This year, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are celebrating the 150th Anniversary of their arrival to San Antonio. In 1869, the Sisters were responding to Bishop Claude Dubuis’s call to help the victims of a rapidly spreading cholera epidemic.
Since then, the Incarnate Word Sisters have responded to many different calls. Here are some of their stories.
The Mission of the University is derived from the history of its founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who came to San Antonio in 1869, shortly after the close of the Civil War. The first Sisters, who were from France, came at the request of the Catholic bishop, Claude M. Dubuis, to care for the victims of an epidemic of cholera and to establish the city's first hospital, the Santa Rosa Infirmary.
Sisters Madeleine Chollet, Pierre Cinquin and Agnes Buisson were three young women in their early 20s who spoke very little English and knew nothing about the people and culture of Texas. They were willing to leave their native land and to overcome all obstacles, however, to serve people in need of their help.
From its earliest days, Santa Rosa cared primarily for the poor people of the city and was often referred to as "the charity hospital." It is not surprising, therefore, that the Sisters were called upon to extend their work to the care of orphans and to establish the first homes for children in San Antonio, St. Joseph's Orphanage for Girls and St. John's Orphanage for Boys.
Their ministry in child care led to the opening of schools in San Antonio and other cities of Texas, as well as in Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri and even across the border in Mexico. They extended their ministry in health care also, opening the first hospitals in Fort Worth, Amarillo, San Angelo and Corpus Christi.
In 1893, the Sisters established Incarnate Word School on Government Hill in San Antonio. When they purchased the George Brackenridge estate and constructed a motherhouse on the property, the elementary and secondary school was transferred to the new location. Because San Antonio had no college for women at the time and many parents were not eager to send their daughters away to study, college courses were added to the curriculum. The school became known as the College and the Academy of the Incarnate Word. The original state charter, dated 1881, gave the Sisters the power to operate schools on all levels and to confer baccalaureate degrees.
Throughout their history, the Sisters have demonstrated their strong commitment to service. Their founding of hospitals, their establishment of homes for children, their opening of schools and of Incarnate Word College were all responses to the needs of others. Their service was based upon their belief in God, their love of God and their desire to serve God's people. The Mission of the University of the Incarnate Word is based on this same foundation of faith and commitment to service.
Founded
1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
Affiliation
Private, Catholic, Co-educational. 24% of students are Catholic.
Location
UIW, with a beautiful, 154-acre main campus in the heart of San Antonio, has locations throughout San Antonio, South and Central Texas, two campuses in Mexico and a European Study Center in Strasbourg, France.
Classroom Experience
- Average class size: 9 students (all undergraduate 16-week courses)
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
Majors
Nearly 110 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations.
Enrollment (Fall 2019)
- 8,175 total students
- 60% of UIW are female and 40% are male.
- Student demographics:
- 51% Hispanic
- 21% White
- 8% African American
- 7% Other/Unknown
- 4% Non-Resident Alien
- 6% Asian
- 3% Two or more races
Fall 2019 Freshmen Profile
- Average HS GPA: 3.61
- Average SAT exam score of admitted students (math and verbal combined): 1052.5
- Average ACT Composite exam score of admitted students: 5
- Number of Fall 2019 Freshmen Applications: 6,290
- Fall 2019 Main Campus Freshman Class: 1,012
Cost (2019-2020)
Taken from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
- $32,576 - full-time tuition and fees per year
- $1,400 – books and supplies
- $12,824 – on-campus, room and board
- $3,100 – on-campus, other expenses
- $12,284 – off-campus, room and board
- $3,650 – off-campus, other expenses
Scholarships
- Freshmen scholarships for full-time students range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year
- Freshmen graduating from Catholic high schools receive an additional $2,000 per year
- Transfer scholarships for full-time students range from $10,000 to $15,000 per year. In addition, each Phi Theta Kappa member may be awarded $2,000 per year.
