UIW News

Enrollment for the fall semester is 7,176, an increase of approximately seven percent from last year. UIW has experienced record-breaking enrollment for 23 of the last 24 years, with its enrollment nearly doubling since 2000.

“An investment in a four-year college education is especially critical in today’s challenging economic climate,” said UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese. “We remain one of the fastest growing universities in the state by offering quality programs that attract a diverse student body representative of the Texas of today and tomorrow.”

“This year’s record enrollment demonstrates our students’ commitment to their future.”
The university also saw an increase in student retention due to several initiatives aimed at assisting students with both academic and financial support. These include the launch of a summer program, BEGINUIW, which assists students with the transition to college.

In addition, the department of Student Success established a system to identify at-risk students and created appropriate interventions and tutoring models to assist the students.

In response to the challenges posed by the current economy, UIW also restructured scholarship programs and introduced a performance incentive award called Up-Grade Your Aid. This is an additional academic scholarship given to students at the main campus that complete 24 total credit hours in the previous fall and spring semesters, and maintain a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average.

“Given the tough economy, we want to ensure that our students are provided with every possible opportunity to complete their studies,” Agnese said.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Cardinal Football Honors Our Armed Forces

archived October 29, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word hosted area military at the first Cardinal Football Military Appreciation game Saturday, Oct. 17 at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. The Cardinals hosted the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs from Seguin. Over 1500 Cardinal football tickets were distributed to troops and their families stationed at San Antonio area military installations as well as to area high school JROTC programs.

The national anthem was sung by Sgt 1st Class Timothy Harris and Sgt 1st Class Thomas Harris, twin brothers stationed at Ft Sam Houston. Game day highlights include an ROTC presentation by Lt. Col. David Guarriello, UIW/St. Mary’s University Army ROTC Commander to UIW Provost Dr. Denise Doyle, the swearing in of new recruits by the U.S. Army, a performance by the Fort Sam Houston 323rd Medical Command Army Band and a drill-team presentation by the Chaminade Guard from Central Catholic High School.

UIW has developed a tradition of assisting active duty military. By partnering with military tuition assistance programs such as eArmyU/GoArmyEd® , Air University – Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC), and the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP) and providing numerous educational opportunities to active duty military and their families. UIW is also a founding member school of eArmyU/GoArmyEd® , founding member of the GoArmyEd® Advisory Committee, and founding member of the Service member Opportunity Colleges Army Degrees Advisory Committee

In 2008, as a testament to the dedicated work of the students, staff and administration of UIW toward student veteran success, the university was awarded the Colleges and Universities with Demonstrated Success in Veterans’ Support Scholarship by the Wal-Mart Foundation. UIW was also named to the 2010 Military Friendly School list by G. I. Jobs magazine, ranking UIW in the top 15% of collegiate institutions nationwide.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Pharmacy Class of 2013 Honored at White Coat Ceremony

archived October 15, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word’s Feik School of Pharmacy recently honored the Class of 2013 with a White Coat Ceremony in the university’s Rosenberg SkyRoom.

The White Coat Ceremony symbolizes the commitment of the first-year pharmacy students to their profession as they don their white coats for the first time and take an oath pledging their devotion to providing the best patient care possible. The 2009 White Coat Ceremony is the fourth held by the FSOP since the pharmacy school began.

Paul F. Davis, R.Ph., Executive Director, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists was this year’s keynote speaker. UIW president Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr., also addressed the Class of 2013. Dr. Arcelia Johnson-Fannin, Founding Dean of the Feik School of Pharmacy presided over the ceremony.

The Class of 2013 consists of 101 students, 74 female and 27 male. Fifty-two students are the first in their families to attend college. Ninety students are from Texas, nine are from out of state, and two of the students are international. The majority of the Texas students are from the San Antonio area.

The Feik School of Pharmacy, established in 2006, is the only private school of pharmacy in Texas. It is a state-of-the-art facility at the forefront of pharmacy education. The School of Pharmacy embraces the Mission of the university as it develops student scholars dedicated to impacting the future health care needs of the community in San Antonio and South Texas. The Doctor of Pharmacy program of the University of the Incarnate Word, Feik School of Pharmacy, was awarded candidate accreditation status in June 2007. The FSOP will graduate its first class in Spring 2010.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Students and Faculty Take Time to Give Back to the Community

archived September 30, 2009

University of the Incarnate Word students and faculty kicked off the fall semester by participating in the university’s 4th annual Meet the Mission event on September 11. More than 225 UIW students and 30 faculty members participated in this year’s event.

Participants began the day at 7:30 a.m. with a spiritual send-off, provided by UIW’s Campus Ministry department at Marian Hall located on the UIW campus.

