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De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB, or simply Benilde), is a private Catholic college and member institution of De La Salle Philippines located along Taft Avenue in the district of Malate in Manila, Philippines.

It was established in 1980 during the administration of Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC as the College of Career Development, a night school for working students at De La Salle University-Manila. It was named after Saint Benilde Romançon, a Christian Brother who was an exemplary educator and catechist who taught in France during the 1800s.

In 1985, it was renamed as Community College and was then renamed as the De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde in 1988, one year after the establishment of the De La Salle University System. In 1994, the college became autonomous, and in 2004, along with a restated vision and mission, was renamed to its present name, dropping the University from its name and became De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Originally located at the Miguel Hall (formerly the Benilde Hall) of De La Salle University-Manila, the college was transferred to its own campus at 2544 Taft Avenue in 1989. At present, the college has three campuses, the Taft Campus along Taft Avenue, the Angelo King International Center Campus located at Arellano Avenue, and the School of Design and Arts Campus at Pablo Ocampo Street.

The college uses learner-centered instruction and offers innovative degree and non-degree programs designed for the development of professionals in the arts, design, management, service industries, computer applications in business, and special fields in study. The college has also pioneered several degree offerings different from what regular universities and colleges in the Philippines had.

The college is the youngest member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association when it was accepted into the league in 1998, along with La Salle Green Hills representing the junior division.

History

College of Career Development

In 1980, De La Salle University, under the administration of Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, opened an academic unit known as the College of Career Development, an evening school for working students. Presentacion Gabriel of the College of Liberal Arts served as its first dean, where her term lasted from 1980 to 1987. In 1984, the Preparatory Studies Department (PSD) was established in order to allow students to cope with the requirements in subsequent degree-oriented courses in regular undergraduate colleges.

In 1985, the college was renamed as the Community College and Dr. Carmelita Quebengco served as the dean for four years, from 1987 to 1991. The PSD was phased out and replaced by the Arts and Business Studies Area (ABSA) in May 1987. The ABSA offered two courses, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management with emphasis on Human Resources Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Major in Computer Applications.

DLSU-College of Saint Benilde

The Community College was officially renamed to De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde in 1988, after the establishment of the De La Salle University System. Saint Benilde was selected as the namesake of the college to symbolize its objective of providing innovative education for the verbally but not numerically gifted, late bloomers, handicapped, as well as artists. Saint Benilde made room for his students in Clermont-Ferrand in France no matter what age or mental level they have. He also deliberately learned sign language in order to instruct a Deaf-mute boy for his first Holy Communion.

The ABSA was eventually renamed as the Arts and Business Studies Department (ABSD) and became the college's day program, while the Career Development Department (CDD) remained as the college's evening program. Because of the need for more space, the college was moved to its own campus at 2544 Taft Avenue in 1989. A third major program, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies was offered. Initially, the program was undertaken in consortium with the College of Liberal Arts. The college first offered a Certificate Program in Accounting for the Deaf in 1991.

The new five-storey Duerr Hall adjoining the original building was blessed in 1992. In 1993, the Chapel of the Resurrection in the Duerr Hall was completed and the College Admissions Office was created. It was also in this year that the college was declared a No-Smoking Campus. In March 1994, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of the third and fourth wings to complete the Taft Campus.

Autonomous college

The College of Saint Benilde became an autonomous college in April 1994. The college ratified its proposed Constitution and By Laws, paving the way for the establishment of the DLSU-CSB Faculty Association and the Office of the Associate Dean conducted sectoral and institutional efforts to identify Benildean core values in November 1994. The Night College, a scholarship program, was transferred from De La Salle University-Manila to the College of Saint Benilde in 1995. In the same year, the following degrees were first offered: Bachelor of Science in Interior Design in consortium with the Philippine School of Interior Design, Bachelor of Arts, Major in Production Design, Bachelor of Arts, Major in Technical Theater, Bachelor of Arts, Major in Arts Management, and Bachelor of Performing Arts, Major in Dance.

