format_quote The CES Office recognizes the value of reaching out to others, especially the oppressed and marginalized, as each individual's moral obligation. However, embracing this commitment is a challenge to many, even among Carolinians being Witnessess to the Word. Believing in the potential of each one to contribute to the greater good, the office initiates the call for CES Volunteers from all sectors of the Carolinian community - administrators, faculty, staff, students, and even alumni. What inspires this effort is the recognition that each person is a gift to humankind. We can share a piece of our lives to others in our dialogue with them as our mission to the world.
We truly look forward to work with you. Come and join us in this Mission. Thank you for signifying your interest in joining the USC-CES Volunteer's Group! format_quote
Community Extension Service (CES) is one of the three core functions of the
University of San Carlos (USC) as a Higher Education Institution along with Teaching-Learning
and Research. Hence, Carolinians experience integral development by advancing their academic
competencies highly motivated by their active engagements with university partner communities, institutions, and
organizations. All Community Extension Service programs, projects, and activities are undertaken by students,
faculty, and staff with a three-fold mandate: first, to voluntarily extend one’s professional and
academic expertise; second, to engage into prophetic dialogue with the world guided by the
Missionary charisma of Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) Spirituality; and third, to empower peoples
and communities for social change through a transformatory or liberational approach.
OBJECTIVES
• Extension services are integral to the learning experience and research opportunities of students.
• Faculty members conduct CES as an enrichment to the teaching-research experience.
• Alumni take an active role in the conduct of CES programs and projects.
For USC to contribute to nation building by providing highly specialized curricular programs with extension services that allow students, faculty, and staff to apply the new knowledge they generate by empowering communities, organizations, and institutions through a transformatory approach in addressing specific social development problems.
GOALS
KEY RESULT AREA
• Context-responsive CES programs and projects.
• Specialization-based CES by faculty and students.
• Collaborative and inclusive conduct of CES by academic as well as administrative units.
• Sustainable and outcomes-based CES programs and projects.
• Development of Voluntarism and Missionary Orientation among faculty, students, and staff.
Our Inspiration
SVD Charism and Congregational Directions
As an SVD-run and managed institution, the University of San Carlos subscribes to
the Missionary Charism and Congregational Directions of the SVD General Chapter. This intended to guide the
spirituality of the university as it dialogues with its context - a contribution of USC to the shaping of
local communities. Shown below are the two general chapters of SVD that serve as a guide of its Congregational
Directions, the very same spirituality steering the conduct of community extension services to partner
communities, institutions, and organizations.
CONGREGATIONAL DIRECTIONS
AD INTRA CONGREGATIONAL DIRECTIONS
SPIRITUALITY
Trinitarian and incarnational spirituality.
Sharing in this spirituality across cultural differences that helps promote unity.
COMMUNITY
Inter-cultural communities need to be consciously created intentionally promoted, cared for and nurtured.
LEADERSHIP
Commitment to serve that requires an attitude of solidarity, respect and love.
Participative leadership needs to be the hallmark of our community.
FINANCE
Commitment to the vow of poverty and simple lifestyle and sharing of resources.
FORMATION
As Divine Word missionaries, we participate in God's mission through personal growth in the spirit of inter-culturality.
AD EXTRA CONGREGATIONAL DIRECTIONS
PRIMARY AND NEW EVANGELIZATION
Faith seekers.
People who are confused in life.
Promote transformation of the whole community.
Directed who do not know Christ and does not live in the Christian faith.
ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Respect, mutual acceptance through ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.
PROMOTION OF CULTURE AND LIFE
Promote and defend the sanctity of human life.
Promoting the culture of life vs. abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment.
FAMILY AND YOUTH
Promotion of family bonding.
Care for the family and youth.
Witnessing transformation in family structure.
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Promote research that enhances Catholic character of the institution, social justice and interculturality.
INDIGENOUS AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
Formulate and implement programs on pastoral responses, cultural identity, land rights advocacy, health care, bilingual education, human rights and affirmative action.
MIGRATION
Pastoral care for migrants (internal migration: students from other areas).
RECONCILIATION AND PEACE-BUILDING
Work for justice and peace and for the progress of people.
Eliminate instances of ethnic, religious, political and social conflicts.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND POVERTY ERADICATION
Commitment to work for social justice and solidarity with the poor.
INTEGRITY OF CREATION
Promote and protect the environment as God's creation.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON THE NATURE OF COMMUNITY EXTENSION SERVICES
As an HEI settled in a particular locale and community, USC recognizes that it has an undeniable role to its context.
