Sponsors

In grateful recognition, we would like to thank our sponsors, the
University Co-op, University Federal Credit Union and The University of Texas Club for their generous support. We greatly appreciate their friendship and continued interest in our parents, students and the University community.

University Co-op
The University Co-op was founded in 1896 by Dr. William J. Battle, a professor of the Greek language who later served as president of the university from 1914 to 1916. Disappointed with the services and high book prices charged by a privately owned bookstore on campus, Dr. Battle organized support for creating a bookstore like the Harvard Co-op that was an association owned by students, faculty, and staff to furnish books, supplies, and clothing at discounted prices to its members. The original store opened on campus--it was located in the university's Main Building--with books, stationery, and athletic goods and the intent to sell its products to students at the lowest possible prices. Twenty-two years later (1918) the Co-op moved off campus to a one-story building on Guadalupe across from the Student Union Center and started selling merchandise to local citizens as well. With rising profits in the 1920s, the Co-op contributed to a fund drive to build a new athletic stadium and enlarge the campus from its original 40 acres.

By 1935, the Co-op had to expand to meet the needs of a growing student body. The Co-op remained a co-operative until 1977, when it became a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation owned by the students, faculty and staff of the University of Texas at Austin. Nonetheless, the Co-op has stayed true to the original idea and mission, as well as continuing and improving the patronage rebate program. As the Co-op became more successful, the rebate percentage also increased. For the past several years, the rebate has been a full 10% of the value of the submitted receipts.

In 1987, at a time when the business was failing and the competition was fierce, the Co-op Board hired George H. Mitchell as President. He has led the store into unprecedented growth and profit. In 1994, the Co-op built a modern store on the corner of Medical Arts Parkway and Dean Keeton to serve the LBJ School of Public Affairs, UT Law School and other schools on the East side of campus. Seven years later, the Rio Grande store opened. In 2003, the Co-op for Women - the first ever store for licensed collegiate apparel for women - opened its doors. It is now located on the second floor of the main store and it has been tremendously successful.

Today the University Co-op is the largest seller of used textbooks in the country and the most profitable independent college bookstore in the United States. The University Co-op's mission is to advance the educational interests of the University. All the after-rebate profit (excluding a small portion set aside for reinvestment) of the Co-op is used to support university-related projects and activities. Moreover, the last few years the Co-op has given almost all of the UT schools and colleges a major grant for capital and other long-term projects, such as student lounges, career centers, and computer laboratories. Since 2000, the Co-op has given over 30 million dollars to UT in the form of gifts, grants, rebates and royalties.

University Federal Credit Union
UFCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative. At UFCU the focus is on people, not profits. We strongly believe that fair and honest products, along with outstanding customer service, is what has made UFCU Austin’s largest locally-owned financial institution, including a full-service branch in Galveston. Here you are not just an account number, but a partner with UFCU's employees, creating a credit union which we can all be proud of.

We work to earn your business by assisting you with your financial education, and by listening to your suggestions about how we can improve our credit union. You participate in the election of our Board of Directors, nominated from local business leaders who possess the credentials you’d expect to lead a multi-million dollar financial institution. By keeping our Directors local, we have the advantage of first-hand knowledge of local markets and customer needs.

University of Texas Club
Discounted Club memberships are available to Texas Parents members! For more information, click here.

The University of Texas Club is offering Texas Parents members a special membership rate.
Initiation Fee: $100 plus tax
Monthly Dues: $25 plus tax

The University of Texas Club is a prestigious private club bearing the sophistication and style unique to the great State of Texas and the university that bears its name. Conveniently located on the sixth and seventh floors of the East Side of Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium on the University of Texas campus, the Club opened its doors in November 1998, upon the completion of the stadium addition. The unique Texas-style decor and abundant Longhorn Memorabilia make the University of Texas Club a casual yet elegant gathering place for Members. The Club also offers a selection of private rooms, which can accommodate up to 300 guests. Additional amenities are available to accommodate various meeting and reception needs. All Members enjoy full privileges at more than 250 participating Associate Clubs located 50 miles or more from the Member's home Club, and 50 miles from the Members home and business address. These prestigious private Clubs across the United States and abroad include the finest country clubs, city clubs, and athletic clubs.