Meet the Mission is a university-wide day of community service and collaboration between faculty and students who reach out to the community at large by providing necessary services to the underserved and the needy. The program is a continuation of the mission of service that brought the first Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word to San Antonio in 1881.

UIW’s Meet the Mission participants visited more than 20 social service providers in San Antonio including the UIW Retirement Center, the Salvation Army, Visitation House, St. Vincent DePaul Nutrition Center and the Children’s Shelter.

Many of the groups took VIA Metropolitan Transit to reach their destinations. This form of public transportation will allow university students to learn more about San Antonio’s public transportation system, and meet those members of our community for whom VIA is primary transportation.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Shares Progress for School of Optometry

archived September 23, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word shared progress on August 25 for the UIW School of Optometry. The inaugural class of the professional program is made of approximately 60 students with an average GPA of 3.31. A total of 12 percent are Hispanic. The national average for Hispanic students in optometry schools in the contiguous United States is less than 3 percent. In the first five weeks of the applications cycle for the class entering in 2010, the UIW School of Optometry has received 173 applications.

In March, the School of Optometry received pre-accreditation approval to begin its doctoral program. The approval was granted by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.

The school’s facilities will be housed in two locations. The primary 67,000-square-foot location will be in the heart of the San Antonio Medical Center. It will include the academic headquarters, research facilities and one of two clinical facilities. The second location will be a 30,000-square-foot clinical facility on San Antonio’s East Side. While each location will offer a wide range of optometric services, they will also have a special commitment to pediatric eye care and low vision services, as there is an acute need for both locally.

“The faculty, staff and administration of UIWSO are proud to announce the startup of the UIW School of Optometry and to welcome our inaugural class. Everyone at UIWSO is committed to fostering academic and clinical excellence, professional growth and community outreach. Our clinical facilities are also committed to serving a significant population of the underserved and uninsured and expanding the Mission of the university in terms of social justice, community service and the provision of healthcare,” said Dr. Hani Ghazi-Birry, UIW School of Optometry founding dean and professor.

In conjunction with the Doctor of Optometry program, UIW has launched a Bachelor of Science degree program in vision science. Its curriculum, structure and content will provide undergraduates with the requirements to qualify for optometry school and other health-related professional programs. The bachelor’s program will also incorporate a two-year rotation through the optometry clinics and is designed to provide a strong foundation in the science of vision. Students will graduate with suitable credentials to embark on a biomedical graduate research career, or to enter the workforce as a vision-science or ophthalmic-related specialist.
The economic impact of the UIW optometry program on San Antonio over a 10-year period is conservatively estimated at nearly $300 million.

Texas currently has just one other optometry school. The UIWSO will be one of 20 in the contiguous United States and is the only one located at a faith-based university. No optometry program has been established in the U.S. in more than two decades.

The school’s Mission is to educate and prepare future leaders in optometry through excellence in education, patient care, vision research and public service within a context of faith and personal development.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Incarnate Word Makes "Military Friendly" List

archived September 23, 2009

G.I. Jobs has released its 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools, and The University of the Incarnate Word was honored as among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students. Schools on the list include state universities, private colleges, community colleges and trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting student with military experience.

“We are very proud to have our efforts to help our military populations recognized”, said Dr. Cyndi Wilson Porter, Vice President for Extended Academic Programs. “It is only right that we do as much as we can to help our military service men and women who do so much to preserve our freedom. Great rates, wonderful service and free textbooks are the least that we can do.”

Schools on the Military Friendly Schools list offer additional benefits to student veterans including on-campus veterans programs, credit for service, military spouse programs and more.

The list was compiled through exhaustive research starting May 2008 during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) consisting of educators and administrators from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Toledo, Duquesne University, Coastline Community College and Lincoln Technical Institute.

A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in September. A new Web site, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, will launch in September with interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students and academic accreditations.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Constitution Day Activities Planned

archived September 18, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences will celebrate UIW’s annual Constitution Day observance on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6:00 p.m. in the university’s Bonilla Science Hall, room 129.

Dr. James Riddlesperger, professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University since 1982, will speak on “Honoring the Constitution: Presidential Power v. Presidential Authority.” An award winning teacher, Riddlesperger, is co-author of The Austin-Boston Connection, co-editor of Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Policy, winner of the Aaron Wildavsky book award, co-author of the Texas edition of a leading American government textbook, "The Challenge of Democracy," and co-author of Preparing for the United States Government and Politics AP Exam.