Presidents of DLS-CSB

Under De La Salle University-Manila

• Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, 1978-1991

• Br. Rafael Donato FSC, 1991-1994

Under the De La Salle University System

• Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, 1994-1998

• Br. Rolando Dizon FSC , 1998-2003

• Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, 2003-2004

• Br. Armin Luistro FSC, 2004-2006

Independent administration

• Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, 2006-2007

• Br. Victor Franco FSC, 2007-incumbent

In 1996, the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management was formed, and groundbreaking ceremonies for the Angelo King International Center building were held. The following degrees were first offered in the same year: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Export Management; Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management; Bachelor of Arts, Major in Fashion Design and Merchandising; Bachelor of Arts, Major in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, and the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Deaf Studies. It was also in this year that the college started offering Physical Education classes on campus.

The administration of the vocational programs of the Night College of the De La Salle University-Manila was passed on to DLSU-CSB in June 1997 and the Night College was renamed as the Blessed Arnould Study Assistance Program in September. The first college commencement exercises independent from De La Salle University-Manila were held in October.

In March 1998, the NCAA accepted the college's application for membership to the sports league along with La Salle Green Hills athletes as its high school representatives. The Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts degree, the first of its kind in the country, was offered in 1999, while the Bachelor of Arts in Music Production degree was offered in 2000. Construction of the Angelo King International Center was started in 1998 and was finished and opened in 1999. In 2004, after an uproar in De La Salle University-Dasmariñas caused by the university status issue of DLSU-D and other non-university DLSU System schools that used "DLSU" in their names, Br. Armin Luistro FSC, president of the DLSU System, ordered that all other member tertiary schools not bearing their own charters (namely, Dasmariñas, College of Saint Benilde, Health Sciences Campus, and Canlubang) have the name "University" removed from all correspondences and labels, until they have procured their respective charters. The college then restated its mission and vision and was renamed into De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, dropping the University from its name.

Campus

The college is composed of three campuses: the Taft Campus, the Angelo King International Center, and the School of Design and Arts, all located in the vicinity of Malate in Manila. The Taft Campus is a block away from De La Salle University-Manila and located just beside St. Scholastica's College and the Vito Cruz LRT Station. The college is surrounded by several dormitories, condominiums, restaurants, and other establishments. In order to switch campuses, students may either walk or ride cycle rickshaws stationed near the vicinity of the campuses.

Other properties include the Blessed Hilario Hall on Dominga Street which functions as the college's retreat house. Right beside it is the Blessed Scubilion Hall, a residence hall for student athletes. The Solomon Guest House is a restaurant and meeting area located near the Angelo King International Center and is used as a hands-on workplace for selected SHRIM students where they handle all the operations of the establishment.

Taft Campus

The Taft Campus stands on a 6,380 square meter lot that stretches from Taft Avenue to the next parallel street, Leon Guinto. The land was acquired from LBP Leasing Corporation, a subsidiary of the Land Bank of the Philippines. The campus is a square made up of four interconnected buildings, the St. Benilde Hall, Duerr Hall, Blessed Solomon Hall, and the St. Mutien Marie Hall. The Duerr Hall has a different alignment with the rest of the buildings, requiring the need for stairs and a ramp on its intersections with the Blessed Solomon Hall.

The Plaza Villarosa, named after Architect Rogelio Villarosa, is located on the second level of the Taft Campus. It is decorated by lush plants and palm trees, has a basketball court, an elevated platform, and several cabañas with stone benches. The Plaza is usually used as a study area and venue for special events and activities in the campus. It is also commonly used as a shooting ground for the photography classes of the Multimedia Arts program. Every term, the plaza is sometimes used as venue for bazaars run by different student organizations. Popular food establishments also temporarily set up stalls in the plaza. The statue of Saint Benilde, originally located on the former front gate of the campus, was moved to the plaza after its completion. Behind the statue is an 18-bell chime, built as a memorial to the Lasallian brothers who were massacred in De La Salle College during World War II. The names of the brothers are inscribed on the bells of the carillon. The carillon and the statue of Saint Benilde, when taken together, stand as the visual representation of the college.

St. Benilde Hall

Saint Benilde Romançon, the namesake of the college, believed in the virtue of doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. He was an exemplary educator and catechist, teaching in France from 1821 until is death in 1862. He was canonized in 1967.

The first building of the college was opened on August 11, 1989. It is located at the back of the campus and was designed by Architect Gines Rivera. The building has four storeys, with the first floor occupying two storeys worth of space. At present, the building holds numerous lecture rooms and computer laboratories, the school clinic and cafeteria, and the office of the Academic and Communications Technologies Center. It also houses the offices of the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies and the School of Management and Information Technology. The Student Grants Unit and the Center for Counseling Services can be found near the Backdoor Gate of the building.

