The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Filipino: Pamantasang Ateneo de Zamboanga), also referred to by its acronym AdZU, is a private
Catholiccoeducational basic and higher education institution run by the Philippine Province of the
Society of Jesus in
Zamboanga City,
Philippines. It is the second oldest Jesuit school in the
Philippines. It operates on three campuses.
History
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University began as a parochial, Jesuit-run, boys-only elementary school named Escuela Catolica in 1912.[3][better source needed] Under its founder, Fr. Manuel M. Sauras, S.J., Escuela Catolica was incorporated as Ateneo de Zamboanga in 1916.[4][better source needed] Initially a mere elementary school, it began offering secondary education in 1928, headed by the American Jesuit Fr. Thomas J. Murray, S.J.[5] It became a college in 1952, and a university in August 2001.[citation needed]
On July 7, 2017, the historic 67-year-old Brebeuf Gymnasium was burnt to the ground;[6] the Sauras, Kostka, and Gonzaga Halls were also damaged.[7] The Zamboanga City government estimated that the cost of the damages amounted to ₱5 million.[8]
On December 8, 2018, the Faustino W. Saavedra Building (FWS Building) was inaugurated in the Fr. Eusebio G. Salvador, S.J. Campus. It houses the Senior High School Unit, along with the adjacent Kostka Building.[9]
Academics
Admissions
AdZU operates with a selective admissions policy.[10] All of the university's courses require, among other things, passing an entrance exam (which, in the case of the Grade School, is instead called an 'assessment test'); past education records are also required for examination. The School of Medicine requires results in the
National Medical Admission Test while the College of Law requires results in the
PhilSAT; all other units administer their own entrance examinations.[11][better source needed]
Student council
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Zamboanga University (SMADZU) was the college unit's student government before 2009. Currently in its place is El Consejo Atenista, which was created with the objective of being a more representative student government.[12][better source needed]
The El Consejo Atenista, as AdZU's official student government, engages with other Jesuit universities' student councils in the annual Buklod Atenista National Leaders' Summit.[13] They are also active in community initiatives, such as organizing relief operations during the
2013 Zamboanga City Siege[14] and protesting against the implementation of mandatory
Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the Philippines.[15]
Campuses
AdZU operates three campuses.
Fr. Eusebio G. Salvador, S.J. (Main) Campus. The main campus (4.3 hectares) on La Purisima Street, named for Fr. Eusebio Salvador, S.J., houses the undergraduate and graduate schools and the Senior High School unit.
Fr. William H. Kreutz, S.J. Campus. The second campus (8.3 hectares) in
BarangayTumaga, which is outside
Zamboanga City proper, named for Fr. William Kreutz, S.J., is home to the Junior High School and Grade School units.
Lantaka Campus. The Ateneo de Zamboanga University Lantaka Campus is situated along the coastline of Zamboanga City and was previously a resort hotel. This campus will be used as a place for students' and staff's retreats, recollections, meetings, seminars and conferences.[16][better source needed]