Ateneo de Davao University

History

At the request of Bishop Luis del Rosario S.J., of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, which then included Davao, the Jesuit fathers took over St. Peter's Parochial School and founded the Ateneo de Davao in 1948. The founding fathers were led by Fr. Theodore E. Daigler S.J., who became the first rector of the school. The other founding Jesuits were Alfredo Paguia S.J., Grant Quinn S.J., Scholastics James Donelan S.J. and Rodolfo Malasmas S.J. On 20 May 1948, Ateneo de Davao was registered with the SEC (SEC Registration No. 3467) as a non-stock, non-profit, education institution.

When the Ateneo de Davao formally opened on 28 June 1948, it offered grades V and VI and 1st to 3rd year high school. There were 71 elementary students and 131 high school students who started in a wooden building on a six-hectare lot in Matina.

The Jacinto campus (3.5 hectares) was acquired in 1951 with the support of the Most Rev. Clovis Thibault, P.M.E., Bishop-Prelate of Davao. The campus provided classrooms for high school students in the daytime and college courses in the evenings. College course offerings then were liberal arts, commerce, education, associate in arts, pre-law, secretarial and an elementary teacher's certificate program. There were 130 male college students on the July 1951 start of the College Department, and they were housed in the wooden Bellarmine Hall. In 1953, the Ateneo de Davao College became co-educational. By then, there were nine collegiate course programs offered.

Administration

The Ateneo de Davao is governed by a board of trustees, currently chaired by Benjamin A. Lizada. The central administration is led by the university president, Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J., who has several committees and councils at hand in helping him in the overall governance of various concerns and aspects of the university.

The tertiary level has six units, each headed by a dean.

The Junior High School unit is currently headed by Fr. Michael I. Pineda, S.J. as principal. The Grade School unit of the university is headed by its headmaster, Mrs. Suzette Aliño. The Senior High School unit is headed by Mr. RIcardo P. Enriquez, the first director of SHS.

University campus

The Ateneo de Davao University operates in two campuses in Davao City, both housing several research and academic units. The 4-hectare Jacinto Campus is a metropolitan campus as it is situated in the central district of the city. The Jacinto Campus was only 3.5 hectares when it was bought in 1951. In 2012, an adjacent lot of 0.5 hectare was added to the original lot. It is occupied by the undergraduate and graduate schools of the university, including the College of Law and has a student population of around 8000. The grade school and high school units of the university are located at the 7.2-hectare Matina Campus, a residential area of the city. The Matina campus was originally a 6-hectare lot. In 2012, an adjacent lot of 1.2 hectares was added.

Academic institutions

The Ateneo de Davao offers a wide array of programs in the undergraduate and graduate levels. The school's academic programs include the humanities, education, accounting, business, law, social sciences, philosophy, nursing, social work, theology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and information technology, engineering, architecture, and public administration. The university also heavily engages itself in research and community social involvement.

School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) was opened in 1951 with 130 students enrolled in various offerings namely: liberal arts, commerce, education, associate in arts, pre-law, secretarial, and elementary teacher's certificate program. In subsequent years, other college programs were added. After the school obtained university status in 1977, the list of programs was further expanded.

Presently, the SAS offers different degree programs both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The SAS is subdivided into four clusters namely: Computer Studies, Humanities and Letters, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences

School of Business and Governance

The undergraduate business courses of the Ateneo de Davao University were under the School of Arts and Sciences; the MBA, MPA and MAN programs were under the graduate business programs and the MPA-GA program was under the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In an effort to have all the business courses integrated, the AdDU School of Business & Governance (SBG) was born.

The SBG was launched in 1 April 2000. Under its aegis are accountancy, business management, entrepreneurship, human resource management, finance, accounting technology, marketing and graduate business programs as well as support programs in computer literacy and research and extension offices.

School of Nursing

The university has been offering a master's degree program in Nursing Administration since the 1970s. It opened an undergraduate nursing program in 2001. The program started under the auspices of the Natural Sciences and Math Division, and eventually became the School of Nursing (SON).

In 2009, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) released a list of the top 20 nursing schools in the Philippines that have met the standards set by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The School of Nursing of the Ateneo de Davao University was in the 18th place of the Top 20 Nursing Schools in the Philippines.

School of Engineering and Architecture

In school year 2010–2011, the Board of Trustees of the university approved the separation of the Engineering and Architecture Division from the School of Arts and Sciences in order to create its own college. Dr. Randell U. Espina was appointed as the first dean of the new college. The board approved the promotion from CEA to School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), beginning 1 June 2012

The SEA offers eight academic programs, namely: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

In 2011, AdDU was adjudged the seventh best engineering school in the country. This ranking was derived by getting the average of the school's rating in the licensure examinations in five engineering fields namely Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil and Electronics & Communications Engineering. The Ateneo de Davao was also ranked as the 4th best Architecture school in the country. This was also based on the passing percentage rates of the school on board examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission for Architecture in three consecutive years.

