SMU Sustainability Initiatives

Saint Mary’s University (SMU), through its School of Health and Natural Sciences (SHANS) and the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center, implements a range of sustainability and community engagement initiatives that translate academic expertise into direct service. One recent example is the Community Health Checkup Program in Sitio Gonggongob, Cabuluan, Villaverde, where SHANS faculty, students, and volunteer health professionals provided free medical consultations, basic diagnostics, and medicines to local residents. The activity was conducted in collaboration with community partners and forms part of SMU’s broader extension and outreach framework.

The initiative aims to improve access to essential healthcare, particularly in underserved and Indigenous communities, while strengthening experiential learning for students. It directly supports the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by fostering inclusive, community-based health interventions.

Anchored in its mission, SMU is committed to forming socially responsible graduates and advancing transformative, community-engaged education that promotes equity, sustainability, and human dignity.

Learn more about sustainability at SMU here
Read about the Community Health Checkup Program here