| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.93 |
| Liaison | Kevin Salfen |
| Submission Date | Oct. 21, 2024 |
University of the Incarnate Word
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kevin
Salfen Co-Director, Office of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Local advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The University of the Incarnate Word had two representatives (Dr. Carlos Garcia, Dean of the School of Math, Science and Engineering; Dr. Kevin Salfen, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) on the citizen-led group that developed the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan for the City of San Antonio. That plan was officially adopted by City Council in October 2019 and continues to serve as the source of the basic set of principles guiding the City's sustainability efforts (See pp. 90-91 of the SA Climate Ready report: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/Sustainability/SAClimateReady/SACRReportOctober2019.pdf)
The University of the Incarnate Word also has representatives on EcoSA, the City of San Antonio-initiated collaborative founded to advance sustainability in San Antonio. Recent public-facing events include a series of Eco Study Tours (https://deceleration.news/events/eco-study-tours-march/)
Regional advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
The University of the Incarnate Word is a member of the Laudato Si' Movement Texas, the statewide consortium of groups advocating for meaningful action in sustainability at a state level. UIW sent multiple representatives to an important meeting with the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in summer 2024 in which attendees urged the Archbishop to commit the archdiocese to the Laudato Si' Aciton Platform. In July 2024, the Archbishop made this archdiocesan commitment public.
National advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
The University of the Incarnate Word regularly advocates for those UN Sustainable Development Goals that closely align with Catholic Social Teaching.
A prime and practical example of this advocacy is through the Lewis Center of the Americas, which publishes and distributes policy advocacy, which is freely available through the Lewis Center of the Americas webpage.
To cite a specific example, the Lewis Center Topic Brief publication "Managing Migration in 2023" advocated for bipartisan legistlation "along the lines of McCain/Kennedy," which "would have legalized the status of millions living long-term in the U.S." https://www.uiw.edu/lewiscenter/_docs/managing-migration-in-2023.pdf
The Lewis Center of the Americas advocates regularly for policy change at the national level, particularly related to issues concerning the U.S. relationship with Latin America. The directors of the Lewis Center are top administrators at the university, including the Vice President of International Affairs, Marcos Fragoso.
Lewis Center publications, including a wide range of policy briefs touching on topics such as human migration, health care, and education, are available here: https://www.uiw.edu/lewiscenter/more-publications.html
International advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
The University of the Incarnate Word regularly advocates for those UN Sustainable Development Goals that closely align with Catholic Social Teaching at the international level.
In March 2024, UIW sent a delegation to United Nations events, including the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and the United Nations Camp, UNITE 2030, focused on SDG10: Reduced Inequalities. https://www.uiw.edu/news/2024/09/lia-butanda-uiw-student-attends-united-nations-camp-unite-2030.html
In addition, the Lewis Center of the Americas, which publishes and distributes policy advocacy, which is freely available through the Lewis Center of the Americas webpage. The Lewis Center of the Americas advocates for policy change that has a profound impact at the international level, particularly related to issues concerning the US relationship with Latin America. The directors of the Lewis Center are top administrators at the university, including the Vice President of International Affairs, Marcos Fragoso.
Lewis Center publications, including a wide range of policy briefs touching on topics such as human migration, health care, and education, are available here: https://www.uiw.edu/lewiscenter/more-publications.html
The University has two campuses in Mexico – Centro Universitario Incarnate Word in Mexico City and Universidad Incarnate Word Campus Bajío in Irapuato – and both are active in sustainability on their own campuses. In September 2024, a bilingual international conference "Creation Care/Cuidado de la Creación" was organized highlighting the important of sustainability as a crucial aspect of the international work of the university: https://sites.google.com/view/creationcarecuidadodelacreacin/home
Optional Fields
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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