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.
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.
The President’s Cabinet invites all faculty and staff to join us for Campus-Q, a special Bar-B-Q celebrating another successful academic year and recognizing the dedication, service, and contributions of our employees.
Date: Tuesday, June 30 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Location: Mall Area
This gathering is an opportunity to celebrate another successful academic year, connect with colleagues, and recognize the impact of our collective work in support of OLLU’s mission and students. As a special thank you, members of the President’s Cabinet will be serving lunch.
Wear your favorite OLLU swag and show your Saints spirit as we enjoy great food, lawn games, fellowship, and a few fun surprises along the way.
Departments may determine their own office coverage and out-of-office arrangements during the event to support participation while maintaining essential services. We hope you will participate and enjoy this exciting event.
Please RSVP using the link below so we can plan accordingly.
Thank you for all you do to make OLLU a place of transformation, opportunity, and service. We look forward to celebrating with you!
If you plan to complete your degree requirements at the end of the Fall 2026 semester, it’s time to apply for graduation.
The Fall 2026 Graduation Application is now available in the Graduation tile on Saints Connect. Please submit your application by August 1 to ensure you are considered for graduation.
Before submitting your application, please note:
If you have questions about your degree requirements, contact your academic advisor.
If you need assistance with the graduation application, email graduate@ollusa.edu.
Once your application is submitted through Saints Connect, the $100 graduation fee will be added to your Fall semester balance.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone—we look forward to celebrating your achievement!
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.
On June 3, Our Lady of the Lake University welcomed seventh- and eighth-grade students from Edgewood ISD to campus for a summer STEM camp held in partnership with Startup High.
Seventh- and eighth-grade students from Edgewood ISD explored STEM concepts and college life during a summer camp at OLLU, hosted in partnership with Startup High.
The visit provided students with an opportunity to explore college life while engaging in hands-on learning experiences across multiple disciplines. After a campus tour, students participated in interactive activities led by OLLU faculty and staff, including a VO₂ max demonstration in the Kinesiology Lab, Makerspace projects and hydroponic gardening activities in Metz Hall, and cybersecurity exercises hosted by Computer Information Systems and Security faculty.
Students tested password strength, examined computer hardware, and explored the evolution of technology through a display of legacy computing equipment. Throughout the day, participants engaged with faculty, discovered new areas of interest, and gained insight into potential academic and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
OLLU is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Edgewood ISD and Startup High to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is hosting a special Juneteenth art exhibition presented by The Art of Four Art Initiative, featuring the work of Black and minority artists whose pieces explore themes of freedom, resilience, culture, and community. The exhibition is on display through June 30, 2026, in the AT&T Foundation Student Commons on the third floor of OLLU’s Main Building and is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the public.
Curated by Maria M. Williams, executive director of The Art of Four Art Initiative and founder of In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on history, identity, healing, and artistic expression. Williams said the exhibition was created from the belief that art is memory, resistance, storytelling, and legacy.
The partnership holds special meaning for Williams, whose older brother, Clifton B. Hazlewood Jr., attended OLLU, making the collaboration a tribute to family, education, resilience, and community legacy. As an Afro-Latina, Williams has long championed greater representation and visibility for Black and minority artists through her work as a curator, cultural strategist, and arts advocate.
OLLU President Dr. Abel Chávez said the university is proud to host the exhibition as a reflection of its commitment to civil rights, social justice, and the dignity of every person. The exhibit highlights the enduring impact of Black history and culture while celebrating the transformative power of art in education and community engagement.
The exhibition served as both a cultural and educational experience, inviting visitors to engage with themes of liberation, identity, heritage, and social justice. Through visual storytelling and artistic expression, the exhibit highlighted the importance of preserving and sharing the stories that continue to shape our communities.
A special highlight of this year’s exhibition was a visit from students from Lytle on May 20. During their campus visit, students toured OLLU and explored the exhibit, gaining a deeper understanding of Juneteenth’s historical significance while experiencing the University’s commitment to education, diversity, and community engagement.
Teacher Alicia Lacy and Students from Lytle Junior High School visiting the OLLU campus.
The Juneteenth Art Exhibition remains on display through June 30, 2026, in the AT&T Foundation Student Commons on the third floor of OLLU’s Main Building. The exhibit reflects OLLU’s ongoing mission to foster learning, dialogue, and appreciation for the diverse histories and experiences that enrich our society.
An OLLU-affiliated public art project has been nominated in the San Antonio Current’s citywide “Best of San Antonio” competition under the “Best Mural” category. This semester, students in Professor Gonzalez’s Barrio Arts and Popular Culture class partnered with community members to help restore the historic Segundo de Febrero Mural at the Cassiano Homes public housing complex.
The mural honors Segundo de Febrero and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, marking an important chapter in Mexican American history and identity. We are grateful to Juan Hernandez and Tache Torres, the original artists, as well as the Segundo de Febrero Committee, Opportunity Home, and Councilwoman Teri Castillo for allowing our students to be part of this meaningful project. Please vote to help recognize this important mural and the community history it represents: Best Mural Vote.
