The Office of  the Student  Affairs  and  Services  (ODSAS)  was  originally named  as  Office  of  the  Dean  of  Student  Affairs  (ODSA).  It was officially established in June 1968. It was conceived to function relative to the attainment of the student services program of the University which is designed to assist every student attain maximum self-realization and become competent, creative, and community-supportive person imbued with Christian  spirit  (4C’s).  These 4Cs were then the core values of the Marian culture of education as reflected in the previous vision-mission of the University. In the SY 2013-2014, the vision of the school was  changed  with  the  core  values  of  EXCELLENCE,  INNOVATION,  COMMUNION AND CHRIST’S MISSION.

The ODSAS  had  the  following  Deans  through  the  years:   Sr.  Gervacia Cabel,  SFIC  (1968-1969);  Sr.  Stephanie  Quiben,  SFIC  (1969-1970);  Mr.  Amadeo T.  Tiam  (1970-1971);  Mr.  Mateo  O.  Tugab  (1971,1974-1990);  Mr.  Herminio Belarmino, Jr. (1990-1998); Dr. Corazon N. Abriam (1998-2011); and Dr. Marilyn P. Perolina (2011-2016), Dr. Edwin N. Mania (2016-2019). It was in June 2011 under the administration of the University President, Rev. Fr. Renillo H. Sta Ana, CICM that the office started to be named ODSAS (the then ODSA) when all student services units are under its direct supervision. These include the Office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Services for Men/Women (the then Office of the Dean of Men/Women), the Guidance  and Testing Office,  the  Cultural  affairs  Office,  the  Sports Development  Program,  the  Medical/Dental  Clinics,  the  Dorm  Caretakers,  and  canteens,  the  school publication  (The Marian), and the Student Central Council office.

Aside from the  programs  that  the  ODSAS  usually  undertakes,  new  programs were introduced like the University Week, which is a merger of the University’s Intramurals (usually in September) (now University Games), Foundation Day (December  8)  and  Teen  Week  (February).  The  Tribute  to  Parents  (started  in March 2012) which is aimed at giving honor and thanksgiving to the parents of the graduating students for all their efforts, sacrifices and love and support during the college life of their sons/daughters. Another  program  that  has  become  a  part  of  SMU’s  history  is  the  Search for  The  Outstanding  Students  of  Saint  Mary’s  University  (TOSSMU)  where  the search process started in January  2012 and the first awarding on the third week of February of the same year during the Linggo ng Likha at Lingkod.

This TOSSMU recognizes the laudable achievements of students in the fields of academics including communication skills, leadership and  community  extension.  The office  also  launched  Freshmen  Parents’  Convocation  (September  13,  20,  27,  2014) to forge closer partnership with parents by the university’s disclosure of the policies/ regulations  on  academic  and  non-academic  concerns’  financial  matters,  external linkages as well as the new developments in the Philippine education. Currently, the office is formulating program focusing more on the full implementation of the shepherding program where students aspired affirmation, encouragement,  support  as well as inspiration that creates a foundation of academic and social success founded as the vision-mission of the CICM. In 2016, there was a shift from the basic educational curriculum to the K to 12 curriculum. The senior high school was introduced and SMU maintained to be K to 12 ready. To keep up with the necessary and impending changes, the previously eight schools comprising the college were split into four, namely: the School of Accountancy  and  Business  (SAB),  the  School  of  Engineering,  Architecture  and  Information  Technology  (SEAIT),  the  School  of  Health  and  Natural  Sciences  (SHANS), and the School of Teacher Education and Humanities (STEH). 

When the K-12 program was implemented in 2016, the Senior High School department was established at the college-campus, and with no incoming freshmen students in college, the ODSAS was tasked to handle student discipline and student development &  services,  for  the  new  grade  11  students.  Retooling of  new  and young faculty members towards effective students’ life-skill development as well as maintaining discipline in the classroom/campus became a major role for the ODSAS. Design of various approaches, like assessment tools and interviewing methodologies for  incoming  grade  11  students  were  developed  to  guarantee  students’  success  in the  university.  Some existing  non-academic  activities  practices  for  the  freshmen which were organized and facilitated by the ODSAS were adapted and cascaded to the Senior High Schools’ needs and context. At this time, the different units became more integrated in the day to day operations of the ODSAS. In almost all of the meetings by the Senior High School that concerned student services and development, for instance, the DSA always came with the GTO and the ADSAS as a team to  be  actively  involved  in  providing  support  on  areas  and  issues  needing  solutions. 