School of Education

During the school year 2012–2013, the board approved the separation of the Education program from the Social Science Division as part of the reorganization of the School of Arts and Sciences in order to create the School of Education (SOE). Dr. Gina L. Montalan is the school's first appointed dean. The current Assistant Dean of the SOE is Dr. Annabel J. Casumpa.

The SOE offers the following programs: Bachelor of Elementary Education (Generalist and Pre-School) and Bachelor of Secondary Education with majors in English, Math, Physical Sciences, Social Studies, and Biological Sciences.

The Ateneo de Davao University's Teacher Education is also recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as a Center of Development.

College of Law

In June 1961, then-Rector Rev. Hudson Mitchell, S.J. established the College of Law. The first graduates took the bar examinations in 1965. Atty. Leon M. Garcia, Jr. was Dean for the period 1961–63. He was succeeded by Epifanio Estrellado who held the deanship for 27 years. In 1990, Atty. Hildegardo F. Iñigo, one of the first graduates of the College of Law and faculty member since 1967, assumed the position of dean.

According to the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the AdDU College of Law is the fifth best law school in the country. The College has maintained this for many years.

The dean of the College of Law is Atty. Manuel P. Quibod.

Basic education units

The government mandated K-12 basic education program was implemented in the Ateneo de Davao, starting in school year 2012–2013.

Senior High School

The Senior High School covers eight areas based on four disciplines similar to college courses which are Academic (Business, Science & Engineering, Humanities & Social Science and General Academic strand), Technical Vocational Livelihood (focusing on TESDA specialised subjects). These areas allow students to pick their chosen track where they can enhance their skills and talents.

The Ateneo Senior High School offers a Pre-college Track focusing on three strands namely STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management), and HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) which help students be ready and equipped for both college life and the corporate world.

The first school year of the Senior High School Unit will begin in June 2016. The Senior High School will temporarily take place in the college campus while the official Senior High building is constructed in the Matina campus.

Junior High School

The Junior High School Unit of the Ateneo de Davao University is a Catholic preparatory school for young students. The current principal of the department is Fr. Michael I. Pineda, S.J. He assumed the post in 2011, replacing Fr. Anthony C. Pabayo, S.J.

The Junior High School Unit has its main library housed on the second floor of the administration building. The unit also has a Student Development Center which serves a supporting function in the educational process through the directing and controlling activities to help each individual develop his/her potential. Some of the goals of the center are incorporated in the academic curriculum which include individual analysis of the student, information and career development, individual counseling, and the conduction of psychological educational classes regularly. There are also other unique support services in the Junior High School unit. The Instructional Media Center (IMC) aims to provide an environment, which facilitates the realization of the academic excellence and the formation of Christian values. The IMC provides an adequate collection of print and audio-visual materials which includes books, magazines, records, videotapes and other materials that are all necessary for the academic development of the student body.

As part of the Jesuit educational tradition, the Junior High School also provides religious formation programs, such as the Christian Service and Learning Program (CSLP, formerly called CSIP), which sends students to different communities in order to immerse in the environment and reach out. The academic curriculum also includes a CLE (Christian Life Education) program. The 4-year CLE course aims to produce an Ateneo graduate who projects the Jesuit values of being men and women for others and who will actively serve as catalysts for social transformation while living life with an informed Christian perspective.

The Junior High School classifies its students into honors (St. Francis Xavier) and general sections (St. John Berchmans (General section in 7th, 9th and 10th Grade while acting as an honor's class during 8th Grade), St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Francis Borgia, St. Peter Canisius, St. Edmund Campion, St. Noel Chabanel (7th Grade), St. John de Brito, St. Peter Favre, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Joseph Pignatelli, St. Bernardino Realino (7th Grade), St. John Francis Regis). All entering 7th Grade are equally put into regular sections. Starting 8th Grade, the students are then academically evaluated in order to determine the composition of the honors class of the batch. Their curriculum is more advanced and rigorous than that of the regular sections. An example of this would be in the math curriculum in which additional competencies are added like analytic geometry (8th Grade level), trigonometry (9th Grade level), and calculus (10th Grade level)

Grade School

The Ateneo de Davao Grade School is an elementary school for young and qualified students. The Grade School Unit is housed, along with the high school unit, within the Matina Campus. The department also provides the student body with many support services. The grade school’s Student Development Center offers integral development programs which subsequently helps in the holistic formation of the student. The Grade School Instructional Media Center (IMC) is the information center of the Ateneo de Davao Grade School Department. The department also has the Ateneo Education for Elementary Gifted Student (Ateneo EDGES Program) .

