Newly-elected UST Engineering student council officers sworn in

WRITTEN BY : Marc Ivan Dilla

The UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) is set to facilitate more Limited Face-to-Face (LF2F) classes in the second semester of the Academic Year 2022-2023, according to UST FoE Dean, Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, PhD, PECE.

After a two-year halt due to the pandemic, the faculty once again conducted a series of in-person examinations under selected courses in the first semester of the current Academic Year. This is in response to the evident grade inflation that has occurred among students over the last two years.

“Apparently, malaki talaga ‘yung discrepancy kung ico-compare especially itong prelims dahil maraming nag-onsite exam,” Dean dela Cruz answered when asked why on-site assessments were prioritized next to laboratory classes.

Consequently, a significant number of laboratory and skillsbased classes were conducted across all the departments in the faculty. Cyclical cohorting was applied in consideration to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Safety Seal awarded to the faculty which required the strict implementation of COVID-19 minimum health standards stated in CHED Memorandum Order No. 4, “Guidelines on the Safety Seal Certification Program for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).”

“Hindi natin kayang i-accomodate ‘yung let’s say forty students in one laboratory space. So, ang alternative, you split the class into two, kung minsan, three nga,” Dean dela Cruz explained how the one-meter physical distancing protocol influenced the conductance of face-to-face classes in the faculty.

When asked about the preparedness of Thomasian engineering students and the University itself, Dean dela Cruz mentioned that both parties are ready. Moreover, he also stated that UST FoE has already been planning for an increased number of on-site classes for the upcoming semester.

Dean dela Cruz added that apart from holding required onsite laboratory classes for the next term, a plan to implement on-site lecture classes is also in the works and will be amended to comply with the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 16 that mandates at least 50 percent on-site contact time when delivering course instruction.

“Sa lecture ang mahirap i-plan kasi ang daming options [...] ang isang alternative na nai-plan ngayon ay mayroong option na full on-site at mayroong option na full hybrid,” he said as he emphasized the focus on the flexibility of these modalities with the diversity of Thomasian students in mind.

He also stressed the need for Thomasian engineering students to prepare for on-site course instruction in the next term as laboratory classes (such as Physics for Engineers Laboratory for firstyear students) are “non-negotiable” and will be held fully on-site except in specific cases where a student files an appeal to the Office of the Dean for consideration.

Moreover, Dean dela Cruz mentioned that it might no longer be possible as the University “already invested its resources to the virtual space” and emphasized that Thomasians should expect, at most, a hybrid mode of instruction.

“Definitely, gagamitin pa rin natin both physical and virtual spaces. Kung paano siya gagamitin strategically, yan ang ginagawa namin ngayon,” he clarified.

Six victors of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Engineering Student Council (ESC) executive board polls took their pledge of service today, November 29, 2022, via ZOOM and Facebook Live.

The new members of the ESC Executive Board for 2022-2023 took their oaths before Faculty Regent Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon Jr. O.P., Engineering Dean Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz PhD, PECE, Assistant Dean Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, PME, MBA, PhD, and members of the UST Engineering Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

As newly elected Internal Vice President of the ESC, Pauline Zian A. Suyat of the UST Department of Electronics Engineering (ECE) took her pledge of service and received her constitutional duties from Prof. dela Cruz.

The other five who took their oaths of office as new members of the ESC Executive Board are ESC Secretary Alyssa Laraine M. Cunanan, ESC Assistant Secretary Sophia Mauricia A. Villanueva, ESC Treasurer Joemille Brent R. Galera, ESC Assistant Treasurer Lourd Albert T. Bañaga, and ESC Public Relations Officer Claudelle L. Fajardo.

Rev. Fr. Luanzon, O.P. blessed the elected officers after they took their oaths, applauded them for winning the elections, and encouraged them to give their best in serving the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE).

Prof. dela Cruz and Asst. Prof. Bautista also delivered congratulatory messages to the council members present in the meeting.

The oath-taking ceremony concluded after Internal Vice President Suyat, on behalf of the newly-elected officers, offered her gratitude in response to the messages of the Faculty Regent, Dean, and Asst. Dean.