CHED Grants Autonomous Status to ADNU;
College of Education is Center of Excellence

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) granted autonomous status to the Ateneo de Naga University last June 2, 2008 and designated its College of Education as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education. The news was relayed to AdNU President, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J. by CHED Commissioner Nenalyn Defensor.

In accordance with RA 7722,  CHED supervises nationwide some 1,500 private higher education institutions (PHEIs) offering some 978 academic programs with combined enrollment of over 1.6 million students.  The sheer scope of this mandate led CHED, beginning in 2001, to rationalize its supervision by implementing progressive deregulation through the grant of deregulated or autonomous status to deserving PHEIs. At present, the selection of deregulated or autonomous PHEIs is based on three general criteria, namely:  (1) long tradition of integrity and untarnished reputation, (2) commitment to excellence as evidenced by accreditation of academic programs and presence of Centers of Development or Excellence and other quality assurance indicators, and (3) sustainability and viability of operations.

AdNU  was among  the first batch of 22 PHEIs granted deregulated  status in 2001, initially for a period of five years but subsequently extended to June 2007.  As a condition of the grant, these 22 PHEIs were evaluated in April 2007 to determine the withdrawal or retention of the special status.  The evaluation resulted to the renewal of deregulated status for another five years or until November 14, 2012 of only two schools - ADNU included.

Having robust quality assurance systems and guided by its corporate plan, AdNU continuously pressed on for more achievements. In March 2007, the College of Computer Studies was designated by CHED as a Center of Development in Information Technology Education for a period of three years until December 31, 2010. In SY 2007 – 2008, AdNU racked up additional impressive performances.  Two alumni – Ben Secretario and Julie Del Valle were honored among the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) of 2007.  Its College of Engineering earned the distinction of being the 2nd top performing school in the January 2008 licensure examinations for civil engineers given by the PRC while the College of Commerce was designated by CHED as a Center of Development in Business Administration and in Entrepreneurship in December 2007.  With the latter achievements, ADNU submitted a new application to CHED for the grant of autonomous status last April 25, 2008 even as it awaits the outcome of its application for the designation of its College of Education as Center of Excellence in Teacher Education.  This year, AdNU joins only 10 other PHEIs nationwide granted autonomy for a period of five years while being the only one in Southern Luzon and among the four in the country outside of Metro Manila.

As a PHEI granted autonomous status, ADNU shall enjoy some special privileges.  Among these are the exemption from the issuance of Special Order (S.O.) for its graduates, freedom from the regular monitoring and evaluation by CHED, priority in the grant of subsidies and other financial incentives from CHED,  privilege to determine and prescribe curricular programs to achieve global competence, privilege to offer new courses/programs in the undergraduate or graduate levels and privilege to establish branches or satellite campuses without securing government authority from CHED.

The entire AdNU Community will declare a day of thanksgiving and celebration on June 17, 2008.