The University of Saint Louis recently conducted its annual Employees’ General Assembly, providing a platform to reflect on its achievements over the past school year and outline its plans for the upcoming academic year.
Held on August 7, 2023, at the Bulwagang Teodulfo Domingo (New EMC), the assembly provided a comprehensive overview of the university’s progress and served as a platform to communicate important updates and initiatives to all employees.
In his State of the University Address, Rev. Fr. Macwayne N. Maniwang, CICM, Ph.D., University President, highlighted several of the major accomplishments of the institution under the administration’s four (4) areas of excellence. Some of the accomplishments include the restructuring of the Basic Education Unit as one Integrated Basic Education Program, PAASCU accreditations, exemplary performance of USL in various board exams, which produced four (4) topnotchers, ISO 9001:2015 Certification, improved services of the canteen under a new management, continued employee and student development programs, and sustained Christian formation and community engagement programs, among others.
It also highlighted the university’s accomplishments in its physical development, such as the improvement of the registrar’s office as a centralized office to cater to students at all levels, campus-wide CCTV installation, air-conditioning unit installation in all JHS and SHS classrooms, establishment of three (3) additional computer laboratories with around 100 new units, and other improvements to its physical facilities.
In line with this, Fr. Maniwang recognized the collective support and effort of the university’s employees and stakeholders for the past school year. “Indeed, it was a year of gratitude for all that has been, but it was also a year for transformation, a year of commitment, and a year for our community service. We are delighted to hear about our accomplishments, but we must also be conscious of our weaknesses, areas for improvement, and gaps in what is required of us as an educational institution,” he remarked.
“For the school year 2023-2024, the thrust and direction of the office is to address the sign of the times. Yes, we value tradition, but we should not put aside the sign of the times. The programs that I shall put in place are innovations that are well-rooted and grounded in the needs of our students and our employees at large,” he added.
Under mission excellence, Fr. Maniwang assured to put in programs focused on the areas of evangelization, celebration of faith, and service to humankind. Some of the specific plans include the appointment of a full-time Vice President for Mission and Identity, the continual review and updating of the Christian Faith Education curriculum, and exploring the establishment of prayer spaces on campus, among others.
People excellence will focus on improved functional management and employee development programs, the implementation of a sustainable program for the physical and mental well-being of the employees, the provision of avenues for open dialogue and channels for issues and concerns, and the continuous review of the existing administrative policies and guidelines to make them more dynamic and adaptive.
Fr. Maniwang underlined the university’s thrust toward the global landscape under academic excellence, emphasizing that each program is expected to attain an internationalization initiative at the end of the school year. He shared that the university is mobilizing its internationalization initiatives with its partnership with Huachiew Chalermprakiet University in Thailand, its exploratory talks with universities in Malaysia and Indonesia, and its preparation for its application to the university rankings.
Further, envisioned plans under academic excellence for this school year also include the university’s autonomous status renewal, institutional sustainability assessment accreditation, retention and cohort survival rate improvement, USL’s research niche establishment, and the continuous evaluation of its existing programs aligned to the needs of their respective industries, among other plans.
Under institutional excellence, the institution is expected to improve its campus landscape through an Adopt-a-Park program, promote the use of energy-saving mechanisms through the use of solar panels on all campuses, centralize student records through the University Registrar, assign graduate program coordinators, procure additional transport services, and explore the establishment of multi-level parking.
“I thank you all for doing all that you do to further cement the University of Saint Louis as one of the top schools in the region and in the country. I am certain that with shared efforts we will go forward with purpose and pride. We are called to be efficient and effective in our mission. Our university shall remain valuable, competitive, and effective for the church, families, and society,” said Fr. Maniwang in his closing remarks.
The assembly plays a crucial role in fostering transparency and aligning the university community towards shared goals and objectives. Through this, the employees gained insights into the university’s progress and its vision for the future.
