Student Success Programs and Resources

Few have influenced the lives as many people around the world as has Darren Walker, one of UT Austin’s most accomplished and committed alumni. Darren’s empathy, intelligence, drive, and capacity to effect social change have altered American philanthropy and conversations worldwide on social justice.

Darren was born in a charity hospital in Rayne, Louisiana to a single mother who worked as a nurse’s aide. In 1965, he was selected for the inaugural preschool class of Head Start, a Great Society program aimed at reducing poverty. He attended public schools in southeast Texas and with financial support from a Pell Grant and scholarships he earned his undergraduate and law degrees at UT Austin. He has termed his experience a publicly and philanthropically funded “mobility escalator”. Darren enjoyed successful careers in both law and finance and today serves as the President of the Ford Foundation, one of the world’s leading philanthropies, as well as serving on the boards of directors of Pepsico, Ralph Lauren Corporation and Square. As President of the Ford Foundation, he has emerged as a leading voice on the role of philanthropy in effecting social justice. He also serves on the boards of Carnegie Hall, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2009, UT Austin recognized Darren with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

• Be admitted to UT Austin for the upcoming academic year as a first-time freshman.
• Qualify to receive the Texas Advance Commitment full-tuition scholarship, currently available to students with an adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 per year.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid).
• Demonstrate academic achievement defined by high school record and supplemental application materials.
• Demonstrate interest in community service and furthering your understanding of public service, leadership and ethics.
• Be a high-potential future leader based on one or more of the following factors: community involvement, student leadership, and a genuine commitment to advancing principles of access and belonging.

If you meet the above criteria, you will complete an application that includes an expanded resume and short-answer responses. Semifinalists will need to complete an interview with the scholarship selection committee. UT will choose final recipients with input from an alumni advisory board.

Our goal is to recruit eight to ten students from Texas who meet these exacting standards and who have the most potential to fulfill the University’s tagline “What starts here changes the world.” To accomplish this aim, UT and the program’s donors seek to provide every Darren Walker Scholar with a full cost-of-attendance scholarship valued at approximately $30,000 annually.

2026 dates will be added soon.

The Darren Walkers Program is funded by:

• Annual tuition scholarship provided by UT through the Texas Advance Commitment.
• Annual scholarship award of up to $20,000 provided by Darren Walker Scholarship endowments.

We invite you to join us in supporting the Darren Walker Scholars Program. Our vision is for this program is to become one of the nation’s leading scholarship programs of its kind.

Give Today

Darren Walker Scholars
WCP 1.102
2201 Speedway
Austin, TX 78712

ULN students receive a scholarship of up to $20,000 (up to $5,000 per year over four years at UT Austin). In partnership with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, ULN awards scholarship funds to students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

ULN scholarship eligibility is based on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The ULN scholarship is in addition to any other grants or scholarships a student might receive, so a student’s ULN scholarship amount might be adjusted if their total financial aid exceeds the University’s cost of attendance. In keeping with ULN’s goal of minimizing student loan debt, if a student obtains additional resources and the ULN award impacts the amount of financial aid for which they are eligible, student loans are reduced first.

Throughout their four years at UT Austin, ULN students must complete 30 credit hours per year (including transfer hours) and maintain a 2.0 to 4.0 cumulative GPA.

UT for Me – Powered by Dell Scholars is a partnership between UT Austin and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation aimed at closing graduation gaps across income levels. The program offers personalized support to Pell-eligible students to help them succeed at UT and graduate ready to make a difference.

To learn more about UT for Me – Powered by Dell Scholars, visit the program’s website for detailed information.

Heman Marion Sweatt applied for admission to The University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1946 but was denied admission based on race. Mr. Sweatt, with the help and assistance of the NAACP, brought legal action against the University. In the landmark case, Sweatt v. Painter, The United States Supreme Court ruled that separate law school facilities could not provide a legal education equal to that available at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, one of the nation’s top-ranking law schools.

The Supreme Court ruling established an important precedent for the desegregation of graduate and professional schools. Challenging the “separate but equal” doctrine, the court affirmed Mr. Sweatt’s right to equal educational opportunity and in 1950, he entered The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. The Sweatt decision helped pave the way for African Americans’ admission to formerly segregated colleges and universities across the nation and led to the overturn of segregation by law in all levels of public education in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education four years later.

Read more about Heman Sweatt’s life on the Texas State Historical Association’s website.

Mission
The Heman Sweatt Center is a faculty-led student organization, consisting of professors, administrators, graduate and undergraduate students committed to contributing to the academic success and acclimation of students to The University of Texas at Austin. The Sweatt Center’s mission is to ensure the recruitment, retention, graduation and holistic development of collegiate males at UT.

