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Silliman University (also referred to as Silliman or SU) is a
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
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university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it is the first
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
and
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
founded
institution Institutions are humanly devised structures of rules and norms that shape and constrain individual behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions a ...
of higher learning in the Philippines and in Asia. The
university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
was named after Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, a former businessman and philanthropist from Cohoes, New York who provided the initial sum of $10,000 for the establishment of the school. Starting as an
elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
for boys, the school expanded to become a college in 1910, acquiring university status in 1938. Silliman University was run and operated by Americans during the first half of the 20th century. After the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, Filipinos began to assume more administrative positions, resulting in the appointment of the university's first Filipino president in 1952. In terms of accreditation, Silliman is one of top five universities in the Philippines with "Institutional Accreditation" by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP). The Institutional Accreditation is the highest accreditation that can be granted to an educational institution after an assessment of its number of accredited programs, its facilities, its services, and its faculty is conducted on a whole."FAAP grants Institutional accreditation to Silliman University "
Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
Incidentally, Silliman also has the highest number of accredited programs in the country, twenty of which are on Level IV accreditation status, the highest level that can be granted to individual programs. Over 10,000 students attending the university from the Philippines and at least 56 other countries are enrolled in ten colleges, five schools, and three institutes. It is registered as a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute and is one of few private higher education institutions in the Philippines that have been granted full autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education."NHI Resolution No.7, Series 2002"
National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
Atty. Ignacio Bunye
"CSF program up in Dumaguete City"
. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 31, 2009.

. SU Net News. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
It is also a founding member of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia (ACUCA) and one of the recognized institutions in the U.S.
Veterans Administration The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...
's list of approved educational institutions."Past and Future"
ACUCA. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
In spite of the fact that it was established by a religious organization, Silliman is independent in legal and juridical governance. It maintains a link with Central Philippine University (CPU) and historically regards it as a sister school. CPU was founded by the
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul c ...
Americans Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ame ...
in 1905 in
Iloilo City Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo ( hil, Siyudad/Dakbanwa sang Iloilo; fil, Lungsod ng Iloilo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines on the island of Panay. It is the capital city of ...
. The university offers programs in the fields of early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, undergraduate education, as well as graduate education. Programs in the undergraduate and graduate levels cover disciplines such as arts, accountancy,
agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...
,
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
,
business administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
,
engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...
,
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
, Filipino,
information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology syste ...
, law,
medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...
,
nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...
,
anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...
,
biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary ...
,
chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
, clinical sciences,
pharmacy education The basic requirement for pharmacists to be considered for registration is often an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy degree from a recognized university. In many countries, this involves a four- or five-year course to attain a bachelor o ...
, teacher education,
economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics anal ...
,
environmental science Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geog ...
,
fine arts In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwor ...
, theater and performing arts, foreign languages,
geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other Astronomical object, astronomical objects, the features or rock (geology), rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology ...
,
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,
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,
marine sciences Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, Wind wave, waves, and geophysical flu ...
, nutrition and dietetics,
music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...
,
physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
,
theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...
,
philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. ...
,
psychology Psychology is the science, scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immens ...
,
public administration Public Administration (a form of governance) or Public Policy and Administration (an academic discipline) is the implementation of public policy, administration of government establishment ( public governance), management of non-profit es ...
and
social work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...
. In addition to its academic undertakings, the university is involved in research and community extension projects. Silliman's stature in the fields of environmental and marine sciences has led to its being designated by the
USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...
as a 'Center of Excellence in Coastal Resources Management.'


History


Establishment

Silliman University was founded on August 28, 1901, as Silliman Institute by
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
missionaries under the Board of Foreign Missions of the
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...
Church in the United States. Originally established as an elementary school for boys, operations for the institute started through an initial $10,000 donation given by a businessman and Christian philanthropist of Cohoes, New York named Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, who wanted to establish an industrial school using the Hampton Institute of Virginia model."Silliman University marks 117th year"
The Negros Chronicle. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
The person tasked by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions to establish the school was Dr.
David Sutherland Hibbard David Sutherland Hibbard (October 31, 1868 – December 30, 1966) was an American missionary and educator who established and served as first president of Silliman Institute, now Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Biography ...
, a man from Lyndon, Kansas who, after serving as a pastor in a Presbyterian church in that locality, offered his services to the Presbyterian Board as missionary. Upon his arrival in the Philippines, he was commissioned, with his wife Laura, to scout the southern part of the islands to determine the best location for the school. His original points of destination were
Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 16 ...
, Zamboanga and
Iloilo Iloilo (), officially the Province of Iloilo ( hil, Kapuoran sang Iloilo; krj, Kapuoran kang Iloilo; tl, Lalawigan ng Iloilo), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the City of Iloilo, the ...
. While in Cebu, a suggestion came to him to make a side-trip to
Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dumaguete; fil, Lungsod ng Dumaguete), is a 3rd income class component city and the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a p ...
. On his arrival, he was met by a Rev. Captain John Anthony Randolph, chaplain of the sixth U.S. Infantry Regiment stationed at that time in Dumaguete, who later introduced him to Don Meliton Larena, the town's local ''presidente'' and to his brother Demetrio Larena, then the vice-governor of the province. Hibbard got attracted to the place and decided to establish the school in the locality. He would later on write that the "beauty of Dumaguete and the friendliness of the people" helped in bringing about his decision. The institute had a modest beginning: Dr. and Mrs. Hibbard held classes in a rented house beside the sea until the institute's first building, Silliman Hall, was completed in 1903."Silliman University:118"
Negros Chronicle. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
Recalling how the university started half a century later, Dr. Hibbard described:


Expansion and World War II

Enrollment in the school grew attracting students from other Asian countries."Falling in love with Silliman"
By: Mark Raygan Garcia. The Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
In 1910, Silliman was awarded government recognition and the right to grant a degree. In the same year, it was incorporated under the laws of the Philippines. Women started to be admitted in 1912, and in 1921, the Silliman Bible School (later to become the Divinity School) was established in cooperation with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, largely representing the
Congregational Churches Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs it ...
of the United States. As enrollment in the institution grew further, a corresponding increase in faculty followed. These developments were accompanied with the use of a more developed curriculum and the construction and acquisition of more permanent buildings and equipment. By 1925, Silliman was already recognized as "the most influential Protestant institution of higher learning" in the Philippines, based on a report submitted by the Board of Educational Survey, which was created by the Philippine Legislature to conduct a study on all educational institutions in the country. The institute was re-incorporated in 1935, and in 1938 became the first school outside of
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
to be granted university status. After its recognition as a university, Silliman continued to receive from the Presbyterian Board and the American Board (now the United Church Board for World Ministries) grants for land, buildings and equipment. In addition, these boards provided the university with American faculty and staff personnel. Two other American boards have contributed personnel and funds: the Board of Missions of the
United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelica ...
and the United Christian Missionary Society of the Christian Churches (
Disciples of Christ The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...
). Life in the university was interrupted when
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
came. On May 26, 1942, some three weeks after the fall of Corregidor, two Japanese transports anchored in
Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dumaguete; fil, Lungsod ng Dumaguete), is a 3rd income class component city and the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a p ...
. Silliman was occupied by the Japanese forces and was converted into a garrison. One of its buildings, Channon Hall, became the headquarters of the dreaded Japanese ''kempeitai'' or military police where many Filipinos were tortured and killed. During the occupation, many members of the faculty and the student body were forced to evacuate to four localities within the province. Under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Carson, then president of Silliman, the remaining members of the faculty continued the operations of the university in the mountains of Negros Oriental. This led to the formation of what was then called the "Jungle University" in Malabo, Valencia, one of the localities in the province. University Professor Roy Bell became a major in the Negros Island guerrilla forces, established a Free Government, printed the Victory News, and used his radio transmitter to establish contact with the South West Pacific Area (command). Many students, alumni, faculty members and ROTC officers joined the resistance forces, while theology professors Alvin Scaff, Proculo Rodriguez, Paul Lindholm and James McKinley "carried on pastoral and teaching duties for the resistance soldiers and civilians in guerrilla-dominated territory." The Carson and Bell families, plus other faculty members, were evacuated by the USS Narwhal (SS-167) on February 7, 1944. American and Filipino forces liberated
Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dumaguete; fil, Lungsod ng Dumaguete), is a 3rd income class component city and the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a p ...
on April 26, 1945. A few days later, the Faculty Emergency Committee took charge over the campus and began preparations for the resumption of classes and the challenge of reconstruction.


