Mapúa University
July 2018
VOL. L Issue II
New beginnings. Students enter the campus with the prospect of commencing a new academic year one month later as the University shifts to an August start date this AY 2018-2019. Photo by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz
Mapúa shifts academic calendar for AY 2018-2019 By Maurine C laire F. Kim and Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan
Changes made by the Mapúa administration to the academic calendar will be implemented starting next school year, moving the opening of the academic year from July to August. What changes?
13 May 2019, respectively. The second term, however, will have the most drastic change as the Christmas break falls midway into the term. “The academic calendar will basically simply shift and the quarters under the present system will automatically be adjusted. The time spent in the classroom and on vacation breaks will be the same,” Mapúa University President Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea said in a web release.
Since Mapúa is under the Quarterm system, the duration of the terms will be adjusted as well. The said calendar shift will push the expected July start of Academic Year Aligning to global standards 2018-2019’s first term to August 6. The second, third, and fourth terms According to Vea, the change in are scheduled to start classes on 29 the academic calendar would fit with October 2018, 4 February 2019, and the K-12 program, as both seek to
integrate the education system with The administration likewise the rest of the world. The calendar stated that the shift was done in change was also made in line with response to climate changes and to the University’s goal of globalization. spare students from the Metro Manila “We shifted our academic floods that normally happen around curriculum and calendar to get into June or July. Furthermore, moving rhythm with the dominant global the calendar away from the start of practice and with what is increasingly the rainy season will result in fewer becoming the local practice as well,” cancelled classes, thus protecting students from the unnecessary harm Vea commented. that may occur during the typhoon By aligning and engaging with season. the top educational institutions of Creating new opportunities the world, Mapúa hopes to benefit from their experience and expertise The primary goal of the and raise the current standards of synchronization of the academic education. calendar is to assist in the conduct
Mapúa sets up new study lounge By Maurine C laire F. Kim and Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio
As part of the University’s efforts to provide new spaces for its students, a study hall now sits on the second floor of the Admissions Building in the Intramuros campus. Used previously as a set for a school advertisement and by the Central Student Council during Foundation Week, the study hall was officially completed last May 2 after further modifications by the Campus Development and Maintenance Office (CDMO) were finalized.
Students had earlier indicated The administration likewise a need for a location suitable for wanted to create a refreshing collaborative work. Previously, e n v i r o n m e n t conducive to students used the main library learning. Since the mission of as the primary site to accomplish the study lounge is to support their academic tasks. However, c o l l a b o r a t i v e learning, the collaborative p a r t i c i p a t i o n technology in the space is outside the discussion rooms designed to support group work. was frowned upon in the facility. In addition to movable Moreover, legroom was a big furniture and dozens of power concern for the administration outlets, the study hall overlooks as the libraries in the Intramuros the school’s quadrangle and offers campus were not designed to a clean study space filled with accommodate the whole student natural light. Additionally, unlike body. the strict ground rules inside the campus libraries, food and drinks will be allowed in the area. In addition to the study hall on the second floor of the Admissions Building, another study area was built on the third floor of the South building, overlooking the centuries-old walls facing the University. The CDMO described it as the first phase in the development of the area as a student discussion room; the second phase involves turning it into a glass-enclosed space.
A Learning Environment. The Mapúa University Administration, in cooperation with the Campus Development and Maintenance Office has succeeded in its goal to give students comfortable spaces for academic work after opening the study lounge. Photo by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz
The new study hall in the Admissions building will be open to students from 8 AM to 7 PM.
of the academe’s research between international universities, thereby patterning on foreign schedules. It is also projected to help increase student participation in exchange programs, which can be beneficial to the globalization efforts of Mapúa University. Vea also added that the shift promotes educational opportunities for students to study abroad by having more potential partnerships with foreign schools in exchange programs, eventually leading to more overseas employment opportunities for Mapúans.
SHS Department allays worries on possible influx of students By Kristin C larisse H. Mateo and Louise Anne M. S antos
With the first batch of K-12 mandated by our EVPAA (Executive students graduating, Mapúa Vice President for Academic University unlocks another Affairs,” she added. breakthrough as it opens its Furthermore, with a target of doors to both incoming college freshmen and senior high school at least 300 students at the planned (SHS) students in AY 2018-2019. Makati Annex, Lanuza bared their Expecting around 2,500 plans for the extension of the incoming SHS students, SHS Senior High School department Principal Dr. Dionisia M. Lanuza there. “We opened a campus in is confident that the University Makati para ma-share din natin sa can handle the influx of both K-12 Makati area iyong ating expertise entrants and incoming freshmen, in education,” she stated. saying, “We don’t actually have an issue regarding this matter. As for the facilities, Dr. We worked together with the Lanuza is confident that the Admissions Office, Registrar’s current rooms and labs will be Office, Treasury, DOIT (Development well-equipped and sufficient for Office for Information Technology), and CDMO (Campus Development the number of incoming students next academic year, noting that and Maintenance Office).” the administration renovated the “We worked as a group to address the enrollment procedure, Makati campus to add chemistry, so that we won’t encounter any biology, and physics laboratory problems. This is a group effort, as rooms.