University of the Incarnate Word

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Tours

1. UIW Self-Guided Walking Tour

   Welcome to the University of the Incarnate Word!

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   1. Welcome

      Hello and welcome to the University of the Incarnate Word! Thank you for joining us for a self-guided walking tour! My name is Michael Valdes and I will be your audio tour guide today to tell you all about our beautiful campus. As you take yourself around campus, please be sure to practice social distancing at all times. Enjoy your time on campus. We hope you can picture yourself as a future Cardinal at UIW!

       

   2. Columkile Administration Building

      This is where your journey to the Nest begins! The Administration Building, one of the oldest buildings on campus, is home to the Office of Admissions where you can schedule appointments with admissions counselors who will help you along the application process and answer any questions you may have.

       

      Also inside this building is the Business Office, the Office of the Registrar, Office of Financial Assistance, the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and the School of Media and Design which is located on the upper three floors.

       

      Students can also visit the lower level of the Administration Building to grab a bite to eat from Hortencia’s Café or Chick-Fil-A. The second floor includes the entrance to Our Lady’s Chapel in which weekly masses and special occasions are celebrated.

       

      Did You Know? In 1881, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word came to San Antonio and founded the grounds of UIW as a place to assist those in need and educate the community. The University was renamed from Incarnate Word College in 1996.

   3. Clock Tower

      Located in the middle of the campus plaza is the Marjorie Jordan Carillon – also known as the clock tower.  Students and visitors can hear the clock chime every half hour, and hear it play the Hymn of the Incarnate Word daily at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The steeple itself replicates the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, and stained glass on each side of the structure tells the story of the history of the University and Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, founders of the University.

       

   4. Joyce Design and Technology Center

      Neighboring the Dubuis Lawn is the Joyce Design and Technology Center. Just inside the beautiful glass windows are seating areas for students to study with a view. This building is home to academic programs such as Interior Design, Fashion and Computer Information Systems. Student work is often displayed in glass showcases throughout the building. The facility is among the most technologically advanced buildings on campus featuring state-of-the-art equipment for students and faculty. The building also houses the Watson Auditorium, a 135-seat lecture hall used for larger classes.

   5. Dubuis Residence Hall and Lawn

      Dubuis Hall, a co-ed residence hall located at the heart of campus. Inside, students have access to the Dubuis lounge area, single and double rooms, suited bathrooms and washer and dryer facilities. Our oldest residence hall, Dubuis is now considered our newest as it recently underwent exciting renovations. Right next to the building is the Dubuis Lawn, a popular grassy area for student events, recreational activities, or just hanging out with friends on the outdoor seating.

      
      

   6. Lourdes Grotto

      The Lourdes Grotto honors Our Lady of Lourdes and the original grotto in Lourdes, France which is well known for its healing powers. The grotto’s intimate auditorium-style seating often serves as an outdoor classroom or sitting area. The area itself is owned by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as is the Headwaters Sanctuary, just beyond the grotto. The Headwaters is the only nature sanctuary in the heart of San Antonio. It is a beautiful, quiet, historic sanctuary at the headwaters of the San Antonio River with the Blue Hole spring as its centerpiece. The Blue Hole and other San Antonio Springs are known to be the source of the San Antonio River, an enormous cultural staple in the city.

      
      

   7. Student Engagement Center

      The Student Engagement Center, or the SEC as most students, faculty and staff call it, was designed as a space for campus dining, student activities, offices, student support resources and the bookstore.

       

      With more than ninety student organizations and twelve Greek organizations, UIW’s Office of Campus Engagement, located on the third floor, offers students a wide variety of opportunities for student involvement. The SEC also houses the President’s Office, the Military and Veterans Center, Academic Advising and the Tutoring Center.

       

      Through the back entrance, students can access the post office area which includes individual student mailboxes, the book store, multiple study areas, a coffee shop, the dining hall, and Red’s Pub, a popular place for students to play pool, video games, and grab a bite to eat at Luciano’s.

       

   8. J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library

      The J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library supports the research and teaching activities of all UIW and academic programs. Library staff serves as co-curricular partners with faculty, providing reference assistance, research consultation and instruction. The library offers study spaces with computers and Wi-Fi access, an extensive collection of research resources covering all academic disciplines, and interlibrary loan services. The facility also provides printing and copying equipment.

   9. Gorman Garden

      The Gorman Garden or “Friendship Garden” is a popular meeting and study spot at UIW. Here, students meet before and after classes under the canopy of an oak tree believed to be 500 years old!

   10. Gorman Business and Education Center

       The Gorman Business and Education Center, home to the H-E-B School of Business and Administration and the Dreeben School of Education. It houses classroom facilities, labs, and faculty offices. Inside the Gorman Center is also the Financial Markets Lab, also known as the “Ticker Room” in which a digital ticker displays stock values in real time.

        

   11. Barshop Natatorium

        

       The Barshop Natatorium is a 25 by 25-yard, state-of-the-art swimming pool large enough to host both national and international events. Since the pool itself is on the second floor of the Natatorium, visitors can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Incarnate Word campus. The building serves as a training ground for the nationally recognized UIW Swimming and Diving, and Artistic Swimming teams.
       
       In addition to the pool area, the Natatorium also includes office space for members of the Cardinals Athletic Department as well as a UIW Athletic Hall of Fame.
       
       Other areas are used for classrooms, locker rooms, training facilities and storage spaces.

       
       

   12. Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center

       Welcome to the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center, a 2,000-seat arena, home to Cardinals Basketball and Volleyball. Students, faculty, staff, family and friends are all invited to attend a home game to cheer on our fellow Cardinals!

        

       UIW Athletics includes fourteen sports for men and women, and is in the NCAA Division I. In June 2022, UIW joined the Western Athletic Conference. In additional to home games, the Convocation Center also hosts other events including graduations, baccalaureate, summer campus and community events.

