In preparation for the upcoming Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) visitation on February 2013, DLSU has resolved to conduct a “mock” PAASCU accreditation last November 12-13.
The University invited Lasallians who have experience in evaluating and accrediting different institutions to evaluate the University’s current standing.
DLSU President and Chancellor Br. Ricky Laguda FSC explains, “The idea of the mock accreditation is to gauge where the University is and how it is doing with regard to the previous PAASCU recommendations.” The mock accreditation is part of the University’s preparations for the visit next year.
PAASCU accreditation, mock or not, on the other hand, has long affected students, faculty and staff, which has raised issues among the University’s stakeholders. Though some argue that the accreditation brings out the best of Lasallians, some believe that it does not accurately reflect the quality of education has been delivering.
One student in particular recalls that the professor in one of his classes gave a lecture for the first time this term in response to the possibility that a PAASCU accreditation team member would enter his class.
Br. Ricky, however, argues, “The desire of the University is always to put its best foot forward with or without PAASCU. We continue to remind the faculty that PAASCU is only here to validate or confirm what are our areas of strengths and areas of improvement.”
Br. Ricky furthers that the University undergoes the PAASCU accreditation because it DLSU should be open to feedback to use it as a guide for improvement.
In the last PAASCU accreditation, three Gokongwei College of Engineering (GCOE) programs, Civil Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering and Industrial Engineering, applied and received a level IV status, the first engineering programs in the country to enter the level.
The last PAASCU visit was in 2010. DLSU was re-accredited as level IV institution, the highest accreditation PAASCU gives to a university.
PAASCU has set a criteria for institutions applying for level IV status. These are: (1) At least 75 percent of its programs must have attained Level III status for a minimum period of 10 years, i.e., two consecutive terms of five years each; (2) Excellent outcomes in research as seen in the number, scope, and impact of scholarly publications in refereed national and international journals; (3) Excellent outcomes in teaching and learning as proven in the performance of its graduates and alumni and the continuing assessment of student achievement; (4) Excellent outcomes in community service and the impact of its contributions to the economic and social upliftment, on both regional and national levels; (5) Evidence of international linkages and consortia; and, (6) Well developed planning processes which support quality assurance mechanisms.
Br. Ricky believes that DLSU has improved based on the feedback the University received in the previous PAASCU accreditations.
“My expectations are we have done something substantial to address the PAASCU recommendations since 2009, and be open to feedback for continuous improvement so that we can strive towards excellence based on our three Lasallian core values of Faith, Service and Communion in mission.”
