The enriched virtual mode (EVM) will remain the primary mode of instructional delivery for all programs in UST even as the University prepares to expand limited face-to-face (F2F) classes to non-health programs, the Office of the Secretary General said.
In a memorandum dated Nov. 24, UST Secretary General Louie Coronel said only selected programs would have limited in-campus classes.
“(Limited F2F) shall only be considered for learning competencies or learning outcomes that cannot be effectively achieved using EVM,” the memorandum read.
EVM, which makes use of synchronous and asynchronous learning strategies using the UST Cloud Campus and other platforms, was introduced in the first term of Academic Year 2020 to 2021.
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta and Coronel earlier told the Varsitarian that the University would prioritize programs that require hands-on experience in the expansion of limited F2F classes.
“We will only be expanding this to other programs with intended learning outcomes that cannot be fully achieved with [EVM]. These will mainly be skills-based courses that require in-person instruction,” they said in a joint statement.
“We will likewise determine which year levels and courses will be prioritized per program to progressively increase the number of students and academic staff who will enter the campus at any given time,” they added.
The officials said that academic units could apply for limited F2F classes for their programs as soon as they secure an endorsement from the University Crisis Management Committee (UCMC).
“As soon as the proposals of academic units are approved by the (UCMC), the retrofitted facilities are ready for visit and the documentary requirements have been completed by the academic units, we can submit their applications even before December,” Peralta and Coronel said.
Academic units eyeing limited F2F classes must also coordinate with the Facilities Management Office for the retrofitting of facilities, the Health Service for orientation on health protocols and the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs for the preparation of documents.
The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Pharmacy and College of Rehabilitation and Sciences began conducting limited F2F classes in June, while the College of Nursing started limited in-person classes on Nov. 8.
The UST Health Service earlier told the Varsitarian that less than one percent of medicine and allied health students participating in limited F2F classes had contracted Covid-19.
A total of 25,696 out of 46,543 or 55.21 percent of students in UST have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations as of Nov. 19. C.J. Paras
