New Maps of Hope

Announcing CHARISM, an innovative alliance of Catholic universities

By Eva Fernández, PhD, Erlinda López-Rodríguez, DrPH and Marissa Rodriguez

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.

A Challenging Course Makes Way for Strategic Navigation Rooted in Mission and Service

Unsteady enrollments, escalating costs and public concern about the value of college degrees are just a few of the challenges facing higher education. Mission-minded colleges and universities are compelled to consider how to respond to our calling in new and innovative ways: How can we help more students complete degrees, preparing them to enter empowering careers that lift their lives, their families and their communities?

An impactful strategy for navigating these challenges is to set up collaborations like CHARISM, collaborations that leverage the distinctiveness and academic strengths of our member institutions, particularly our compatible missions and shared focus on service grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. Our joint work will allow us to deliver innovative, affordable and mission-aligned education for students, as well as afford us opportunities for cost savings and new revenue generation.

CHARISM builds on UIW's already significant geographic footprint, which includes campuses in the United States, Mexico and France, by adding three significant urban centers in the continental United States and Puerto Rico: Dominican in Chicago, Mount Saint Vincent in New York City and Sagrado in San Juan.

Among our member institutions the parallels are many. All were founded by women religious, are Hispanic-Serving Institutions and are located in major urban centers. Add to this a shared commitment to service learning, to promoting social justice and to providing a holistic student-centered and community-engaged education.

In his recent Apostolic Letter, his Holiness Pope Leo XIV writes that "Catholic education can be a beacon: not a nostalgic refuge, but a laboratory of discernment, pedagogical innovation and prophetic witness. Drawing new maps of hope: this is the urgency of the mandate."

In that spirit, CHARISM charts new courses for academic exploration, discovery and growth.

CHARISM universities are collaborating to create new academic and co-curricular experiences. Students will benefit from cross-registered courses, joint academic programs and opportunities to study abroad or study away.

The programs and experiences will be offered in both English and Spanish, online or in person. CHARISM collaborations will stimulate academic innovation, expand access and affordability and foster faculty collaboration, within and between disciplines. Shared services and resources, joint programming and professional development opportunities will benefit faculty, staff and students.

"I like to think that we will serve as a model for greater collaboration," shared UIW President Thomas M. Evans, PhD. "While each of our institutions has numerous distinct opportunities for our students in working together, we're finding dynamic intersections where our academic work can meet … I'm truly proud to embark on this new journey with my colleagues here today, with all those whose efforts helped bring this new alliance to life, and the many more whom it will serve."

Paving Paths for the Future

All four CHARISM founding members have strengths in preparing students for healthcare careers, which are in high demand throughout the nation but especially in our regions. Collaborative work underway focuses on creating targeted pathways and high-impact experiences:

• A redesigned didactic course in Nursing will feature a two-week bilingual immersion in Puerto Rico, Guatemala or the U.S.-Mexico border, blending clinical formation with mission-driven services.
• Undergraduates preparing for Physician Assistant graduate programs will access specialized online content, readiness coaching and a summer immersion at Dominican or Mount Saint Vincent.
• UIW's Occupational Therapy program is exploring setting up a satellite location at Dominican. The program would feature an innovative model pairing bilingual curriculum alignment with faith-informed clinical experiences.

The collaborations made possible through this new alliance extend far beyond the health professions. Currently, CHARISM leaders, including presidents, provosts, academic leaders and faculty, are exploring additional connections among Business disciplines. There is also ongoing work to develop a collective online footprint, which will feature courses and programs in English and in Spanish. Behind the scenes, Registrars are building the infrastructure needed to make collaboration seamless.

Wayfinding Together

Our students undergo journeys of discovery across the many parts that make up the dynamic UIW system and throughout our partner institutions. As we look to the future, CHARISM will help us continue to venture ahead, paving new paths of opportunity and formation for students to traverse, knowing that every step will lead them closer to becoming the people that God has called them to be.

Launching CHARISM

On Monday, Dec. 8, UIW welcomed presidents and dignitaries from the alliance universities to the Broadway campus. UIW President Thomas M. Evans, PhD was joined by Dominican University President Glena G. Temple, PhD, President of the University of Mount Saint Vincent Susan R. Burns, PhD and President of Universidad del Sagrado Corazón Gilberto J. Marxuach Torrós, JD, to sign the CHARISM charter.

During the event UIW Provost Eva Fernández, PhD shared, "His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, has described Catholic universities as 'choreographers of knowledge', calling on us to become pathways of the mind and towards God. That is such a beautiful calling, so today, we take a key step in choreographing knowledge as we launch this innovative alliance that will ignite such new pathways."

Vice President of Mission and Ministry Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI continued that sentiment, "Unity is our most prophetic strength, as we come together as one, seeking to find the right path forward to become an educational constellation that cultivates the development of the whole person. I ask that together we call the Spirit of God to come upon us as we move forward in unity, with trust and firmly rooted in a shared vision."

Evans along with the other presidents explained how CHARISM came into fruition. What began as an idea sparked at higher education leadership conferences led to collaborative conversations amongst leadership. The result of these catalyst interactions was CHARISM. Each president expressed their hopes and gratitude for this agreement as they proudly prepared to officially sign the charter.

Members of the Incarnate Word community in San Antonio were joined via live stream by Cardinals from UIW Campus Bajío and Centro Universitario Incarnate Word, as well as by partner institution communities in Chicago, New York City, San Juan and more. No matter where attendees were located in the world, all were unified in a sense of hope, ambition and innovation as they stepped collectively into this new chapter.

Also in attendance was Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, who offered a closing blessing.

"Bless this constellation of institutions committed to forming hearts, shaping minds and serving your people with faith, creativity and compassion," he said.

For more information, visit the CHARISM website.