  

What We’re Fundraising For 

In keeping with our mission and values, CWGS sponsors events and programs that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility of both identities and ideas which have been historically excluded, underrepresented, or marginalized at UT and in the greater community.  Some of our programming includes:

NEW Leadership™ Texas. A six-day residential summer institute sponsored by UT’s Center for Women’s & Gender Studies that educates undergraduate women from colleges and universities all across Texas about the important role that politics plays in their lives and encourages them to become effective leaders in the political arena. 

INSPIRE.  A three-year program (sophomore to senior), pairing undergraduate students with a graduate student mentor, created in response to the continuing inequalities in educational attainment and career advancement for women.

SAGE is the Students' Association for Gender Studies Engagement (SAGE) and dedicated to Scholarship, Activism, Growth, and Engagement. SAGE is a social and academic organization supporting feminist/queer students. SAGE provides a casual space on campus for feminist/queer students to discuss their futures, important social justice topics/events, self-care practices, and artwork. 

The Powers Endowment for Women/Gender Studies offers annual scholarships to WGS students in good standing who are academically motivated and emerging leaders in their communities. The Center for Women’s & Gender Studies owes much of its growth over the recent decade to former University President, William C. Powers. During his inaugural address in 2006, President Powers identified the College of Liberal Arts as important players in his vision for the university.  When you support an endowment, your gift keeps on giving because the fund continues to grow (with interest)!

Your Impact

We are living in uncertain times. The Covid-19 pandemic has put our health at risk, disrupted the global economy and upturned our daily lives for the foreseeable future.  Here at UT, many of our students, staff and faculty are facing personal crises: housing insecurity, income insecurity, health insecurity, family insecurity, professional insecurity.  As feminists, these issues remind us that our work is still important and needed. Now more than ever your gifts will make a difference to our faculty, students, staff, and community.

Gifts designated for CWGS will be distributed to our areas of greatest need; they will help preserve and enhance programming, develop courses, fund endowments, and support outreach initiatives.

We appreciate your support!