He also has published 35 research articles and two dozen entries in encyclopedias. A frequent consultant to the news media concerning politics and elections, he also serves as a Question Leader and a faculty consultant to the College Board's AP U.S. Government exam. A question and answer period will follow Dr. Riddlesperger’s remarks.

On Sept. 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 men, creating the document that is the foundation of our country. UIW Constitution Day activities are sponsored by the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Optometry Program Awarded $250,000 for East Side Clinic

archived September 9, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) School of Optometry was included in the FY2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July. The federal funding will be used to purchase equipment and technology for the School of Optometry and a planned East Side eye care clinic, which will provide quality eye exams and vision services to underserved residents in East San Antonio.

The UIW School of Optometry will open this fall with the eye care clinic slated to open in Spring 2010. These facilities will educate new optometrists and offer clinical optometry services, particularly in the field of pediatric and geriatric optometric services. The long-range goal of the program is to increase the number of professional optometrists in Texas

"We are honored to receive this award and grateful to Congressman Lamar Smith for his vision and help in this public health care project. The Eastside Clinical facility is what constitutes the jewel of our clinical program. We are able to serve a significant population of the underserved. We are also able to expand the mission of the university in terms of social justice, community service and the provision of healthcare. The faculty, administration and staff of the UIW School of Optometry are committed to fostering academic and clinical excellence, professional growth and community outreach,“ said Dr. Hani Ghazi-Birry, UIW School of Optometry Founding Dean & Professor.

At least 50 fulltime, permanent jobs are expected to be created at the eye care clinic with the assistance of this federal funding. UIW is the fourth-largest private university in Texas. The East Side eye care clinic will be located on East Commerce Street near downtown San Antonio.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Incarnate Word Among Top 100 Hispanic Serving Schools

archived August 25, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word is proud to announce its listing in Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine as one of the top 100 universities serving Hispanics in the United States.

Each year Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education publishes its list of the top 100 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. conferring the most bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on Hispanic students. UIW is listed no. 51 among those universities conferring bachelor’s degrees and no. 42 among those universities awarding master’s degrees to Hispanics.

The information cited by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education is derived from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System program.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Team Rockin' and Rollin' for Marathon

archived August 25, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word’s Department of Alumni Relations has organized a team of alumni, faculty, staff and students to participate in the 2009 San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon as part of the Get Fit Challenge (GFC).

With 53 team members, UIW is leading the extra-large division. The extra-large division is defined as those companies with more than 1,000 employees. The GFC is broken down into five divisions by company size, and each division will yield one winner on race day. The winner is determined by the total number of participants that finish the race.

The UIW team has also started their 19-week training program. Training updates can be found on the team blog at www.uiwalumni.org/blog/uiwteam.

“As an alumna of UIW and first time marathon participant, this has been an amazing experience...the UIW Team is led by UIW staff knowledgeable in stretching techniques, injury prevention and building endurance for full and half marathons. The camaraderie of the UIW team was instantaneous and for the first time I look forward to completing a run just to get a simple high-five from a team member or a unanimous clapping of hands from a team that has their sights set on getting to the finish line on November 15, 2009” said Yvette Reyna, UIW Alumni Association Board Member.

The team trains every Tuesday and Thursday on campus as a team, and Fridays and Sundays off campus as individuals. The training program allows walkers and runners both veterans and rookies to participate at their own unique and individual level.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Named “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education

archived August 19, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word is proud to announce its selection by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of “2009’s Great Colleges to Work For.” The national survey recognizes institutions that have created exceptional work environments.

Each year the publication honors small groups of colleges for specific best practices and policies, such as tenure clarity, collaborative governance, work/life balance and compensation and benefits.

The results will be announced online and in the July 10th print issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Receives Wal-Mart Minority Student Success Award

archived August 10, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word has been selected by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) to receive a Wal-Mart Minority Student Success Award—a $100,000 grant to help build on UIW’s demonstrated successes in enrolling, retaining, and graduating first-generation college students. UIW was one of only 15 minority-serving institutions (MSIs) selected through a highly competitive application process to strengthen efforts to support first-generation students.

“The University of the Incarnate Word is honored to be selected as one of the outstanding institutions of higher education nationwide to receive this award,” said Dr. David Jurenovich, VP for Enrollment Management & Student Services. “Thanks to the generosity and vision of Wal-Mart, the university will be able to continue to enhance and expand our commitment to first-generation students and their success.”

