Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.93
Liaison Kevin Salfen
Submission Date Oct. 21, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of the Incarnate Word
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 2.00 Kevin Salfen
Co-Director, Office of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:

Sustain is the student group focused on sustainability. Its activities have generally been supported by the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability and by the Sustainability Advisory Board. For additional information about Sustain, please follow this link: https://www.uiw.edu/eccl/sustainability/get-involved.html#sustain


Gardens and farms 

Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:

We have two community gardens on UIW’s main campus: the 650 sq. ft. Gorman Garden, located on the west side of the Gorman Building, and the 200 sq. ft. Bonilla Garden, adjacent to Bonilla Hall. Each garden is planted and maintained year round by students, faculty, and staff, and we have an open-harvest policy, so anyone is welcome to harvest ripe fruits and vegetables anytime. We have also supported other community gardens at schools, community centers, and nonprofits in the San Antonio community, such as Cielo Carroll Early Childhood Education Center, Ella Austin Community Center, Gardopia Gardens, the Guadalupe Cultural Center, and the Village at Incarnate Word (elder care center). For additional information about the community gardens at UIW, please follow this link: https://www.uiw.edu/mission/services/garden.html


Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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Sustainable investment and finance 

Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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Events 

Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:

The Sustainability Advisory Board, the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership & Sustainability, Sustain (the student-run sustainability organization at UIW), and the Earth Month committee, offer an annual slate of events in celebration of Earth Month, which includes keynote addresses on a sustainability topic, an Earth Fair with local vendors and student organizations, an award ceremony, and other events. For additional information about Earth Month at UIW, please follow this link: https://www.uiw.edu/eccl/sustainability/earth-month.html


Cultural arts 

Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:

UIW's thriving arts community regularly offers performances and installations that feature sustainability as a focus or as the primary focus. One recent example is a Spring 2024 performance, in tandem with Earth Month, by Sr. Martha Ann. UIW alumni Isaac “Papa Bear” Cardenas, Kona of the Tap Pilam Nation, and Jesse Borrego, award-winning Mexican American actor and UIW alumna, in a moving performance that explored the stories of their contrasting ancestors – the Apache people and the settlers – and the role of water on our campus.


Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
No

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
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Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

UIW has instituted a First-Year Experience program through which college freshmen learn about sustainable life skills, including making the most of the university experience, physical, social, mental, and financial health. For additional information about the program, please follow this link: https://my.uiw.edu/provost/title-v/flight-mentor-center/first-year-experience-seminar.html


Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

UIW offers a work study position that supports the Sustainability Studies Concentration, which was filled in the 2022-23 academic year. In 2023-24 UIW supported a Graduate Research Assistant to assist with the completion of STARS. For additional information about the Sustainability Studies Concentration, please follow this link: https://www.uiw.edu/chass/academics/departments/sustainability-studies/


Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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Optional Fields

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.