Town hall meeting held to address concerns on upcoming academic calendar changes

Br. Ricky Laguda FSC, De La Salle University (DLSU) president and chancellor, held a town hall meeting last Friday, May 30, after the University General Assembly and the community salu-salo. The town hall meeting was regarding updates on the academic calendar shift next academic year 2015-2016.

Laguda prefaced his speech with references to shifts in his own life as he was just elected as the General Councilor for the Pacific-Asia Regional Conference (PARC). The General Chapter is the highest policymaking body of the La Sallian Brothers. He briefly stated that there are upcoming meetings with regards to changes in the University leadership.

Focusing back on the topic, Laguda said that the primary reason for the change in the academic calendar, moving the start of DLSU’s academic year from May to September, is to align the University’s academic calendar with universities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) University Network (AUN) and abroad. He said that by changing the calendar, DLSU can keep pace with developments in the region. This is a part of the University’s push for internationalization, increasing the marketability of DLSU in the global market.

What’s final

Laguda reviewed the flow of the new academic calendar: the first trimester will be from the first week of September to the second week of December, the second trimester will be from the second week of January to the third week of April, and the third trimester will be from the second week of May to the second week of August. There will be no summer term once the new calendar will be implemented.

A special term will be offered in between April and September consisting of 11 weeks. This will be offered to graduating students to minimize the risks of getting delayed that could be brought by the calendar shift. Also, incoming freshmen students for the next academic year may avail of preparatory courses prior to the start of their first year in the University. This is to comply with the K-12 policy of the Department of Education.

For the faculty, Laguda said that the gap in between the academic years will be used to prepare for the implementation of the revised Lasallian Core Curriculum and new syllabi, and the teaching of the said preparatory courses.

Confirming speculations and addressing apprehensions

Laguda answered some questions regarding the academic shift after his speech. Faculty cannot decline to teach during the special term and the Academics Council, the decision-making committee with regards to academic interests and is composed of different sector representatives in the University, will decide which departments will teach the preparatory courses.

Laguda reminded that the said preparatory courses are not prerequisite subjects, but are recommended, for admission of incoming freshmen students. To those who were unable to attend the town hall meeting, faculty members will be compensated for teaching during the special term similar to how they are paid for teaching during summer terms.

On current academic policies and activities that will be affected by the calendar shift, Laguda confirmed that these must conform to the new schedule. For one, there will only be one graduation rites for both the third and special term. Second, courses currently offered during the summer such as on-the-job training programs, and thesis and dissertation subjects will be reviewed for their feasibility by the Academics Council.

Tin Reyes of the Center for Social Concern and Action asked how students from lower-income families will be affected by the shift. Laguda admitted that this wasn’t thought of yet, but mentioned that new enrollees could avail of scholarships during the special term, but the aforementioned term is separate from the student’s freshman year. Lastly, student leadership training programs usually conducted during the summer term will be deferred during the regular terms or during term breaks.

Economics Professor and University Fellow Tereso Tullao, Jr. asked how the University could assure that there will still be freshmen students who will opt to attend DLSU. The University’s president and chancellor replied by saying that the ‘top four’ universities in the Philippines, namely the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, and DLSU, are all shifting to revised academic calendars. If a student decides to change their college of choice due to the shift, they may apply outside of the ‘top four’.

On the road to academic shift completion

Laguda highlighted that this academic year is a preparatory year for DLSU. Changes regarding the shift are still pending by the Academics Council. He welcomed suggestions from the stakeholders in the University for the entire year as DLSU prepares to shift the academic calendar.

Political Science professor Antonio Pedro, Jr. suggested the possibility of having honors or elite classes for highly-qualified incoming freshmen students in order to advance their studies in the University.

A professor from the Biology Department, however, lamented that the Human Biology degree program, provided in consortium with the College of Medicine, De La Salle-Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite, may be discontinued as the two institutions will not have the same academic calendar after DLSU’s academic shift. The professor continued by illustrating that next year’s third-year students may be forced to transfer to other institutions once the shift will be completed. Laguda said that the Academics Council will look into the matter and suggested that the department should initiate ways on mitigating the impact of the shift this early on in the transition.