The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) recently facilitated this year’s Accreditation of Boarding Houses and Dormitories (ABHD), a regular student service initiative that aims to identify and recommend safe, suitable, and conducive housing facilities for students who are coming from places outside Naga City. The accreditation process was carried out by the ABHD Committee, led by the OSA Director as Chairperson, alongside representatives from the Campus Services and Operations Office (CSOO), the Ateneo Higher Education Health Services Office (AHEHSO), the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and student representatives.
The process commenced with the committee reviewing firsthand feedback from student residents who lived in accredited facilities during School Year 2025-2026. These insights enabled the committee to evaluate the quality of accommodations directly from the students’ perspective. Then, the committee conducted ocular inspections of the participating housing facilities from May 7 to 8, 2026. During these visits, the owners and operators were interviewed to verify compliance with required permits and certifications, as well as to gather additional information relevant to the accreditation process and aligned to the university’s standard.
Following a thorough evaluation and final deliberation on May 18, 2026, the ABHD committee accredited nineteen (19) boarding houses and dormitories for School Year 2026-2027. Seven houses garnered an Excellent rating, while the others were Very Satisfactory (11) and Satisfactory (1).
After the approval of Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, the University President, the final list of accredited boarding houses and dormitories was officially released to the university community. The OSA then gathered the owners and/or operators of the newly accredited housing facilities for a general assembly on June 29, 2026, at the Instructional Media Center (IMC). The results of the entire accreditation process as well as the general recommendations of the committee were shared with the owners. Highlighting student welfare, Merle Palcon, member of ABHD committee and Administrator of the Ateneo Higher Education Health Services Office (AHEHSO) delivered a presentation on creating safe, supportive, and healthy boarding house and dormitory environments. This session underscored the importance of prioritizing student welfare, cultivating mental health awareness, and enhancing emergency readiness. Concluding the assembly on a collaborative note, Janice Tresvalles, the OSA Director, facilitated an open sharing session, allowing the housing operators to exchange their experiences and best practices in managing their respective properties.
Over the years, the accreditation service has played a vital role in contributing to the safety and security of AdNU’s student boarders and dormers. Recognizing the significance of mental health as well as the rising incidence of student mental health concerns, the ABHD committee has broadened its focus to include not just the physical safety of student residents, but also their psychological well-being.
As part of this new direction, the OSA organized an orientation session for the owners and/or operators of ABHD on July 10, 2026 at Room CC211, Covered Courts. College Guidance Center (CGC) Director Fe Marie Dianne Llupar served as the resource speaker on the session, which was conducted to equip them with practical knowledge on how to spot signs of mental health concerns among their student residents, how to respond appropriately, and how to refer student residents to AdNU support services, including the OSA, CGC, and AHEHSO.
On the same day, the owners and operators formalized their long-term commitment to the Ateneo community by electing a dedicated set of officers, officially establishing the Association of Accredited Boarding Houses and Dormitories (AABHD). The newly elected officers took their official oath of office on July 14, 2026, administered by Dr. Digna P. Alba, the Vice President for Higher Education.
Following their induction, the AABHD officers paid a courtesy visit to the University President, Fr. Dy, to share the association’s initial plans and long-term vision. Moving forward, the officers of the AABHD will collaborate with OSA in further improving the accreditation program. The association will also conduct activities that will empower and enable them to constantly improve their facilities and services for students.
Through initiatives like the ABHD, OSA remains fully committed to promoting the safety and well-being of students.
