USJ Opens 2026/2027 Academic Year
USJ Opens 2026/2027 Academic Year
21
Sep
21/09/2026
USJ Marks Start of 2026/2027 Academic Year with Orientation and Leadership Address.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) welcomed returning faculty and new staff members on September 18, 2026, to mark the commencement of the 2026/2027 academic year. During the official gathering, Interim Rector Dr. Alejandro Salcedo Garcia delivered a formal address outlining the university’s institutional progress, administrative transitions, and strategic directives for the upcoming term.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Salcedo officially acknowledged the resignation of former Rector Professor Stephen Morgan due to personal reasons, expressing appreciation for his decade of service and contributions to the institution. Dr. Salcedo also extended his gratitude to the Chancellor of USJ, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang, for his trust in appointing him to lead the university throughout the interim transition period until a permanent successor is installed. He further commended the academic and administrative personnel for their dedication, cooperation, and resilience over the past nine months, stating heir encouragement, cooperation, and hard work, had sustained him throughout the journey and stood as evidence that USJ is a community united by a shared mission.
Reviewing the 2025/2026 academic year, Dr. Salcedo reported that the university maintained steady development and institutional growth. Despite facing operational demands and external financial pressures, USJ successfully expanded its academic offerings, broadened international partnerships, enhanced campus life, and reinforced its commitments to environmental sustainability and community engagement.
He noted that recent structural reforms, including new faculty arrangements and streamlined administrative coordination, have strengthened USJ’s overall governance and operational efficiency, serving as proactive measures toward long-term resilience and institutional maturity.
Looking forward to the 2026/2027 academic year, Dr. Salcedo highlighted that USJ’s focus will remain centered on stability, operational discipline, and responsible stewardship, during the transition to new leadership. He stated that the university must proactively uphold its existing academic framework and values while honoring its commitments to students, the local community, and regional partners.
Framing the university’s roadmap around strategic priorities, Dr. Salcedo emphasized the creation of a financially responsible, research-active, and student-centered environment. He urged the entire university community to foster cross-departmental collaboration, maintain high standards of professional accountability, and pursue excellence in teaching, research, and administration as USJ prepares for its next phase of leadership.
During his address, Dr. Salcedo framed USJ’s direction around its strategic priorities, presenting them as a connected roadmap for protecting the University’s core mission stability and development.
Central to these strategic priorities is their function in furnishing the university with a shared, practical direction – translating USJ’s core mission into concrete commitments that enable faculty and staff to make coherent, effective decisions regarding time, resources, and responsibilities.
In closing, the Interim Rector placed a clear expectation before the university community. Members of USJ were called upon to look beyond narrow departmental boundaries, execute their duties with professional rigor, support colleagues and students, and actively pursue excellence in teaching, research, service, and administration. Grounded in mutual care, sound resource management, and professional accountability, the address concluded with a shared mandate for USJ to move forward as one unified community, faithful to its foundational values and purposeful in its collective actions.