        

   13. Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium

       You can’t miss Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium, which officially opened in 2008 and was renovated in 2018. The field includes a unique camouflage design at the end-zones, new turf, and a fresh UIW Cardinal logo. Spanning about 99,000 square feet including permanent seating for 6,000 fans, the field provides a state-of-the-art environment for UIW athletics. Surrounding the field itself, which is used by the football and soccer teams, is an Olympic-standard running track with accompanying jumping and throwing areas. As you exit the tunnel below the stadium bleachers on your way back towards the end of the tour, make sure you take a quick glance at our UIW Cardinal statue located right outside the front of Benson Stadium. The statue was placed the same day UIW officially joined NCAA Division I athletics, and UIW football players are known to rub the beak of the statue for luck as they enter the stadium on game days.

   14. H-E-B Softball Field

       Behind the Convocation Center is the H-E-B Softball Field, home to the UIW Softball team. The field was renovated in 2018 and included updates like AstroTurf and new materials like netting and backstops. Full-sized, enclosed dugouts, permanent seating for 250 people, as well as concession stands and restrooms are also available near the field.

        

   15. Residence Halls

       Up the hill you can see a number of our residence halls.

        

       Joeris Residence Hall is among the newest of residence halls on our campus. The building offers triple dorm rooms with shared bathrooms and study lounges. The second, third and fourth floors are co-ed living spaces and reserved for upperclassmen. This residence hall is also located directly next to a shuttle station, making it convenient for students to make it to class!

        

       The Skyview Residence Hall, another newer housing complex on campus, is a co-ed residence hall complete with built-in parking, study lounges, a kitchen, and a washer and dryer facility on-site. Double rooms and suite bathrooms are available for students throughout the buildings’ five floors. This residence hall also has a shuttle station conveniently located right outside the residence hall doors. 

        

   16. Frank Nursing Building

       The Frank Nursing Building is home to the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, which was named in honor of Ila Faye Miller, who was a registered nurse and the mother of an Incarnate Word supporter. Students in nursing and health professions programs have access to classrooms, labs and a Clinical Learning Center that offers high fidelity simulated learning experiences including an 11-bed hospital ward, and an athletic training and equipment lab. Faculty and staff within the building are experienced healthcare providers who create supportive learning environments for hands-on interactive experiences with medical labs and technology.

   17. Cervera Wellness Center

       The Cervera Wellness Center serves as a full-service recreational facility complete with workout machines and weights, racquetball and basketball courts and offers wellness classes for students to stay active and healthy. Students may even find themselves in the Wellness Center attending a wellness class for course credit, which is part of the core curriculum for students.
       
       Access to the Wellness Center is free to students with a UIW ID.

        

   18. AT&T Science Center

       Another science building, the AT&T Science Center, houses the Chemistry and Biology programs as well as student research labs. Inside the AT&T Science Center, students utilize top-of-the-line equipment in labs and research projects and can study or meet with other students in one of the building’s lobby areas.

   19. Founder's Hall

       Across the street you will see the eight-story former AT&T Building. UIW recently acquired the 350,000-square foot building and renamed it Founders Hall in honor of UIW’s founder, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. It is set to house offices, classrooms and meeting spaces as well as the Liza and Jack Lewis III Institute of the Americas, which will focus on studying and improving relations with Mexico, Canada, Central and South Americas.

   20. Bonilla Science Hall

       As one of two science buildings on campus, the Bonilla Science Hall is home to the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering. Programs housed are mathematics, nutrition, engineering and broadcast meteorology programs. Classrooms and labs are equipped with modern technology and resources for hands-on learning experiences as well as a state-of-the-art weather studio and forecasting center.

        

   21. Kelso Art Center

       The last building of the Fine Arts Complex is the Kelso Art Center. The first thing you may notice is the beautiful mural on the outside of the building. The mural was funded by the Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts, commissioned by the university and designed by local artist Cakky Brawley. The mural, “The Source of Life,” is a 40 by 20-foot aluminum sculpture designed to articulate with the wind. In the daytime, it reflects the natural sunlight. In the evening, the mural is LED lit at sunset, depicting sunrise. 

        

       Inside the Kelso Art Center are art studios, ceramics workspaces, music practice rooms, darkroom labs for photo classes and the Semmes Gallery, which features works from both student and guest artists.    

       
       Inside the Kelso Art Center are art studios, ceramics workspaces, music practice rooms, darkroom labs for photo classes and the Semmes Gallery, which features works from both student and guest artists.    

   22. Concert Hall

       Connected to the theaters within the Fine Arts Complex is the Diane Bennack Concert Hall. Reopened after a complete renovation in 2015, this 500-seat concert hall regularly features performances by UIW ensembles, guest artists and performers from the civic community. The stage is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting technology as well as a Steinway D grand piano.

        

   23. Fine Arts Complex

       The Fine Arts Complex is comprised of the Halligan-Ibbs Theatre/Dance Center, Luella Bennack Music Center, Concert Hall, Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre Building, and Kelso Art Center.
       
       Inside the first building on your right, you will find the Halligan-IBBS Theatre and Dance Center as well as the Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre, a 270-seat performance space for productions and student education. The Department of Theatre Arts prepares and performs multiple productions each year, giving students the opportunity to gain experience acting, producing and working with state-of-the-art equipment.

   24. Exit - Thank You!

       Thank you again for visiting the University of the Incarnate Word for a self-guided campus tour! We look forward to welcoming you to our campus again soon. Stay up-to-date with UIW news and upcoming events by visiting our website at www.uiw.edu. We hope to welcome you to the Nest soon!
       
       Don't forget to snap a photo of your self-guided campus tour experience and tag us on social media!