Pillars of the Forty Acres - Frequently Asked Questions
General Program Questions | Student Activities Specific Criteria | Special Criteria Guidelines
General Program Questions
Contact Student Activities at awards@austin.utexas.edu.
Yes. Student organizations are only permitted to enroll in the fall.
The deadline to complete and submit all criteria is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2023.
The Pillars of the Forty Acres starts each fall semester and ends the following spring semester.
Yes, the organization can count all criteria completed the summer before the fall semester.
An organization must complete three (3) categories to achieve Distinguished Status and six (6) categories to achieve Exemplary Status.
Yes, all active members should be listed in HornsLink. Each organization defines what an active member is. Note: If your website, social media, HornsLink page etc. indicates that you have 100 members but your roster only has 31 members, then your HornsLink roster is not up to date.
Yes, HornsLink rosters can be updated by the officers of your organization at any time. When logging points, you will often be required to list the names of members who participated in completing certain criteria. These members must be listed in your organizations HornsLink roster. Student Activities will refer to your HornsLink roster when verifying submitted criteria. If these members are not listed, then no points will be awarded.
If membership attendance is an issue, your student organization can focus on a category requiring criterion that involve more individual efforts (such as workshops and trainings) rather than the larger presentation criteria. We would also encourage you to utilize the "submit your own criteria" option available in every category. If you have any concerns, contact Student Activities at awards@austin.utexas.edu.
Each criterion that requires a 30 minute consultation to ensure that there is enough time to discuss the topic. If there are multiple criterion that you would like to discuss, you will need to schedule a separate consult for each. You may schedule back-to-back consultations if schedules allow. Please use our Bookings page to schedule a meeting with a staff member using Microsoft Teams. For more information on completing these criteria, see the "Student Activities Specific Criteria" at the top of this page for more details.
No, any officer can complete a consultation for program criteria with Student Activities, but we will communicate directly with the Pillars Contact for any updates or concerns regarding your organization completing the program.
If you have any other questions regarding the Pillars of the Forty Acres recognition program, please contact awards@austin.utexas.edu.