Post-war years

For the first half of the century, Silliman was run and operated by Americans. After the Second World War and until the early 1950s, moves for the Filipinization of the university administration began to come closer to the surface. Filipino faculty members began to assume more important positions and, as more of these faculty members took administrative roles, the board of trustees elected the university's first Filipino president, Dr. Leopoldo T. Ruiz, on August 26, 1952, officially taking office in April 1953. A Silliman alumnus (A.B. 1916) and the University of California at Berkeley alumnus (B.A. 1920), Ruiz had a long experience in higher education and in the foreign service. Before his appointment, he took up graduate studies in sociology at
Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region i ...
and
Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...
, with an M.A. (1924) from the former institution, as well as a Ph.D. (1942) from the
University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...
. In the same decade of Ruiz's appointment, the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) in New York, an interdenominational group, assumed responsibility for channeling all church aid to Silliman. The United Board is an international organization supported by ten Protestant mission boards."Silliman University General Catalog 2003–2004". SU Office of Information and Publications. Long after Ruiz's appointment, however, Americans and other nationals still constituted a considerable portion of the faculty. Up to the present, American and foreign visiting professors are still regularly assigned in specialized areas. In the early 1960s and toward the beginning of the Martial Law years, the university embarked on a "Build a Greater Silliman" program in response to the growing student population and the corresponding need for more facilities. With much help from many donors, mostly alumni and entities from abroad, the program saw the construction of more academic buildings, dormitories, housing units for the faculty and other facilities. These constructions included the now famous Luce Auditorium which was funded largely by th
Henry Luce Foundation
the Science Complex, equipped with an observatory on top of the third floor, the Engineering Complex, and the Silliman University Medical Center.


Martial law era

When
Martial Law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Martia ...
was declared in 1972, Silliman became one of the first two universities ordered by the government to be closed and one of the last to be opened. On the morning of September 23, 1972 some faculty members and many students were rounded up by the local Philippine Constabulary (now the
Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police ( fil, Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, acronymed as PNP) is the armed national police force in the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currentl ...
), some of whom were detained for one to six months. Many offices of the university, including the '' Weekly Sillimanian'', the student paper, were raided by the PC. Journalist Crispin Maslog, who was teaching in the university at the time, recalls that Marcos himself had complained about instances where members of the political opposition such as Senator Jovito Salonga and Senator
Juan Liwag Juan Ramos Liwag (1906-1983) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as senator in the 5th and 6th Congress of the Philippines. He was among the few Filipino officials who have served in all three branches of the government. Early li ...
were invited to speak at the university. The year 1979 became a landmark year for Silliman when its Van Houweling Research Laboratory, then headed by Dr. George Beran, produced a dog vaccine that gave a three-year immunity from
rabies Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, ...
, making it the first and only laboratory to produce a rabies vaccine with long-term immunity in the whole of
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
.Timeline 1901–2001. By: Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope. Midtown Printing Co., Inc. The development of the vaccine resulted in the elimination of rabies in many parts of the
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands ( Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, ...
and
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
Islands and was later on used by other countries in their fight against rabies conducted in collaboration with the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...
."One World, One Health Rabies"
. OneHealthInitiative.com. Retrieved April 23, 2010.


1980s to recent history

The 1980s saw the restoration of the university's Student Government and the approval of its constitution. After years of suppression by the Marcos regime, students were again allowed to self-organize in 1981. The decade also witnessed the 100% board exam ratings of the Electrical Engineering, Nursing and Accountancy programs and the installation of solar-powered light posts in the campus in the years 1986 and 1989 respectively. In the 1990s the university shifted its grading system from alphabetical to numerical. In 1994, eleven Sillimanians landed in the top ten of that year's nursing board exam, with twenty two other Sillimanian takers occupying the top twenty posts. In that same year, Silliman alumnus Gonzalo O. Catan Jr. was awarded Most Outstanding Inventor in the fifth National Technology Fair. The decade also witnessed Silliman being cited as the university with the best published scientific paper in the Dr. Elvira O. Tan Awards; and in 1995, the university hosted the first ever International Conference on Biology and Conservation of Small Cetaceans of
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
, as well as the International Coral Reef Initiative Workshop. Toward the end of the decade, Silliman prepared for its centennial celebrations. To strengthen its
local area network A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building. By contrast, a wide area network (WAN) not only covers a large ...
technology, the university installed fiber-optic cables that span the entire 62 hectare campus in 1999. In 2000, the Silliman Accountancy program ranked first in the country, culminating in its Physical Therapy program ranking first in 2001. Silliman University continues to draw support from the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA), as well as from its alumni and other benefactors. The university has adopted a policy of providing education to the surrounding regions without depending much on tuition and other fees to meet its operational expenses. Recently, Silliman constructed the Portal West Building, a five-storey commercial building on campus, to help augment its operational expenses. In line with the same policy, it has leased portions of its properties to business entities to further raise its financial base. Because significant portion of the student population ride on
motorbikes A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
and scooters, the university has also aggressively adopted a "No Helmet-No Entry" policy. Silliman has likewise adopted a "No-Smoking Policy" on campus."Silliman celebrates 107 years"
''Negros Chronicle''. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
Silliman is one of few private higher educational institutions in the country that have been granted full autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the same government agency that recognized some of its programs as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development. To date, the university has the highest number of accredited programs, fourteen of which have been granted Level IV accreditation status, the highest level that can be granted to individual programs.


