ATENEO de Manila University begins a period of transition after announcing on Wednesday that Fr. Robert 'Bobby' Yap's term as president will end on May 31, 2027.
In a decision made by its Board of Trustees on August 1, Ateneo said Yap's tenure has been extended until next year to allow the university to "address concerns and institute reforms" after the deaths of Blue Eagles players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in an ill-fated training camp in Aurora, Quezon.
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The extension will also give the school enough time to begin reforms and prepare for an orderly transition to a new president, the Board of Trustees added in the memorandum signed by chairperson Bernadine T. Siy.
"The board also sees this as an opportunity to strengthen succession planning in the University so that leadership and Trustee appointments are decided well in advance of assumption of office, allowing proper handovers and completion of priority work," the memo said.
At the same time, the board has created a Search Committee for the next president. The process and time frame will be announced in due time, the board added.
The Board of Trustees also expressed its gratitude to Yap, who led the school through the pandemic years as well as a difficult period after the men's basketball team's training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora was marred by the drowning of two players.
"The Board also recognizes Fr. Bobby’s readiness to accept leadership responsibility for recent events and the University’s response to them," the board said.
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