Financial Aid
- 98% of students received some form of financial assistance
- Across all undergraduates, UIW awarded over $53.7 million in institutional grant/scholarship aid
- Gift aid packages were approximately $18,714 per year (for those who demonstrate need)
Colleges and Schools
- College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- H-E-B School of Business and Administration
- School of Media and Design
- Dreeben School of Education
- School of Math, Science and Engineering
- School of Professional Studies
- Rosenberg School of Optometry (Professional School)
- Feik School of Pharmacy (Professional School)
- School of Physical Therapy (Professional School)
- School of Osteopathic Medicine (Professional School)
- Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions (Undergraduate and Professional School)
Athletics
23 sports for men and women. NCAA Division I, Southland Conference
- Men: Football, basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, baseball, fencing and soccer.
- Women: Basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, synchronized swimming, tennis, softball, soccer, fencing and volleyball.
Cheer, dance, and spirit teams.
Mascot: Red the Cardinal
School Colors: Red, White, and Black
Clubs and Organizations
- 94 organizations, 15 intramural / recreational teams, 12 Greek Organizations.
- Campus Ministry, Honors Program, UIW newspaper: The Logos, UIW media: KUIW radio and UIWtv, Performing Ensembles: Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC and more!
Student Services
Career Services, Student Disability Services, First Year Engagement, Learning Assistance Center, (tutoring and testing services) TRiO, Advising Center.
Study Abroad
UIW students can study abroad in nearly 140 "sister schools" located in 44 countries while earning academic credit hours towards their degree. Various countries include China, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Brazil, England, Germany, France and Thailand.
UIW Makes Top Rankings in Two “Best Of” Lists
Nursing and Business Programs Draw National Praise
San Antonio – The University of the Incarnate Word is drawing national attention from two separate online publications for two programs offering affordable degrees in highly sought-after professions. The UIW School of Nursing was ranked Number 9 in Texas in the Top Ten List of Bachelors Degrees by RegisteredNursing.org and UIW was ranked Number 19 in the list of Top 30 Fastest Online MBAs by MBACentral.org for its Professional Masters of Business Administration program.
In its third annual rankings, RegisteredNursing.org based it’s results on the pass rates for the NCLEX-RN exam, the required state board exam for Registered Nurses. The School of Nursing has a 97% pass rate in an industry that continues to have a very high demand. The website notes that the nursing shortage in Texas continues and employment goals are expected to fall well short of the demand through at least 2030.
Time was the number one factor in the ranking of the Top 30 Fastest Online MBAs by MBACentral.org. The site notes that full-time UIW students need only ten months to complete the MBA program. They also highlighted UIW’s dedication to stressing technical skills and ethical responsibility while students achieve their MBA.
Anytime you make a “Best of” or “Top Ten” list, it is an honor, but it is really a credit to the hard work of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff,” says Cyndi Porter, Vice-President, Division of Enrollment Services. ”It’s a perfect example of why more and more students are picking the University of the Incarnate Word whether they choose to attend in person or through our various and growing online programs.
The UIW Nursing School offers a five semester Bachelors Degree program that can be completed in 28 months. The UIW MBA program offers what the website ranked as an affordable online MBA program that requires no mandatory on campus visits.
UIW Ranked Among Tops in Online Education
U.S. News and World Report Out with 2020 Rankings
San Antonio – Jan. 21, 2020 – The University of the Incarnate Word has once again been ranked high in the nation when it comes to Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News and World Report. In the publication’s 2020 rankings of 1,200 online programs, UIW ranked No. 52 and was rated higher when it comes to Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, ranking No. 34. U.S. News based its rankings on four categories: Engagement, Services and Technology, Faculty Credentials and Expert Opinion.
“It is always great to be recognized by a publication such as U.S. News and World Report,” says Vince Porter, dean of School of Professional Studies. “We are very proud of the faculty and staff and the hard work they do. This is also really a reflection of the dedication of our students and the success they go on to have after graduating from our online programs.”
According to U.S. News, one of the main reasons online learning has grown in the past decade is the flexibility that it provides for students to complete their coursework on their own schedules. The ability to earn a specific degree from anywhere in the world is appealing to working adults who don’t have the time or ability to travel to a physical campus. Many of these students want to either advance their career or change fields completely, and online education enables them to pursue their professional endeavors without having to leave their full-time jobs. The vast majority of students enrolled in ranked programs have earned at least some college credit. Rather than first-time college students, they are more likely to be working professionals in their 20s to 40s looking to advance in or change their careers.
UIW also ranked among the top 200 in Online Business Non-MBA (No. 92) and Online Business MBA (No. 185).
