Supporting and Expanding College-to-Career Initiatives
Each year, we support the Longhorn Center of Academic Equity's College-to-Career internship program by offering first-generation students two-year paid internships which help them get hands-on experience in their fields.
In 2020, we had 19 students in the program with more students joining the program in 2021.
Learn more about the Co-op Internship program or sign up for one of the upcoming info sessions by visiting the LCAE website.
Identifying and Introducing New Initiatives to Reduce the Cost of Course Materials and Expand Access for Students
Over the last few years, we have worked with The University and course materials publishers to offer a course material inclusive access program called Longhorn Textbook Access. This program increases buying power to offer course materials at an even lower cost.
The 11-course Longhorn Textbook Access pilot program begins Spring 2021, with plans to roll out University-wide for the Fall 2021 semester.
Through our strategic relationships with vendors, we also work directly with publishers to expand the offering of titles available as low-cost digital options.
Providing the Opportunity for Experiential Learning Outside of the Classroom
We dedicate resources and partner with classes and departments on campus in marketing, management, textiles and apparel, and more to offer hands-on projects to gain real-world experience in the operations of a business.
Student projects like these influence the decisions we make as a business so students can see the real impact of their contributions.
Curating the Official Booklist
As the bookstore for the University, we help curate the official booklist for each semester to ensure compliance with the federal law, HEOA & HB33.
We also educate incoming freshman about how to shop for course materials within any budget and find the lowest cost materials available.
Books are sold at the lowest cost possible. No profit is made off textbooks. Operational costs are covered by the retail business.
Offer Student Employment and Development Opportunities
We hire students and offer flexible shifts to fit their course schedule.
Student employees have access to mentors in their fields of interest and staff development opportunities.
Supporting the Texas Advance Commitment
The Co-op has committed to giving $125,000 to the Texas Advance Commitment between 2019 and 2024.
First implemented in 2018, the Texas Advance Commitment is UT Austin’s commitment to making a UT education even more affordable, more transparent, and understandable for Texas students and families from middle- and low-income backgrounds who have financial need.
Support and Celebrate Faculty Research and Writing at the Hamilton Book Awards
Each fall, the Hamilton Book Awards celebrates nominated faculty who have published works including scholarly monographs, creative works, exhibition catalogues, textbooks, and edited collections. Winners are selected by a committee of scholars appointed by the Vice President for Research at UT Austin.
Additionally, we celebrate research with three awards: Career Research Excellence Award, acknowledging a faculty or staff researcher who has maintained superior research programs over many years; the Best Research Paper Award, presented to a faculty or staff researcher who is the principal or sole author of a peer-reviewed scholarly paper reporting original research, and the Creative Research Award, that recognizes extraordinary creative achievement.