University of San Carlos

:"For the similarly named university in Guatemala, see Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala."Infobox University
name = University of San Carlos


motto = "Scientia Virtus Devotio" (Knowledge Valor Piety), Witness to the Word
established = 1595
type = Catholic, private
president = Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD
city = Cebu City
state = Cebu
country = Philippines
undergrad =
postgrad =
postgrad_label =
faculty =
campus = North Campus, South Campus, Talamban Campus, Main Campus
free_label =
free =
mascot =
nickname = Carolinians, USC Warriors
website = [http://www.usc.edu.ph/ http://www.usc.edu.ph/] The University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City is the oldest school in the Philippines. Founded by Spanish Jesuits in 1595, it is a Catholic institution of higher learning run by the Society of the Divine Word or SVD since 1935. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses. Further, it offers a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.

It consists of four campuses located in different areas of metropolitan Cebu – the main campus along P. del Rosario St., the Talamban campus (TC - Technological Center), the north campus (formerly Boys High) along Gen. Maxilom Ave. (aka Mango Ave.), and the south campus (formerly Girls High) along corners J. Alcantara St., P. Del Rosario Ext. (aka Private) and V. Rama Avenue.

History

The university traces its origins to the founding of the school "Colegio de San Ildefonso", founded in 1595. Colegio de San Ildefonso was founded by the Spanish Jesuits fathers Antonio Sedeno, Pedro Chirino and Antonio Pereira on August 1, 1595. It was closed in 1769 at the expulsion of the Jesuits. In 1783, the initiative of the Bishop Mateo Joaquin de Arevalo opened the Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos. In 1852, the management of the college was entrusted to the Dominican fathers, replaced in 1867 by the Vincentian Fathers then, in 1935, the "Societas Verbi Divini" or theSociety of the Divine Word (SVD). The Second World War led to the interruption of the courses in 1941 because several buildings suffered various destruction. The reopening of various faculties spread out between 1945 and 1946. The Colegio de San Carlos was granted its university charter in 1948. The University was named after St. Charles Borromeo.

San Carlos' claim to being the oldest university in Asia, however, is disputed. Historians point out that it cannot trace its origin to the "Colegio de San Ildefonso" because this school (a grammar school as described by Fr. Ernesto M. Lagura, SVD, president of the University of San Carlos during the Centennial Congress on Higher Education held on May 28-29, 1998) was shut down in 1769 with the expulsion of the Jesuits. In 1783, the Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos opened under new owners. [http://www.geocities.com/alancajes/Oldest_Stone_Church_and_the_Oldest_University.htm] The Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila has been in existence since 1611 and was interrupted only by World War II. It was elevated to university status in 1645.

The college-seminary of San Carlos became "University of San Carlos" in 1948. Various faculties have been created at this time, while new buildings were built in parallel. The university is currently chaired by the Father Roderick C. Salazar, Jr. The board of directors (Board of Trustees) is chaired by Jesus N. Alcordo.

Miscellaneous facts

* USC has been recognized by [http://www.ched.gov.ph/ CHED] for its “enormous contribution to the growth and prominence of tertiary education in the country and in the Asia-Pacific.” Hence, USC was granted with an autonomous status in 2001.
* USC is recognized by CHED as Center of Excellence in Chemistry, the only one in the Visayas. CHED recognizes its Teacher Education as Center of Excellence as well.
* USC is a center of development in Biology, Physics, Marine pantalan Biology, Mathematics, Accountancy and Business Administration, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Electronics and Communications Engineering.
* The USC College of Law has been consistently in the Top Ten Law Schools in the Philippines (based on the Supreme Court Statistical Data), placing 2nd to Ateneo de Manila University in the 2005 Bar Exams and 4th in the 2006 Bar exams (based on new candidates).
* The USC College of Engineering is the lone Philippine university member of the [http://www.soi.wide.ad.jp/soi-asia/partners/index.html#7/ School on the Internet-Asia (SOI-Asia)] , a consortium of 15 universities situated in 11 countries across Asia. It can be noted that the Philippines was first connected to the Internet at the [http://www.msc.edu.ph/wired/timeline.html 1st International E- mail conference] held at USC in March 1994.
* The USC College of Commerce has been selected for the 2007/2008 EDUNIVERSAL 1,000 business schools that count on Earth by [http://www.eduniversal.com/ an International Scientific Committee] .
*The university's Accountancy program is regarded as one of the best in the country, consistently topping the CPA Licensure Examinations according to number of passers and producing board passers on the TOP TEN.

