University of Incarnate Word

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" promises to conduct an "Objective review of [the] hiring and recruitment process, and DEI goals in this area." It will also conduct "Objective reviews of [the] student recruitment process, and DEI goals in this area." (Page 9)

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" specified "Mandatory and annual employee training/development on DEI, vulnerable populations." It adds, "New employee training on DEI and social justice," and "Training for students on DEI." (Page 8)

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" commits to "Integrate DEI and Social Justice within Curricula and Academic Programming." It will "Update current curricula on intercultural awareness and sensitivity" and establish a "Core requirement related to DEI and social justice courses." The report promised to also "Prioritize faculty and staff training/webinar on the history of racism, use of language, and institutional racial inequities prior to beginning any departmental and/or school conversations on DEI curricular design or recruitment." (Page 9)

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" plans to set up an "Examination of procedures for staff, faculty, and students to report DEI related incidences, grievances and bias concerns." (Page 9)

On February 10, 2023, UIW News reported that as part of Black History Month, the UIW community was "invited to Our Lady’s Chapel for dialogue and prayer about the pursuit of racial justice." The event was described as follows: "The goal of the prayer circles – called Pray and Act for Racial Justice – is to provide students and other community members with a place where they can discuss today’s real-world issues, how they can cope with them, and how they can act to move society forward, as well as pray together for the strength needed to do so."

On January 20, 2023, UIW News reported that its Associate Vice President for Mission and Ministry and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Arturo Chavez, "walked alongside students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds, races and nationalities at the largest Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March in the country." The article also reported that Dr. Chavez "strives to provide opportunities for students and staff to bring unconscious prejudices to the surface where they can be challenged, look beyond what divides them, and focus on what unites them."

In November 2020, UIW named Dr. Arturo Chavez the new "Associate Vice President for Mission and Ministry and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" writes that it will "Increase infrastructure dedicated to DEI, including dedicated point of contact." Additionally, it will create an "Operational budget for DEI Office without diverting current academic program funding."

Dr. Tanja Stampfl, professor of English, and Dr. Lopita Nath, chair and professor History, "were each awarded $1,000 Racial Equity and Interfaith Cooperation Awards as part of the Interfaith Youth Core's (IFYC) 'We Are Each Other's' campaign."

On October 7, 2022, UIW News reported that the university, along with several other universities, was "awarded an almost $2.5 million grant by the National Science Foundation" as part of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program which has the goal to "increase the number of historically underrepresented students and those from lower-income backgrounds to obtain bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields." 

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" names "DEI Efforts to Date." These efforts include "Social Justice in Action Workshops" in the Dreeben School of Education, a "Unity task Force" in the School of Medicine, and a "Theatre for Social Change" and "Racial Equity and Interfaith Cooperation Awards" in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. (Page 11)

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" promises "Regular constructive forums and community dialogue on DEI," and "Campus wide DEI/social justice discussions and forums with students, staff and faculty." (Page 9)

UIW's "Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability" offers detailed information on DEI initiatives each semester. In Spring of 2022, the Center will host events such as "The Gift of Diversity," "The Call to Inclusion," "The Roots of Racism," and "Systemic Racism Today."

UIW has a Black History Month committee which hosted a Zoom panel titled “Race in Education” on February 21, 2022.

The Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability provides a variety of "Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Racial Bias" resources.

UIW Libraries provide resources that "support conversation and action in support of Black Lives Matter."

The Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability hosted an event called "Humanity in Black and White." This event brings "awareness to those afflicted by systemic injustice" in America. The host writes, "My photography conveys a pang of societal guilt. This guilt I hope to spread through contagion. The homeless, a class unspoken for, neglected and unheard. Black Lives Matter, a movement seeking change in the face of relentless opposition. These are the subjects of my work. They inspire reflection in me, as I hope they do in you."

"In 2017, the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was created by Dr. Evans “to ensure that we continue serving the underserved and elevate the dignity of every human person.” Meeting regularly until it went on hiatus in March 2020 due to the pandemic, in July 2020, the task force submitted their recommendations to Dr. Evans thus concluding their activities."

"The San Antonio Business Journal (SABJ) has named the University of the Incarnate Word as one of its first recipients of the publications’ inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Awards. SABJ chose 10 honorees who, they say, have gone above and beyond to bolster diversity and inclusion efforts."

UIW's "DEI Report on Engagement of the UIW Community" supported the creation of "Campus-wide safe spaces for dialogue by Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and other diverse communities." (Page 9)

Dr. Javier Clavere -- the new dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) -- shared with UIW that he believes "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is framed by the concept of Belonging" and that he intends to "[mirror] the themes of Catholic Social Teachings" in his DEI efforts.

The 20th annual Pierre Lecture was titled “Do THE WORK: Antiracism and the U.S. Catholic Church." During the event, the speaker -- an assistant professor of sociology at Villanova University -- asserted that "anti-racism work is essential because racism continues to plague society and the Catholic Church."