Tag: No. 2

FACULTY members will troop to the polling booths on Sept. 28 to elect a new set of union officials, amid lingering questions over the impact of the K to 12 scheme on job security and last year’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the UST administration.

The incumbent president, Dr. George Lim, faces off with his former number two, longtime union executive Rene Luis Tadle, and Jove Jim Aguas for the top post in the 1,500-strong UST Faculty Union (USTFU).

Lim’s “Kabalikat” slate is running on a platform of continuity of programs and professionalization of the union, faculty unity, and “respect” for UST and its officials, while Tadle’s “Lead 4 Change Alliance” ticket wants “union transformation” and vows there will be “no teacher left behind.”

FOR HIS scientific contributions and 46 years of service to the Thomasian community, UST’s top scientist was conferred the title professor emeritus in ceremonies at the Medicine Auditorium last Sept. 3.

Prof. Fortunato Sevilla was given the highest title bestowed by the University to a faculty member who has attained not only the rank of full professor, but has also achieved academic excellence and significant influence in his or her field.

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. described Sevilla as ‘‘a force to be reckoned with in the field of chemistry,’’ and commended him for being an inspiration to students as well as to other members of the academe.

THREE professors are vying for the presidency of the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), all vowing to deal with the problems posed by the coming K to 12 transition.

The candidates are Dr. George Lim of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery who is running for reelection, and from the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Rene Luis Tadle and Jove Jim Aguas.

The K to 12 transition is turning out to be a major issue in the campaign, as college teaching loads would be reduced beginning next year. High school students will be spending two more years in senior high school or grades 11 and 12, instead of graduating to college. Because of this, UST will offer only 13 programs to freshmen next year.

UST HAS kept its spot in the latest Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) world university rankings, holding on to the 701+ bracket while three other Philippine universities slid in the annual listing.

The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country’s top university despite slipping to the 401-410 bracket from last year’s 367th place. Ateneo de Manila University also went down to the 501-550 bracket from the 461-470 bracket last year.

De La Salle University joined UST in the 701+ bracket, after figuring in the 651-700 bracket last year.

TWO FORMER officers of the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) will not get certificates of good moral character due to “gross negligence” as a result of the loss of P50,000 in council funds last year, the Varsitarian has learned.

Former ABSC president Marie Jann Klaire Lazo told the Varsitarian the college’s verdict was relayed by the Student Welfare and Development Board (SWDB) through a resolution that was mailed directly to her and former treasurer Julienne Avila. Avila has yet to respond to requests for comment.

NO SPRINKLERS, no well-trained personnel.

These were the findings of the investigation into the fire that broke out last July 5 at the fourth floor of St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, which forced the College of Commerce and Business Administration to temporarily hold classes in other buildings.

“Kung may sprinklers [ang building], hindi naman magiging malala ‘yung sunog. Factor pa na hindi well-trained ‘yung nag-respond sa sunog, kung saan nagkaroon pa siya ng difficulty of breathing,” said Senior Fire Officer 4 John Joseph Jalique, head of the investigating unit at the Manila Fire Department, in an interview.

THE STUDENT Council of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (ABSC) wants the college administration to suspend the implementation of the so-called “hair policy” prohibiting long hair for males and “loud” hair color, amid opposition from students.

The ABSC requested for a consultation and suspension of the new policy in a letter to the Artlets Dean’s Office last Sept. 8, after meeting with representatives of the Board of Majors (BOM) on Sept. 1.

In a statement released on Facebook last Sept. 13, the ABSC said the choice of hairstyle and hair color did not affect students’ learning or obstruct other people’s rights.

“In fact, we believe that this could contribute to the holistic development of an individual,” the statement read.

THE FOUNDER of the country’s largest chain of drug stores has vowed to continue supporting the education of pharmacy students in the Philippines, as he received an honorary doctorate from UST, the first school of pharmacy in the country.

“I have devoted my life in service of others, especially those who wish to pursue their own dreams and aspirations. In fact I’m happy to say I’m happy to do this, granting scholarships to deserving students to complete their pharmacy education here at UST,” Que said in his address during solemn investitute rites at the Medicine Auditorium last Sept. 9.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. emphasized Que’s contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and corporate social responsibility.

UST JUNIOR High School (JHS) has renewed its ties with an international testing firm to develop English-language proficiency among students and ensure the quality of its teaching staff.

Crispin Javier, UST-JHS English coordinator, said the partnership with Hopkins International Partners Inc., authorized representative of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) in the Philippines, seeks to help the University attain high-quality English language instruction.

TOEIC is a global standard for measuring English language proficiency developed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. It consists of two equally graded tests of comprehension assessments.

THE UNIVERSITY aced the recent licensure examinations in electrical engineering and medical technology, with Thomasians making it to the top 10 list of passers.

UST emerged as the top school in the board exams for electrical engineers after getting a 98.61-percent passing rate, with 71 out of 72 Thomasian examinees making the cut, results from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) showed.

This was higher than last year's 95.16 percent, wherein 59 out of 62 Thomasian examinees passed the exams.