Notable alumni

* Vicente Sotto, former senator of the Philippines and the "Father of Cebuano Literature"
* Sergio Osmeña - second president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
* Christopher Go - Filipino astronomer who discovered a [http://www.redspotjr.com/ new red spot] on Jupiter, an achievement recognized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) [ Minerva BC Newman [http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=1&fi=p060918.htm&no=10&date= Feature:Cebuano discovers "Red Spot Jr" from his backyard] PIA Press Release September 18, 2006]
* Jesus Estanislao - former secretary of the Department of Finance. He is the recipient of the 2002 [http://www.icgn.org/awards/index.php/ International Corporate Governance Network Award] (first and only Filipino to receive such award to date) and the Philippine Legion of Honor in 1992. He was the founding Dean (1998) of the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo. He also served as the founding president (1992-1997) of the University of Asia and the Pacific, which grew out of the Center for Research and Communication, of which he was the founding Executive Director (1969-1981). Dr. Estanislao holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he was also a Teaching Fellow and Research Fellow. He obtained his MA in Economics from Fordham University, and his AB in Economics and Ph.B. (summa cum laude) from the University of San Carlos. [ [http://www.icgn.org/awards/awards_2002.php 2002 ICGN Awards ] ]
* John L. Gokongwei, Jr. - Filipino industrialist and tycoon [ [http://www.jgsummit.com.ph/speech-jgkw-ateneo-som-20020301.html Speech delivered last March 1, 2002 during the launch of the Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management] www.jgsumit.com.ph ] ; founder of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGSHI) and Chairman Emeritus effective January 1, 2002; #34 of Southeast Asia's 40 Richest (2005) [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/09/07/southeast-asia-richest-cz_05sealand_35.html Southeast Asias's 40 Richest] www.forbes.com ]
* Augusto W. Go - president and founder of the University of Cebu [ [http://www.uc.edu.ph/collegeoflaw/history/history.htm History of the University of Cebu] www.uc.edu.ph]
* Pablo Garcia - former Governor of the province of Cebu [ [http://law.usc.edu.ph/bar_topnotchers/bar_topnotchers.jsp Bar topnotchers] law.usc.edu.ph ]
* Mariano Jesus Cuenco † - Representative, 5th district; Philippine Legislature Senate; In office as a Senator 1912-1928, 1941-1964.
* Ramon Fernandez - former Philippine Basketball Association or PBA player
* Emilio Mario Osmeña or Lito Osmeña - founder and chairman of PROMDI Party ("Probinsya Muna" Development Initiative or Provinces First Development Initiative) where he ran for the position of President in the 1998 elections but lost to Joseph Estrada.
* Senator Sergio Osmeña, III - incumbent Senator of the Philippines (1995-present); did not graduate at USC [ [http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/congressmembers/profile-s_osmena.htm Profile: Sergio Osmenia III] www.mbc.com.ph ]
* Senator John R. Osmeña - Senator of the Philippines [ [http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/congressmembers/profile-j_osmena.htm John Osmena] www. mbc.com.ph]
* Congressman Raul del Mar - member Philippine House of Representatives, Representative of the 1st district of Cebu [ [http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/congressmembers/profile-delmar.htm Raul del Mar] www.mbc.com.ph]
* Congressman Orlando Fua, Jr. - member of Philippine House of Representatives, representative of the lone district of Siquijor [ [http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/congressmembers/profile-fua.htm Orlando Fua, Jr.] www.mbc.com.ph ]
* Congressman Oscar G. Garin - member of Philippine House of Representatives, representative of the 1st district of Iloilo [ [http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/congressmembers/profile-garin.htm Oscar G. Garin] www.mbc.com.ph]
* Commissioner Michael "Mike" Francis Acebedo Lopez - Commissioner-at Large of the NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION and member of the appeals committee of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), youngest Presidential Appointee in Arroyo government at age 22 PhilippinesNews and announcements www.usc.edu.ph
* Dionisio Jakosalem, Vicente Rama, etc.
* Joram Deogracias, Domingo Alapag, etc.

References

External links

* [http://www.usc.edu.ph/ University of San Carlos Official Site]
* [http://www.uscifsc.co.cc/ UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS INTER-FRATERNITY AND SORORITY COUNCIL]
* [http://thecarolinian.blogspot.com/ USC: The Carolinian Blog]
* [http://wiki.alumni.net/wiki/Asia/Philippines/Cebu/Cebu_City/University_of_San_Carlos/ Alumni & Map]