The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has extended the validity of the grant of Autonomous Status to the University of Saint Louis (USL) effective June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023 per CHED memorandum order number 7, series of 2021.

The extension enables USL to continually enjoy the benefits, which include certain exemptions and privileges, of being an autonomous higher education institution (HEI) on conditions articulated in CHED memo order number 19, series of 2016, titled “Benefits and Responsibilities of Autonomous and Deregulated Private Higher Education Institutions.”

The University president, Rev. Fr. Renillo H. Sta. Ana, CICM, recognizes the Louisian community for the feat.

“This validity extension of USL’s Autonomous status is truly joyful news that affirms every Louisian’s commitment to his or her devotion to mission and commitment to excellence. I am proud and happy to say that this recognition is for every member of the USL community,” Fr. Sta. Ana said.

The University president also said that the status is a “big responsibility.” He believes that the Louisian community has “all it takes to continue incarnating [the] recognition in every field of instruction, research, community engagement, and Christian formation.”

“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Commission on Higher Education for this prestigious recognition,” Fr. Sta. Ana added.

USL has been an autonomous institution since 2002 when it was still called Saint Louis College of Tuguegarao (SLCT). By CHED evaluation, USL was regranted the status in 2019 to supposedly end on May 31, 2021.

To receive and secure the coveted grant, USL submitted itself four times already to CHED evaluation of USL’s compliance with CHED-identified criteria as well as with relevant policies, standards and guidelines set by the agency.

Ms. Luisa B. Aquino, executive assistant to the University president for Institutional Development, Quality Assurance and Communications (IDQAC), said of the grant of autonomy, “In the Philippines, this is the highest accreditation that can be given to a private HEI. The grant is an attestation that the University ‘demonstrates high level of institutional quality and program excellence.’”

Mrs. Aquino also said that USL has to continually pursue autonomy because “other than the benefits and privileges given to autonomous institutions, the status is also a trademark of quality and excellence in the educational programs it offers.”

As well as USL, 70 other private HEIs all over the country have been granted extension of their autonomous status with the same validity period.