New Affiliation between St. Edward’s University
and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

(Austin, TX) -- St. Edward’s University and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve are affiliating to create an interdisciplinary natural resource laboratory that will provide research and hands-on learning for all St. Edward’s academic schools: Natural Science, Behavioral and Social Science, Management and Business, Education, and Humanities.

This relationship affords both institutions the opportunity to expand the reach of their organizational missions.

Wild Basin’s 227 acres of urban wilderness will afford students hands-on learning opportunities that include:

• ecosystem studies
• environmental science and policy
• geography
• environmental ethics and sustainability practices
• biodiversity studies.
• Other opportunities for interdisciplinary learning would include: outdoor performances, leadership training, and teacher education.

Wild Basin will continue to offer environmental education programming and events that are open to the public. All of the trails and facilities will remain accessible to Wild Basin members, volunteers and visitors.

The existing nonprofit organization that operates the Preserve is the Committee for Wild Basin Wilderness. Changes to the existing nonprofit organization will include:

• St. Edward’s will select new members for the nonprofit’s board of directors.
• St. Edward’s will provide management expertise, academic experience, recommendations on marketing, fundraising, operations and financial affairs.

Quotes:
Attributable to Dr. George Martin, president of St. Edward’s University:
“This collaboration honors the mission of both organizations, and greatly expands the range of educational opportunities for St. Edward’s students.”

Attributable to Roy Keithley, president of the Committee for Wild Basin Wilderness board of directors:
“As we looked to the future of Wild Basin, we felt strongly that an affiliation with a like-minded institution would further our mission most successfully. We sought this affiliation with St. Edward’s University and we are excited about the potential of this new venture.”

About the two organizations:

St. Edward’s University
Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University has been named as one of America's Best Colleges for 2008 by U.S. News & World Reportand was selected by The Princeton Review for inclusion in the guide Colleges with a Conscience. St. Edward's is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university of more than 5,200 students located in Austin, Texas. For more information on St. Edward’s University, visit www.stedwards.edu.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve 

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