The two-day resurvey visit by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) simultaneously held at the Maryheights Campus and Main Campus of Saint Louis University (SLU) concluded on 16 May 2025.
The closing ceremony– concurrently held at Fr. Francis Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building, SLU Main for the School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS); SLU Incubator for Research, Innovation, and Business (SIRIB) Center, Otto Hahn Building, SLU Main for the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA); and Fr. Seraphin Devesse Building, Maryheights Campus for the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS)– presented the preliminary findings of the accreditors. While the complete and official results are anticipated to follow, the open dialogue and exchange of insights during this meeting underscore the collaborative spirit essential for continuous improvement in the higher education sector.
During said closing ceremony, SLU President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, emphasized the dedication of the University towards continuous development. “Recommendations are taken very seriously by our team and we will try our best to work on it… I always tell the team that the end of an accreditation is the beginning of the next,” Fr. Sales said, highlighting SLU’s proactive approach to self-assessment and its commitment to adhering to PAASCU standards.
Meanwhile, Vice President for Finance, Roberto M. Arguelles, PhD, showed his gratitude to the accreditors and reinforced the University’s commitment to quality assurance. “We are always open because we believe quality education should not always come from us. It should always come from the feedback of our important stakeholders and one is actually PAASCU,” he remarked.
The two-day rigorous evaluation saw the PAASCU team resurvey ten undergraduate programs from the SAMCIS (Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Information Technology, Computer Science), SONAHBS (Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing), and SEA (Chemical, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineering).
The intensive accreditation process involved comprehensive interviews with key stakeholders, including the university administration, faculty and staff, students, alumni, and other partners. These dialogues provided valuable insights into the involved program’s strengths and areas for potential growth.
Complementing the interviews were onsite class observations, allowing the PAASCU team to witness firsthand the dynamic learning environment and the quality of instruction delivered within the programs. This thorough evaluation process reflects the commitment to achieving minimum standards and evidenced excellence based on learning outcomes, a core tenet of PAASCU’s framework.
The partnership between SLU and PAASCU exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), highlighting the importance of working together to enhance implementation efforts and strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development in education.
The concluded visit of PAASCU reaffirms SLU’s deep-seated commitment to providing high-caliber education directly contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by ensuring inclusive and equitable learning opportunities. (Article by Aivian Culanag and Ydelvess Morales, UIO Interns | Photos by Michael John Dadd and Jaymark Borja, UIO Interns and SAMCIS)