Campus

Silliman is located in Dumaguete City, a quiet, peaceful seaside community with a population of 116,392. The university campus has a total land area of 62 hectares composed of the main campus along Hibbard Avenue, and the campus for the College of Agriculture and the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences to the north. Dotted by large
acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus nam ...
trees, the main campus is home to most of the colleges and schools of the university and is adjacent to the city's downtown district. Occupying almost one-third of the downtown area, the campus faces the sea to the east, flanked by its portals which are now considered symbols of the school and city. The three most prominent portals are the Gates of Knowledge, Opportunity and Service. The Gate of Knowledge is the current and main entrance; it is the starting point of the two-kilometer-long Hibbard Avenue which was named after Dr.
David Sutherland Hibbard David Sutherland Hibbard (October 31, 1868 – December 30, 1966) was an American missionary and educator who established and served as first president of Silliman Institute, now Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Biography ...
, one of the founders of the institution. The other prominent landmarks on the main campus are the
Silliman Hall The Silliman Hall is a building constructed in the Stick Style of American architecture The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over two centuri ...
, which now houses the Anthropology Museum; the Silliman University Church; the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library; and the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, the largest theater outside Metro Manila. It is frequented by tourists so the university maintains a campus cruiser, a 15-seater golf cart or tram-like vehicle, to ferry visitors around the campus. It is used to transport students during regular days. Two kilometers to the north (the other end of Hibbard Avenue) is the campus for the College of Agriculture and the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences. It has a land area of 29 hectares, and houses the College of Agriculture Complex, the Silliman Farm, a number of dormitories (known as the Cocofed Dormitories) and the Marine Laboratories of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences. Adjacent to it is the Silliman Beach. Silliman has off-campus facilities located in Camp Lookout,
Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...
and on Ticao Island, in the Province of Masbate. The Camp Lookout facility houses the university's Creative Writing Center which now serves as the venue and permanent home of the Silliman National Writers Workshop. The center has a two-storey main function hall and five duplex cottages. The university's Ticao Island facility, on the other hand, is a 465-hectare property in the Province of Masbate, another island in
Bicol Region Bicol, known formally as the Bicol Region or colloquially as Bicolandia ( bcl, Rehiyon kan Bikol; Rinconada Bikol: ''Rehiyon ka Bikol''; Waray Sorsogon, Masbateño: ''Rehiyon san Bikol''; tl, Rehiyon ng Bikol), is an administrative region of ...
. Donated by the family of Elizabeth How, the facility is a combination of a working ranch, agricultural plantations, and patches of secondary forests. A framework for a long-term development plan has been made and is now the subject for validation by local stakeholders. The plan includes programs for agriculture, Christian ministry, coastal resource management and public health."Annual Report SY 2007–2008"
. Silliman University. Retrieved July 1, 2009.

. SU Net News. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
Dumaguete has been called a "center of learning in the south" or a "university town" due to the presence of Silliman and other universities that have made their mark nationally and abroad. The city has become a melting pot of students, professionals, artists, scholars and the literati coming from the country and the world."The City of Gentle People"
Dumaguete Info. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
Veneeth Iyengar and Danah Fortunato

. Philippine Business. Retrieved May 25, 2009.


Museums

Silliman maintains six museums: the SU Anthropology Museum, the SU Heritage Museum, the Gonzales Museum of Natural History, the SU Marine Mammal Museum of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS), the Ariniego Art Gallery, and the SU-ROTC Museum. The
Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...
Museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make th ...
was relocated from
Silliman Hall The Silliman Hall is a building constructed in the Stick Style of American architecture The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over two centuri ...
to Hibbard Hall in 2015. Established in 1973, it was opened to bring the importance of the Filipino's cultural heritage to the attention of the public. The bulk of the artifacts displayed came from fieldworks, excavations, purchases and donations. The museum has seven galleries. The first three, contain exhibits which have been collected from known cultural or ethnic groups all over the country. These items or artifacts include simple tools and instruments such as basketry, agricultural and aquatic tools, weapons, clothing and ornaments as well as musical instruments. The display is based on two general criteria: the type of social organization (incipient, tribal or sultanate) and the type of economic subsistence (hunting, and gathering, marginal agriculture or farming) under which ethnic group is categorized. The exhibit on the last four galleries are artifacts excavated from different parts of Negros Island and in the mountain areas of Cotabato. A number of excavations done by Sillimanian anthropologists in the 1970s yielded ancient artifacts, like burial urns, and porcelain pieces which date back to the Sung period in the twelfth century. "Anthropology Museum"
. Dumaguete UniTown: A Community Driven Web Portal. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
The SU Heritage Museum which was opened in August 2020 and housed at the Silliman Hall, is a repository with exhibits on the university's history since it was founded in 1901 by the Americans. Collections such as memorabilia and set-ups (e.g. classrooms) on what the life the founders had during the institution's infancy are showcased in the various sections the museum has. The other two museums are the Gonzales Museum of Natural History and the Marine Mammal Museum. The Gonzales Museum of Natural History is located at the first floor of the Science Complex. It showcases a collection of preserved animals traditionally found in the tropics such as different kinds of fishes,
crustaceans Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean g ...
,
snakes Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...
,
eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, j ...
s,
birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...
, flying lemurs, etc. The museum was named in honor Prof. Rodolfo Gonzales, a former biology teacher of the university. The Marine Mammal Museum on the other hand contains a large collection of whale and dolphin bones. It is located at a facility of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences two kilometers north of the main campus. In 2015, the university opened its SU-ROTC Museum located on the first floor of Roman Yap Hall which houses the rare artifacts and equipment used in the Second World War and military uniforms of high-ranking Sillimanian military officials over the years.


Zoo

The A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Gardens or the Silliman University Zoo is the university zoo. It is also the home for the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies. The garden started in the 1960s as a tree planting project and field laboratory studies facility by the Silliman University Biology Department. In 1990, it became the country's first captive breeding center for the Philippine Spotted Deer (''Rusa alfredi''). Since then, the garden's captive breeding program has expanded to include other endangered wildlife unique to the Philippines such as the Critically Endangered Visayan Warty Pig (''Sus cebifrons'') and the Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove (''Gallicolumba keayi''). By 1996, the garden had grown to include over twenty animals and twenty-four plant species. The place was named the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden after the late botanist, Prof. Alfredo Y. Reyes who helped start and develop the garden.


Beach

Silliman University has its own beach. It is situated at the front of the university's marine laboratory building. Extension programs like local fishing has been a project to the university and to the local fishermen in Dumaguete City.


Administration

Silliman is governed by an independent Board of Trustees composed of fifteen members. Five of its members come from the Silliman University Foundation Incorporated (SUFI), five from the UCCP, and another five from the alumni. The president of the university sits as an '' ex-officio'' member. Under the board are the administrators composed of the University President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Finance & Operations, Vice President for Development, Enterprise and External Affairs, the University Registrar, Treasurer, Director for Human Resource Management, University General Counsel and Senior Minister. Assisting the vice-presidents are the deans, directors, department chairpersons, coordinators, officers and unit heads of the various colleges, schools, institutes, units, research centers, offices, programs and extension projects of the university. Though historically Protestant, the university is academically
nonsectarian Nonsectarian institutions are secular institutions or other organizations not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. Academic sphere Examples of US universities that identify themselves as being nonsectarian include Adel ...
. Its learning environment has remained generally liberal and its religious orientation has in no way discouraged the expression or exercise of other beliefs."Service Learning Asia Network Member Directory"
. SLAN. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
A majority of the university's student and faculty population are Roman Catholics, with a significant portion of Muslims from
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
and the Middle East."University History"
. Silliman University. Retrieved February 11, 2009.


