Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University (SLU) is an educational institution in Baguio City, approximately two hundred fifty kilometers north of Manila

Saint Louis University was founded in 1911 by Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae missionaries, to further the Christianizing of the northern Philippines. Its six hectare campus is located 250 kilometers north of Manila in Baguio City, a resort city know was the "Summer Capital of the Philippines". SLU is the largest university in the Northern Philippines with, 20,750 as of November 17, 2007, the students coming all regions of the Philippines as well as overseas. The 30 building campus is located centrally in Baguio drawing an eclectic mix of cultures and nationalities. Today is regarded as one of the Philippines' respected and leading educational institutions that has grown with the demands of the current and future environments for its students and faculty alike, and offers programs from the elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate
History
In 1907, the CICM Missionaries arrived in the Philippines, mandated by the Vatican to christianize the northern part of the country. The Missionaries settled in Baguio because of its proximity to both Manila and the mountain province of Benguet beyond the Cordillera mountain range, that was home to numerous indigenous tribes. In 1911, Rev Fr Séraphin Devesse, CICM, founded a one-room elementary school in Baguio for ten local boys, nameing the school the Saint Louis School . In 1915, the the St. Louis school expaned to a vocatial and trade school. In 1915 the school opened a secondary branch. In 1952 the college of Liberal Arts and Commerce was open with Gerard Decaestecker. Other courses and further developments soon followed, under the guidance of the following In 1955, the graduate-level programs of Saint Louis College were granted recognition, and the Philippene government granted university status in 1963.[1]
Rev. Fr. Paul Van Parijs, CICM, was appointed as the 5th President of SLU. The administration of the post-graduate and undergraduate levels was integrated. Each College assumed the responsibility for the administration of specific programs in all levels. 1997 The SLU Laboratory High School was granted its five-year accreditation status by the PAASCU. The SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart acquired the most modern CT Scan Machine. 1999 Phase I of the Partnership Program among SLU,BSU,Belgian Government Development Agency and the Flemish Inter-University Council was approved and signed. 2000 The SLU Natural Sciences Research Unit was inaugurated through the support of the Flemish Inter-University Council of Belgium. The SLU Internet Library was inaugurated. 2001 SLU was granted Full Autonomy Status by the Commission on Higher Education(CHED) in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1994.


The SLU College of Nursing celebrated its Silver Jubilee. SLU and the University of the Cordilleras signed a Memorandum of Agreement on April 6, 2001 for the offering of Master in Science in Civil Engineering major in Geotechnical Engineering. 2002 SLU inaugurated the Sunflower Children’s Center, a center that promotes the welfare and rights of children. SLU, University of the Cordilleras and Benguet Sate University signed a Memorandum of Agreement on April 24,2002 to offer the course in Master of Science in Mountain Engineering. 2003 SLU signed the cooperation commitment with Flemish Universities in Belgium for the University Cooperation Programme involving SLU and Benguet State University and funded by the Belgian government. The SLU College of Education celebrated its Golden Anniversary. Inauguration of the Burgos Administrative Center, the Physical Education Building, SLU Laboratory High School New Annex Building and the bronze statue of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, SLU’s Patron Saint. 2004 The SLU Museum of Arts and Cultures was re-opened to the public. SLU was tapped by the ASEAN-EU University Network Programme to undertake a project on the establishment of a distance study course on Business Economics and Business Reporting.
SLU was ranked third among 296 schools nationwide with high passing rates in various licensure examinations covering the period 1999 to 2003 by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Commission on Higher Education. 2005 The SLU Student Center was inaugurated. It is composed of a 268-bed men’s dormitory, a mess hall and a public canteen. SLU and Sungkonghoe University in Seoul, Korea signed a partnership for the Special Program for English Language and Literature for the latter’s students. SLU and BayanTel Communications signed a partnership for the establishment of a broadband Internet access platform in the university’s Internet Libraries. Rev. Fr. Jessie M. Hechanova was installed as the 6th President of SLU. He is the first natural born Filipino Citizen to hold the highest position in the University. 2006 SLU celebrates its 94th Foundation anniversary with the first-ever "Handog ng SLU sa Baguio" at the Melvin Jones, Burnham Park