AT LEAST 30 UST athletes have been informed that their scholarships will be discontinued in the next term as the university grapples with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Other student-athletes were sent to training pools, which would still qualify then for a 50-percent tuition discount, the Varsitarian was told in separate interviews.
“Wala pang formal letter na binibigay sa amin pero sinabihan na kami na hindi na kami scholars. Nagbawas na sa amin, halos lahat ng Team B wala na,” a student-athlete said.
Fr. Richard Ang O.P., UST’s rector, earlier announced that scholarships granted during the second semester of the academic year 2019-2020 would continue until December this year.
The Varsitarian reached out to the Institute of Physical Athletics (IPEA) but did not receive a response as of posting time.
A reliable source said coaches had been talking with team members to explain the removal of scholarships.
The student-athletes interviewed by the Varsitarian belong to six different teams.
Only the Santo Tomas Academic Scholarship and San Martin de Porres Equity Scholarship will be offered in A.Y. 2020-2021, according to the Office for Admissions website.
(Screenshot taken from ofad.ust.edu.ph)
The Santo Domingo de Guzman scholarship, the grant given to student-athletes and those who excel in music and arts, will not be offered.
The San Lorenzo Ruiz scholarship which offers tuition grants in exchange for assistantship hours will not be available as well.
Dominican-run Colegio de San Juan de Letran earlier announced that it would only provide scholarships for 372 students next term, disqualifying those in Team B rosters, due to financial losses.
Letran would also limit its athletics operations and withdraw from nine NCAA events.
The UAAP has yet to announce whether Season 82 would still resume and when the new one would begin. Malic U. Cotongan