Goals

• Increase the four-year graduation rate for collegiate males at UT Austin
• Increase the number of collegiate males attending universities across the state of Texas.
• Build personal relationships, and foster professional development and on-campus programming.
• Give our students opportunities to succeed, explore and experience new things.
• Ensure every collegiate male on campus knows they are not in this alone.
• Leave the University with the confidence and self-efficacy to excel in any environment.

To achieve its goals, The Sweatt Center includes a research focus that informs public policy experts, practitioners and concerned citizens on how to best create and maintain a culture of collegiate male excellence in K-16 settings through a hands-on practical approach.

Values

• Health and Wellness
• Academic Achievement
• Professionalization
• Community Engagement
• Global Citizenship

Donate
The Heman Sweatt Center is doing great work, but we need your help to positively impact more collegiate males on campus. Your donations go directly to study abroad scholarships, undergraduate research opportunities, the summer internship fund, the Collegiate Male Retreat, as well as our national exposure trips to Washington D.C. and New York City. If you are interested in donating, please connect with Jerica Swiger, director of development for principal gifts.

Donate Today

We are a relatively small organization and we put every one of your dollars to good use. As a nonprofit, our goal is to accomplish our mission of providing academic excellence, personal and professional development for males, and every dollar is put towards that mission. Your money helps fund a variety of our programs and initiatives that change our student’s lives, from providing scholarships, research grants, professional development set-ups and more.

Join Our Alumni Network
Stay connected and engaged with the Sweatt Center by joining our alumni network. Opportunities include The Sweatt Mentorship program, financial donations, creating internship opportunities or attending Power Hour. Complete our Sweatt alumni form to keep in touch.

The Sweatt Center is intentional in ensuring that consistent action is being taken to uplift and progress its members. Being on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin — home to world-class faculty, first-rate research facilities, and nationally recognized athletics — we have access to plentiful resources and are forever dedicated to using them for our members’ benefit. Some of our premier initiatives include:

Power Hour
Our premiere initiative, Power Hour, held each week in the Gordon White Building (GWB MPR), is how we keep our brotherhood alive. From intellectual debates to workshops on financial literacy to yoga on campus, this is an hour spent every week enjoying each other in a healthy, supportive, and progressive environment, featuring free food, guest speakers, and more. Sign up for Power Hour.

Study Abroad
With programs in alternating years between Cape Town, South Africa, Ghana, and Oxford, England, study abroad courses allow students to survey history and explore the similarities and differences between their host country and the U.S. while also gaining valuable internship experiences.

College for a Day
College-for-a-Day programs are designed to increase high school males’ exposure to higher education. Increasing exposure to higher education helps to create the mentality that says, “I can do that! This is for me!”

Heman Sweatt Symposium
Held annually every spring semester, the Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights is an event organized by the students, faculty and staff. Our latest symposium, held November 2023, featured a theme of Excellence on the Field and Beyond with speakers Nathaniel Hughes, Trevante Rhodes and Cynthea Rhodes-Patterson.

Black Male Education Research Collection
The Black Male Education Research Collection of resources pertaining to black males and education is an effort headed by Dr. Anthony Brown and Dr. Louis Harrison from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. The website provides a comprehensive collection of scholarly articles for academics, mentors and anyone in search of literature on this topic. Their focus extends from kindergarten through higher education and includes everything from mentoring, psychological health and sports/athletics. This collection of research is composed primarily of peer-reviewed journal articles; books, book reviews, magazines or dissertations may be added at a later date.

Heman Sweatt Center
WCP 1.102
2201 Speedway
Austin, TX 78712

Meet with your advisor
Together with your academic advisor, plan your course schedules to complete all necessary degree requirements on time. For freshmen, on time is defined as within four years of their first semester. For transfer students, on time is defined as within three years of their first semester.

Commit to Graduate
If you are able to complete all the courses you need to graduate on time, your advisor will confirm your eligibility for Senior Countdown and record your expected graduation date.

Senior Countdown begins
You will receive a welcome email with tips for your final year, including guidance on applying to graduate and other end-of-degree support resources.

Contact the Student Success Help Desk at studentsuccess@utexas.edu for help with your degree requirements or course registration.

To learn more about your college or school’s process for applying to graduate, visit their website:

• Cockrell School of Engineering.
• College of Education.
• College of Fine Arts.
• College of Liberal Arts.
• College of Natural Sciences.
• Jackson School of Geosciences: Contact your academic advisor.
• McCombs School of Business.
• Moody College of Communication.
• School of Architecture: Contact your academic advisor.
• School of Nursing: Contact your academic advisor.
• Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

If you are completing your last courses at another institution and are not registered at UT Austin at the same time, you can still apply to graduate from UT Austin in your final semester. Contact your advisor to see if you are eligible to complete this process. Contact the Student Success Help Desk if you have questions.

A student is considered eligible to graduate when their degree audit is 100% complete. If you would like to appeal your graduation, you may submit an application; be prepared to provide documentation supporting how and why your extenuating circumstance deserves consideration of an exception to University procedure.

