Tag: July 15, 2005

AFTER the launching of the UST Spanish Club last January comes the launching of a Spanish language program in the University.

“Aula Cervantes”, which started last June 18, is a Spanish language program that is, different from the University’s Spanish curriculum. It is open to everyone in the Sampaloc area who is interested to learn the Spanish language.

According to General Education director Dr. Nancy Eleria, the center was suggested by Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz and Instituto Cervantes- Manila (ICM) director Javier Galvan.

STUDENTS will now have a say on Total Quality Management (TQM), as they will join faculty and non-academic personnel quality auditors in evaluating University offices this year.

According to Engr. Delfin Jacob, a member of the TQM Technical Support Group and executive assistant for planning and development, student leaders will be trained this semester to conduct quality audits on various University offices.

The trained student leaders are expected to carry on an awareness of “quality consciousness” once their offices start occupying the Student Center.

A THOMASIAN doctor was elected president of a regional medical association last month.

Dr. Jose Sollano Jr. now heads the Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), a regional organization composed of medical practitioners specializing on the liver and its diseases.

“It is an honor (to be elected as president),” Sollano said. “It is an honor for the country as well.”

To be elected president of APASL, a member should be part of the association’s executive council.

ISANG Tomasino ang pinarangalan ng isang kilalang unibersidad sa Estados Unidos kamakailan.

Ginawaran si Carlos Agatep ng citation ng Boston University noong Hunyo 10 para sa kanyang mga nagawa sa public relations (PR) sa Pilipinas.QA

“Marahil binigyan ako ng citation para sa paggamit ko ng PR para sa pagpapalaganap ng mga cause-related programs,” ani Agatep.

Si Agatep ang nagtatag ng Agatep Associates, isang tanyag na PR firm sa bansa. Kabilang ang Intel Philippines sa mga dating kliyente ng Agatep Associates.

IN HIS two-year stint as vice-rector for academic affairs, Dr. Armando de Jesus has evaluated the University’s academic curriculum and negotiated the collective bargaining agreement between academic employees and UST. Now in his final year, he is determined to accomplish his remaining plans, including the introduction of a standardized syllabus in the Department of General Education.

“I do not look beyond my term and I just do whatever I can because nobody’s indispensable,” De Jesus told the Varsitarian.

EVEN with major infrastructure on the way, UST Vice-Rector for Finance Fr. Melchor Saria, O.P. assured that there will be no steep tuition increase.

“Rest assured, in spite of these changes, the percentage of increase is just one half of the inflation rate,” he told the Varsitarian.

Saria said UST might only impose a tuition hike of only five per cent at the most next school year.

To help defray the costs of construction, he said the University has sought the help of alumni and philanthropists.

With the use of a new software program containing vital student information, the University hopes to have a more efficient data processing in the academic and administrative offices.

The Santo Tomas e-Service Providers (Steps) and the Registrar’s office came up with menus combining all icon-based modules and folders used in the operation of academic and administrative offices through a collaborative project called Student Information System (SIS).

THE NATIONAL Service Training Program (NSTP) may revert to the classroom method if the Blackboard Learning Management (blackboard) will suffer.

“We will be forced to have our facilitators see the students physically if the system fails more than the anticipated disruptions,” said Dr. Lito Maranan, Civic Welfare Training Services Coordinator. “We have to comply with the schedule of the modules otherwise we will not finish the lessons.”

But Maranan said the lecture mode would require more teachers.

AN ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commander, a family of Thomasian physicians, and nine other alumni received the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awards (TOTAL) for excellence in their respective fields last June 18 at the Manila Hotel.

Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, Commander of the AFP Southern Command and a former corps commander of the UST Golden Corps, received the award for government service for military to the country.

The Faculty of Engineering alumnus said the award is a source of “inspiration and pride” for his 34 years of military service.

NEWLY-appointed Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Priscilla Torres, whose term started last June 16, is eyeing a five-year curriculum exclusively for Pharmacy students who plan to work abroad.

“In the US, the employers do not allow Filipino students to take the equivalency exams unless they are graduates of a five-year program, so the faculty is planning to implement it next year,” Torres said.

The curriculum for the five year program is still being planned. However, the new dean said the program will focus on clinical pharmacy and patient care.