Silliman University facts for kids

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Silliman University

Pamantasang Silliman  (Filipino)
The University Seal
Former names	Silliman Institute (1901–1938)
Motto	Via, Veritas, Vita (Latin)
Motto in English	The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Founder	David S. Hibbard
Benefactor	Horace B. Silliman
Type	Private, nonsectarian, research university, coeducational
Established	August 28, 1901
Religious affiliation	In covenant with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, but neither owned nor governed by the UCCP or any religious organization.
Academic affiliations	ACUCA, UBCHEA, ACSCU, ASAIHL, PAASCU, ATESEA
Chairman	Ricardo A. Balbido Jr.
President	Betty Cernol-McCann
Academic staff	490 (faculty)
Administrative staff	290
Students	approx. 11,000
Address	Hibbard Avenue , Dumaguete, Negros Oriental , Philippines 9°18′46″N 123°18′24″E / 9.31278°N 123.30667°E / 9.31278; 123.30667
Campus	Main Campus [Urban] (Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete) – 33 ha (82 acres) Agriculture and Marine Biology Campus (Escaño Road, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental) – 29 ha (72 acres) Ticao Island Facility (Ticao Island, Masbate) – 465 ha (1,150 acres)
Newspaper	The Weekly Sillimanian
Alma Mater song	Silliman Song
Colors	and      Red and white
Nickname	Sillimanian
Sporting affiliations	PRISAA, UNIGAMES
Mascot	Stallions and Mares
Location in Visayas Show map of Visayas Location in Philippines Show map of Philippines

Silliman University (also called Silliman or SU) is a private research university in Dumaguete City, Philippines. It was started in 1901 as Silliman Institute by a group called the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. It was the first Protestant school for higher education in the Philippines and in Asia.

The university got its name from Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman. He was a retired businessman from New York who gave $10,000 to help start the school. It began as an elementary school for boys. Later, it grew into a college in 1910 and became a university in 1938. Americans managed Silliman University for its first half-century. After World War II, more Filipinos took on leadership roles. In 1952, the university appointed its first Filipino president.

Today, over 10,000 students from the Philippines and many other countries study at Silliman. It has ten colleges, five schools, and three institutes. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has recognized it as a National Historical Landmark. It is also one of the few private schools in the Philippines that has "full autonomous status" from the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines). This means it has more freedom in how it runs its programs.

Silliman University's History

How Silliman University Started

National Historical Commission marker installed in 1966.

National Historical Landmark marker installed in 2022.

Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard in a 1914 yearbook of Silliman Institute.

US Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks visited Silliman Institute in 1909.

Horace Silliman, the university's first supporter and namesake.

Silliman Hall is the oldest American building still standing in the Philippines. It now holds the university's Heritage Museum.

Guy Hall, built in 1918, was used by Japanese troops during World War II.

The Silliman University Church. Its construction started in 1941 and finished in 1949 after World War II.

The Gate of Knowledge, built in the 1950s, is a main entrance to Silliman University.

Silliman University began on August 28, 1901. It was founded as Silliman Institute by Protestant missionaries from the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The school started with a $10,000 gift from Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman. He was a retired businessman from New York who wanted to create a school focused on practical skills.

Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard was chosen to set up the school. He and his wife, Laura, traveled to the southern Philippines to find the best spot. They visited Cebu, Zamboanga, and Iloilo. In Cebu, someone suggested they visit Dumaguete. Dr. Hibbard liked Dumaguete's beauty and friendly people, so he decided to build the school there.

The institute started small. Dr. and Mrs. Hibbard taught classes in a rented house by the sea. The first building, Silliman Hall, was finished in 1903. Dr. Hibbard later remembered:

"There were fifteen boys that first morning. The equipment consisted of four desks about ten feet long, two tables and two chairs, a few McGuffey’s Readers, a few geographies, arithmetics and ninth-grade grammars. I was President; Mrs. Hibbard was the faculty."

More students joined, even from other Asian countries. In 1909, US Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks visited the school. In 1910, the government recognized Silliman Institute and allowed it to give degrees. Women were first admitted in 1912. The Silliman Bible School, which later became the Divinity School, was started in 1921. As the school grew, it added more teachers, advanced classes, and new buildings. Even Emilio Aguinaldo, a Philippine hero, sent his sons to Silliman. By 1925, it was known as a very important Protestant school in the Philippines. In 1938, it became the first school outside Manila to be called a university.

After becoming a university, Silliman continued to receive help for buildings and equipment. It also had American teachers and staff.