Duerr Hall

Br. Crescentius Richard Duerr FSC, president of De La Salle University from 1961-1966, was a visionary teacher and administrator of La Salle schools in Manila, Bacolod and Iligan City, doing missionary work for 31 years before returning to New York. He was instrumental in the transformation of De La Salle University-Manila in becoming a pillar of Philippine education.

The second building of the campus, originally called "South Wing" because of its location at the southern side of the campus, was blessed on August 10, 1992 and cost 30 million pesos. It is a reverse L shaped structure and features a service ramp and an attractive façade with lush overhanging foliage. At present, it houses the Accounting Office, Faculty and Administrative offices of the School of Multidisciplinary Studies, several offices of the programs of the School of Management and Information Technology, and laboratories of the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. It has several classrooms and computer laboratories, and an auditorium. It also has a badminton court located on the fifth floor. The on-campus bookstore can be located on the first level of the hall near the Marketing Communications Office and the Career and Placement Office. The Duerr Hall formerly held the Multimedia and Fashion Design laboratories of the School of Design and Arts.

The Chapel of the Resurrection is located on the second floor intersection of the Duerr and Solomon Halls. It features glass doors, stenciled drawing of the praying hands, a sacristy and confessional room, and an altar showing Napoleon Abueva's "Lord of the Resurrection".

St. Mutien Marie Hall

Saint Mutien Marie Wiaux was a devoutly religious Brother, who made a tremendous influence on the students under his charge through his patience and piety. He taught in Malonne for 58 years, teaching music and arts alongside Catholic dogma. He was canonized in 1989.

Construction of the third and fourth wings of the campus was approved by the Board of Trustees on January 6, 1993. Groundbreaking ceremonies were made on March 1994, while actual construction began on April 16 of the same year. The Mutien Marie Hall and the Blessed Solomon Hall were blessed at October 29, 1996. Both buildings were designed by Architect Rogelio Villarosa and construction cost 120 million pesos.

The Mutien Marie Hall at present holds most of the lecture rooms. The General Administrative Services Office occupy the first floor while the Br. Fidelis Leddy Learning Resource Center on the other hand, occupies the whole second level of the building. The third floor up to the fifth consists of lecture rooms. There is also a case room for thesis defense located on the third floor. The gymnasium is located on the topmost level of the building. Most of the classrooms in this building are equipped with LCD and OHP projectors, television sets with VHS players, and computers. The Mutien-Marie Hall formerly held the drafting rooms, Industrial Design laboratory and the head office of the School of Design and Arts.

Blessed Solomon Hall

Blessed Solomon Leclerq was martyred in 1792 after refusing to swear an oath that forced the French clergy of the time to support the state. Before that, he was a teacher, director, and bursar, known for his love for people and for his work. He was beatified in 1926, the first Lasallian brother to be given that honor.

The entrance of the campus is located at the first level of the Blessed Solomon Hall facing Taft Avenue. The Admissions Office and the Office of Student Behavior can be found at the ground floor, and near the vehicle entrance is the waiting lounge, popularly known as The Airport because the fixed seats resemble the ones found on most airport terminals. On the other hand, the Office of the Registrar as well as other Executive offices are housed in the second level of the building while the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Culture and Arts, Social Action Office, Sports Development Office, Student Publications Office, and the Student Involvement Office are all located on the third level. On the fourth level there is the Center for Learning and Performance Assessment, a dance room, and a multipurpose room for Physical education classes. On the top level of the Solomon Hall is the Augusto-Rosario Gonzalez Theater, named after the parents of the late Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC.

Angelo King International Center

The Angelo King International Center (AKIC, also as the CSB Hotel-International Conference Center) is a fully operational 4-star hotel located on a 2,100 square meter lot at the corner of Estrada street and Arellano Avenue, two blocks away from the main campus and was formerly used as parking space. It was envisioned to be the first operational hotel-school in the Philippines, where students will be able to experience learning in a real world environment. Groundbreaking rites for the building was done in 1996 but actual construction began in 1998 and was finished a year after and was formally opened in August. It was named after Dr. Angelo King, who gave financial assistance to the construction of the building.

