IN AN effort to improve the Ateneo’s administrative structure, different Loyola Schools (LS) offices are being relocated to the University’s central administration under its different Vice President (VP) clusters. This initiative was pursued after the Ateneo’s Board of Trustees directed the University to undergo a review of its organizational structure.
Notably, this reorganization entails the formation of the new Office of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (OADSA). The OADSA will take over most functions of the previous Office of the Associate Dean for Student and Administrative Services, and the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Formation.
To improve the Ateneo’s administrative structure, the Higher Education Cluster (HEC) will also be established in AY 2023–2024 to integrate the LS and the Ateneo Professional Schools (APS) as led by the to-be appointed Vice President for Higher Education (VPHE).
Based on the Higher Education Structure Committee (HESC)’s study, the HEC is necessary to improve the University’s focus on its academic roles such as teaching, research, and internationalization. The HEC also seeks to streamline managerial functions and ensure consistency in the different Ateneo academic units.
Office changes and transitions
In an interview with Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches, PhD, such changes to the Ateneo’s administrative structure were made following “a communal process of discernment in the University.” As of press time, she notes that the Office of the President has yet to release the final flowchart of the restructure.
Given current information, the Loyola Schools Quality Assurance (LSQA) Office will be integrated with the Strategy and Quality Management Office (SQMO) as part of the restructuring process to help the LS achieve national and international recognition.
In addition to changes to the LSQA, several offices under the Student and Administrative Services will be transferred to the University’s central administration. Notably, the Office of Campus Ministry, the Office of Student Activities, and the Office for Social Concern and Involvement were transferred to the Office of the Vice President for Mission Integration (OVPMI) cluster on September 1.
Former Associate Dean for Student and Administrative Services Marie Joy Salita was appointed the Assistant Vice President for Student Activities and Leadership. Moreover, former Associate Dean for Student Formation Leland Dela Cruz was appointed as Assistant Vice President for Social Development, Environment, and Community Engagement.
With the recommendations of VPMI Rizalino Rivera, Rizalina Simpas will take the position of Assistant Vice President for Ignatian Spirituality Formation, while Norman Dennis Marquez, MD will be the Assistant Vice President for Health, Care, and Well-Being.
A new OADSA
In light of such organizational changes, much of the OADSAS’ and the OADSF’s functions were subsumed under the various VP clusters, and the OADSAS and the OADSF were eventually dissolved.
Since October 5, the OADSA was created to support student services and formation in the Loyola Schools. The creation of the OADSA then dissolved other offices in the Loyola Schools, including the Office of Student Services, and the Office of the Associate Dean for Student and Administrative Services Campus Events Management Unit.
Now, the OADSA consists of three sections: Office of Student Discipline, Student Concerns and Compliance, and Campus Life.
“The office is poised to bridge gaps that pertain to understanding student needs, providing student information, awareness of student contexts, responses to student concerns, maintaining safe and brave learning spaces, and forging responsible and meaningful campus life,” Vilches said.
Former Ateneo Residence Halls Director Rene San Andres, who served as ADSA for 17 years, will head the OADSA and its different sections. San Andres noted that he is only directing the OADSA for the time being until a successor is chosen by the VPHE.
“Since things are still very unsettled at the moment. Hindi ito [This is not a] permanent appointment. It’s just one until the end of the school year,” he mentioned.
Learning about the current state of the student body, the OADSA plans to relaunch the Ateneo College Student Survey sometime next year to re-center their efforts.
Moreover, OADSA Student Concerns and Compliance Head Cholo Mallilin reiterated that their office will primarily act as a front desk for receiving student concerns. They would be limited to bridging students to relevant offices—depending on the needed assistance.
Future of the OVPHE
Along with these administrative changes, the to-be appointed VPHE will handle all academic operations, with the five LS and four APS school deans reporting to them.
The Board of Trustees will seek suitable candidates to take over the position of VPHE, a position that merges the responsibilities of VPLS and VPAPS. Vilches hopes a recommendation can be made by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees in January 2023, right before the Board of Trustees’ meeting.
According to a memo about the HEC, the VPHE’s responsibilities may include activities related to curricula, teaching and learning, research, and internationalization.
Given the establishment of the HEC, University President Roberto Yap, SJ, issued a memo stating that Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD will end her term as the VPLS and the Officer-in-Charge of the APS on May 31.
Officially ending her term in May, Vilches wished the VPHE well in their role of directing the HEC in alignment with the University’s educational mission. Notably, changes were seen during Vilches’ term: program accreditation, a new core curriculum, increased research output, and the creation of several student services.