Academics


Rankings

In a 2007 report released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Silliman University was ranked fourth in the country, following three schools of the University of the Philippines (UP) namely, UP-Diliman, UP-Los Baños, and UP-Manila, which ranked first, second and third respectively. The survey was based on average passing rates in Board examinations from 1991 to 2001 in all courses of all universities and colleges in the Philippines. The study is conducted every ten years."UP is No.1 based on PRC exams"
UP Newsletter, Vol. XXVIII, No. 09. September 1, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
In other board or licensure examination-related reports released by the CHED in the year 2009, Silliman was ranked first in the country in the field of Nursing Education and second in the fields of Accountancy and Mechanical Engineering. Internationally, Silliman is ranked among the top 150 universities in Asia based on International Students' Review by the QS Quacquarelli Symonds, an institution that ranks the world's top universities.


Recognition

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) designated Silliman as a Center of Excellence in Information Technology, Marine Science, Nursing Education and Teacher Education, and a Center of Development in Anthropology, Biology, Medical Technology and Accountancy Education. Aside from these, the university was also named by the
United States Agency for International Development The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 b ...
as a Center of Excellence in Coastal Resource Management, and by the Haribon Foundation as an Academic Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation.Jennifer Catan-Tilos
"US Ambassador Kenney visits Negros Oriental"
Philippine Information Agency Daily News. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
Environmental Programs.Net
Retrieved June 23, 2009.

. SU Net News. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
"The Haribon Biodiversity Information Center"
Haribon Foundation. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
Due to the university's community-based coastal resource management program,
Apo Island Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 74 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. The name "Apo" means "elder" or "re ...
, a small island off the coast of
Dauin Dauin, officially the Municipality of Dauin ( ceb, Lungsod sa Dauin; tl, Bayan ng Dauin)is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 30,018 people. Geography I ...
, was recognized as one of the best diving spots in the world.Gerry Marte
"Apo Island, Philippines: Eco Tipping Point Case Study, EcoTippingPoint"
. Coral Reef Alliance. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
Ronnel Domingo
"2 RP sites make it to 'must dive' list"
. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 22, 2009.


International linkages

On top of its strong affiliation with the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) and other international development organizations, Silliman maintains linkages on collaborative research as well as on faculty and student exchange, with universities in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Its longest running student exchange programs are with three Japanese universities:
International Christian University is a non-denominational private university located in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, commonly known as ICU. With the efforts of Prince Takamatsu, General Douglas MacArthur, and BOJ President Hisato Ichimada, ICU was established in 1949 as the first ...
, Ferris University and
Shikoku Gakuin University is a private university in Zentsūji, Kagawa, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, ...
."Study Abroad Program"
. Ferris University. Retrieved 2009-06-2009.

. International Christian University. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
Silliman also maintains research and academic linkages with the
University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seatt ...
(USA), California State University, East Bay (USA), Gordon College (USA), the
Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Found ...
(USA),
Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sy ...
(USA), Old Dominion University (USA),
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University , commonly referred to as APU, is a university in Japan. Ritsumeikan APU was established in April 2000 in Beppu, Ōita, Japan. APU was created through the collaboration of three parties from the public and private sectors: Ōita Prefecture, Be ...
(Japan),
Chonbuk National University Jeonbuk National University (JBNU; Korean, , ''Jeonbuk Daehakgyo'') is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities founded in 1947, located in Jeonju, South Korea. Jeonbuk National University has been ranked 551–560th in the world by QS To ...
(South Korea),
Hanshin University Hanshin University is a private university in the Seoul National Capital Area The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Kore ...
(South Korea),
Sookmyung Women's University Sookmyung Women’s University () is a private university in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1906, Sookmyung is Korea’s first royal private educational institution for women. The university's name is derived from the Hanja charact ...
(South Korea), Soongsil University (South Korea),
Hanyang University Hanyang University (Korean: 한양대학교) is a private research university in South Korea. The main campus is located in Seoul and its satellite campus, the Education Research Industry Cluster (ERICA campus), is in Ansan. ''Hanyang'' (한양, ...
(South Korea), Sam Ratulangi University (Indonesia), the Asian College of Nursing and Health (Malaysia),
Hannam University Hannam University (한남대학교) is a private Christian university in Daejeon, South Korea. It was founded in 1956. Transition In February 1959, Linton (W.A.) was inaugurated as the first president of Daejeon University. The university has ...
(South Korea),
Madras Christian College Madras Christian College (MCC) is a liberal arts and sciences college in Chennai, India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras but functions as an autonomous insti ...
(India), Kinki University (Japan), and Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany)."International Linkages"
Silliman University. Retrieved July 5, 2009.

. University of Washington School of Marine Affairs. Retrieved July 5, 2009.

California State University-Hayward. Retrieved July 5, 2009.

Retrieved July 10, 2009.

PhilippineCrocodile.com. Retrieved July 5, 2009.

. SU NetNews. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
"Project Examines Phils.' 'Extraordinarily' High Marine Biodiversity"
SU NetNews. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
"Korean University Partners with SU on Water Treatment Project"
Silliman University. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
"Soongsil University President Visits Silliman, Signs MoA"
. SU NetNews. Retrieved July 29, 2011.

. SU Net News. Retrieved August 29, 2009.


Accreditation

Silliman University confers
bachelor's A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to si ...
,
master's A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.
, and
doctoral degree A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' ...
s accredited by different bodies and agencies such as the ACSCU-AAI, PAASCU (a member of FAAP), and the
ATESEA The Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) is an organisation of Christian seminaries and other tertiary institutes of theology. It is based in Manila, Philippines and currently networks 102 member institutions and schoo ...
among others.


