The Center of Student Life-Student Involvement Unit (CSL-SIU), previously known as the Student Involvement Office under the Department of Student Life, released the official list of Accredited and Recognized Student Organizations for Academic Year (A.Y.) 2020-2021 via Benilde mail on Sept. 10.

CSL-SIU announced a total number of 40 student organizations for the current Academic Year, with 38 of them being accredited organizations from A.Y. 2019-2020, plus two newly recognized organizations.

According to the memorandum released by the Center of Student Life last May 29 regarding the Department of Student Life Guideline Activities for the Benilde Online Learning Term (BOLT), all Benilde Student Organizations were given a status quo accreditation for the upcoming year. Hence, the organizations were able to retain their accreditation status. This was done in acknowledgment of the present circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, including availability of resources and the well-being of students and professors alike. 

Newly accredited organizations

Furthermore, CSL-SIU granted accreditation to two new student organizations namely the Benildean Scholars Association (BSA) that aims to provide Benildean scholars an avenue to devote service to the entire school community and various social initiatives; and Blazers for United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) that aims to promote awareness and support for Filipino children, youth, and women through various projects and fundraising activities that will help protect and positively impact their lives. 

In an online interview with The Benildean, Student Engagement Coordinator Keane Cyril Gadia disclosed the process of accreditation for aspiring student organizations.

The Benilde Committee on Student Involvement (BCSI) first pre-screens and evaluates the requirements submitted by aspiring student organizations based on completeness and content.

“Aspiring student organizations who passed the initial paper-based screening were advised and required for a presentation and panel interview screening online,” Gadia affirmed. Student Development Coordinator Barbara Litrero and Student Involvement Unit Head Karen Barby Asuncion were also present during these panel interviews.

After the meetings, all CSL-SIU associates and BCSI members gathered for deliberation, which included a fair and thorough evaluation of each organization.

The final verdict and approval, however, was delivered with CSL Dean Norie Ador Dionisio in order to reassess whether or not the results align with CSL-SIU’s mandate.

A rise in student causes and initiatives

According to Gadia, the number of accredited Benilde student organizations has been slowly increasing throughout the past five Academic Years. Statistics from CSL-SIU show that A.Y. 2016-2017 had 38 organizations, A.Y. 2017-2018 had only 37, which makes this the lowest figure, A.Y. 2018-2019 and A.Y. 2019-2020 both retained 39 organizations, and finally, A.Y. 2020-2021 amassed 40 organizations, the highest number of organizations for the past five years. 

These are the following accredited student organizations for A.Y. 2020-2021:

School of Design and Arts (SDA) Cluster:

• Animotion
• Benilde Arts Management (BeAM)
• Benilde Industrial Designers (BIND)
• Benildean Film Works (BFW)
• Guild of Rising Interior Designers (GRID)
• Media Max 
• Mark of Designers Alliance (MODA)
• Primo.Musico
• Social and Academic Guild for Architecture (SAGA)

School of Diplomacy and Governance (SGD) Cluster:

• Leaders in Diplomacy (LEAD)

School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) Cluster:

• Chefs in Progress (CHIP)
• Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management Society (HRIM)
• Travelers in Progress (TRIP)
• Vatielens in Progress (VIP)
• World-class Hoteliers in Progress (WHIP)

School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT) Cluster:

• Association of Information Management (AIM)
• Computer Business Association (CBA)
• Export Management Society (EMS)
• Gamers Union for Innovation and Leadership Development (GUILD)
• Human Resource Management Society (HRMS)
• Young Benildean Professionals (YBePro)

School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) Cluster:

• Benildean Deaf Association (BDA)

Governance Cluster:

• ADLAW
• Benilde Committee on Student Involvement (BCSI)
• Benilde Commission on Election (COMELEC)
• Benilde Central Student Government (CSG)

Special Interest (SI) Cluster:

• AIESEC in DLS-CSB
• Artelier
• Benilde Hive (BHive)
• Benilde Nature Development and Outdoor Club (BUNDOC)
• Blazers for UNICEF
• DrawInk
• Greenergy (GNY)
• Nihon Bunka-Bu (NBB)

Volunteers Cluster:

• Benildean Scholars Association (BSA)
• Benilde Red Cross Youth Council (BRCYC)
• Best Buddies Benilde (BBB)
• Emissaries
• Student Trainers (STRAINS)

Varsity Cluster:

• Benilde Debate Varsity (BDV)