THE UNIVERSITY has reorganized a number of offices to enhance its Catholic character. There have also been personnel changes.
With the expiration of his term as the University’s secretary-general, Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P. was replaced by Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P, the director of the Computer Center. Cabading will fill the two posts concurrently.
Fr. Aligan has been appointed vice-rector for religious affairs, a new position under the revised UST charter. He has three departments under him: the Institute of Religion, the office of the Campus Ministry, and the newly-formed Office for Community Development (OCD).
OCD is the former community extension arm of the Office for Student Affairs and Community Service (Osacs). It will be headed by Prof. Joey Cruz.
According to Prof. Cruz, the split was consistent with the University’s vision of becoming a teaching, research, and community service-oriented institution.
“As much as nakakatulong tayo sa mga pamayanan, nagkakaroon tayo ng sapat na experience, sapat na expertise, to improve our standing sa field ng community development,” said Prof. Cruz.
The department will also partly handle the Community Welfare Service (CWS) program of the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). It will monitor and evaluate the activities of the CWS students in their assigned communities.
With its formation, the OCD will occupy the room that will be vacated by the Social Research Center, which will transfer to the newly-built Thomas Aquinas Research Complex next year.
Meanwhile, according to UST Rector Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P. the University plans to reconstruct the Beato Angelico and turn it into a seven-story building to house the College of Architecture and the one year-old College of Fine Arts and Design.
In addition, there are plans to transform the gymnasium into a new and sophisticated sports complex.
Meanwhile, the Rector attended the general assembly of the International Council of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas (ICUSTA) held in Rome last September. The assembly discussed the possible of collaborations and exchanges of faculty, students, and publications.
ICUSTA is composed of universities bearing the name of St. Thomas. It meets every two years.
“We are exploring centers, studies in universities, who seriously consider the teachings of St. Thomas. We invite experts to share with us and the other universities their expertise,” said Fr. Lana.
Bolstering UST’s image as a Catholic University, Fr. Lana was elected vice- president for the Asia-Pacific of the International Federation of Catholic Universities in Paris last October. The federation with its 200 member links together the Catholic universities in the world.
The University is also a member of the Association of South East Asia Colleges and Universities. During the association’s recent gathering, the situation in the Philippines was called ideal for having the biggest number of Catholic universities in the region, around 25. Billy Joe I. Allardo, Maria Pacita Joson, and Karen M. Pena
