St. Paul University Iloilo

Saint Paul University Iloilo, also referred to by its acronym SPUI or SPU Iloilo, St. Paul, St. Paul's, is a private Catholic basic and higher education institution run by the Philippine Province of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. It is one of the six campuses comprising the Saint Paul University System. It was founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres from France with the help of American Catholics. It presently offers academic programs in basic education, tertiary and post-graduate studies in the fields of information technology, teacher education, business, accountancy, liberal studies, nursing, and physical therapy.

At present, though SPUI is part of the Saint Paul University System, it remains distinctively independent with its own administration.

History
The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres began their apostolic activities in Iloilo by establishing St. Paul’s Hospital in 1911. Their primary aim was to care for the poor and the sick. The Sisters under the leadership of Mother Josephine de Jesus opened a school of nursing in June 1946 to meet the pressing need of the hospital for trained competent Catholic nurses. Initially opened with 70 students, the school quickly grew, achieving government recognition for its 3-year diploma program in 1948. In 1950, a 4-year basic collegiate course in Nursing was introduced but discontinued in 1954 due to financial difficulties. Significant infrastructure developments occurred in the 1960s, including the construction of the Marian Hall building in 1961.

In 1975, under the leadership of Sister Carolina Agravante, the institution was upgraded to a college, introducing new programs such as Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Bachelor of Science in Biology. The Social Laboratory Extension Program (SLEP) was also established during this period, fostering community outreach initiatives.

The college faced retrenchment in the mid-1980s, phasing out several programs. However, by the early 1990s, new courses like Bachelor of Science in Business Administration were introduced. In 1996, the college celebrated its 50th anniversary, receiving recognition for its Nursing program from both the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The BSN program was designated as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by CHED from 1996 to 1999. The college also launched graduate programs in Nursing and was recognized as a regional center for career development in partnership with Red River College, Canada.

In 2001, the institution began operating under the name St. Paul University Iloilo. New programs, including Bachelor of Secondary Education and Associate in Hotel and Restaurant Management, were introduced. In 2004, it became part of the St. Paul University System, and Sister Carolina Agravante was installed as the first University President.

St. Paul University Iloilo has continued to expand its academic offerings and infrastructure. The university's Nursing program received multiple accolades for its licensure examination performance. In 2006, the university acquired a new site in La Paz, Iloilo City, where new facilities have been developed. The Basic Education Department was opened in 2011, and the university has since implemented the K-12 program.