Sharing the space at the building is the CSB Hotel, which has 46 guest rooms and five dormitory type rooms, a conference hall, fine dining restaurant and lobby lounge, cafeteria, library, transport services office, rooftop restaurant, parking space for 126 vehicles, and two service elevators.

The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management occupies four floors with 14 air-conditioned classrooms, a tiered demonstration kitchen, demonstration bar, institutional hot, cold and baking/pastry kitchens with adequate cold and dry storage areas, two basic food laboratories, two computer laboratories, a nutrition laboratory, conference rooms, a clinic, and a chapel. The School of HRIM is served by two passenger elevators and one service elevator.

Near the AKIC building is the Solomon Guest House, which is operated by selected SHRIM students, where they are involved from marketing to meal preparation and service. The SGH also has three rooms and a suite which could be used as venues for private meetings and gatherings.

The AKIC Campus is divided as follows, where the first, second, tenth and twelfth floors are used by the CSB Hotel, and the third to fifth floors are for interior parking while the SHRIM occupes fifth to ninth floors.

School of Design and Arts Campus

The School of Design and Arts Campus (SDA Campus) is a 14-storey academic complex with 55,121.95 m² of usable floor space designed by Lor Calma Design and Associates, with Eduardo (Ed) Calma as the design principal. It was built on a 4,560 m² lot that was formerly used as parking space for the college, located at 950 Pablo Ocampo Street, and about 500 meters away from the Taft Campus. It was originally planned to open in January 2006, but due to construction delays, the opening was moved to May 2007. It is the third, largest, and most advanced campus of the college which houses its largest and busiest school, the School of Design and Arts. While the exact budget for the building is classified, an estimated amount of 1.2 billion pesos was said to be alloted for the whole building project.

The building was dubbed by De La Salle University System president, Br. Armin Luistro FSC as the "jewel in the crown of the De La Salle University System schools", as well as one of De La Salle's most ambitious projects. The building features an architectural design never been used before, with a sophisticated façade and all-glass backside and designed where only the tenth floor upwards is visible. Architect Ed Calma relates that the building will feature louvers which, when illuminated at night, will appear like lanterns and considering the location, the lighting effects would set the building apart from its surroundings.

The opening date of the building was moved to September 2006 when the January 2006 opening cannot be pushed through, but due to construction delays again, a September opening was not possible and the administration hoped for a May 2007 opening instead. The building was delayed due to the intricacy of the architectural design, implementation of the complicated plans, and other problems encountered with the Project Manager and the Contractor. The architectural plans presented design issues which made it difficult to implement plans at a steady rate and construction management encountered conflicts in approach and principles of the onsite technical team. Subsequent need to reevaluate and readjust operational and resource allocation further contributed to the delay. The construction however, gained a steady pace after October 2006 and was completed and inaugurated on April 2007.

The building has four floors of above-level parking space and ten floors of usable workspace served by two service and five passenger elevators and five sets of stairs. It features a Building Management System with intelligent controls for air conditioning; smoke detection and fire alarms; CCTV surveillance security systems; and has its own sewage management plant. The building is also fully Wi-Fi enabled and the first building in the Philippines to be equipped with 10-G Technology. Among of its notable facilities include a 3-storey, 558-seater theater which is cantilevered four storeys above the ground and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, a 520 square meter contemporary art museum which was envisioned to be the first of its kind in the Philippines. On the inside, it has spacious corridors that can double as exhibition spaces. Every classroom is fully-equipped and air-conditioned with its walls folded to have better response to sound. The building also has a cafeteria, a chapel, and a two-floor library in addition to lecture, computer, and seminar rooms. There will also be several video, animation, and sound production laboratories as well as a photography studio and a greenscreen TV and film production studio with motion capture equipment, and a 105-seater cinema.

Academics

The college recognizes the multi-dimensionality of human intelligence based from Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, where each person is said to possess varying levels of the different intelligences which determine his or her unique cognitive profile. The theory is implemented through learner-centered instruction where classes are taught according to the student's understanding of the subject and recognizes the uniqueness of each individual learner. Learner-centered also refers to a learning environment that pays attention to the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that learners bring to the educational setting.

