The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) designated the University of Saint Louis as one of the Centers of Development (COD) in Information Technology Education as per CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 38 series of 2015.

The Center of Development (COD) refers to a department within a Higher Education Institution (HEI), which demonstrates the potential to become a Center of Excellence (COE) in the future.

The COD program of the CHED is provided for under Section 8 (f) of RA 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994, which states that CHED shall identify, support and develop potential centers of excellence in program areas needed for the development of world-class scholarship, nation building and national development.

The COD program aims to sustain/develop excellence of HEIs by enhancing their teaching, research and service programs to further nation building and national development.

“Last October 13, 2015, all heads of ITE programs who applied for the COD/COE grants were called at the CHED Central Office for the IT Technical Panel’s verification of documents they earlier submitted. A visit to USL was also conducted by CHED last Nov. 20, 2015 to evaluate our application documents,” said Mrs. Luisa B. Aquino, Dean of the School of Information and Computing Sciences (SICS).

“The IT Education in USL has the following merits that made it qualify for the COD grant: presence of curriculum complying with Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) standards, regular upgrading of laboratory facilities, presence of licensed software, sustained extension and linkages with academic and industry partners and professional organizations, and having library collection and facilities that are compliant with COD requirements,” Mrs. Aquino further said.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Emmanuel James P. Pattaguan, USL VP for Academics, “The University can get financial assistance from CHED for proposed projects, programs and/or activities that will strengthen IT Education in the school and the Region, where USL is expected to share its expertise, explaining the benefits of USL as a COD grantee.

How USL in turn responds to such privilege, he also said, “The University will ensure to live up to the expectations of CHED and hence will continually improve.”

USL is among the five HEIs in Region 02 granted with COD. Per CHED, the designation of CODs is valid for three years effective Jan. 2016 to Dec. 31, 2018.