By Lysander Tiu and Kean Bagaipo
Within eight years of leadership, outgoing Silliman University (SU) President Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann had served SU at various phases of sustainable efforts, policies, linkages, and rankings.
McCann will officially step down by the end of academic year 2025-2026, just two and half years away from completing her second term as president.
Under her term, the university was able to establish environmental principles and reinforced its commitment to becoming a sustainable campus through new policies and guidelines.
The university became a wildlife sanctuary in 2019, as declared by the Board of Trustees, committed to preserving nature and its vital role in sequestering carbon dioxide, another climate mitigation measure.
McCann signed a two-year power supply contract with Energy Development Corporation in 2022, placing SU as the only university in Negros Island to be 100-percent powered by renewable solar energy.
Her administration also pushed for the declaration of Climate Emergency that led to the creation of the Environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines which employs the Zero Waste strategy to help reduce waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Boosting networks
Linkages with other universities were also strengthened through partnerships with the Department of Education for student support projects and community development programs.
A network of over 60 institutions across Asia was established when McCann became the president of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia last 2018 to 2021.
Meanwhile, international students were welcomed through the Intensive English Program, service-learning programs with Korean universities, and other cultural immersion activities.
In 2024, McCann mentioned boosting technology-enabled learning experiences such as students participating in competitions, scientific exploration, and service-learning engagement.
Position as an HEI
Meanwhile, SU’s placement in the World University Rankings for Innovation and Quacquarelli Symonds Asian University Rankings rose to its peak last 2018 to 2019 at the 351-400 and 451-500 brackets, respectively.
McCann also addressed a sudden decline in a 2025 global ranking, describing the university as “being internally-driven by its mission and vision rather than externally-driven.”
She cited lack of internal allocation of big funds for research activities and development which the university “cannot afford” compared to public institutions.
Major developments
During the 2024 academic convocation, McCann revealed SU’s four-year strategic direction plan with recent developments in organizational structure, new policies for technological advancements, and commitment towards holistic education.
These include the establishment of SU’s artificial intelligence (AI) framework, the modernization of SU Library, and faculty development by enhancing research output through grants and international conferences.
McCann’s term also saw two Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) signed via the labor department mediation in 2019 and 2025, resolving labor disputes with the faculty union and granting salary increase and benefits.
In a Facebook post, the BOT, who announced McCann’s resignation, acknowledged it but did not cite any reasons.
Office of Media and Public Affairs chief Warlito Caturay Jr. also said that they do not know the reasons for her resignation nor the BOT’s plans for the initiation of a new president.
In a short statement, the SU Faculty Association wrote that it looks forward to working with the next leader in “upholding the rights and welfare of academic personnel.”