Colleges

*The College of Agriculture provides
undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
programs in Agribusiness,
Agronomy Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation, or land conservation. Agronomy has come to include research of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and ...
and
Animal Science Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Historically, the degree was called animal husbandry and the ...
. The college is located in a 29-hectare agricultural complex, two kilometers north of the main campus. Its beginnings can be traced to as early as 1913, when Dr. David S. Hibbard, first president of Silliman Institute, was instructed to make provisions for a “school garden and a farm”. In 1950, it was formalized and established as a department, and in 1976, was constituted into what was then known as the School of Agriculture. The years 1977 to 1980 saw the construction of modern classrooms, a laboratory complex, eight dormitories and a library, and the renaming of the school into what is now known as the “College of Agriculture”."Schools and Colleges"
. Silliman University. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
*The College of Arts and Sciences has 18 major courses leading to several degree programs. At present, it is composed of the departments of
Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...
and
Sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of empirical investigation an ...
,
Biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary ...
,
Chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
,
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
and
Literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...
,
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
and
Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and ...
, Filipino and Foreign Languages,
Mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
,
Philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. ...
and
Religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatur ...
,
Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
,
Psychology Psychology is the science, scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immens ...
,
Social Work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...
Department. During its early years (1902 up to the war years), the College of Arts and Sciences was composed of the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Sciences. In 1947, both colleges were merged to become the College of Arts and Sciences. *The College of Business Administration offers five undergraduate courses in
Business Administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
(majors in General Business,
Management Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activitie ...
and
Economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics anal ...
), Accountancy,
Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values t ...
, Business Computer Applications, and Office Management. It also has one graduate program in Business Administration namely ''Master in Business Administration''. Established as a college in 1938, it is now composed of the departments of Management, Economics, Accountancy, Business Computer Applications, Entrepreneurship, and Commercial Science. Due to its consistently high performance in accountancy board examinations, the college has been designated by CHED as a Center of Development in Accountancy Education. In the October 2009 CPA Licensure Examinations (10–25 examinees category), Silliman ranked second in the country."Top CPA Schools October 2009"
Board Exam Results Philippines. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
*The College of Computer Studies provides
undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
courses in
Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
,
Information Technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology syste ...
, and
Information Systems An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people ...
. The college was designated by CHED as a Center of Excellence in Information Technology Education. In 1997, Silliman is one of only two universities in the Philippines that has an extensive fiber-optic backbone and the only school in the country that owns its fiber-optic system. Costing US $2.5 million in 1997, this backbone connects all buildings in the campus. Silliman was also the first school in the country to use wireless
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio waves ...
B2B
LAN Lan or LAN may also refer to: Science and technology * Local asymptotic normality, a fundamental property of regular models in statistics * Longitude of the ascending node, one of the orbital elements used to specify the orbit of an object in spa ...
technology."Silliman University"
. ONe-IPC. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
Recently, the college opened its master's degree in
Information Systems An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people ...
,"SU Annual Report SY 2008–2009"
. Silliman University. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
and pilot tested th
Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL)
website, a virtual classroom for students. It has also formed partnerships with
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washi ...
and IBM. The Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance has given the college a 3-year complimentary MSDNAA subscription which allows it to download available software in MSDNAA for free to all students and faculty for teaching and learning purposes, while the college's partnership with IBM resulted in the introduction of the ''IBM Academic Exchange Offering''. Electives under the program are developed for junior and graduating students majoring in Information Technology, Information Systems and Computer Science. *The College of Engineering and Design started as a Department of Engineering in June 1932, offering an undergraduate program in civil engineering. In March 1935, the board of trustees authorized the change in status of Silliman from an institute to a university. With government approval of this change, Silliman proceeded to adopt additional undergraduate programs in mining engineering, chemical engineering and industrial engineering. Today, the college offers five
undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
courses in:
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
,
civil engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewa ...
; computer engineering;
electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
; and
mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, ...
. In the October 2009 Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examinations (Category A), Silliman was ranked second in the country."Top Mechanical Engineering Schools 2009"
Board Exam Results Philippines. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
*The College of Education has been designated by CHED as Center of Excellence in Teacher Education. The college has three departments: Physical Education, Teacher Education, and Nutrition and Dietetics. Its beginnings can be traced way back in 1924 when it first offered diplomas in Bachelor of Science in education. From then on, the Teacher Education Program grew and developed into what is now known as the College of Education. * The College of Law was established in 1935, starting with a freshman class of 22 members. Guided by its motto "Law with a Conscience", the college seeks to teach its students not just the correct understanding of legal provisions and principles but their ethical implementation to society and people. It is also home to th
Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development
"About the Center"
. Salonga Center for Law and Development. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
Starting SY 2009–2010, the college shifted its course offering from
Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Ch ...
(LLB) to
Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice l ...
(JD). Silliman is the first law school to offer the JD program in the
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands ( Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, ...
and
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
area.''The Weekly Sillimanian''. Vol. LXXXII No. 4. Published July 15, 2009. Princess Dianne Kris S. Decierdo. "SU Law adopts Juris Doctor Program". Dumaguete City, Philippines. ''Archived copies of the article may be viewed at the Sillimaniana Section of the SU Main Library.'' *The College of Mass Communication was established in 1966 as the first school outside of metropolitan Manila to offer a degree program in
Journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the " news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (p ...
. Its founding director was D. Wayne Rowland, Ph.D., a visiting professor in journalism from
Texas Christian University Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark as the Add-Ran Male & Female College. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Discipl ...
. In 1976, the college (then known as the School of Communication) changed its course offering from a bachelor's degree in Journalism to that of
Mass Communication Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large segments of the population. It is usually understood for relating to various forms of media, as its technologies are used for the dissemination o ...
to cover the ever-expanding field of mass communication. *The College of Nursing was designated by CHED as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The college offers one undergraduate course in
Nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...
and three graduate courses namely: (1) ''Master in Nursing'' on-thesis''Majors'' in Family Nursing Practice, Administration, Public Health Nursing, Adult Health and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing; (2) ''Master of Science in Nursing'' ''Majors'' in Parent-Child Nursing, Nursing School Administration, Nursing Service Administration, Public Health Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Nursing, Family Nursing Practice, Community Health Nursing and Adult Health; and (3) ''Ph.D. in Nursing''. Founded in 1947, the college is known for its ratings in the professional licensure exams which have been consistently higher than the national average. In a 2009 report handed down by CHED, Silliman was ranked first in the country.Angelo G. Garci
"152 nursing schools told: Improve or else…"
. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
"Ched monitors performance of 152 nursing schools"
. Sun.Star. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
*The College of Performing and Visual Arts provides programs in
Fine Arts In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwor ...
,
Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...
, and Speech & Theater Arts. The college started in 1912 as a music department in the College of Arts and Sciences. With the arrival of American missionary Geraldine Kate in 1934, it was renamed as the Conservatory of Music, with Kate as its founding director. In 1941, it became known as the School of Music, and with the addition of the Fine Arts Department in 1969, was recast as the School of Music and Fine Arts. Another transformation came in 2001 when its name was changed to the College of Performing Arts.


Schools

*The Divinity School provides
undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
and graduate programs in
Divinity Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.divine< ...
, Ministry and
Theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...
. It started in 1921 as the Silliman Bible School, serving as a Congregationalist-Presbyterian training school for Visayan-speaking candidates in pastoral ministry. Its students and alumni are a diverse group of local and international students. *The Medical School is a relatively new unit in the university. Established in 2004, it has a faculty of 50 medical doctors specializing in Rheumatology, Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat, Family Medicine Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Neurology, Neuro-Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Public Health Administration, Pulmonary Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Urology. *The School of Public Affairs and Governance started in June 2007, with Dr. Reynaldo Y. Rivera as the first dean, to provide formal training in the management of local government affairs. It specializes in three areas: Fiscal Administration, Local Governance, and Criminal Justice System; and offers two degree programs, Public Administration (BSPA) and Foreign Affairs (BSFA). The School aims to beef up the expertise of public servants to become more efficient administrators who can discharge their duties in the most economical way with maximum results. A distinguished panel of guest lecturers from Manila and abroad join the resident faculty of Silliman in teaching the courses. *The School of Basic Education is home to three departments: Early Childhood, Elementary, and High School. When Silliman Institute (former name of Silliman University) was founded in 1901, it started as an elementary school; thus, making the Elementary Department the oldest unit in the university. In 1916, the first high school diplomas were awarded, and in 1957–58, funding for an Early Childhood School building was secured. Historically, the Early Childhood, Elementary and High School departments operated separately. Due to developments within the university in 2001, however, and to facilitate better coordination between these departments, the early childhood, elementary, and high schools, were merged as one unit, forming what is now known as the School of Basic Education. * The School of Agro-Industrial and Technical Education provides short TESDA-accredited technical-vocational certificate courses. These courses are generally sponsored through scholarship grants from government agencies such as TESDA and DepEd.


