Managing Change by Suzette B. Viñas

I have a reason to believe that the people we work with have the influence to help us become better and inspire us to do more for our organization. I joined Father Saturnino Urios University(FSUU) in the year 2006 and my first encounter with Fr. John was when I wrote a letter for his signature and without intention I rearranged his name to Christian John and when he signed it he attached a post it saying, “My name is John Christian with a smiley.” Right there I realized I was working for a cool President.

He started working for FSUU as University President in the year 2003 at the age of 36. But at the time he never divulges that information because it will affect how people in the organization view him. Before that he was in Rome doing his Doctorate in Missiology and was requested to come home because FSUU was in a pretty bad shape. The salaries where highly distorted, there was student unrest and the school was on a financial meltdown. He said that the worst thing that could happen is that the school might close down at least they get to keep the land and building.

According to Fr. John, there is no one true formula for managing change. In his case, he really started by looking at the situation, gathering data so that he can start diagnosing and starts fixing. Because of the ever increasing salaries and no increase in tuition fees, it was affecting the school operation. The major problems of the school that time were finances, human resources and lack of focus.  Obviously these are all very critical to the health of the institution. He started by flattening the hierarchy since he noticed that too much bureaucracy affects the efficiency of the operation. The structures lead to free flow of information and direct contact with the deans, heads of offices, etc. One very essential element was also his meeting with the union and giving them a scenario of the state the university is in. They were able to see the big picture and they also realized that the President is inviting them to work hand in hand in trying to save the school. The union was even given the chance to craft a salary grade scale which meets the President’s requirement that it be just, fair and sustainable.

He had to orient the FSUU community of the Culture of being Thrifty. Because of the university’s limited resources at that time, he said it was fundamental to set your priorities and allocate funds to areas which prove to be beneficial for the school. He also talked to students and make them understand the situation and to stop the uprising. Fr. John said that aside from studying the terrain, gathering data and coming up with solutions, the key element to change management is the will to do it. He said he had to work 14 hours a day just to ensure that the school can regain the stability it once had. He said that in every act of change it is necessary to understand that personal sacrifice will go along with it. Lastly, he never forgets to pray. He prayed long enough that he will be given the right people to help him manage the school and indeed his prayers were answered.

 In his 11 years tenure as President, he was able to re-engineer the financial system and organization leading to financial sustainability and growth. The school was granted university status within 2 years of assuming the Presidency. One of the highlights of his career was the construction of the 3.5 hectare Abp. Morelos Campus which has now become a landmark in Butuan City. Moreover, he put in place a fully funded Retirement Trust for all faculty and staff of the university within 1 year of becoming president. He continuously ensured together with his management team the improvement of quality and standards of the offerings and programs of the university, upgraded the educational environment and physical facilities and introduction of new program offering which summed up led to sustained increase in enrollment.

Fr. John said there is so much more that needs to be done. His only consolation is that being a priest he is duty bound to produce men and women who will be responsible in the future. He never forgets that aside from being a President he still has to fulfill his calling to love God and love his neighbor as expressed in his unparalleled service to the institution.