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New Student Services

Who We Are 

New Student Services (NSS) is one of the eight departments in the Division of Student Affairs. NSS works to support new students in their transition to campus by providing programs and resources that empower students to achieve academic and co-curricular success. Every student who engages with our programs will gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to successfully transition to the University.  

  

What We Are Fundraising For  

Bevo Buddy! - NSS's newest program pairs a UT student leader with incoming first-year and transfer students. This gives new students opportunities to connect regularly with an experienced Longhorn and explore the UT and Austin communities! 

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

First-Generation Living Learning Community (LLC) - NSS partners with University Housing and Dining to support the First-Generation Living Learning Community, which provides a sense of belonging for new Longhorns who identify as first-generation (first-gen) college students by creating an engaging living environment. 

 

Your Impact  

The US Surgeon General warns of an Epidemic of Loneliness, especially amongst college students after the 2020 pandemic. Bevo Buddy!  strives to combat this effect by creating quick friendships and many opportunities for connections on and off campus. 

Since the start in 2022, Bevo Buddy! has not had to turn any students away from our services, serving 827 new students in total and hiring 150 Bevo Buddy Leaders (experienced student leaders). We would love to continue to grow and expand from year to year. To do so, it would require increasing our programming budget to meet the needs of all students (i.e., supplies, programming budget). Also, we want to increase our professional development opportunities for our Bevo Buddy Leaders through monthly workshops and retreat programming.  

The program has seen success through its 95% second-year retention rate, average GPA of 3.5, and numerous statements such as these: 

“I am so glad I joined the Bevo Buddy Program. I have felt more connected as a first-year (student) around the UT community and campus because of the program! I have gotten more out of my shell and felt comforted due to having an excellent leader!” 

“Bevo Buddy helped me feel like I’m supposed to be at UT and UT wants me.” 


With your support, Horns Helping Horns (HHH) would like to implement a Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program on UT Austin's campus. The SIL program would be a collaboration between the Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS) and the University to mitigate the transition from foster care to adulthood. A SIL program is a voluntary extended foster care placement where young adults live on their own, while still getting casework and support services from the University through HHH to help them become independent and self-sufficient.  

UT Austin has a growing number of students who have experienced foster care. In 2022-2023, there were over 280 students who used the foster care tuition waiver. Several other institutions in the University of Texas System have already or are in the process of implementing SIL programs.  

Foster care alumni often face significant challenges during their transition to higher education, including housing instability, financial constraints, and a lack of emotional support. By creating a SIL on campus, UT Austin can address these challenges by providing a supportive environment that fosters academic success, personal growth, and a sense of belonging among foster care alumni.   

When students were asked 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 joined HHH late into my Junior year at UT, but if I could go back and join as early as possible, I most definitely would. HHH opened my world to allow me to experience what it's like to be surrounded by a like-minded community and played a major role as a support system." 


The First-Generation Living Learning Community provides students with a 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 your gift to support students 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 greatly beneficial for our students. Additionally, donations from last year's 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign were used to fund laptop repairs and GRE testing.   

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 had not 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 first-year student, I was not confident in my ability to do a lot of things. Like all first-year students, it was a scary process leaving home for an entirely unfamiliar 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.” 

   

We appreciate your support and donations! Hook 'em!


Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award! April 11, 8 – 10 p.m. Central 1st place – $2,000 | 2nd place – $1,500 | 3rd place – $1,000 | 4th place – $750 | 5th place – $250
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $2,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 356
2 $1,500 Texas Crew 304
3 $1,000 UT Child Development Center Leona 257
4 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 103
5 $250 Liberal Arts Council 88
Ended
$500
5,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 5,000th Gift – $500 award
Completed
$750
7,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 7,000th Gift – $750 award
7,000 / 7,000 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
Saddle Up Surprise Match
Surprise! Here is another match for 40 for Forty! The first $7,500 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $7,500, is exhausted. April 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central
$7,500 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Raising the Bar Challenge
The ten participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that have the largest percentage increase in number of gifts from the previous year within the designated period will receive an additional award! Participation only available to groups that had one or more donations during the prior campaign. March 27, 6 a.m. Central – April 11, 10 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $6,000 Longhorn Powerlifting +5400.00% 55
goal: 1
2 $4,300 UT iGEM Team +3466.67% 107
goal: 3
3 $3,500 Communication Studies Graduate Community +2650.00% 55
goal: 2
4 $3,000 UT Women's and Nonbinary Ultimate Frisbee +2275.00% 95
goal: 4
5 $2,500 Prison and Jail Innovation Lab +1850.00% 39
goal: 2
Ended
Leaderboard
Day 2 Leaderboard: Gifts
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of gifts raised during the second day of 40 for Forty will receive awards! April 11, midnight – 10 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,000 Texas Crew 510
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 379
3 $500 UT Child Development Center Leona 264
4 $250 Chapters & Networks 193
5 $100 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 178
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Highest Amount of Dollars Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the highest number of dollars raised will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Raised
1 McCombs School of Business $8,409,843.00
2 Department of Mathematics $1,601,405.00
3 Jackson School of Geosciences $623,850.00
4 College of Natural Sciences $515,570.24
5 Texas Athletics $508,441.00
Ended
2
Match
Decade of Difference Kickoff Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 6 – 9 a.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Mid-Morning Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Horns Helping Horns Match
The first $11,000 in gifts to Horns Helping Horns under New Student Services will be matched dollar for dollar!
Completed
2
Match
Midnight Madness Match
The first $7,500 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $7,500, is exhausted. April 11, midnight – 7 a.m. Central
$7,500 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Morning Mojo Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 11, 7 – 10 a.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Cheers to 10 Years Final Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 11, 4 – 8 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$750
6,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 6,000th Gift – $750 award
Completed
Leaderboard
Hungry, Hungry Bevo Challenge (General)
The three participating colleges, schools, units or programs that receive the greatest number of unique donors within the designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving participating group. April 11, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $2,000 UT Child Development Center Comal 20
2 $1,000 McCombs School of Business 15
3 $500 Texas Exes 12
4 Kendra Scott WEL Institute 10
5 School of Human Ecology 9
Ended
2
Match
Happy Horns Happy Hour Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 4 – 8 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge (General)
The three participating colleges, schools, units or programs that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award. April 10, 1 – 4 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $2,000 UT Child Development Center Lavaca 51
2 $1,000 Texas Exes 15
3 $500 Jackson School of Geosciences 12
4 McCombs School of Business 11
5 Moody College of Communication 11
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Unique Donors
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of unique donors will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Donors
1 Texas Crew 230
2 2024 Class Gift 213
3 McCombs School of Business 144
4 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 137
5 Texas Exes 133
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Gifts Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of gifts will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Gifts
1 Texas Crew 794
2 Texas Trap and Skeet 502
3 UT Child Development Center Leona 275
4 Chapters & Networks 229
5 2024 Class Gift 215
Ended
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 1)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 10, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Day 1 Leaderboard: Unique Donors
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of unique donors during the first day of 40 for Forty will receive awards! April 10, 6 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Texas Crew 93
2 $750 McCombs School of Business 81
3 $500 UT iGEM Team 65
4 $250 Texas Exes 54
5 $100 Longhorn Racing 53
Ended
2
Match
Longhorn Late-Night Match
The first $5,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 10, 8 – 11:59 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 2)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 11, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Success!
Pre-Campaign Ambassador Sign-up Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the most verified 40 for Forty ambassadors registered by April 9 at 5 p.m. will receive an additional award! February 5, 6 a.m. Central – April 9, 5 p.m. Central 1st Place – $1,000 award | 2nd Place – $500 award | 3rd Place – $250 award
Completed
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