The college has six schools which offers degree and non-degree programs designed for the development of professionals in the arts, design, management, service industries, computer applications in business, and special fields in study.

School of Design and Arts

The School of Design and Arts (SDA) was established in 1995 and is one of the largest schools of the college with its nine degree program offerings and a student population of about 2,000. It has approximately 145 faculty members per trimester and 90 percent are part-timers because they are also active industry practitioners at the same time. The SDA seeks to develop the creative and business skills of students adept in the arts. Because of the increasing number of students, a new building was constructed to accommodate the growing student population. As of school year 2006-2007, the SDA has nine degree programs, with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Arts Management, Multimedia Arts, Music Production, Production Design, Technical Theater, and Fashion Design & Merchandising; Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Design and Interior Design; and a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in Dance. In addition, there are three new degree programs are offered starting School Year 2007-2008, namely, Animation, Photography, and Digital Filmmaking.

Two of its programs are offered in consortium with other schools and organizations, the Interior Design program with the Philippine School of Interior Design and the Dance program with the Ballet Philippines-Cultural Center of the Philippines Dance School.

The Multimedia Arts and Technical Theater degrees are the first of their kind in the Philippines. The Technical Theater program teaches the technical aspects of production in stage, film and television. It also provides in-depth coverage on the applications of various technical equipment used in set production, while the Multimedia Arts program incorporates various art forms with the latest in multimedia technology. Its areas of study include graphic design, photography, 2D and 3D animation, web design and development, and video production. It is also one of the three most popular SDA programs, along with Fashion Design and Merchandising and Industrial Design.

School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies

The School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) was first established in 1991 as a vocational program offering courses in accounting and bookkeeping for the Deaf. The vocational program became the School of Special Studies with the addition of the Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies (BAPDST) degree five years later. The school was restructured and renamed as the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies in the year 2000. The BAPDST course was refined and began offering specialization tracks in Multimedia Arts and Business Entrepreneurship. The SDEAS is one of only six institutions in the Philippines that offer postsecondary education to the Deaf.

In 2001, the SDEAS partnered with the Postsecondary Education Network-International, a global partnership of colleges and universities funded by the Nippon Foundation of Japan that aims to provide Deaf students the appropriate postsecondary education for them to achieve their full potentials. Two learning centers were established since the partnership: The PEN-Multimedia Learning Center (2003) and the PEN-Learning Center (2006) which are both located at the Duerr Hall.

School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management

The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) was established in 1996 and aims to provide the hotel and restaurant industry with graduates who possess the requisite knowledge, skills, knowledge and values to become successful entrepreneurs and to train students to become "industry-ready" for hotel and restaurants in the country and abroad.

It offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management which integrates theory and practice to provide students with a strong management and service orientation as well as a global perspective of hotel and restaurant operations. It has three tracks, the Culinary Arts track, Hospitality Management track, and Tourism Management track.

The school is housed at the Angelo King International Center, a 4-star hotel-school located at the corner of Arellano Avenue and Estrada Street. Students are given their first on-the-job training at the CSB Hotel which is also housed at the center. Students are also deployed at either one of its hatcheries: the Solomon Guest House, a restaurant and lodge fully student-managed and operated, and the Chefs' Station, a food stall located at the cafeteria of the Taft Campus.

School of Management and Information Technology

The School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT), one of the oldest schools in the college, offers degrees which are anchored on a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) foundation. It is also complemented by an information technology curriculum, where students are taught how computers and technology can support their business skills. The SMIT, along with the SHRIM, was given accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities in 2005. The SMIT offers BSBA degrees in Computer Applications, Export Management, Human Resource Management, and Information Management.

School of Multidisciplinary Studies

The School of Multidisciplinary Studies (SMS) handles the general education curriculum of all programs offered by the college. It provides the students a strong foundation in the languages, social and natural sciences, theology and philosophy. While the SMS is one of the largest schools of the college, it only has one program offering, the Bachelor of Arts in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs (CDA) degree. The CDA program aims to develop practitioners in international relations.

School of Professional and Continuing Education

The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPaCE) provides post-baccalaureate diploma programs for graduates seeking continuing education in various business-related fields. Formerly held by the SMIT, the SPaCE now handles the Career Development Program (CDP) which offers BSBA degrees in Business Management and Marketing Management. The Career Development Program gives adult students the opportunity to gain a degree program while at work through a streamline program and format which caters to their busy lifestyle.