Institutes

* The Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences offers one undergraduate course in
Medical Technology Health technology is defined by the World Health Organization as the "application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of liv ...
. The Institute started as a program under the Biology Department of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1970. Due to its growing population, exemplary performance in licensure examinations and need for autonomy, it was separated and converted into a department under the same college in 1987, making it into a Department of Medical Technology. In 1995, the university reorganized some of its programs and transferred the Medical Technology department to the College of Nursing, creating a new college named College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. Starting SY 2009–2010 however, in a bid to give the department more autonomy in crafting its own academic direction, it was separated from the College of Nursing as an entirely autonomous institute. * The Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences offers one undergraduate course in
Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, pat ...
. Like the Medical Technology Department, the institute started as a program under the College of Arts and Sciences. It was subsequently transferred to the College of Nursing together with the Medical Technology Department, forming a new college, the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. For over a decade, the Physical Therapy program was attached to the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. However, to give it more autonomy the program was separated from the college in SY 2009–2010 and reorganized as the Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences.


Library system

The Silliman Library System is composed of the ''Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library'', which serves as the university library, and the local libraries of the College of Agriculture, College of Business Administration, College of Law, the Divinity School, the Allied Health Sciences, High School, Elementary and Early Childhood Schools. Among these libraries the ''Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library'' (university library) serves as the largest repository of books, periodicals and other reading materials. Built in 1978, the university library is a four-story structure with a seating capacity of 490 readers. It holds over 250,000 volumes, with enough space to accommodate 400,000 more. It also subscribes to 500 periodicals. Some courses provide instruction in the location of books and publications for research and other school work. Students can search for library materials using the On-Line Public Access Catalogue. Instructions on how to use it are posted on the stations were the system is installed. Research can also be done using the Internet through the Cyberlibrary. Students pay a semestral fee to avail of this service."Library System"
. Silliman University. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
"Silliman University: Services"
. Dumaguete UniTown. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
Aside from the main section of the library which contains the bulk of its book and periodical collection, other notable sections of the facility include the Filipiniana section, containing books and materials published by famous Filipino authors during the Spanish and pre-war periods of the country, and the Sillimaniana section, containing Silliman memorabilia from 1901 up to the present (e.g. trophies, plaques of recognition, portraits of past presidents, etc.), and an archive of past publications and documents. The university library is likewise home to two notable centers: the American Studies Resource Center (ASRC) and a
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
Knowledge for Development Center (WB-KDC). The American Studies Resource Center is a result of a memorandum of agreement between the United States Embassy in Manila and Silliman University. It is the only ASRC in Region VII hosted by an academic institution. The ASRC provides a variety of materials: books, periodicals, CD-ROMS, DVDs, VCDs, VHS tapes, electronic materials for those interested in studies and issues related to the United States."American Studies Resource Center"
. Silliman University. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
The World Bank Knowledge for Development Center is a result of a partnership between the university and the World Bank. It contains an extensive collection of development publications and World Bank project documents to people involved in the academe, researchers, NGOs, media, government agencies and the business sector. The section is open to the public.
. Silliman University. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
To date, the Silliman Library remains as one of the biggest libraries in the Philippines. In 2008, the Silliman University Library System was given the "Outstanding Library Award" by the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL) for its growing collection and ongoing computerization program."PAARL Awardees for 2007"
. De La Salle University. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
"Librarians Slate Assembly Awards"
. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 26, 2009.


Medical Center

The Silliman University Medical Center is a university-owned hospital that is currently being operated and managed by the Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. (SUMCFI), a separate and distinct foundation with its own Board of Directors. The hospital supports the academic institution by serving as the university's base facility for the internship programs of the College of Nursing, School of Medicine, the Institutes of Clinical Laboratory and Rehabilitative Sciences, the Divinity School (for its chaplaincy program), and the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. It is a 140-bed hospital located on campus with comprehensive medical services available to both the university and the community in general. The SU Medical Center started as an infirmary in 1901 and later became a hospital in 1923."International Health Ministries: Silliman University Medical Center"
. Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
In 1974, the cornerstone for a New Medical Center was laid down by the Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines to commence the building of a four-storey structure with passenger elevators (the first in Negros Oriental). Inaugurated in 1976, it is considered as one of the most modern hospitals outside Metro Manila and Cebu.
. Silliman University. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
In 1979, the Medical Center made history when its Van Houweling Research Laboratory discovered and produced a dog vaccine that gave a three-year immunity from rabies. The development of the vaccine was later used by other countries, in collaboration with the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...
, on their fight against rabies. Recently, a new Medical Arts Building was added"SU 107th Founder's Day (Year 2008)"
. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
to the main structure of the hospital to further address the growing needs of the surrounding community. The SU Medical Center has collaborative ties with St. Luke's Medical Center.


Research and extension

Concurrent with its academic undertakings, the university is engaged in collaborative research and community extension programs. From 2000 to 2011, it has been designated as a CHED Zonal Research Center for Region VII, and in 2011, was chosen by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as one of few academic institutions to comprise a national research network which entitles the university to receive an annual allocation of P10 million for a three-year period. Selected researches are published in the '' Silliman Journal'', the university's research publication. Foremost among the university's research outputs are those that have been undertaken in the field of Environmental and Marine Sciences, historically spearheaded by the Silliman University Marine Laboratory (SUML) now th
Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences
(IEMS). IEMS is a research institute in the field of marine sciences located at Silliman Beach, two kilometers north of the main campus. Established in 1974 through a modest grant from the
United Church of Canada The United Church of Canada (french: link=no, Église unie du Canada) is a mainline Protestant denomination that is the largest Protestant Christian denomination in Canada and the second largest Canadian Christian denomination after the Catholi ...
, it has produced notable research that are presently being applied in various cooperative projects in different local communities, such as the conservation programs in Sumilon and
Apo Island Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 74 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. The name "Apo" means "elder" or "re ...
. This research institute also led in the establishment of 20 marine protected areas (MPAs) and has provided assistance to 61 others in the
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands ( Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, ...
and
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
. For its research and biodiversity conservation efforts, it was recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as the best in research program in the country. In July 2013,
Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...
an international environmental organization partnered with Silliman University in conducting a reef check at
Apo Island Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 74 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. The name "Apo" means "elder" or "re ...
to determine the damage on the reef caused by climate change. Other units engaged in either research or extension include the Center for Gender Studies and Development; th
Center for Tropical Conservation Studies
(CENTROP); th
Salonga Center for Law and Development
and th

(SUAKCREM). Extension projects of the university also include the SU-Affiliated Non-Conventional Energy Center (SU-ANEC); the SU-KNH Kaugmaran Child Development Center (SUKCDC); the Alternative Lifestyle for Women in Negros Project; H. Capability Program (CBP) for the Province of Negros Oriental; HIV-AIDS Prevention Project; th

Rural Development and Credit Program (On Monitoring); and the SU-AADC Integrated Agro-Forestry Participatory Program for Negros Oriental (On Monitoring).Liling Magtolis Briones
"Spotting the spotted deer"
ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved September 8, 2009.


Culture and traditions


Via, Veritas, Vita

"Via, Veritas, Vita" is a
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
phrase which means “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.” Chosen by the university as its motto, this phrase is attributed to
Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...
and is found in the
Gospel of John The Gospel of John ( grc, Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, translit=Euangélion katà Iōánnēn) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "sig ...
chapter 14, verse 6, which reads “5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (New International Version) The choice of the motto is firmly rooted in the university's belief that religious instruction, particularly in the teachings of Jesus Christ, is essential to the moral development of every young person. Incidentally, the motto has been adopted by the
Province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
of Negros Oriental by incorporating it in its provincial seal.


