HISTORY
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The Beginning
The Guidance and Counseling Department of the University of Santo Tomas was established in the late 1950's congruent to the objectives of Catholic Education, . Specifically, it aimed to develop the intellectual potentials, physical and personality traits and skills of the students and to inculcate values and norms in them.
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The Beginning
It began in small scale, pioneered by Dr. Rabago, Dr. Samson, Dr. Estrada and Fr. Del Rio O.P. as spiritual director, who entertainerd referred cases sent to the Student's Clinic for guidance by the faculty members. The Guidance and Counseling Office was and is still located at the Health Service Building.
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1969
A program expansion and decentralization of guidance service took place. The office staff increased from two (2) to ten (10) full time counselors and one (1) psychologist, Fr. Dionisio G. Cabezon, O.P. who alse acted as the head of the Department.Consequently, Guidance Offices were opened in different colleges which enabled the counselors to bring the services closer to the students. In the process, it created a more dynamic relationship between counselors and students.
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1982
Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P., who was the Rector then, created another unit of the Guidance and Counseling department - the University Testing Center. It came as a welcome challenge to the department and was under the direct supervision of Fr. Cabezon, O.P. The center takes charge of the university wide examination and the evaluation of student applicants. Fr. Cabezon, O.P. supervised the various activities of the university testing center and the guidance units.
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1994 - 2001
1994 - 2001 There was an increase in the number of counselors from eleven (11) to twenty (20)counselors and new offices were likewise created for the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. At this time, additional one or two counselors were assigned for each college/ faculty or department. In October 1997, Freshmen Admission System (FAS) was created through the assistance of the University Computer Center which helped in processing results of the entrance examination
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2002 - 2007
There was a significant increase in the number of counselors from twenty (20) to thirty (30) counselors due to additional new guidance offices created for the different colleges/ facultys. Within this period, the new offices were for the College of Fine Arts and Design, Faculty of Civil Law, AMV- College of Accountancy and College of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
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2008
On June 01, 2008, Prof. Lucila O. Bance, Ph.D. officially succeeded Fr. Dionisio Cabezon, O.P. as the Director of the Guidance and Counseling Department (GCD). Under the leadership of Dr. Bance, the department aims for more visibility through its programs and services within and outside the university and to continuously work collaboratively with the administrators, faculty members and other school professionals, parents and significant others in the challenge of preparing all students
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2008
to meet their needs and the expectations of higher academic standards. Indeed, the Guidance and Counseling Department remained steadfast in its commitment to serve the Thomasian Community and the global community both through its programs and services geared towards holistic development.
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2011
With the professionalization of Guidance and Counseling in the country, Dr. Bance, expedited the licensure of all guidance counsellors through its department’s policies. In 2011, the department came to be known as the “Home of Board Topnotchers” with its counsellors garnering the top places in the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) board examinations.
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2013
In 2013, the department has 43 Guidance Counselors with 2 Psychometricians serving the university, the biggest number of counselors in the country. Indeed, the Guidance and Counseling Department through its professional, committed, compassionate counselors remained steadfast in serving the Thomasian and the global community both through its programs and services geared towards holistic development.
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