CHARISM

Connecting Catholic universities to expand student opportunities, strengthen faculty collaboration, and advance our shared mission through innovation, service and global engagement.

Partners in Advancing Catholic Higher Education Together

CHARISM brings together leading Catholic, Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving institutions located in major metropolitan areas to develop high-impact student experiences, new education pathways, faculty collaboration, joint research, cross-registration opportunities and shared co-curricular initiatives.

CHARISM unites institutions across geographies, cultures, and languages to expand opportunities for students, amplify Catholic identity, and serve as a national model for educating concerned and enlightened citizens of the global community.

CHARISM Teaching Symposium

October 22-23, 2026

Virtual English and Spanish

Join us for a virtual symposium dedicated to transformational teaching and learning. We invite faculty and academic leaders to share scholarship, renew teaching methodologies and build global collaborations.

Call for proposals now open. Submit your proposal by August 1.

Symposium Details

CHARISM by the Numbers

Advancing access, innovation, service and Catholic higher education collaboration across borders.

1 Shared Mission

4 Metro Regions Connected Through CHARISM

600+ Faculty

17K+ Combined Students Across the Alliance

4K+ Graduates Annually

Academic and Professional Opportunities

Students

As a student, you can participate in academic, cultural and service-driven experiences. Enrich your education and build your resume while remaining enrolled at your home campus and maximizing your degree potential.

Explore Student Opportunities

Faculty

Advance your professional and institutional impact through the CHARISM alliance. Partner with cross-campus peers to expand scholarship, innovate curriculum and lead mission-centered initiatives.

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NEWS AND EVENTS

CHARISM News

UIW’s Global Leadership in the Spotlight at HACU’s International Conference

May 15, 2026

Strategic partnerships, innovative ideas and emerging trends were the focus of the recent 15th Biennial International Conference from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, or HACU. This year’s theme was “Bridging Nations to Advance Higher Education” and brought together students and leaders in higher education from across the country to share their perspectives on teaching and learning around the world.

Embracing the Catholic Imagination: UIW Hosts Inaugural Lilly Artful Worship/CHARISM Speaker Series Presentation

March 27, 2026

On Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, the launch of CHARISM: Catholic Higher Education Alliance of Rising Institutions in Service and Mission, was announced. It is in that spirit of collaboration that on Monday, March 23, 2026, the inaugural Lilly Artful Worship/CHARISM Speaker Series presented “The Glass Slipper and the Cross: A Catholic Reading of Cinderella,” a presentation that analyzed how the classic fairytale Cinderella reflects Christ’s biblical qualities including sacrifice, humility and grace.

New Maps of Hope

February 4, 2026

In a time of profound change for higher education, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is leading a transformational movement that reimagines how to educate and inspire students. The Catholic Higher Education Alliance of Rising Institutions in Service and Mission — CHARISM — brings together four mission-aligned institutions: UIW, Dominican University, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and University of Mount Saint Vincent. By connecting across languages, cultures and geographies, we jointly aspire to expand opportunities for students, amplify Catholic identity and model collaboration.

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Building the Future of Catholic Higher Education

SAN ANTONIO — University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) President Thomas M. Evans, PhD was featured on the Radical Cooperation podcast, presented by The Community Solution Education System. The episode highlights UIW's leading role in establishing a groundbreaking partnership among Catholic universities aimed at redefining collaboration in higher education.

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