Saturday, March 15, 2008 Hechanova: SLU's Core Values and Flagship Programs By Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova Light That Transforms
GREETINGS to our dear readers of Sun.Star Baguio.
We are glad indeed to bring you more bits of general information about Saint Louis University (SLU). In this issue, we are providing you backgrounders about our core values and flagship programs.
Visibly seen by everyone -- students, employees and visitors alike -- even from afar, the identical mega billboards posted in all the buildings of SLU in the three campuses in Bonifacio, Gen. Luna and Recto herald an urgent call to participate in the challenge to embark on a mission for the transformation of SLU and community in all aspects.
The banner "SLU -- A Mission to Transform" -- was introduced in August 2005 upon my assumption as the sixth president of SLU.
All of us then were resolved to adopt the strategic management approach that incorporates a set of managerial decisions and actions that will determine the long-term directions of SLU.
Since then, all members of the SLU community integrated in their respective strategic plans how they would help pursue the mission of transformation.
Trail blazed by a vision-mission and a set of core values we crafted in October 2005, the different colleges and offices have formulated their respective distinct and customized vision and set of strategies.
After a series of strategic planning workshops, SLU unveiled Institutional Development Goals and Flagship Programs to be implemented from school year 2006-07 to 2011.
Propelled by the same fervor and dedication that inspired the early CICM missionaries to bring education to this part of the country in 1911, the SLU administration, employees, and students are forging to actualize their goals and programs.
In order to elevate the energy, enthusiasm and self-esteem of all members of the SLU community, we crafted our vision-mission that reads: "We envision Saint Louis University as an excellent, missionary and transformative educational institution zealous in the formation of human resources who are imbued with the Christian spirit and who are competent, creative and socially involved."
With this vision-mission, SLU is therefore resolved to transform persons and communities through Louisian education as inspired by our four core values which are: Competence, Creativity, Christian Spirit, and Social Involvement.
To spell out specific policy statements that will concretize these core values, we have identified our five flagship programs.
Our first flagship program is Spirituality and Christian Values Formation. We affirm that this program is an essential flagship program that can deepen and strengthen the spiritual life of the members of the Louisian community.
In the pursuit of a deepened spiritual and Christian formation of its members, SLU being Catholic and CICM promotes a value system that is rooted in Christ and emulates the virtues of Mary who is the model of Christian discipleship.
It also encourages everyone to be a living witness of Christ and the gospel values, and to foster the growth in one another of a mature Christian faith and missionary spirituality.
As a Catholic university, we faithfully animate everyone, particularly the youth, to discover, deepen and appreciate the richness and beauty of the Catholic faith.
Our second flagship program is Competency-Building. We recognize that this program is geared towards the formation of persons who possess the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes needed in the exercise of their professions, and who are self-propelled learners constantly seeking to develop their God-given talents and potentials, and become the best of what they could be.
Our third flagship program is Multidisciplinary Research. We recognize that this program is a basic function of SLU for the enhancement of creativity, the production of relevant research outputs and the progress of the Cordillera region and society in general.
We further believe that each member of the community is a vital instrument in the development of a culture of research, and that the cultivation of critical and creative thinking and behavior will enable the individual to better adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Our fourth flagship program is Social Commitment Building. We recognize that an institution of higher learning, such as SLU, is a potent agent in the transformation of the society.
We affirm that this program can nurture the missionary zeal and the social responsibility of all the members of the Louisian family.
As a CICM institution, SLU will steadfastly show special concern for the poor, the handicapped and the marginalized, even as she endeavors to help transform enslaving systems and structures through education and consequential outreach programs and activities.
Our fifth and last flagship program is Structural-Support System Development. SLU recognizes that institutional resources play a vital role in the pursuit of the accomplishment of SLU's vision-mission.
Human resources without adequate and appropriate structural and support system will not be sufficient to ensure the development of the core values of SLU.
At this point, I wish to thank all the members of the entire SLU community for the support, cooperation and dedication they have shown in the past few years as we strive together to accomplish the mission and the tasks spelled out in the respective strategic plans of the different colleges, departments and offices.
For the detailed presentations about SLU, we invite you to log in our website www.slu.edu.ph. Until next Friday, God bless.