Silliman During World War II

School life stopped when World War II began. On May 26, 1942, Japanese forces took over Silliman and used it as a military base. One building, Channon Hall, became the headquarters for the Japanese military police. Many teachers and students had to move to safer places in the province. Under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Carson, the university president, some teachers continued classes in the mountains of Negros Oriental. This was known as the "Jungle University." Many students, alumni, and teachers joined the resistance against the Japanese.

American and Filipino soldiers freed Dumaguete on April 26, 1945. Soon after, the university began preparing to reopen and rebuild.

After the War

For many years, Americans led Silliman. After World War II, Filipinos started to take on more leadership roles. In 1952, Dr. Leopoldo T. Ruiz became the first Filipino president of the university. He was a Silliman graduate and had studied at top universities abroad.

In the 1960s, fewer American teachers worked at Silliman, and more teachers from other countries joined. The university also started a "Build a Greater Silliman" program. This helped construct new buildings like the Luce Auditorium, the Science Complex, and the Silliman University Medical Center.

Martial Law and New Discoveries

When Martial Law was declared in 1972, the government closed Silliman. It was one of the first universities to close and one of the last to reopen. Some teachers and students were arrested. The student newspaper, Weekly Sillimanian, was also raided.

In 1979, Silliman made a big discovery. Its Van Houweling Research Laboratory created a dog vaccine that protected against rabies for three years. This was the first and only lab in Southeast Asia to make such a long-lasting rabies vaccine. This vaccine helped get rid of rabies in many parts of the Philippines and was used by other countries with the World Health Organization.

Recent History of Silliman University

The 1980s brought back the university's Student Government. Students were allowed to organize again in 1981. During this time, some of Silliman's programs, like Electrical Engineering and Nursing, achieved perfect scores in national exams. Solar-powered lights were also installed on campus.

Portal East Building, one of the two portal buildings on campus.

In the 1990s, the university changed its grading system. In 1994, many Silliman nursing students ranked high in national exams. An alumnus, Gonzalo O. Catan Jr., was named Most Outstanding Inventor. Silliman was also recognized for its scientific research and hosted international conferences on marine life.

As the year 2000 approached, Silliman prepared for its 100th anniversary. It installed fiber-optic cables across its campus to improve its computer network. In 2000 and 2001, its Accountancy and Physical Therapy programs ranked first in the country.

Today, Silliman University still gets support from its alumni and other groups. It aims to provide education without relying too much on tuition fees. The university has built new commercial buildings and leased parts of its land to help cover costs. It also has a "No Helmet-No Entry" policy for motorbikes and a "No-Smoking Policy" on campus.

Because of its long and important history, Silliman University was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2002. A marker for this was placed on campus in 2022. Silliman is also one of the few private schools with full autonomous status from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Silliman University Campus

Pre-World War II aerial view of Dumaguete, showing the Silliman campus.

Treeline along the west quadrangle near the Portal Buildings.

Treeline along the Silliman University Church.

Treeline on both sides of the west quadrangle.

Silliman University is in Dumaguete, a calm city by the sea. The main campus covers 33 hectares and is full of large acacia trees. It's close to the city center and faces the sea. The university's main entrances, called "portals," are famous symbols of both the school and the city. The Gate of Knowledge is the main entrance today.

Other important places on the main campus include Silliman Hall, which is now a museum, the Silliman University Church, the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library, and the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium. This auditorium is the largest theater outside Metro Manila. The university even has a special golf cart to take visitors around the campus.

Two kilometers north of the main campus is another area for the College of Agriculture and the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences. This 29-hectare campus has farms, dorms, and marine labs. Silliman Beach is right next to it.

Silliman also has other facilities. The Creative Writing Center is in Camp Lookout, Valencia. It's where the Silliman National Writers Workshop is held. There's also a 465-hectare property on Ticao Island in Masbate. This facility has a ranch, farms, and forests, and a technical-vocational school.

Dumaguete is often called a "center of learning" because of Silliman and other universities. It attracts students, artists, and scholars from all over the world.

Theaters and Museums at Silliman

The Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, built in 1973–75.

Ground floor terrace of the Silliman Hall, which now houses the Heritage Museum.

Dr. Romeo P. Ariniego Art Gallery.

Silliman has several theaters. The main one is the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, completed in 1975. There's also the Audio Visual Theater and the Woodward Little Theater, used by the Speech and Theater Arts Department.

The university also has many museums:

• The Anthropology Museum in Hibbard Hall shows Filipino cultural items and ancient artifacts found in the Philippines.
• The Heritage Museum in Silliman Hall, opened in 2020, tells the story of the university's founding and early days.
• The Gonzales Museum of Natural History in the Science Complex displays preserved animals from the tropics.
• The Marine Mammal Museum has a large collection of whale and dolphin bones.
• The Ariniego Art Gallery showcases art.
• The SU-ROTC Museum in Roman T. Yap Hall has artifacts from World War II and military uniforms.

