Mission Leadership Institute

The Mission Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Mission Effectiveness Office, is a collaborative vehicle for development of lay leaders who will carry forward into the future the faith-based educational Mission of the University of the Incarnate Word.

The Institute provides various activities designed to promote faculty and staff appreciation of the Christian academic vocation, to deepen their exploration of the relationship between faith and higher learning, to immerse them in the heritage of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and to enable them to nurture, sustain and pass the Mission and Catholic identity of the University to students and new members of our University community.

Some of the activities of the Institute are

• Mission Leadership Retreats
• Community Wellness Retreats
• Board of Trustees Retreats
• Lecture, workshop opportunities
• Incarnate Word Fellowships
• Immersion experiences in UIW heritage
• Grant writing to fund Mission Initiatives

Retreats

Mission Journey Retreat Series

Part I: "Connectedness and Service"

The Office of Mission Effectiveness sponsors a series of retreats for reflection, renewal, and affirmation of each person's connection and importance to the Mission of the University of the Incarnate Word, to the heritage of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and to the community that we serve.

The first retreat, "Connectedness and Service" focuses on building community, raising awareness of the Mission and its values, and facilitating proactive participation in the realization of these values in day-to-day work at the University.

Part II: "A Community in Faith and In Truth"

The second retreat in the series focuses on the values of Faith and Truth as lived in the University community.

Guided meditations on one's personal faith journey and on the faith journey of the Congregation and the University; discussions of the meaning of truth in a university context; opportunities for contemplating nature and for prayer and journaling, - these make up the content of the "sabbath experience," this opportunity to relax in a tranquil setting away from the "busyness" of everyday living.

Part III: "Education and Innovation: Clarifying the Vision"

The retreat series culminates in this overview of the UIW vision led by a member of the senior leadership team. Participants reflect on their role in furthering educational excellence in a context of faith and their participating in thoughtful innovation that serves effectively the spiritual and material needs of people.

The retreat aims (1) to explore the deeper implications of values embedded in the Mission, (2) to enable participants to internalize these values so that they can become operative in their own roles within the University, and (3) to clarify how these values drive the UIW Mission and Vision.

Held at off-campus sites, retreats begin with a continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m., include lunch, and end at 3:00 p.m. (except for the third one in the series which concludes at 4:30 p.m.). Each retreat is limited to 15-20 participants and is directed by an outside facilitator. Participation in Part I or II is a prerequisite for attending Part III.

For further details, please call 829-3939.

Heritage Pilgrimages

The Office of Mission Effectiveness in collaboration with the CCVI department of Spirituality in Ministry-a new joint ministry of the San Antonio and Houston CCVI's-offers a Heritage Pilgrimage to Houston-Galveston. Participants are housed at Villa de Matel, attend a workshop on the UIW Mission in the 21 st century, and tour and spend time in prayer at the founding sites in Galveston.

Conferences

The Office of Mission Effectiveness sponsors and collaborates on several conferences during the year. These include the Distinguished Speaker Series on Incarnate Word Day, the annual Conference on Ethical, Moral and Social Implications of Genomic Technologies, and the Spirit and Life Series sponsored by the Spirituality in Ministry office.

Fellowships

The UIW Strategic Plan calls for fellowships to be offered to faculty who are willing to research how mission is integrated into the curriculum, to revise courses to include the intellectual and social traditions of the Church, and to research our heritage of incarnational spirituality.

Mini Grants

PURPOSE

The Mission Leadership Mini-Grants Program is designed to encourage faculty and staff to undertake projects which promote the Mission values of the University.

ELIGIBILITY

Faculty, administrators and staff members are eligible to submit a proposal with details of how a particular activity contributes to the UIW Mission.

MINI GRANT AWARDS

The Mission Leadership Institute awards five annual mini grants valued from $50-$100. There is no deadline and proposals are reviewed as they are received. Notice of the award will be given within one month after receipt of proposal. When the project is complete, the Director of the project is required to file a report about its outcome (including receipts for expenses) with the Mission Office.

Grant Application Process

GRANT THEMES

The Mission Leadership Institute will fund proposals that emphasize the following themes:

• Social justice and ethical issues
• UIW Mission in a global setting
• Incarnational spirituality
• Faith and culture

SELECTION OF GRANTEES

A Mission Committee sub-group reviews proposals according to the criteria listed below. Projects must

• Demonstrate initiative and creativity in articulating a Mission value.
• Promote understanding of Mission in relation to a particular major.
• Include substantive involvement of students in the activity.

Download and Print Application - pdf format.

Mission Journey Advisory Board

At each of the "Community in Faith and in Truth" segments of the Mission Journey Retreats, the participants were invited to suggest ways to improve the sense of community at UIW. Subsequently, an Advisory Board was elected to carry out some of these ideas.

To date, the Board has organized several "Meet and Greet" activities. Their purpose is to offer an opportunity for our community to discover the location of UIW office areas and to highlight their personnel. The first areas targeted were the offices not routinely visited by the general employee population. The individual offices can choose the date and decide how they will receive visitors for the brief period planned, what refreshments to serve, and what "giveaways" would be meaningful reminders of the encounter.

"Share the Word" Brown Bag Tuesdays responded to an articulated need to get together occasionally for prayer or reflection. These monthly gatherings in Dubuis Lounge include a presenter, discussion about a particular topic and prayer. Look for bulletins announcing the speakers and times.

L. to R. Brenda Dimas who spearheads "Share the Word," Kathy Ruiz who led a session, Lorraine Ewers and Itza Casanova who organize the "Meet and Greet" activity.