School seal

The Ateneo de Davao seal is circular with the school motto in Latin on top of the circle, and the name of the school at the bottom of the circle. At the center are the shield of the family of St Ignatius of Loyola and the seal of the Society of Jesus.

The two top panels of the shield represent Davao. The gold and silver inverted crossed keys against a light blue background represent St. Peter, Patron of Davao Parish Church (now Cathedral). The light blue background represents Our Lady, patroness of the Philippines and of the Ateneo de Davao University (under the title of the Assumption of Our Lady). The green mountain peaks in the other panel represent Mt. Apo and its neighboring peaks, clearly visible from Davao City.

The two lower panels of the shield are the family arms of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola of the House of Onaz y Loyola. The seven red and gold stripes represent the seven sons of the House of Onaz who fought under their king for the liberties of the Christians in Spain. The wolves-and-pot (lobos y olla) are a pun on the family name Loyola.

The crest above the shield is a silver medallion containing the monogram of the Society of Jesus: IHS are the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek; the cross and the nails recall His passion and death as savior of mankind.

School motto

The school motto in Latin, Fortes In Fide, means "Strong in Faith" from I Peter 5:9. It is also the burden of a passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: Eph. 5, 10-20.

Mission

The Ateneo de Davao strives to shape leaders for the Catholic Church in the Philippines and throughout the country but particularly in Mindanao. It promotes respect for cultural and religious diversity. Other values entertained are community development and defense of the environment.

The Ateneo name

The name Ateneo is the Spanish form of Athenæum, which the Dictionary of Classical Antiquities defines as the name of "the first educational institution in Rome" where "rhetoricians and poets held their recitations." Hadrian’s school drew its name from a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The said temple, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, was where "poets and men of learning were accustomed to meet and read their productions." Athenæum is also used in reference to schools and literary clubs. The closest English translation is academy, referring to institutions of secondary learning.

The Ateneo de Davao is not the only Jesuit school that the Jesuits named Ateneo. The Society of Jesus in the Philippines has established sixteen schools all over the Philippines since 1590 where nine of them are Ateneo. Over the years, the name "Ateneo" has become recognized as the official title of Jesuit institutions of higher learning in the Philippines and synonymous with academic excellence.

Library system

The library system of the Ateneo de Davao University comprises several libraries housed in the Jacinto Campus and the Matina Campus. The main library of the tertiary level is located inside the Gisbert Hall, in the Jacinto Campus. The main library has four levels and mainly serves the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Governance, and the College of Nursing. The first level of the main library accommodates the space for the study area, newly processed books, general circulation books, CD-ROM library, PROQUEST, and the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The second level contains the Union Card Catalog and the Graduate and Reserved Sections which contain theses, dissertations, and other studies that are requested by the members of the faculty for their classes. The third level includes the Reference and Filipiniana Library and a self-regulating computer library for the students. The fourth level houses the Periodical Library which provides a vast collection of current and retrospective newspapers, magazines, and journals.

The Law School and School of Business and Governance Graduate Library is located on the fifth floor of the Dotterweich building. Its vast collection largely caters to law students and graduate students who are enrolled in the Master of Arts in Business Administration (MBA), Master in Public Administration (MPA) and Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) programs.

The Faculty Resource Center (FRC) is located on the second level of the Finster Hall. The resources in the FRC are exclusively used by the faculty members of the university. It also contains its own computer laboratory.

Also integrated in the library system of the Ateneo de Davao are the distinct libraries of the pre-school, grade school, and high school departments. The said three libraries are all located in the Matina Campus. The Ateneo de Davao Library System is connected to the library system of its sister schools all over the Philippines namely Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and the Ateneo de Cagayan University.

The American Corner (AC), or the "American Library" as it is widely known in the city, is located on the second level of the Wieman Hall. More details in the section below.

American Studies Resource Center

The American Studies Resource Center or the American Corner (AC) is a center dedicated providing various materials and resources about the United States in different aspects, as well as advising services for those individuals who want to study in the United States. It boasts an array of books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, videotapes, VCDs, DVDs, posters and publications of private and public American organizations and agencies.

The American Library was established on 13 May 1992. In 2003, it was closed for renovation and improvement of the facilities under a new Memorandum of Agreement which was duly signed by Mr. Ronald Post of the US Embassy and Fr. Edmundo M. Martinez, S.J.

Service oriented

The Arrupe Office of Social Formation or AOSF, formerly known as the Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO), is the social formation arm of Ateneo de Davao University in the tertiary level. The office aims to develop and implement social formation programs and activities.

Among AOSF’s projects and initiatives are the "First Year Development Program", where students are assigned a classroom adviser who assists them in adjusting to the demands and rigours of college life, "National Service Training Program", where Filipino students contribute to the general welfare of local partner communities, and "Student Servant Leadership Program", where students develop and student organizations serve as collaborators in the work of spreading social awareness and social involvement. It also runs surveys in the public interest and patrols elections.

