Ateneo de Naga University

The Ateneo de Naga University was established in 1940 when American Jesuits took over the Camarines Sur Catholic Academy, a small private school under the supervision of the Diocese of Nueva Caceres, at the invitation of Bishop (later Archbishop) Pedro P. Santos of Caceres. During its first year of operation, it included intermediate grades 4-6 of elementary school. In 1941, however, the elementary school students were transferred to the nearby school run by the Daughters of Charity, and the Ateneo became an all-boys high school. The college department opened on June 5, 1947 and admitted its first female students on October 26, 1953.[1]

On September 16, 1996, the university president, Fr. Raul J. Bonoan, SJ issued a memorandum declaring the separation of the different colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Commerce, and the College of Information Technology and Engineering. Almost a year after, the College of Education was created. In 2001, a College of Computer Studies was established. In school year 2004-2005, the University opened the College of Nursing. Most recently, The university opened a law school starting in the first semester of school year 2017-2018. The new College of Law offers a four-year program leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. With these separations and additions the University now has a total number of 7 colleges.

University status was granted to the Ateneo de Naga on November 11, 1998 upon the approval by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on November 11, 1998 of Resolution No. 142-98.

The steady growth of Ateneo de Naga called for new structures of governance. Thus, the 1940 Articles of Incorporation were amended and new By-laws were adopted in 1979, transferring the school's high governing authority to the Board of Trustees, the majority of members were Jesuits.

The school motto in Latin, "Primum Regnum Dei", means "First the Kingdom of God" is derived from Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be given,"[2]expresses the single-mindedness with which the Ateneo de Naga University must pursue the goals of Catholic Jesuit education. The ultimate purpose of Ateneo de Naga is not knowledge for its own sake or merely professional preparation, but the reign of God and the promotion of Gospel values. In our present context, Jesuit education focuses on "the promotion of justice in the service of faith".

The Ateneo de Naga seal is similar to the seals of the other four Ateneos. It is circular and the school motto in Latin is on top of the circle with the name of the school at the bottom of the circle.

At the center of the Ateneo de Naga university seal is the escutcheon of the family of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The shield is divided vertically into ywo. The right panel shows two wolves on the sides of a hanging cauldron. The design symbolizes the hospitality and generosity of the Loyola family. On the left panel, symbolizing nobility and heroism are seven red bars on a field of gold, honoring the seven heroes of the family who distinguished themselves in the battle of Beotibar in 1321. The shield is part of the seal of many Jesuit schools in the world with which the Ateneo shares a 400-year tradition of Jesuit liberal education.

Immediately above the Loyola escutcheon is a gold crown of Mary, Mother of God, who under the title of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is the patroness of Bicol. Over Mary's crown shines the sun, symbol of Christ. On its face is the seal of the Society of Jesus in calligraphic form: the first three letters in Greek of the Holy Name of Jesus (IHS) with the cross on top and the nails of his sacred Passion underneath. The sun's rays shine over Mary's crown, the Loyola shield, and the six stars and beyond. The Sun, symbol of Christ, truth and life, shines over Mary, Ateneo, Bicol, and the world.

Arranged in a semi-circle under the Loyola shield are six gold stars representing the six provinces of Bicol Region: Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.[3]

With its seal, the Ateneo de Naga proclaims its commitment to Christ, to the Jesuit education tradition, and to the mission of forming "men and women for others".

The name Ateneo is the Spanish form of Athenæum, which the Dictionary of Classical Antiquities defines as the name of "the first educational institution in Rome" where "rhetoricians and poets held their recitations." Hadrian’s school drew its name from a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The said temple, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, was where "poets and men of learning were accustomed to meet and read their productions." Athenæum is also used in reference to schools and literary clubs. The closest English translation is academy, referring to institutions of secondary learning.

Four Pillars - Administration Building

In 2001, Ateneo de Naga was among the first 22 private higher education institutions in the Philippines granted by CHED deregulated status for five years. At the same time CHED recognized its colleges. In 2007, CHED re-designated the College of Computer Studies as a Center for Development for Excellence in Information Technology Education and designated the College of Commerce as Center of Development in Business Administration and also in Entrepreneurship. In 2007 CHED identified the Graduate School as a delivering institution for its Faculty Development Program. On June 2, 2008 CHED granted Ateneo de Naga autonomous status and approved the designation of the College of Education as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education. The College of Computer Studies was also recognized as a CHED Center of Excellence in Information Technology in 2016.[4]

As of the year 2020, Ateneo de Naga is the only autonomous and institutionally accredited university in Bicol.

Christ the King University Church

Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola offering his sword to Our Lady of Monserrat

In 1979, the College and High School departments were the first in Camarines Sur to be accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). They were accredited for the third time in 1992. On May 25, 2009, the PAASCU granted institutional accreditation status to Ateneo de Naga, a first for a private educational institution. [5] The Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) certified AdNU's institutional accreditation on June 22, 2009.

In 1991 the Depertment of Education, Culture and Sports placed the Ateneo in its list of 18 excellent universities and colleges.

• College of Business and Accountancy
• College of Computer Studies
• College of Education
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Law
• College of Nursing
• College of Science and Engineering

• Doctoral Degree Programs
• Master's Degree Programs
• Master of Arts in Education
• Non-Thesis Programs
• College of Law: Juris Doctor (J.D.) with Thesis

The following Jesuits have a building named after them, to honor their services.

• John Joseph Phelan, S.J., science building – for his 40-plus years service.
• James J. O'Brien, S.J., library – for his long years of service.
• Francis D. Burns, S.J.. academic building – first rector, helped establish AdNU, 1940.[6]
• Fr. Raul Bonoan, S.J., Pacol campus and building on Bagumbayan campus – first president.
• Michael Rooney, S.J., high school building – guidance director, Jesuit Superior of Philippines.[7]
• Pedro Arrupe, S.J., convention hall – world-renowned Jesuit, Superior General 1965–83: coined "men and women for others" and gave social justice thrust to contemporary Jesuit education.[8]
• Richard M. Fernando, S.J., conference hall – sacrificed his life to protect Cambodian students.[9]
• Francis Xavier, S.J., student organization building – patron saint of the university.

James J. O'Brien, S.J., Library

Since 2005 the Ateneo has a publishing house for university research work and for outside manuscripts. While its daily operations are managed by the university press director, all publications receive final approval of the university president, upon the recommendation of the University Press Board.[10]

The official tertiary student publication of the university is The Pillars which was founded in 1961.[11] The senior high school student publication is Kurit Bulawan while the junior high school student publication is The Blue and Gold.

• Jesse Robredo: (2010-2012) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, (1988-2006) Mayor of the City of Naga.
• Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo: (2010–present) congressman of Second District of Camarines Sur.
• Bea Saw, actress and Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 grand winner.
• Raul Roco, Lawyer, Philippine Senator, Education Secretaty, Congressman

• 
  Burns Memorial Hall
• 
  Bonoan Hall
• 
  Arrupe Convention Hall
• 
  Christ the King University Church
• 
  Covered Court