Student life

The college uses the trimestral calendar, where the school year usually begins in the last week of May. Freshmen students are required to attend the freshmen orientation program of the Office of Student Affairs, which is held a week before the start of classes. Freshmen students are oriented by upperclassmen about the school's policies, the facilities of the campus as well as what to expect during their stay in the college. In June, the Student Involvement Unit organizes the STAR Week (STudent Activities Recruitment Week), where the student organizations can recruit new members from the freshmen populace. The College Week is held during August, where the feast day of Saint Benilde is celebrated through various activities and several masses. Every Wednesday and Friday of a week, a vacant time period given from 12:40 p.m to 2:20 p.m, known as C-Break (College Break) can be used by organizations to hold seminars and workshops, training period for the performing groups, or to hold special events and activities. The Plaza Villarosa is usually used for activities, where the basketball court can be used for training sessions or sports activities, the performing stage for concerts, and the cabañas for bazaars.

Student services

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) provides students with opportunities for personal growth and development. It provides and carries out various programs, services, activities and projects. It leads and supervises the following departments:

The Center for Counseling Services (CCS) provides counseling and therapy for students experiencing personal adjustment or requiring professional attention and proactive teaching. It also provides consultation services, training and community services.

The Career and Placement Office (CPO) provides career information and developmental programs. It organizes job preparation and placement services for students and alumni.

The Student Learning Center (SLC) provides academic support services to help students in their studies. It offers free tutorial services to individual or group of students. It also provides training for study skills, personal development and career planning. The SLC houses a resource of books, videos and other materials that can assist students in their academics. It is located on the back of the LRC-Extension.

The Office of Student Behavior (OSB) is tasked to maintain peace and order throughout the campus premises. The OSB strictly implements policies and procedures for students to follow. Discipline officers (DOs) roam around the campus to provide assistance and discipline students who are caught violating the school policies.

The Lasallian Ministry Office (LMO) provides spiritual development programs for students as well as organizing activities that address current youth issues. The LMO facilitates recollection and retreat programs and assists in the operations of the school chapel. It is located just beside the Chapel of the Resurrection.

The Social Action Office (SAO) gives the students an opportunity to get involved in social, political and economic concerns. The SAO has linkages and networks with non-government organizations, People's Organizations, Government Organizations, academic and church institutions and other sectoral organizations. The SAO handles the National Service Training Program-Civic Welfare Training Service which is a part of the student's curriculum. The SAO offers the annual Summer of Service (SOS) program which provides students, faculty administrators and staff opportunities to do direct community service work.

The Office of Culture and Arts (OCA) is a formation office for Benildean artists. It seeks to uplift Filipino culture in the general community through the promotion of arts. The OCA develops programs and project initiatives that give students the opportunity to participate and experience arts and culture during the school year. The OCA handles the Coro San Benildo, Dulaang Filipino, and Footworks Dance Theater performing groups.

The Sports Development Office (SDO) facilitates the development of sports competence in the student athletes. It provides a support system that addresses the athletes' various needs and concerns by offering services such as annual medical screening programs, counseling sessions, skill development programs and academic monitoring programs. It also maintains and supports varsity athletes.

The Student Involvement Unit (SIU) screens, recognizes, and supervises all campus student organizations and their activities. It assists them in planning, implementing, controlling and evaluating their projects, activities and financial transactions. The unit takes charge of welcoming the freshmen students and transferees through the Frosh Orientation Program.

The Student Publications Office (SPO) caters the special interest of students in publication-related activities. It works in collaboration with the Marketing Communications Office to disseminate information about the Benildean community inside and outside the college. It produces official student publications such as newspapers, magazines, folios and other special issues for campus circulations.

The Foreign Students Unit (FSU) gives support to foreign students during their stay at the college through personal consultations and language learning sessions.

Student organizations

The college has several organizations, that cater to the diverse interests of the student body, under the Office of Student Affairs-Student Involvement Unit. All recognized student organizations are members of the Council of Presidents, the mother organization which overlooks operations and project handling.