The needs of its context must be considered of primary importance in developing a CES Program and in organizing
pertinent activities. Data and information must be gathered using valid and reliable tools to serve as bases for the
university, through its units, to offer appropriate and relevant response to community needs. All CES programs, projects,
and activities must be context-responsive.
In creating a truly appropriate and relevant response, the discipline that can best provide the extension service be
tapped and mobilized. This shall essentially provide faculty and students the opportunity to practice their profession in
actual and real cases/situations. The competencies are ably executed while at the same time assisting the communities in
their needs and problems. Hence, all CES programs, projects, and activities must be specialized-based.
Recognizing the multi-faceted character of socio-cultural, economic and political realities academic and
administrative units will be tapped to work together in crafting comprehensive extension initiatives, multi and inter-disciplinary
approaches will be used. Also, to ensure the responsiveness of all extension works communities,
organizations, and institutions are treated not as beneficiaries only but as partners. The latter
are believed to have the capacities essential for making CES programs work, there shall be no denying of their contributions to as
partners. Hence, all CES programs, projects, and activities must be collaborative and inclusive.
Since CES undertakings are intended to be programmatic, outputs and outcomes are both tangible and intangible
results that must come out of the program, they are to be mmeasured and gauged. These outputs and outcomes serve as
guideposts in determining whether interventions have impact to these lives of both partners. Moreover, it is essential to
ensure that interventions don't have limited lifespans but one that can continue to serve the purpose as possible. Hence, all
CES programs, projects, and activities must be sustainable and outcomes-based.
What is important to underlie all of the above guiding principles of CES is the value of voluntarism, one that defines
the character of extension service.
PROGRAM AREAS
PRODUCTIVITY-ORIENTED INITIATIVES
Productivity-Oriented Projects and Activities intend to capacitate the beneficiaries/partners to livelihood and work purposes. It includes increasing the beneficiaries' confidence level to find to work and be gainfully employed. Activities that will lead to the enhancement and financial capacities are reported under this program area.
LITERACY, VALUES FORMATION AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING
Literacy and Education/Value Formation and Life-long Learning include activities where faculty and and students share their expertise in literacy, numeracy and in handling special needs to groups/organizations from both within and outside of USC.
SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES
Social Welfare Services are provision-oriented initiatives that may share the nature of the following initiatives, among others: charity, relief operations, and donations of goods, aid, assistance, gift giving, contributions, and offerings.
HEALTH ADVOCACY AND WELLNESS PROMOTION
Health Advocacy and Wellness Promotion activities are those intend to promote a healthy and fit lifestyle. The undertakings recorded here include: popularization of healthy lifestyle; IE campaigns; safety first trainings and capacity-building; and health-teachings.
ISSUE ADVOCACY AND RIGHTS PROMOTION
Issue Advocacy and Rights Promotion activities are those that underscore the discussion of rights as well as the corresponding obligations of people. The nature of the activities may include: input-driven to a group or an audience; direct legal/para-legal assistance; and advocacy initiatives through various means.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental Sustainability initiatives are those related to advocacies and efforts towards a sustainable ecology. Any and all activities that are material to the promotion of the environment are recorded in this program area.
BUILDING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Activities under the Building Christian Communities Program are those that capitalize the organizing of communities through Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) as well as the conduct of continued spiritual journey inspired by the Carolinian and SVD charism.
URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Urban and Rural Development Program include activities that focus on the physical planning of both rural and urban areas intended to create a more sustainable and livable environment.
HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Heritage Conservation Program refers to initiatives related to the conservation and preservation of built and natural heritage, culture and the arts, both the tangible and the intangible.
INFORMATION GATHERING AND SHARING
Information Gathering and Sharing Program include activities where students and faculty members share to partner communities, organizations, and institutions progress and developments within their discipline as well as data gathered through academic activities.
The CES office was constituted to fulfill the above mandate. The office takes a major role in
networking, organizing, coordinating, and facilitating the various CES initiatives of departments,
colleges, support offices, as well as of student organizations. It also conducts monitoring and
evaluation of CES programs, projects, and activities with the college-appointed coordinators.
Thus, students, faculty, and staff are highly enjoined to make learning more meaningful by
volunteering in the various extension initiatives of the university.
All of these are envisioned to produce Carolinians with developed empathy and enkindled missionary spirit. A Carolinian who is not only equipped with the mastery of his/her profession, but who is a truthful Witness to the Word.
Contact Us
P. Del Rosario Street, Cebu City, Philippines 6000