Silliman University Zoo

The A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Gardens, or Silliman University Zoo, is home to the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies. It started in the 1960s as a tree planting project for biology students.

In 1990, it became the first place in the Philippines to breed the endangered Philippine Spotted Deer. Since then, it has also bred other rare Philippine animals like the Visayan Warty Pig and the Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove. The garden was named after Prof. Alfredo Y. Reyes, a botanist who helped develop it.

Silliman Beach

On the eastern side of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences is Silliman Beach. It stretches from Bantayan to the Dumaguete Airport. The university uses this area for projects that help local fishermen.

How Silliman University is Run

David Sutherland Hibbard, Silliman's founding president.

Silliman is managed by a Board of Trustees with fifteen members. These members come from different groups, including the university's alumni. The university president is also part of this board. Below the board are other leaders like the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Chief Finance Officer.

Even though Silliman has a Protestant history, it welcomes students and teachers of all beliefs. Many students and faculty are Roman Catholics, and there are also many Muslims.

Silliman University Academics

Special Recognition for Programs

The Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) (CHED) has given Silliman special titles. It's a "Center of Excellence" for Information Technology, Teacher Education, and Nursing. It's also a "Center of Development" for Anthropology, Biology, and Medical Technology.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) named Silliman a Center of Excellence in Coastal Resource Management. The Haribon Foundation recognized it for Biodiversity Conservation. Thanks to Silliman's work, Apo Island is known as one of the best diving spots in the world.

University Rankings and Reputation

Silliman is one of the few Philippine schools listed in international university rankings. In 2023, it ranked 5th among Philippine schools in Life Sciences and Medicine. It also ranked 88th in Southeast Asia and between 551st-600th in all of Asia.

Webometrics, another ranking system, placed Silliman 9th among Philippine schools in 2021. Christian Universities Online also listed Silliman as one of the "50 Most Beautiful Christian College and University Campuses in the World."

International Connections

Silliman works with many universities in the United States, Asia, and Europe. They collaborate on research and exchange students and teachers. Some of its longest-running student exchange programs are with three Japanese universities. Silliman also has research ties with the Smithsonian Institution in the USA and other universities in South Korea, Indonesia, and Germany.

University Colleges

The Dr. Luz Ausejo Hall, College of Arts and Sciences.

The College of Business Administration Building.

The Mary Marquis Smith Hall, College of Nursing.

The Uytengsu Foundation Computer Studies Hall of the College of Computer Studies.

Science Complex.

South Wing of the College of Business Administration.

Olivia Villaflores Yanson Hall of the College of Nursing.

The Medical School Building.

Senior High School Building.

Silliman University has many colleges offering different programs:

• The College of Agriculture teaches about farming and animal science. It started as a department in 1913 and became a college in 1976.
• The College of Arts and Sciences offers many subjects like Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Math, and Psychology.
• The College of Business Administration teaches about business, accounting, and entrepreneurship. It's known for its high scores in accounting exams.
• The College of Computer Studies offers courses in Computer Science and Information Technology. It was one of the first schools in the Philippines to use advanced fiber-optic and Wi-Fi technology.
• The College of Engineering and Design offers programs in architecture, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. It started in 1932.
• The College of Education trains future teachers and is recognized as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education.
• The College of Law teaches law and aims to create lawyers with a strong sense of justice. It was the first in the Visayas and Mindanao to offer the Juris Doctor (JD) program.
• The College of Mass Communication was the first school outside Manila to offer a degree in Journalism, starting in 1966.
• The College of Nursing is a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. It's known for its consistently high exam ratings.
• The College of Performing and Visual Arts offers programs in Fine Arts, Music, and Speech & Theater Arts.

University Schools

• The Divinity School trains people for ministry and theology. It started in 1921.
• The Medical School opened in 2004 and has many doctors teaching different medical specialties.
• The School of Public Affairs and Governance trains public servants in managing local government and foreign affairs. It opened in 2007.
• The School of Basic Education includes Early Childhood, Elementary, and High School departments. The Elementary Department is the oldest part of the university, dating back to 1901.
• The School of Agro-Industrial and Technical Education offers short technical courses.

University Institutes

• The Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences offers a course in Medical Technology. It became an independent institute in 2009.
• The Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences offers a course in Physical Therapy. It also became an independent institute in 2009.

Silliman University Library System

The Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library.

The Silliman Library System includes the main Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library and smaller libraries for each college and school. The main library, built in 1978, is a four-story building with space for many readers. It holds over 250,000 books and other materials.

