THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (Artlets) remained the chief producer of honor graduates in the University, data from the Office of Alumni Affairs showed.
Out of 584 graduates of Artlets, 16.10 percent or 94 were honor students, 84 of which were cum laudes, while 10 were magna cum laudes. Last year, honor students were 17.8 percent of the total, or 114 of the 641 graduates.
The Faculty of Pharmacy, which had the highest number of graduates at 705, followed Artlets with 83 honors composed of 64 cum laudes, 17 magnas and two summa cum laudes.
The College of Tourism and Hospitality management wound up third with 64 cum laudes, six magna cum laudes and one summa cum laude.
Despite increasing its honor tally this year, the College of Commerce and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences were still the lowest producers of undergraduates with medals, excluding the post-graduate programs in the Ecclesiastical Faculties, UST Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and the Faculty of Civil Law.
Rehabilitation Sciences had only six honors out of 131 graduates. Commerce improved from 10 honor graduates last year to 26 this year. Commerce’s number of graduates also dramatically increased from 516 to 811.
Meanwhile, the Conservatory of Music produced three honor students out of its 40-graduate roster.
Rounding up the honor-roll breakdown were Architecture, 19; Fine Arts and Design, 68; Nursing, 68; Engineering, 29 with one summa cum laude; Science, 59; Education, 28; and Accountancy, 42.
‘Dump’ site?
Asked why Commerce produces few honors despite having the most number of graduates this year, Dean Helena Cabrera said the college takes more pride in being UST’s “earning college.”
“For 12 years, the College has earned P247 million,” Cabrera said, clarifying that applicants’ grade cut-off was “not that high” to fill up 24 sections.
Cabrera admitted that Commerce has been branded by other colleges as the “dump site” for debarred and failing students.
However, she said the College will not be admitting debarred and failing students this academic year. Only students with clear academic and conduct records will be admitted to the college, Cabrera stressed.
Cabrera said engaging students in various activities would enhance their skills and eventually discard the “negative” image of Commerce.
Team effort
Artlets Dean Armando De Jesus said producing “laudes” is not the responsibility of the administrators alone.
“There are factors to consider; the student, the teachers, and the students’ academic support (administrators),” De Jesus said.
Tourism and Hospitality Management secretary Fredeswindo Medina echoed De Jesus’ observation, but emphasized that among the three, “educators play the most significant part in motivating the students to study hard.”
“Others may think that Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Management are easy courses, but actually, they are not,” Medina said.
De Jesus said students themselves are “responsible for maintaining their grades.”
“The number of honor students in Arts and Letters reflects our effort to continue academic excellence,” he said. With reports from Darenn G. Rodriguez
