THE UNIVERSITY will hold installation rites for reelected UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on Sept. 9, making official the beginning of his second term as the top UST official.
A Mass will be held at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church at 9 a.m., to be followed by the installation rites at 10:30 a.m.
Ang was named the 97th UST Rector on July 22 following the recommendation of Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the Master of the Order and UST chancellor, and the “nihil obstat” declaration, meaning “nothing obstructs,” from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.
The recommendation was based on a list ratified by the Board of Trustees, which includes University vice rectors, the secretary general, and other Dominican friars.
Ang emerged as the top candidate for rector after the Academic Senate evaluated and ranked the terna, or a list of three candidates. He was followed by Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. and Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., both former UST rectors, respectively.
UST rectors are usually reappointed to a second four-year term, such as Ang’s predecessor, Dagohoy (2012-2016 and 2016-2020).
During his first installation in 2021, Ang took his solemn oath of office before UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz Jr., O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.
In his first term, Ang led the inauguration of two new UST campuses: the research-focused UST Santa Rosa and UST General Santos, envisioned to be an agri-tech campus, in Mindanao.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he ensured operational continuity by enhancing UST’s information technology infrastructure and launching the “enriched virtual mode” for online synchronous and asynchronous classes.
Subsequently, Ang oversaw the return to in-person classes and transitioned the learning management system to Canvas from Blackboard.
He also spearheaded the separation of the now College of Information and Computing Sciences from the Faculty of Engineering at the Manila branch, establishing it as an independent college.
According to UST’s general statutes, the Rector, as the chief executive officer of the University, is responsible for the promulgation of laws and rules in the University, the appointment of officials, the annual budget of the University, and the approval of programs and semester schedules for all faculties, colleges, and schools.
Ang’s installation on Sept. 9 will be attended by administrative and academic unit officials and guests.
