This document summarizes sustainability initiatives at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, Texas. It discusses UIW's connections to local rivers and natural areas through research projects and volunteer activities. It also outlines UIW's on-campus and off-campus community garden programs. The document details UIW's support systems for sustainability efforts, including a strategic goal on sustainability, committees, and a future Office of Sustainability. It concludes by emphasizing the cross-disciplinary nature of sustainability and potential for collaboration between educational institutions in the San Antonio area.

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Sustainability & Student Learning
Local Higher Ed Scene
UIW Workshop
May 23, 2014

2. S—St Francis pledge
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3. SA River Connection
 Headwaters Sanctuary
 Blue Hole
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6. Headwater Sanctuary Activities
 Misc. workdays
 UIW water and soil studies
 Trinity research
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7. TU examples
 Can urban natural areas support sustainable
TX spiny lizard populations
 The meso-carnivore study
 Social connectivity and dominance in the
black-crested Titmouse
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8. UIW Water Activities
 NEH Water and Culture Grant
 Films: ‘Sun Came Up’; ‘The Story of the SA
River’; ‘FLOW’
 ‘Where Rivers Meet’ Production
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Where Rivers Meet:
A Multi-Year, Interdisciplinary
Project for UIW and
San Antonio
Where Rivers Meet:
A Multi-Year, Interdisciplinary
Project for UIW and
San Antonio

10. ARAMARK Connection
 ARAMARK enhanced its Blue Cleaning
program with Eclolab’s HydrisTM technology
in 2012
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 On-site system
 Electrolysis of
water containing
sodium chloride
produces solution
of sodium
hypochlorite
 Ingredient in
household bleach
ARAMARK

13. International Outreach
 Dr. Lieveld’s work in Africa (see handout)
 William Mulcahy Award for Ecological
Stewardship on Earth Day 2014
 Women’s Global Connection
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14. Community Gardens—On Campus
 UIW Community Garden
 Holy Land Garden
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18. Community Gardens—Off Campus
 Ella Austin Community Center
 Carroll Early Childhood Education Center
 CIELO Community Gardens
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20. Other Initiatives
 Solar House—2008 opening with Platinum
LEED Certification
 Green Building Award honorable mention
from SA Office of Environmental Policy- 2013
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23. Other Initiatives
 Pharmaceuticals disposal (MedDrop SA)
 2 windmills planned
 B-cycle program planned
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28. Support System—pulling it
together
 Strategic Goal 10 on Sustainability
 The Sustainability Committee
 The Green Education Committee
 Office of Sustainability to open this Sept
 Center for Civic Leadership opened 6/1/13
 December 2013, Board approves Legacy
Fund
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29. New UIW Strategic “Green”
Goal 10
PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF THE
UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL RESOURCES &
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
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30. Goal 10
 Oversees plans for:
--construction, renovation, preventive
maintenance
--waste management/use of consumable
materials
--environmental preservation
--compliance with ADA, OSHA, EPA, etc
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31. Goal 10
 Oversee plans for:
--educational programs/activities
--strategic partnerships & relationships in the
community
--ongoing information campaign
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32. Sustainability Committee
 Monitors progress of Goal 10 objectives
under the direction of the VP for Business
and Finance
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33. Green Education Committee
 Plans summer workshops
 Participates in events like Earth Day
 Creates support materials such as ‘Green
Teaching Self Evaluation’
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34. Office of Sustainability
 Help create and manage various
sustainability efforts
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35. March-2013
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36. Center for Civic Leadership
 In conjunction with CHRISTUS Health, create
community partnerships, local & international
 Facilitate and create service and service-
learning activities
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37. Legacy Fund—6 Goals
 SGA initiated a student referendum to add a
$90/semester fee for 3 years
 Green Fund annual budget—80K:
--5K for a coordinator of sustainability
--1K each for 5 student scholars
--70K for projects: garden, solar panels, etc.
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38. Conclusion
 Diversity on UIW Sustainability Committee
(by discipline and position)
 Lesson: Sustainability is more important than
any one department, discipline, or position.
 Vision: This issue can and should bring
together educational institutions throughout
the SA area.
 We’ve got a lot to learn. . .from you!
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