40 Hours for the Forty Acres Spring 2023

Who We Are 

New Student Services (NSS) is one of the nine departments in the Division of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. The department coordinates student orientation, autism spectrum support and outreach, foster care alumni student support, first-generation student support, off-campus living resources and support, plus various other transition support initiatives. 

What We’re Fundraising For 

Autism Spectrum and Neurodiversity Support - NSS manages the Longhorn TIES (Transition, Inclusion, Empower, Success) program for students who identify as being on the autism spectrum neurodivergent through advocacy, connections, and training. 

First-Generation Initiatives - NSS supports various initiatives related to first-generation students including representation on the First-Generation Commitment Working Group, coordinating the National First-Generation College Celebration Day, facilitating the First-Generation Living Learning Community, and providing welcome sessions at student orientation. 

Horns Helping Horns (HHH) - NSS operates a program for financially independent students and foster care alumni who arrive at UT Austin with little or no family support and very limited resources. The program provides students with advocacy, community, and support throughout their time at UT Austin.  

Your Impact 

Autism Spectrum and Neurodiverse Support: Longhorn TIES (Transition, Inclusion, Empower, Success) coordinates and facilitates neurodiversity initiatives at UT Austin. Longhorn TIES seeks to enhance the student experience for students who identify as neurodivergent through advocacy, connections and training, starting with the New Student Orientation process and continuing throughout the student’s tenure at the university. Longhorn TIES encompasses TIESplus and drop-in student support services, faculty and staff support, the Neurodiversity Leadership Council, presentations and training, and more. 

Through TIESplus, Longhorn TIES has provided individualized support to over 50 neurodivergent undergraduate students at UT Austin. TIESplus is a fee-for-service program that offers individualized college success and transitional support based on a student’s unique experiences, progress, and needs. Program fees cover the cost of weekly or biweekly meetings with a trained coach, events and programming, professional and social skills development, and more.  

This year, we are raising funds for a TIESplus scholarship to cover the cost of students’ participation in TIESplus services. These scholarship funds will make direct, quality services available to neurodivergent students who may otherwise not be able to access them. Specific examples of TIESplus services include executive functioning development, social skills development, campus and community resource navigation, and referral and professional development training.  

We know that these services have a powerful impact on neurodivergent students and their college success. Below are just a few quotes from recent TIESplus students: 

“This program has improved my life in so many positive ways! I've found community in other peers, gained access to helpful campus resources I didn't know about, and made lots of improvement in personal goals in coaching sessions. This program has helped me to feel welcomed, loved, and understood in a way I had not yet experienced in my life."  

-TIESplus Student 

"I’m grateful that Longhorn TIES exists. It’s exactly what I needed all this time. Now my everyday life is a lot less difficult. It was great having a regular time to meet to review the week and set up an action plan. I’m very thankful for the help with scripting and prioritizing. I also appreciated that I can make an appointment outside the meetings when I need it. I wish I had TIES from the beginning."  

- TIESplus Student 

First-Generation Living Learning Community (LLC): The First-Generation Living Learning Community provides students with an inclusive and welcoming community with their first-gen peers. Students involved engage in community builders, regular meetings, involvement in a First-Gen faculty/staff mentorship program, and are given multiple tools to become strong, resilient students.  

We will use gifts from donors to support a miscellaneous fund that students can apply for when they need financial support for housing and/or other financial needs. First-gen college students are more likely to come from lower-income brackets than their continued-generation peers (https://www.collegegrant.net/first-generation/); therefore, donations towards housing/dining scholarships are very beneficial for our students. This past year, donations from 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign were used to fund laptop repairs and GRE testing. 

We would love to have the opportunity to continue to grow and expand from year to year. This would require increasing our programming budget to meet the needs of more students (e.g., school supplies, care packages, annual events). 

Below are just a few quotes from some of our First-Gen LLC students: 

“I had a great support system from the LLC. I learned a lot about resources on campus that I hadn’t heard of, and it helped me to get a steady foundation to be set for the next three years.”  

“Before resuming campus last year in the fall as an incoming freshman, I was not really confident in my ability to do a lot of things. Like all freshmen, it was a scary process leaving home to an entirely new environment. Nevertheless, signing up for the First-Generation Living Learning Community allowed me to reduce some of my anxiety about adjusting and meeting people in college.”  

“I was able to be a part of a welcoming community that pointed me to numerous resources across campus.”  

Horns Helping Horns Program: Horns Helping Horns (HHH) is a program for financially independent students and foster care alumni who arrive at UT Austin with little or no family support and very limited resources. HHH strives to help retain and graduate our students by supporting them socially, professionally, and financially. One way in which the program is able to accomplish those objectives is by creating a sense of community among our members.  

In the past, we have helped to create this sense of community through monthly meetings and semesterly events. We believe a fall semester retreat could allow our students to bond with each other early in the school year so they could feel a sense of belonging and form friendships with their fellow HHH members. With $1,500 we can provide our students with an impactful and fun retreat experience.  

When students were asked about what they most enjoy about Horns Helping Horns, they said: 

"I love meeting students from similar family backgrounds, who can relate to the struggles of navigating UT as an independent student.” 

“I got to build relationships with other students and the staff. It was a privilege to know and feel supported by the community offered through HHH.” 

“I love having a supportive community at UT who understands where I'm coming from.” 

We appreciate your support and donations!