University of the Incarnate Word

Incarnate Word College, c. 1930

The school was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who came to San Antonio in 1869 to assist with treating a cholera outbreak. The institution began as the Incarnate Word School in 1881 and was originally chartered as a college for women. In 1900, the Academy of the Incarnate Word, which had been established first in an area of San Antonio called Government Hill, was moved to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Alamo Heights. College classes were added to the curriculum in 1909, and the name of the institution was changed to the College and Academy of the Incarnate Word.

In 1995, the university elected to move into new population areas, both in the adult education community and international arena. In 1995, the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP) afforded adult learners the opportunity to get a post-secondary education in the evening at an accelerated pace.

In 2000, UIW began offering accredited university degrees in China.

All students are required to volunteer 45 hours in the community before graduating.

Accreditation

University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas

In 1998, the university was re-accredited at the baccalaureate and master degree level and approval was given to offer doctoral degrees by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges. Through its College of Professional Studies, the university is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs to offer degrees in Business Administration (BBA) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Other accreditations include the American Music Therapy Association, the Texas Education Agency, the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology, and the American Dietetic Association.

The university also holds membership in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Council for the Advancement of Support to Education, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, the Higher Educational Council of San Antonio and the United Colleges of San Antonio. The institution is a charter member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and qualifies as an Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) under federal guidelines.

UIW campus sign seen from Broadway

The university's main campus is located in the Midtown Brackenridge district of San Antonio and the enclave city of Alamo Heights. Satellite campuses are located in northwest San Antonio at the South Texas Medical Center; Zengcheng, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (China Incarnate Word/CIW); Mexico City, Mexico (Centro Universitario Incarnate Word); Irapuato, Mexico (Universidad Incarnate Word Campus Bajio), Strasbourg (France) and Heidelberg, Germany (European Study Center). Incarnate Word also maintains an Adult Degree Completion Program at Rolling Oaks Mall in northeast San Antonio and Saidoff Center in far northwest San Antonio.

Newly constructed buildings include the pharmacy school and the "Hillside" dormitory, opened in fall of 2007. The Tom Benson Field House and Stadium, the Hillside II (later renamed Joeris) dormitory and the new Ancira Tower parking garage opened and were dedicated in fall of 2008. The Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health professions underwent a complete renovation in 2011. The Rosenberg School of Optometry was opened in 2009 and is located in the Medical Center Area of San Antonio.[9]

Chapel of the Incarnate Word, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word

In 2013, as part of a larger strategy to build new arts facilities at the university, a new $16 million ceramics and sculpture studio was dedicated.[10]

In December 2013, a university policeman shot and killed Cameron Redus,[11] a student at UIW, nearby Alamo Heights during a traffic stop.[12] A year later, Corporal Carter resigned from the department. In March 2015, a Bexar County grand jury decided not to indict Carter for the shooting.[13] Redus’ parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against UIW in 2014, but university lawyers have continued to fight the family of the deceased insisting that the institution should be granted immunity. Attorneys for the Redus family contend that as a private university, UIW does not receive public funds, and therefore would not qualify as a governmental entity.[14]

In August 2016 UIW President Louis Agnese Jr was removed from his position[15] after making racist and offensive remarks about African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Mormons at a university luncheon.[16] In March 2019 a $90,000 statue of President Agnese was placed on campus to honor his time at Incarnate Word.[17]

The university is a member of the Caucasus University Association.[18]

In August 2012, UIW accepted an invitation to move up to Division I as a member of the Southland Conference.[19] UIW entered the NCAA Division I Southland Conference on July 1, 2013. The football team played as a Division I FCS independent in 2013 and began conference play in 2014 due to schedule commitments. UIW will be fully eligible for Division I championships starting in the 2017–18 season. Prior to moving up to Division I, UIW was a member of the Division II Lone Star Conference.

In 2004 the UIW mascot changed from the Crusaders to the Cardinals after administrators decided Crusaders is offensive to Muslims and inappropriate for the institution.[20][21][22]

In 2010, the UIW Men's Swim team placed second at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Canton, Ohio.

UIW's synchronized swimming team placed in the 2006 U.S. Collegiate Championships.[23]

UIW Men's and Women's Soccer teams have won numerous Heartland Conference championships.

UIW Men's Cross Country won the Heartland Conference meet in 2008[24] and 2009.[25]

The Word, the University of the Incarnate Word alumni magazine, keeps alumni informed of campus activities.[26]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of the Incarnate Word.

• Official website
• Incarnate Word Athletics website
• University of the Incarnate Word from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Map: 29°28′01″N 98°27′59″W