Galilean Fellowships

Once every semester, the Silliman academic community celebrates the University Christian Life Emphasis Week (UCLEW). In this week-long celebration, the university encourages all students to participate in the different Bible study or fellowship activities held in the homes and cottages of assigned members of the Silliman academic or religious community. Conducted after classes, these sessions are called the Galilean Fellowships. Galilean fellowships are brief devotional sessions where participants are given the opportunity to reflect on the teachings of the Bible, relax, share their thoughts and experiences, and have fellowship with other members of the academic community.


Founders Week

Founders Week is part of a two-week-long event conducted by the Silliman community to commemorate the founding of the university. This event is held in the last week of August. The celebration is characterized by class reunions, alumni, fraternity and organizational gatherings, concerts, exhibits, booth-building, awarding ceremonies (e.g. the Outstanding Sillimanian Awards), and invitational games with other schools. The week-long celebration is traditionally commenced by an early morning worship service called Sunrise Service at the Silliman University Church and culminated with a citywide parade held on the anniversary of the university's founding, August 28. The parade is referred to as the "Parada Sillimaniana" and August 28 is referred to as the "Founders Day" in honor of the pioneers. For the past few years, however, the university moved the parades to August 27. Traditionally, the parade is characterized by the use of floats, with each representing a particular college, department, or school.


Silliman Song

Before the end of an important event or ceremony the ''Silliman Song'' is sung by the attendees. The lyrics were written in 1918 by Dr. Paul Doltz, then the vice-president of Silliman Institute and pastor of Silliman Church. The tune of the song is an
adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...
or modification of "The Orange and the Black" of
Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
, Dr. Doltz's '' alma mater''. The melody is based on the original song "Sadie Ray" composed by J. Tannenbaum late in the 19th century. The Silliman Song briefly describes Silliman's tranquil location; the student's college or university experience; the student's victories, whether it be in the classroom, the court, the track, or the field; the highs and lows in life; and the principles that the graduate brings as the latter leaves the halls of the university. Sang by the Silliman community for almost a hundred years, the Silliman Song has popularized the phrases "Dear old Silliman" and "Silliman beside the sea"."Metro Manila Sillimanians Celebrate 108th SU Founders Day"
. Metro Manila Sillimanians. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
Alex Pal and Andrea Trinidad-Echavez
"Silliman beside the sea observes 100th year today"
Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 28, 2001, Vol.16, No. 261. Retrieved May 15, 2010.


Student life


Athletics

Silliman has several athletic facilities. The university Gymnasium is a multipurpose facility used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, rock-climbing, table-tennis, cheering, and other indoor activities. The Cimafranca Ballfield is primarily used for football, and for track and field events. Other athletic facilities include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, pelota courts, and an archery ranges. Silliman has varsity teams for almost every major sport. A regular participant of the
Philippine University Games The Philippine University Games, abbreviated as the UNIGAMES, is a national collegiate sports competition in the Philippines organized by the UNIGAMES, Incorporated. Founded in 1996, it was first held at the University of St. La Salle, the found ...
(UniGames) and the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA), Silliman is represented by a red and white Stallion or Mare.Jade S. Violet
"Region 7 gets 8 more golds"
. Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved October 25, 2009.

UNIGAMES, Inc. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
In the recent Beijing Olympics, Mark Javier, a Sillimanian, represented the Philippines in the field of Archery. He was the lone male archer that represented the country.Eirrol D. Manalo
"Archer Javier looks forward to Beijing Olympics stint"
. Manila Times. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
Other notable Philippine Olympians that came from Silliman include Jennifer Chan, who recently won a gold medal in the 25th SEA Games, Lisa Ygnalaga, and long jumper Simeon Toribio.Ramon J. Farolan
"War-Torn Afghanistan wins Olympic bronze"
. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 29, 2009.


Student government

The coordination of student activities and student organizations are handled by the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG), established in 1912 and interrupted during World War II and briefly suspended during Martial Law. Under the present set-up, the Student Government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial departments. The executive power is exercised by the President with the assistance of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is composed of the President, Vice President and the respective heads of the executive committee who are appointed by the President. The legislative power of the SUSG is vested in the Student Assembly. It is composed of elected representatives of the different schools and colleges. The Judiciary exercises judicial power. It is composed of the Prime Justice, who must be a junior Law student, and six other justices appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Committee on Appointments. Election of Student Government officers are held before the close of the academic year."SU Student Handbook SY 2004–2005". SU Office of Information and Publications. Political campaigns or rallies may be held after securing the necessary permits. Political campaigns in the university are characterized by rallies in the Amphitheater, classroom-to-classroom speaking engagements, and dorm-to-dorm campaigns. Currently, there are two student political parties in the university, the Students' Union for Reforms (SURE) Party and the Concerted Action for the Upliftment of Student Endeavors (CAUSE) Party, established in 1980 and 1981, respectively. The Student Government is under the supervision and oversight of the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD).


Organizations

Numerous student organizations are registered in the university. Some are regional societies organized to promote fellowship among students from particular geographical areas. There are service clubs such as fraternities and sororities which carry out, as part of their activities, projects on campus and in the community. Others are identified with particular academic disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics known as course-related organizations, and still others belong to the special or interest groups. The supervision and coordination of student organizations are undertaken by the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD) together with the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG).


Student publications

Student publications include the '' Weekly Sillimanian'', one of the first weekly
student newspaper A student publication is a media outlet such as a newspaper, magazine, television show, or radio station produced by students at an educational institution. These publications typically cover local and school-related news, but they may also rep ...
in the country, with its existence dating back as early as 1903; the ''Portal'', official yearbook, first published in 1913; the ''Dark Blue Southern Seas'', a literary journal published in cooperation with the Department of English; the ''Junior Sillimanian'', a publication of students from the High School Department; and the ''Stones and Pebbles'', a publication of students from the Elementary School.Office of Information and Publications. "Portal 2008". Silliman University, 2008. pp.442–443. In addition to the ''Silliman Law Journal'', the College of Law in partnership with the Salonga Law Center maintains its own publication called the ''Purple Map'', a legal discussion platform for law students which was started in 2010."Salonga Center launches the Purple Map"
. Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
Most of these publications, particularly the '' Weekly Sillimanian'', the ''Portal'', ''Junior Sillimanian'' and the ''Stones and Pebbles'' are supported by the students through a publication fee; the ''Purple Map'' is maintained by way of endowments from law alumni.


Dormitories and faculty housing

Silliman operates regular and cooperative dormitories which can provide space for approximately 800 students. These dormitories are named after Philippine trees, flowers, and significant historical figures of the university. The university categorizes these dormitories as either ''regular'' or ''cooperative.'' Of the first type, housekeeping is generally maintained by a dorm staff and meals are supervised by the university's Food Services. There are six regular dormitories (four for women and two for men) and seven cooperative dormitories (four for women and three for men). The regular dormitories for women are Edith Carson, Ethel Chapman, Larena and the Woodward Hall. For men, the regular dormitories are the Vernon Hall (formerly New Men's Dormitory) and Doltz Hall. The second type of dormitories are the cooperative dormitories. In these dormitories, residents undertake the housekeeping and planning of the food. With the exception of Channon Hall, cooperative dormitories for women are named after flowers like Azucena, Rosal, and Sampaguita. For men, the dormitories are named after trees like Ipil, Molave, and Narra. In addition to the foregoing, the university maintains a number of cottages for members of its faculty and staff as well as for guests and visiting alumni.