The College of Law has several pro bono programs under the office of the Ateneo Legal Aid Services. Students in the graduate programs of the School of Business and Governance help in creating business plans and entrepreneurial opportunities for non-profit organizations in the city. For the School of Arts and Sciences graduate programs, most of the academic courses are focused on environment, education, and peace in its various academic course programs. In this line the university has Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Studies.

Accreditation and recognition

In 2009, Ateneo de Davao was granted "institutional accreditation" by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). Only six universities in the Philippines were granted and it is the only university in Mindanao to have been given such recognition. The Ateneo de Davao University joins five other universities in the Philippines that have been granted with such accreditation namely, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Naga University, Centro Escolar University, Silliman University and Trinity University of Asia. AdDU was also given Autonomous Status by the Commission on Higher Education and is also a Center of Development for Information Technology and Teacher Education.

In 2016, Ateneo de Davao was granted "Autonomous and Deregulated Status" by the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines)

The Ateneo de Davao University has been re-accredited Level III in 8 programs which are: Accounting, Arts & Sciences, Business, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering and is accredited Level III for Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities and the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines. The Information Technology and Information Systems programs of AdDU were both granted Level I accreditation and is a Center of Development of CHED XI. Certificates of Accreditation from PAASCU were also awarded to the following programs offered by the Ateneo: Arts & Sciences, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Business, Accounting, Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical), Information Technology/Information Systems and Social Work. Some programs offered by the university are also under the Candidate Status of PAASCU. In addition, the Elementary and High School of AdDU are also accredited by the same accrediting association and received level II accreditation.

Rankings and reputation

Student organizations

The Samahan Central Board, also referred to as SAMAHAN, is the official student government of the university. Together with the Campus Clubs Organization (CCO) and the General Assembly of Class Presidents (GACP), the Samahan Central Board is under the supervision of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

The Campus Clubs Organizations (CCO) has the mandate on all student organizations within the university, except the Special Organizations created by the Office of Student Affairs. The GACP has the mandate for all duly elected class presidents.

University athletics

The Ateneo de Davao has a robust sports program in college, high school and grade school. The university has varsity teams in the sport of basketball, football, volleyball, track & field, table tennis, swimming, arnis and chess. It participates in athletic leagues such as the Davao Association of Catholic Schools Sportsfest (DACS), Davao Champions League (DCL), Duterte Basketball League (DBL), Davao City Collegiate League (DCCL), UNIGAMES and the Shakey's Girls' V-League.

Student publications

The student publication of the college department of the university (excepting the College of Law) is the Atenews. Founded in 1955, Atenews serves as a stalwart guardian of students' rights. Notable alumni of the Atenews include Dr. Macario Tiu, three-time awardee of the Don Carlos Palanca Award for Literature and former moderator for the publication.

The grade school and high school's student publications are Magis and Blue Knight, respectively.

University radio station

Blue Knight FM (currently 105.9 MHz; formerly 94.7 MHz of One Radio), the official radio station of the university, was launched in January 2008. The station serves as a training ground for Mass Communication majors. Blue Knight FM airs from 9 AM to 10 AM, Monday to Friday. The station is located inside the Humanities Division. Blue Knight uses the frequency of Balita FM.

Notable alumni

Ateneo de Davao has produced graduates in the fields of arts, governance, law, medicine, media, service and science. Here are some of its notable alumni:

Michael P. Cloribel (BS Management Accounting '01 and LLB '08) - Commissioner of the Governance Commission for GOCCs.

Building expansions

In June 2012, the plans for the Community Center and the Martin Hall, a multi-purpose sports and assembly building, were unveiled to the public through Architect Christopher Ong. On 6 October that year, the ground breaking ceremony took place to officially commence the construction of the buildings. Additionally, the new University Chapel, formally known as The University Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption, was constructed inside the Community Center. On 30 December 2015, the University Chapel, Community Center, and the Martin Hall were blessed.

The 12-story Community Center is the city's tallest educational tower. The multi-purpose Martin Hall is the biggest student service center at seven stories.

The Community Center features a plaza on the first floor, a study complex for students called the Miguel Pro Learning Commons on the second floor. The upper floors will be allocated for faculty, researchers, outreach institutes and centers. The ninth floor is dedicated to the university’s guests. The tenth floor serves as the residence of the local Jesuit community. The structure has a rainwater collection system and an array of solar panels that powers the Center’s lighting system.

The Martin Hall houses a 350-car parking facility, four basketball courts that can double as an assembly hall for around 3,500 people, a theater stage, a jogging track, a gym, and other sports facilities. Student organization offices and conference rooms are found in the mezzanine.