All cases are reviewed holistically and will consider University policy and federal and state laws, including financial aid eligibility and visa status for international students. All students must submit an appeal to be considered.

Appeals are automatically granted for students who have yet to complete eight consecutive semesters within four years of their first semester enrolled or within six consecutive semesters within three years of their first semester enrolled for transfer students. All students must submit an application for their appeal to be considered. Also note that earning a degree and diploma does not prohibit students from continuing to take coursework at UT. Courses taken after earning your degree will still contribute to your GPA.

If you have any questions about the graduation appeal process, please contact studentsuccess@utexas.edu.

How do I know if I’m on track to graduate?
Meet with your academic advisor and review your Interactive Degree Audit.

The Interactive Degree Audit cannot be used to register for courses and does not guarantee that the courses listed will be offered for the semester indicated, nor does it guarantee that you will be able to enroll in those courses. Some courses are offered infrequently or only in certain semesters.

If I can’t get a course I need to graduate, what should I do?
Enrolling in Senior Countdown guarantees assistance to get the courses you need to graduate or help finding an appropriate alternative. If you are not enrolled, meet with your advisor or email the Student Success Help Desk.

Course guarantee is for Senior Countdown participants in their final year only. Senior Countdown guarantees that participating students will have guaranteed assistance for courses that meet their graduation requirements, not a particular course. Students not yet participating in Senior Countdown should meet with their advisor to discuss alternative solutions and sign up for Senior Countdown.

What is in-absentia?
If you are completing your last courses at another institution and are not registered at The University of Texas at Austin at the same time, you can still apply to graduate from UT Austin in your final semester. This is called graduation in-absentia.

Contact your advisor to see if you are eligible to complete this process. If you still have questions, contact us at studentsuccess@utexas.edu.

How do I transfer coursework toward my degree?
When transferring coursework to finish your degree, you will need to make sure the institution you are sending it from sends it to the Office of Admissions. Once your transcript has arrived, your coursework will be added to your record and your degree audit. If you are not enrolled for longer than one semester, the Office of Admissions will not automatically upload your document; in this case, reach out to your academic advisor or the Student Success Help Desk for assistance.

I’ve only been at UT for three years. Don’t I have four years to complete my degree(s)?
Students are expected to complete their degree requirements within four years (eight consecutive long semesters) of their first semester enrolled or within three years (six consecutive long semesters) for transfer students. All students who receive a graduation Secure Academic Note (SAN) and wish to delay their graduation must appeal.

What if I want to continue my enrollment at UT?
You can still take coursework to complete requirements for a second degree or a second major after graduating with your first degree.

How do I register for the courses needed for a second degree?
Most students will have already registered for next semester’s courses during the previous registration period. Registration slotting for the following semester will be based on your progress toward your second degree.

What happens to my financial aid?
Graduating with one degree while completing a second degree or certificate does not automatically prevent you from receiving all types of financial aid. You should consult with Texas One Stop to confirm your options.

I haven’t completed my certificate (e.g., Business Foundations). What happens now?
You have one year after graduating to complete a transcriptable certificate. A maximum of nine hours of certificate coursework may be taken after you have earned an undergraduate degree.

What happens to my access to career services?
All UT alumni have free lifetime access to the 12twenty@Texas job board, virtual career development tools and online resources through Career Success. Additionally, Texas Exes members can access the association’s Career Resources Library and are eligible for career coaching at a discounted rate. You should also check with your college or school to learn about other benefits available to recent graduates.

You can also grow your career, connect with other alumni, and find a mentor by joining HookedIn, the official networking platform for UT students and alumni.

What do I need to do to participate in commencement ceremonies?
Some colleges or schools require you to confirm your intent to join commencement ceremonies. Check with your advisor or dean’s office for details. For information about the university-wide celebration, please visit the Commencement website.

I still need help. Who do I contact?
Contact the Student Success Help Desk by emailing studentsuccess@utexas.edu or calling 512-475-7378.

Completion Scholarships are awarded to students who are at risk of not graduating because of unmet financial need. These scholarships allow students to pay for the final course they need to complete their degree or help them get back on track for a timely graduation. The average completion scholarship is $1,100 and is awarded for a variety of reasons and amounts, such as:

• UT tuition.
• University Extension tuition and fees.
• Required textbooks, supplies or test proctoring fees.

To learn more about completion scholarships, please email the Student Success Help Desk at studentsuccess@utexas.edu.

Give to Completion Scholarships

Impact Scholarships recognize incoming high-potential students who are making an impact in their local communities with a $48,000 scholarship ($12,000 per year over four years at UT) to cover the cost of their tuition.

There is no application required to be selected for an Impact Scholarship. Students are chosen to receive the award based on demonstrated leadership, proven academic success, perseverance, commitment to their schools and communities, and the information provided in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To learn more about Impact Scholarships, email impactscholars@utexas.edu.