The university library also hosts special centers like the American Studies Resource Center and a World Bank Knowledge for Development Center. These centers provide resources for students, researchers, and the public. The Silliman Library is one of the biggest libraries in the Philippines. In 2008, it won an "Outstanding Library Award."

Recently, the library received a grant to become a modern digital learning center. It will offer new ways to access information and collaborate.

Silliman University Medical Center

Medical Arts Building of the Silliman University Medical Center.

The Silliman University Medical Center is a hospital owned by the university. It helps students from the College of Nursing, School of Medicine, and other health programs get hands-on experience.

It's a 140-bed hospital that offers many medical services to the university and the community. It started as a small infirmary in 1901 and became a hospital in 1923. A new, modern building was opened in 1976. In 1979, the Medical Center's lab made history by discovering a three-year rabies vaccine for dogs. This vaccine helped fight rabies in many countries. A new Medical Arts Building was recently added to the hospital.

Research and Community Work

Silliman's Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS) is recognized for its research in coastal resource management.

Silliman University is very active in research and community projects. From 2000 to 2011, it was a special research center for its region. In 2011, it was chosen to be part of a national research network, receiving funds for its projects.

The university publishes its research in the Silliman Journal. A lot of its important research is in Environmental and Marine Sciences, led by the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS). IEMS has helped create 20 marine protected areas and assisted many others. For its work in protecting nature, it was recognized as the best research program in the country. In 2013, Greenpeace worked with Silliman to study coral reefs at Apo Island.

Other groups at the university also do research or community work. These include centers for gender studies, tropical conservation, law and development, and environmental management. Silliman also has projects that help with energy, child development, and rural programs.

Silliman University Culture and Traditions

Stained glass window of Silliman University Church showing Jesus Christ and his apostles.

The Silliman Song

At the end of most university events, everyone sings the Silliman Song. Dr. Paul Doltz, a university leader and pastor, wrote the lyrics in 1918. The song uses the tune of "The Orange and the Black" from Princeton University, where Dr. Doltz studied. For over a hundred years, the song has made phrases like "Dear old Silliman" and "Silliman beside the sea" famous.

Silliman University Student Life

Sports and Athletics

Silliman has many sports facilities. The university Gymnasium is used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, and other indoor sports. The Cimafranca Ballfield is for football and track and field. There's also an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and an archery range.

Silliman has varsity teams for most major sports. They are called the Stallions or Mares and compete in events like the Philippine University Games (UniGames). Some Silliman alumni have even represented the Philippines in the Olympics, like archer Mark Javier and long jumper Simeon Toribio.

Student Government

Built in 1932, Hibbard Hall houses the Office of the University Registrar.

The Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) started in 1912. It was paused during World War II and for a short time during Martial Law. Today, it has three parts: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Students elect their government officers before the school year ends.

There are two main student political parties at the university: the Students' Union for Reforms (SURE) Party and the Concerted Action for the Upliftment of Student Endeavors (CAUSE) Party. They were both started in the early 1980s.

Student Publications

Silliman students have several publications:

• The Weekly Sillimanian is one of the country's first weekly student newspapers, started in 1903.
• The Portal is the official yearbook, first published in 1913.
• The Dark Blue Southern Seas is a literary journal.
• The Junior Sillimanian is for high school students.
• The Stones and Pebbles is for elementary school students.
• The College of Law has its own publication, the Purple Map, for law students.

Most of these publications are supported by student fees.

Silliman University Alumni

Silliman has many alumni chapters around the world. Famous alumni include Carlos P. Garcia, the eighth President of the Philippines; Senators Robert Barbers and Roseller Lim; and business leader John Gokongwei Sr.

Other notable alumni are William Torres, known as the "Father of Philippine Internet"; Vicente Sinco, who signed the UN Charter in 1945; and Angel Alcala, a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service. Edith L. Tiempo and Eddie S. Romero are National Artists of the Philippines for Literature and Cinema, respectively. Simeon Toribio won a medal in the Olympics.

Sillimanians have also become successful journalists and entered show business.

• Notable Silliman alumni include:
• 

  Carlos P. Garcia, eighth President of the Philippines.

• 

  Edelmiro Amante, Executive Secretary for President Fidel Ramos.

• 

  Roseller Lim, Senator of the Philippines.

• 

  Jose E. Romero, first Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

• 

  Nicanor Yñiguez, Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa.

• 

  Cornelio Villareal, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

• 

  Tomas Cabili, Senator of the Philippines.

• 

  Simeon Toribio, Filipino bronze medalist at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

• 

  Anselmo Gonzaga, Gold Medalist, 1927 Far Eastern Games.

• 

  Ernesto Abella, Presidential Spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Silliman para niños