UIW’s Student Success Award will be used to introduce a faculty development program focused on first generation sophomore student success. The initiative will educate faculty on sophomore challenges and ways of realigning teaching approaches to address these challenges and structure opportunities for faculty to share and be recognized for successful models for serving first generation sophomore students. UIW faculty will apply these strategies to first generation sophomore students through a cohesive freshman to sophomore transition initiative, to be conducted in advance of the sophomore year “We are excited to be working with such a diverse group of minority-serving institutions focused on improving the success of this critical student group,” said IHEP president Michelle Asha Cooper. “Their planned initiatives demonstrate a long-term commitment to first generation student success that builds on their well-established mission to retain and graduate underserved student populations.”

“The Wal-Mart Foundation is committed to helping our nation’s young adults live better – supporting programs that provide access to higher education is a key part of our commitment,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “We are confident that our partnership with the Institute for Higher Education Policy and minority-serving institutions will positively impact many first-generation college students and assure their academic success.

Approximately 41 percent of students enrolled at MSIs are first-generation college students, compared to 30 percent of students at predominately white institutions. Because of their overrepresentation of first-generation students, MSIs are ideally situated to improve retention and persistence gaps for these students.

The Wal-Mart College Success Awards program is administered by IHEP and made possible by a generous $4.2 million grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

IHEP will select a second cohort of Wal-Mart Minority Student Success institutions in spring 2010.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Centro Universitario Incarnate Word Grad Lands Position with Fortune 500 Company

archived July 7, 2009

On Saturday June 13, Centro Universitario Incarnate Word (CIW), UIW’s campus located in Mexico City held commencement ceremonies for its second graduating class. Twelve students earning their Bachelor of Business Administration degrees crossed the stage with UIW administrators, faculty, friends and family looking on.

CIW student, Carlos Salvá graduated knowing his future was secure having landed a prestigious position with Procter & Gamble Worldwide (P&G.) During his junior year, Salvá was accepted as an intern with P&G Mexico after passing a grueling exam, surviving a tough interview process as well as competing for the position with 45 other students from universities across Mexico. Salvá held that position for over a year and was then offered a full time position, upon graduation, where he will manage P&G Mexico operations in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca managing a $7 million dollar budget. Salvá accepted the offer with the condition that he be allowed to complete the coursework necessary to receive his final diploma required by the Mexican government. Not only did P&G agree they also offered to fly Salvá to Mexico City each week at their expense for the four months it will take him to complete the program.

“The P&G internship program is one of the most competitive in Mexico. We are proud that Salvá’s skills and abilities in combination with the academic level and education that CIW provided, allowed him to be successfully recruited by P&G. We extend our congratulations and well wishes for a successful career,” said Marcos Fragoso, CIW Mexico Executive Director.

CIW commencement was attended by UIW President, Dr. Louis J. Agnese, as well as other dignitaries and special guests including UIW faculty and members of the UIW Board of Trustees. Dr. José Manuel Vargas served as the keynote speaker for the event.

Dr. José Manuel Vargas is a lawyer with more than 10 years of experience in International Business. He has more than 25 years of service at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México. He is an author and has been awarded many medals for his academic service.

CIW opened as a way for students in Mexico to earn dual undergraduate college degrees from an American university that are fully recognized on both sides of the border by each country’s respective education agencies. The school opened in Fall 2004 with 25 students offering only three programs and now has more than 200 students and offers 8 programs.

For more information, contact Margaret Garcia, associate director of public relations at 210-829-6001 or at mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu.

Campus Police to Test Emergency Notification System

archived June 25, 2009

Campus police will be testing the campus mass notification system from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the afternoon of June 25.

UIW community members can help campus police with the test by reporting exactly what they hear during the test, when they hear it, and their location on campus at the time, to police@uiwtx.edu.

The mass notification system is designed to alert the campus community when emergency situations arise. It formerly included siren alerts, with the new system including voice messages.

For more information, contact campus police at 829-6030.

Dean of Virtual U. Named President-Elect of Military Ed Council

archived June 25, 2009

The University of the Incarnate Word is proud to announce that Rita Russ, dean of UIW’s Virtual University, has been voted President-Elect for 2009/10 for the Council on Military Education in Texas and the South (COMETS). As president-elect Russ will work closely with the president to identify, study and seek solutions to issues jointly affecting colleges and the military services. Results are then shared with the member institutions and governmental agencies concerned in order to support the purposes of the organization.

“UIW is committed to supporting those who serve to ensure our freedoms. It is this support that prompts me to take a lead role with an organization like COMETS, which recently celebrated 17 years of collaboration toward ensuring quality education for our military members,” said Rita Russ, dean, UIW Virtual University.

The COMETS organization was developed to support quality education programs available to military personnel, their dependents and Department of Defense civilians of all services. COMETS also develops and maintains close, effective working relationships among military, colleges and other professional groups concerned with education.
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