Report by Therese Mole
Photos by Gene Verona
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — In recognition of its re-accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan held a thanksgiving celebration with a snack carnival, Holy Mass at University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a fellowship dinner at the XU Covered Courts on Monday, June 24.
Students, administrators, faculty, and staff gathered for the mingle and snacks served at the XU Covered Courts. Different schools and colleges prepared chants and props with the words “#REACCREDITED,” “#XAVIERATENEO,” and “PAASCU 2019” to show pride and support for the institution’s achievement.
PAASCU granted Xavier Ateneo programs re-accreditation for five years valid until May 2024. This re-accreditation of the Core Programs (Arts & Sciences, Elementary & Secondary Education, Business Administration, and Accountancy) and our Nursing and Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, and Mechanical) programs was the exceptional result of the re-survey visits during the XU grand PAASCU festival held on the last week of January 2019.
The re-accreditation for five years (maximum period possible) means that these programs received a “clean” pass, without need for interim visits.
After the carnival, XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ presided the Eucharistic celebration at the university church. In his homily, he highlighted Xavier Ateneo’s PAASCU achievement, along with St John the Baptist’s birthday.
To serve as an inspiration to the Xavier Ateneo community, Yap described St John the Baptist’s greatness in three words — Spirit-filled, humility, and service.
“As we celebrate the success of our PAASCU re-accreditation, perhaps we can turn to John the Baptist in his birthday, and ask him to teach us how to thank, praise, and glorify God," Yap said. "Let us ask St John the Baptist to help us appreciate our being Spirit-filled and be grateful for our gift of humble service.”
He also mentioned the XU's recent national achievements in topping the licensure exams such as being the 1st top-performing school in the Nursing Licensure Examination with a 100% passing rate for 10 consecutive years with four topnotchers this year; 3rd top-performing school in the Real Estate Broker Board Examination with four topnotchers; 9th top-performing law school in the 2018 Bar Examinations; and 10th top-performing accountancy school in the May 2019 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam.
After the mass, people returned to the XU Covered Courts for the fellowship dinner. Before the meals were served, newly-appointed VP for higher education Dr Juliet Dalagan welcomed the crowd with a toast, saying: “As we start this school year — our first year of the five years, I hope that excellence becomes a way of life in Xavier Ateneo. With or without PAASCU visit, we are always compliant to the standards that we have set for ourselves."
Yap expressed his gratitude to the Xavier Ateneo community through a short message emphasizing his vision for the university: “Now with the five years, our hope is that the quest for quality insurance really becomes a habit with us, that it becomes our second nature. [...] We will start working for the institutional accreditation. We are preparing for Agriculture and Computer Studies both in January. We are also planning to apply for the ASEAN University Network Quality Insurance, where we will put our best program forth.”
Yap also said that the XU Nursing program will be the first program the university will submit for ASEAN accreditation.
The event ended with various performances from students, faculty, and staff, and with fun games.
In his memo to the academic community, Yap thanked the Xavier Ateneo Self-Survey Team headed by overall executive chairperson Fr Rene C Tacastacas SJ (former VP for higher education), the deans, faculty, and staff “who worked tirelessly and generously in preparation for the PAASCU visits." He also thanked the Quality Management Office, headed by Fr Anthony C Pabayo SJ for the support and assistance provided.
Xavier Ateneo considers this PAASCU re-accreditation an affirmation to the quality education it provides and academic leadership in this part of the country. As Yap said, “At Xavier Ateneo, our students truly Experience Excellence.”
PAASCU, a non-profit service organization, is one of the three founding members of the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP), which was established in 1977 and is authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to certify the levels of accredited programs for the purpose of granting progressive deregulation and other benefits.∎
