“With modesty, we could say that as one community, we have persisted in celebrating the Louisian Brand of Excellence.
– Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD
From the bottom of my heart, AGYAMAN AK — to our heads of offices and deans, our teaching and non-teaching staff, and our support services employees—thank you for your consistent hard work and commitment to making SLU even better, even brighter, and even greater.”
As another successful academic year comes to a close, Saint Louis University once again concluded a chapter of professional, academic, and missionary excellence. The University held its 2024 Academic Session on 26 July 2024 at the Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen, CICM- Center for Culture and the Arts Theater, with the theme “Cor Unum et Anima Una: A Journey Towards Catholic Integral Formation and Global Excellence.” This event commemorated the monumental strides that propelled the Louisian community to even greater heights locally and internationally in Academic Year (AY) 2023-2024.
Under the sterling leadership of Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, the University carried out its strengthened academic, missionary, and societal commitment in various fields and domains while also fortifying the Laudato Si and Sustainable Development Goals. The University’s unparalleled drive for progress and development within the academe and society has become apparent in the success of the events that transpired in the outgoing academic year.
Rev. Fr. Sales spearheaded the year-end review with the President’s Report, highlighting the University’s accomplishments and advancements in AY 2023-2024. In the President’s Report, Rev. Fr. Sales stated that the institution’s achievements would not have been possible without its well-fortified human resources, logical framework, and the Lord’s grace. These have been the foundation in the success and progress of the activities and programs by the University, attaining the three main agendas set out for the academic year.
The President’s Report highlighted the programs, projects, and activities that pursued Catholic Integral Formation, Global Excellence, and Social Commitment.
Through the hosting of purposeful events such as the 29th Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) Annual Conference and the 7th CICM Schools Friendship Meet as well as the conduct of the University’s 112th Foundation, the University has fostered its identity not just a higher education institution, but as a premier Catholic educational institutional. Add to these the conduct of faithful practices– which strengthened faith and convened the Louisian community together– that helped in SLU’s pursuit of Catholic Integral Formation.
Meanwhile, for its pursuit of Global Excellence, it was reported that SLU remains to be the University of choice in Northern Luzon. Too, as the University proceeded with a hybrid-flexible mode of learning, SLU still made huge leaps attaining more global achievements performing well in licensure exams, winning national competitions, and climbing up in international rankings. No wonder, SLU has become an excellent benchmarking staple to many universities to this day.
The University President also tackled the conduct of activities such as its Alumni Homecoming and the setting up of its cutting-edge and world-class infrastructure projects. “Pragmatically, to talk of global excellence is to tackle so many things, but always zeroing in at the never-ending quest for learning, improvement, and innovation. SLU, in its different schools and offices, has always endeavored to involve its community, making all the things mentioned possible,” he thus remarked.
With respect to the University’s pursuit of Social Commitment, it was disclosed that SLU has fortified its “Binnadang”, the Cordilleran term for bayanihan or community solidarity. This was affirmed by the latest World University Rankings for Innovation 2024 where SLU ranked 2nd in Social Responsibility Category, and manifested through different outreach activities as health fairs, food support programs, medical missions, and legal aids, among others.
SLU has been cascading the principle of social responsibility within the University through different programs and services for stakeholders as through its Counseling Programs and Services; Mental Health Program through Hilom Sessions and Destress Zone; flagship mentoring program, Project Sequoia; psychotherapeutic interventions and assessment, as well as psychological consultations; Pause Initiatives; and the inauguration of the Talged Center, the University’s Safe Space Center, a few days ago. On top of these, SLU’s “Water is Life” project reached full cycle implementation this academic year, with water refilling stations being made available across all SLU campuses. Purified drinking water is free for everyone to bring their tumblers and refill them instead of buying water in plastic bottles.
Gawad San Luis for Employees
After the President’s Report, the awarding ceremony for the Gawad San Luis for Employees, recognizing the excellent service and dedication of the Louisian workforce, began.
The various categories of awards started with the Academic Achievement awardees, wherein eight teaching employees obtained their doctorate degrees in Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science), Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, and Doctor of Philosophy in Language Education. 14 teaching employees also attained their master’s degree together with four non-teaching employees, while one employee was conferred with the Status of Diplomate.
The presentation of Special Awards followed, where the Center for Counseling and Wellness took home the Special Institutional Award for their comprehensive and innovative drug education and prevention program.
Following this were the awardees for the Presidential Awards for Professional Excellence: one from the School of Law (SOL), one from the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), three from the School of Medicine (SOM), one from the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs, one from the SLU Sacred Heart Medical Center, and one from the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS).
For the Presidential Awards for Research and Innovation, eight awardees were from SAMCIS, 27 were from the School of Advanced Studies (SAS), while eight were from SEA. The SOM and SOL had one awardee, respectively; while the School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS) had nine awardees and the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) had 16.
Lastly, the Presidential Awards for both Music, Arts, & Sports and Presidential Award for CICM Missionary Spirit both had one awardee from STELA and SONAHBS, respectively.
The Academic Session for AY 2023-2024 has truly celebrated the purposeful programs, impactful projects, and meaningful advocacies of the University, which SLU, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Sales, aims to continue and enrich. Article by: Antonio Lim, Jr (UIO Volunteer) and Atty. Johanne Margarette Macob (UIO); Photos by: Antonio Lim, Jr., Emmanuel Gregorio (UIO Interns) and CK Valeriano (UIO)
