Author: OLLUNewsletter

Our Lady of the Lake University will welcome Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) on Wednesday, July 22, as the Sueltenfuss Library hosts one of 10 Community Conversations and Open House events focused on the proposed downtown arena district and future home of the San Antonio Spurs.

The event is open to the public and offers an opportunity for residents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to learn about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback that will help shape the planning and design of the proposed district.

Guests are encouraged to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to explore informational displays, meet members of the project team, and enjoy light refreshments. A project presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by interactive activities and small-group community discussions where attendees can share ideas and feedback.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, July 22
• Location: Sueltenfuss Library, Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 S.W. 24th Street
• 6:30–7 p.m.: Open House, displays, refreshments, and meet the project team
• 7 p.m.: Project update and presentation
• 7:15 p.m.: Community conversations and interactive activities

Whether you’re interested in the future of downtown San Antonio, the Spurs, or community development, your voice can help shape this important project. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the conversation.

OLLU’s Fall 2026 enrollment has grown to 1,410 students as we continue working toward our goal of 1,800. Every new student strengthens our university, advances our mission, and creates new opportunities to transform lives through education.

As we celebrate reaching this latest milestone, remember that every student counts. Whether you’re in our internal enrollment challenge or helping recruit the next generation of Saints, every action, conversation, referral, and connection makes a difference.

Reaching our enrollment goal is a shared effort across the OLLU community. From welcoming prospective students and their families to sharing your OLLU story, supporting recruitment events, or providing exceptional service to current and future Saints, your contributions help build momentum and inspire confidence in the OLLU experience.

Together, we can continue growing our community one student at a time. Every student matters. Every effort brings us closer to our goal.

Thank you for your continued commitment to OLLU and for helping us build a stronger future for our Saints.

Our Lady of the Lake University has launched a new series of 30-second television commercials highlighting some of the University’s most innovative and exciting initiatives, including Lake Express, OLLU’s first-in-Texas three-year bachelor’s degree pathway, and the launch of women’s flag football.

The campaign began airing two weeks ago and is strategically scheduled to continue throughout the FIFA World Cup broadcasts, reaching viewers during one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. By aligning the campaign with World Cup programming, OLLU is expanding its visibility among prospective students, families, alumni, and the broader community.

The television spots showcase OLLU’s commitment to innovation, affordability, and opportunity. Viewers will learn about Lake Express, which allows students to earn an accredited bachelor’s degree in just three years, as well as the University’s historic addition of women’s flag football, making OLLU the first private university in Texas and the first college in San Antonio to offer scholarships for the rapidly growing sport.

The campaign is airing across multiple broadcast times during World Cup coverage, providing repeated exposure throughout the tournament and reinforcing OLLU’s position as a university that is creating new pathways for student success.

Members of the OLLU community are invited to view a sneak peek of the new television spots and watch for them during upcoming World Cup broadcasts.

Sneak Peek: (Now Get In The Game – English) (Es Tu Momento Entra Al Juego – Espanol)

TV Air Times: (See schedule below.)

The Office of Institutional Advancement has released the 2025–2026 OLLU Investment Report, a new publication that highlights the transformative impact of philanthropy, student success, and institutional achievements while strengthening connections with alumni, donors, and community partners.

Designed as a strategic stewardship piece, the report highlights how donor investments have transformed the lives of students while advancing the university’s mission of education, service, and social mobility. Through compelling stories, institutional milestones, and measurable outcomes, the publication showcases the accomplishments made possible during the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

The report features key university achievements, including national rankings, student success metrics, innovative academic initiatives such as the Lake Express three-year bachelor’s degree and the No-Cost Master’s Program, the launch of women’s flag football, workforce readiness initiatives, scholarship investments, and transformational gifts that continue to expand opportunities for OLLU students. It also highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to serving first-generation and Hispanic students while creating lasting impact across South Texas.

More than a summary of accomplishments, the OLLU Investment Report demonstrates how every philanthropic investment contributes to student success, strengthens communities, and advances opportunity. It serves as both a reflection on a year of meaningful progress and an invitation for alumni, donors, and friends to continue investing in the future of OLLU.

The 2025–2026 OLLU Investment Report will be shared with alumni, donors, and partners as part of the university’s ongoing commitment to transparency, stewardship, and celebrating the collective impact of the OLLU community.

OLLU’s Fall 2026 enrollment has reached 1,386 students as we continue working toward our goal of 1,800. Every new student represents an opportunity to strengthen our university, expand our impact, and fulfill our mission of transforming lives through education.

Achieving this goal is a shared responsibility across the entire OLLU community. Whether you are welcoming prospective students and their families, sharing your OLLU experience, supporting recruitment events, or providing exceptional service to current and future Saints, your efforts make a meaningful difference.

As we move through the enrollment cycle, every conversation, referral, and positive interaction contributes to our momentum. Together, we can continue building on our progress, reaching more students, and creating opportunities for future Saints to join the OLLU family.

Thank you for your continued commitment to OLLU and for helping us move closer to our Fall 2026 enrollment goal.

Dr. Heather Herrera, Director of Retention and Student Success at Our Lady of the Lake University, has been selected as a Fellow in the eighth cohort of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, a nationally recognized program designed to prepare higher education professionals for senior leadership roles, including college and university presidencies, chancellorships, and CEO positions.

As part of this distinguished honor, Dr. Herrera was awarded a competitive $10,000 Capital One scholarship to cover program fees. The scholarship is awarded through a rigorous selection process that evaluates candidates on their professional accomplishments, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing higher education.

The HACU Leadership Academy brings together emerging leaders from colleges and universities across the nation for a yearlong professional development experience focused on strategic leadership, institutional governance, student success, and the future of higher education. Participants engage in virtual and in-person seminars, collaborate with peers, and gain valuable insight from experienced higher education leaders.

The program includes leadership seminars held in conjunction with HACU’s Annual Conference and National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, culminating in an international seminar that provides participants with a global perspective on leadership and higher education.

Dr. Herrera’s selection reflects her dedication to academic excellence, student success, and leadership development. Through this fellowship, she will further strengthen her ability to serve OLLU and contribute to the advancement of Hispanic-Serving Institutions and higher education nationwide.

Congratulations to Dr. Herrera on this outstanding achievement and recognition of her leadership potential.