Alumni

There are currently forty alumni chapters throughout the world that are duly organized and recognized. Five of these are based in the U.S. and Canada. Notable alumni of the university include Carlos P. Garcia, eighth President of the Philippines;,"Carlos P. Garcia"
. National Historical Institute. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
Senators
Robert Barbers Robert Zabala Barbers (January 19, 1944 – December 25, 2005) was a police officer, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and Senator of the Philippines. Early life and studies Barbers was born in the then-town of Surigao to Felix and ...
, Lorenzo Teves, and the Great Filibuster
Roseller Lim Roseller Tarroza Lim (February 9, 1915 – July 5, 1976) was a Filipino politician who served as a member of the Senate and House of Representatives from 1949 to 1963. He also served as Court of Appeals Justice from his appointment in 1973 u ...
;, House Speaker Cornelio Villareal;,
John Gokongwei John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. (; 11 August 1926 – 9 November 2019) was a Filipino businessman, investor, and philanthropist. His conglomerate company JG Summit Holdings, Inc., had an extensive panoply of business and investment holdings ac ...
Sr., a Philippine business magnate;, Frederick Dael, former CEO and President of Pepsi Cola Asia Pacific, and former CEO of Islacom;, William Torres, "Father of Philippine Internet" and co-founder of Mozaic Corporation;, Vicente Sinco, one of the signatories of the UN Charter in 1945, the eighth President of the University of the Philippines, and founder of Foundation University;, MacArthur Corsino, former Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba;,"2009 Outstanding Sillimanian Awardees"
. Silliman University. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
"Philippine Embassies"
. Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;,
. Pinoy Global Online News. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
Juanita Amatong, former Secretary of the Department of Finance and first woman executive director in the
World Bank Group The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and best-known development bank in the world and an observer at the United Nations Development Gr ...
from the Philippines;,"Juanita Amatong"
. CITI-FT Financial Education Summit 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
Angel Alcala Angel Chua Alcala, , (born March 1, 1929) is a Filipino biologist who was named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014. Alcala is known for his fieldwork to build sanctuaries and to promote biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystems of the P ...
,
Ramon Magsaysay Award The Ramon Magsaysay Award ( Filipino: ''Gawad Ramon Magsaysay'') is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic ideal ...
ee for Public Service and former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Leonor M. Briones, former National Treasurer of the Republic of the Philippines;, Emilio Macias II, former Governor of Negros Oriental;, Efren N. Padilla, executive director, Center for Filipino Studies California State University, East Bay;,"Center for Filipino Studies"
California State University-East Bay. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
Jose Andrada, first commanding officer of the Philippine Navy (formerly Off Shore Patrol) under the Philippine Commonwealth in 1939 and after whom the Headquarters of the Philippine Navy is now named;,"The Philippine Navy"
De La Salle University. Retrieved August 28, 2009.

. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
Lieutenant Colonel Edgard A. Arevalo PN(M). Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

The Philippine Navy Today. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
Edith L. Tiempo,
National Artist National Artist is an honorary title issued by some states as a highest recognition of artists for their significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. An equivalent title, People's Artist, has been known in countries of the f ...
for Literature (1999);, Edilberto K. Tiempo, Filipino writer, professor and founder of the Silliman National Writers Workshop.,"E.K. Tiempo"
Bear Alley. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
Eddie S. Romero,
National Artist National Artist is an honorary title issued by some states as a highest recognition of artists for their significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. An equivalent title, People's Artist, has been known in countries of the f ...
for Cinema and Broadcast Arts (2003);,
Leoncio P. Deriada Leoncio P. Deriada is a Filipino writer and professor emeritus of creative writing and literature at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in Iloilo. He was born on January 13, 1938, in the town of Barotac Viejo, in the province of Ilo ...
, Palanca Awards Hall of Famer;,
César Ruiz Aquino César Ruiz Aquino is a Filipino poet and novelist. He was born and raised in Zamboanga, Philippines. He was educated at Silliman University, at UP Diliman, at the Ateneo de Manila , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Priva ...
, Filipino poet and fictionist;, Simeon Toribio, one of few Filipinos who won medals in the history of world Olympics. Sillimanians have also excelled in the field of journalism such as
Claire Delfin MelClaire Sy-Delfin, or better known as Claire Delfin, is a Filipino broadcast journalist from GMA Network, a popular TV network in the Philippines. Delfin serves as correspondent of GMA-7's ''24 Oras'' (24 Hours) which provides local news in T ...
of
GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...
and Ina Reformina of
ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company unde ...
; while there are those who entered showbusiness such as Bret Jackson,
Beauty Gonzalez Christine Marie Luche Gonzalez-Crisologo (; born 28 May 1991), professionally known as Beauty Gonzalez, is a Filipina actress from Dumaguete City. Biography Beauty Gonzalez was born as Christine Marie Gonzalez in Dumaguete City to Carina Lu ...
, and
Theodore Boborol Theodore Capistrano Boborol (born December 19, 1979) is a Filipino film and television director who started as a creative researcher for Star Cinema in 2000. Boborol made his directorial debut with the teen romantic comedy-drama film '' Just the ...
. File:Carlos P Garcia photo.jpg, Carlos P. Garcia, eighth President of the Philippines and author of the "Filipino First Policy" File:DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones.jpg,
Leonor Briones Leonor "Liling" Mirasol Magtolis-Briones (; born October 16, 1940) is a Filipina academician, economist, and civil servant who served as Secretary of Education under the Duterte administration. She is also professor emeritus of public administr ...
, Secretary of Education of the Philippines. File: CommGuanzon300x355v2.png, Rowena Guanzon, Commissioner, Commission on Elections,
Republic of the Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. File:National Scientist Angel Alcala.jpg,
Angel Alcala Angel Chua Alcala, , (born March 1, 1929) is a Filipino biologist who was named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014. Alcala is known for his fieldwork to build sanctuaries and to promote biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystems of the P ...
, National Scientist. File:Edith Tiempo 2019 stamp of the Philippines.jpg,
Edith Tiempo Edith Cutaran Lopez-Tiempo (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011),
, National Artist for Literature. File:Ernesto Abella, Malacanang Press Conference.jpg,
Ernesto Abella Ernesto "Ernie" Corpus Abella (born March 22, 1950) is a Filipino businessman, writer and former evangelist who served in the Duterte administration as Presidential Spokesperson (2016–2017) and Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and ...
, Presidential Spokesperson for
Philippine President The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
. File:Simeon Toribio.jpg, Simeon Toribio, Filipino athlete who won a bronze medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in
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References


Notes

:a. References for the Presidents of Silliman: David S. Hibbard, Roy H. Brown; Arthur L. Carson; Leopoldo T. Ruiz; Cicero D. Calderon; Quintin S. Doromal; Venancio D. Aldecoa; Pedro V. Flores; Angel C. Alcala; Mervyn J. Misajon; Agustin A. Pulido;President Pulido receives honorary doctorate from CPU
Digital Sillimanian. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
and Ben S. Malayang.
. SU Net News. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
:b. The main library was renamed as the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library. Robert B. Silliman served as the University's Vice-President during the Presidency of Dr. Leopoldo Ruiz.


Footnotes


References

* * *


External links


Official website
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