Notwithstanding  the  role  of  the  other  units  like  the  GTO,  Medical  Office,  the  CAO who cascaded programs adapted to the students – i.e. Revitalized Homeroom Guidance Program (RHGP), Marian Peer Counselors, medical & dental check-ups, dance troupe,  chorale,  to  name  a  few.  Thus  five  years  after,  the  different   units  of  the ODSAS was incorporate into one by Fr. Neil Sta. Ana, CICM, it became more cohesive and fully integrated. The first Senior High School Handbook on non-academic concerns was crafted by the ODSAS weeks before the academic year commenced on August 2016. 

In the SY 2017-2018, the academic year was shifted from June to August, for a more globally and internationally competitive schools. With this reason, the Foundation Day’s  celebration  became  separated  from  the  University  Week.  The  Foundation  Day was still celebrated on December however the University Week was celebrated on February.  This  was  the  first  time  the  University  Week  was  celebrated  on  a  February,  in consonance with the other University Weeks of SMU’s sister schools. Another  important  highlight  for  2017  is  the  institutional  implementation  of  the Responsible Citizenship program (retizen) for the University. As envisioned by the University President, Marians will have a deeper and better appreciation and understanding of  what  it  means  to  live  for  “God  and  for  our  Country  and  for  Thee,”  as  expressed  in the  University  Hymn.  But  more  importantly,  it  is  founded  in  the  Vision  and  Mission  of the  University  “to  form  persons  exemplifying,  excellence,  innovation  and  Christ’s  Mission.” Every Wednesday afternoons, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, students are scheduled to  attend  monthly  Eucharistic  Celebrations  and  one  thematic  seminar -workshops  conducted by their respective schools based on themes approved by the Extended Advisory Board.  For  this  year,  some  topics  that  were  discussed  to  the  students  were: Determinants of impulse control problems; How addiction develops; GAD in the context of Amoris  Laetitia  (The  Joy  of  Love);  Friends’ behaviors  affect  sexual  activity;  Personality types as factors in behavioral impulse problems.

In  connection  with  the  University’s  “MISSION   et  EXCELLENTIA,”  and  with  the directions provided by the then, President, Rev. Fr. Renillo H. Sta. Ana, CICM, and the former VPMI, Rev. Fr. Earl Antoine Alan C. Cura, CICM, for a more organized and deeper  formational  programs  for  the  University  scholars,  the  “Student  Affairs  Leaders  and Volunteers  Empowerment  (SALVE)”  was  organized  and  launched  in  November  2018. The  SALVE  aimed  to  be  an  avenue  for  the  school  and  the  students  to  exercise  volunteerism  (RA  9418)  by  providing  opportunities  and  allow  student  to  share,  reflect,  and act on their calling as Marian volunteers. The word SALVE came from the prayer in honor of our University patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen). All  scholars  duly  enrolled  during  the  semester,  specifically  students  under  the  Tulong Dunong  Program  (TDP)  of  CHED,  DOLE  Special  Program  for  the  Employment  of  Students (SPES) scholars and Service Grant recipients, are the official members of SALVE.

Finally,  with  the  publication  of  the  new  Student  Handbook  for  the  new  freshmen under the new K-12 curriculum, 2018 was defined as the year where an updated  approach  on  the  policies  and  procedures  for  managing  Pregnancy  Out  of  Wedlock (POW)  cases    became  holistic,  proactive  and  reformative  by  making  it  more  inclusive based on Catholic Moral Principles, Academic Regulations and legal principles.

In 2019, Mr. Samuel B. Damayon was appointed as the Dean and among the two Regional TOSP Finalists, Miss Florizza Lorrainne B. Galamay, BS Psychology and Guidance Counselling and Mona Liza R. Acosta, BS Pharmacy, the latter made it to the national level for the 58th search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). It was also during this school year that the SMU Anti-Drug Use Policy was finally approved by the University administration of which the implementation was held in abeyance due to the effect of the COVID 19 pandemic. Likewise, the university also hosted the 2020 CICM Schools’ Friendship meet held on February 4-8, 2020 with the theme “Inspired by Mission, Driven by Excellence” where SLU bagged the overall championship. There are still tasks to be done and challenges ahead to be overcome but nothing is impossible if the ODSAS as a unit and the university as a whole work together to achieve our Vision-Mission and Objectives.