Professional organizations are academic organizations which caters to a specific degree program. There are thirteen professional organizations which include the Association of Information Management for the Information Management program, Art Link Student Organization for the Arts Management program, Computer Business Association for the Computer Applications program, Corps of Diplomats for the Consular and Diplomatic Affairs program, Export Management Society for the Export Management program, Human Resource Management Society for the Human Resource Management program, Industrial Design Society for the Industrial Design program, Junior Marketing Association for the marketing programs, and Media Max for the Multimedia Arts program.

Professional organizations for the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management include the Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management Society, and Chefs in Progress, Hoteliers in Progress, and Travelers in Progress for the Culinary Arts, Hospitality, and Tourism tracks respectively.

Special Interest organizations cater to non-academic and special interests. These include Computer Link, a computer activity-based organization with ties to the Career Placement Office; the DLS-CSB Debate Society, the college's in-house debating club, Greenergy for environment advocacy, Kino Eye for video and film making, Music Network for music enthusiasts, Optic View for photography, and Societe et Cultura for social and cultural awareness and advocacy.

Two student governments are available for the politically inclined, the Student Council, and the Student Forum for the CDP students. Student parties include BAKAS, TAPAT CSB, and Youth Rights Ticket.

Varsity organizations include the Pep Squad, Fencing Team, Samahang Kali Arnis ng Benilde, and the Women's Football Team. Student Artist groups under the Office of Culture and Arts include the Coro San Benildo, Dulaang Filipino, Filipinescas Dance Company and the Greenstage Theater Company.

Students may also opt to join in the five volunteer groups directly tied to an office under the Office of Student Affairs. These include volunteers and student trainers for the Student Involvement Unit, Social Action Volunteers for the Social Action Office, Student Ministers for the Lasallian Ministry Office, and Kaagapay for the Center for Counseling Services.

Student publications

Through the Student Publications Office, the college has numerous publications that cater to the student's interests. The Benildean is the official student newspaper of the college. It provides a voice for the thoughts, concerns and opinions of the students. It is released once a month every trimester. BLiP, which stands for Benildean Lifestyle, Interests and People, is the official features magazine of the college, which showcases the life and interests of Benildeans. First published in 2004, it tackles fashion, travel, and other topics. Karilyon is a magazine discussing Filipino lifestyles and issues. It aims to promote Filipino culture, language and ideals. It is published only in the Filipino language. Shades of Gray is a literary folio that showcases the talents of students in various forms of literary expressions. It is published once a year. Ablaze is a sports magazine released twice a year that provides an in-depth look into the personalities and perspectives behind Benildean sports and its athletes. Horizons is a design folio that trains students adept in the visual arts. It presents representations and images that are sometimes serious, sometimes light-hearted, but always thought provoking. Dekunstrukt is a photo folio that showcases the works of students skilled in photography. It provides a venue for the college's student photographers to express and present their view of the people and the world around them. Ad Astra is the annual yearbook of the college. It was first published as the Benildean Yearbook in 2000. Students are encouraged to subscribe to the yearbook one year before their graduation. The yearbook is bundled with an interactive CD version of the yearbook and a graduation photo package.

Marketing Communications Office

The Marketing Communications Office (MCO), formerly known as the Development and Communications Office, provides print media services, handles the linkage development and assists in the promotion of the college through different forms of communication. It also acts as the college's internal creative media consultant, collaborating with the different units and centers of the college to create innovative publicity campaigns.

The MCO maintains the website of the college as well as its official newsletter, perspective, which provides significant information regarding administration, staff and faculty activities every week. It is also in-charge of screening out posters which are to be displayed on the school grounds.

Athletics

In 1998, the NCAA accepted the college's application for membership into the league. The St. Benilde Blazers represents the senior team and the La Salle Green Hills Greenies represent the junior team, while the Lady Blazers represent the college in the WNCAA. The first NCAA seniors basketball title of the Blazers in 2000 was the fastest for an expansion squad. The college won its first senior General Championships title in the 81st Season, while the LSGH Greenies landed on second place. The college hosted the 82nd Season with the theme "Proud and True at 82: Blazing Beyond Limits".

Learning Resource Center

The Br. Fidelis Leddy Learning Resource Center (LRC) is the multimedia resource center and library of the college. It provides access to conventional printed materials, such as books and periodicals, and other forms of storage media, such as transparencies, video tapes, compact discs, and other electronic/digital materials. One can also borrow the LRC's audio-visual equipment to assist in teaching and learning. The LRC has facilities in each campus of the college. Each facility has separate audio-visual and reading areas.

