Lean years, campus development discussed in University General Assembly

During this year’s University General Assembly (UGA) held last September 23 at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium, DLSU President Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC discussed the administration’s plans on addressing the lean years, its priorities and goals for this academic year, and new campus development.

The lean years

In addressing the low enrollment turnout for freshmen during the lean years, the DLSU Senior High School (SHS) was recently opened.

Programs offered at the SHS aim to prepare students for their undergraduate studies as well as to lower the teaching load of college professors. For this academic year, 4,037 students applied for SHS while 1,412 students qualified for the programs. A total of 780 students are in the main campus out of the 1,051 students who enrolled.

Aside from the SHS program, the University also launched ConnectED, a project that allowed members of the faculty to teach and mentor students and teachers from 15 partner schools of the University.

On priorities and goals

For the upcoming academic year, Br. Suplido emphasized the administration’s priorities and its pursuit of five-year goals. He reiterated the University’s key resource areas, namely, excellent quality education, research objectives, interdisciplinary outlook and exchange, improved governance, recognition of Lasallian talent, community engagement, and the pursuit of the growth and development of the DLSU Science and Technology Complex (STC).

Furthermore, he emphasized the administration’s goals for accreditation in the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. According to Br. Suplido, the administration seeks to have an institutional assessment describing it as “probably the first in [the] ASEAN region.”

The undergraduate programs that will undergo preparation for accreditation are the departments of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Political Science. Meanwhile, Chemical Engineering, Economics, and Software Technology will undergo reassessment. The University is also on the “third cycle of preparations” for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Suplido expressed his hopes for DLSU “to keep the lead” as a research university. He stated that the possibility of getting DLSU in the Times Higher Index ranking is currently being studied.

Campus development

Campus development programs are also expected to be completed in the DLSU main campus in the following years, according to Br. Suplido. Among these programs are the complete renovation of the Br. Connon Hall, Student Arts and Wellness Center, Research Commons, newly located Retreat Center, South Gate, student dormitory, and modern classrooms.

Furthermore, Br. Suplido gave emphasis on the administration’s plans for STC. Among these campus development programs are “aggressively marketing SHS and new programs”; the opening of the new research facility; and the construction of the Advanced Instrumentation Building, STC Football Field, Central Instrumentation Facility, Road Network, and a new academic building.

The groundbreaking of a dormitory complex can also be expected in the later years. This 200-bed dormitory will accommodate 11th and 12th graders and faculty members.

Funds to be used in these programs, according to Br. Suplido, were “raised through donations or set aside early in order to complete our initiative.”

The University will also prioritize operational efficiency. According to Br. Suplido, this is to address the upcoming lean years. Last year, the University had a P132 million expense for electricity, P30 million for water, P17 million for overtime, and P8 million for meetings.

To conclude the UGA, the DLSU President expressed that the faculty members should understand how to better educate the students, whom he also referred to as “millennials.” According to him, there are three strategies that the members of the faculty can do in order to achieve a more efficient way of teaching the students. These involve providing opportunities for reflection, creative spaces, and collaborative spaces.