Members of the De La Salle Brothers' community, De La Salle University-Manila alumni, as well as students and employees of De La Salle Philippines member schools are also authorized to use the LRC. Non-Lasallian users can be given access as long as they have recommendation or referral letters from their respective librarians.

History

The LRC was first located at the Benilde Hall on a three-classroom setup. It housed a small collection of books and some audio-visual equipment. After the completion of the Mutien-Marie Hall in 1996, the LRC was moved to its present location on the second floor of the new building. It was officially named as the Br. Fidelis Leddy Learning Resource Center, in honor of the longest living Lasallian Brother in the Philippines at that time, Br. Leander Fidelis Leddy FSC, who celebrated his 50 years of service in the country and his 60th year as a Lasallian Brother that year.

Facilities

Taft Campus

At the Taft Campus, the LRC is divided into two areas: the LRC-Main occupying the second floor of the St. Mutien-Marie Hall, up the stairway from the main entrance, and the LRC-Extension located underneath the Plaza Villarosa, which was formerly used as parking space. The LRC-Main holds the audio-visual equipment and multimedia resource collections, periodicals, as well as the memorabilia and thesis collections of the college. It also has an audio-video listening and viewing area for the LRC's VHS collection. The LRC-Extension is an additional reading area where one can browse, borrow, and bring home books from the LRC's general book collections except for the Lasalliana collection which is for room use only.

AKIC Campus

The LRC in the AKIC Campus specially provides the learning resource needs of the School of HRIM, holding book collections and relevant periodicals for its students and faculty. The reading area can be found on the sixth floor of the AKIC campus. It has a floor area of 224 square meters, and a seating capacity of 100. The Audio-Visual Service Section can be found on the seventh floor, and has a floor area of 105 square meters. .

SDA Campus

There will also be a satellite facility of the LRC at the SDA campus once it becomes operational, occupying the seventh and eighth floors of the east wing of the building.

Collections

As of summer 2006, the LRC has a total collection of about 80,000 book titles (90,000 volumes), 4,657 volumes of undergraduate theses, more than 1,000 periodical titles (in print, electronic and microfilm formats), 139 titles of transparency-based library materials, more than 4,013 CD-ROM volumes, more than 2,562 commercial VHS tapes, 113 slide titles, 253 maps, 594 audio cassette tapes, 159 VCD titles, 107 DVD titles, 440 volumes of audio CDs, 7 titles of selected newspapers in microfilm format, and 5,000 volumes of in-house VHS tapes on campus activities.

Books found at the LRC-Extension and LRC-AKIC are grouped by collection: Reference, Reference Filipiniana, Filipiniana, and General Collection. Each book is arranged alphabetically using the Library of Congress Classification System. The LRC follows the revised Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2 and the LC Classification System for cataloguing and classifying books. The LRC and its extensions have Online Public Access Catalog stations for quick searching of books needed by the students.

The college also subscribes to several online databases and electronic journals. Among them include ProQuest 5000 International, Thomson Gale, Global Market Information Database, Ovid PsycArticles Full Text Journals, Emerald Database, and Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. The database and journals can be accessed from computer units within the campus or at home through the online library facility at the college website.

School seal

An open book in the middle of the seal is enclosed in a circle that forms the body of a five-pointed star. The book represents an open mind to learning, a symbol of the multidimensionality of human intelligence and the centerpiece of the college's learning philosophy.

The star is a variation of the Signum Fidei, the sign of faith and the symbol of the De La Salle Brothers, it also means hope. The five points, bisected into green and white areas represent benevolence, civility, humanitarianism, service-oriented goals, and scientific pursuit. Connecting each star's points are solid and white circular lines that alternate from point to point, forming a circular pattern around the star.

Other parts include the two fronds of laurel are the Gloria et Honor Laurel, which signifies inspiration for quality education. “1988” represents the date of the college’s autonomy from De La Salle University-Manila and its membership into the De La Salle University System. The college name in Myriad typeface serves as a border, while two small circles separate the college name from 1988. The series of curves was adopted to form a scallop which serves as an ornament of the college logo.