07/12/2022
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗥. 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗖. 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗭, 𝗝𝗥. 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗠𝗨𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗥𝗨𝗟𝗘 (𝗠𝗥𝗥) & 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦
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𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗠𝗨𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗥𝗨𝗟𝗘 (𝗠𝗥𝗥)
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) students alleged that Prof. Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. (Prof. FCS) was anti-student for enforcing Maximum Residency Rule (MRR) which resulted in over 600 cases that needed to be processed for MRR extension and readmission.
𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵
● During the administration of Prof. FCS, there were no changes in the implementation of the MRR rule.
● The figure of 600 MRR cases as cited in the statements released on social media is without factual basis. The real facts based on the records were as follows based on 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 (𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵):
o Between 1st Semester AY 2018-19 and 2nd Semester AY 2018-19, the number of students who enrolled decreased by 683.
o The decrease in enrollment can be broken down as follows: 𝟮𝟯𝟬 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟰𝟱𝟯 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹.
o Of the 453 who did not enroll, 27 were not able to complete matriculation, 313 were dismissed/permanently dismissed/exceeded maximum residency, and 113 did not enroll (for unspecified reasons).
o Of the 313, 𝟲𝟴 𝗿𝗲-𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟰 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱.
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬
● On 05 March 2020, Prof. FCS wrote a letter (Reference No: FCSJ-2020-203) to President Danilo L. Concepcion acknowledging the list of students, gathered by the UPLB University Student Council (USC), who appealed for readmission and extension to the Office of the President. 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟳𝟰 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗨𝗦𝗖, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟬 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟴 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬.
● 𝗣𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻 in a response (Reference No: PDLC 20-55) dated 17 June 2020 to the letter sent on 05 March 2020, 𝗙𝗖𝗦 𝘄𝗮𝘀 “𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”
● On 30 June 2020, FCS expanded the mandate of the UPLB University Council (UC) Committee on Student Progress, under Administrative Order No. 201 Series of 2020, to study the appeals for readmission and extension of residency.
● The findings of the committee were reported to the 143rd UPLB UC on 17 July 2020. The Council upheld the findings of the committee.
● 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗖 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕, 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗥𝗥 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗖.
𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
UPLB students alleged that Prof. FCS was anti-student for not allowing late registration during the 2nd Sem AY 2018-2019.
● The late registration period is provided in the University Code and was followed by UPLB.
● UPLB is the only CU that includes the late registration period in its Calendar. It also extended the late registration period for 3 more days.
● Opening of sections/courses can only be approved if there will be the following: 1) availability of faculty to handle the additional class; 2) available classroom; and 3) a sufficient number of students who will enroll.
● For students who cannot enlist because of financial obligations, a period of three (3) weeks was given for them to process and submit promissory notes.
● The opening of new classes/courses was limited by the following: 1) limitations in resources, facilities, and teaching staff; 2) incomplete pre-enlistment of students; and 3) irregular status of students.
● 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗔 𝟭𝟬𝟵𝟯𝟭) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧), 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝟱) 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿.
● 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝘀, 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗣 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗.
● The submission of the list of enrolled students is also required by the UP System.
𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗠 𝗡𝗢. 𝟬𝟯𝟬 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬
Students alleged that this Memorandum of Prof. FCS is proof of his anti-student sentiment.
● This memorandum was a reiteration of the University Code provision on the admission of students (Art. 30 Chap. 44). 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
● This was needed because of reports that students have been able to attend classes, take exams, and obtain a final grade despite not being enrolled. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿.
𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗦 & 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦
Students alleged that as Chancellor, Prof. FCS did not heed the call of the students to stop the implementation of SAIS (Student Academic Information System).
● SAIS is an initiative of the UP System that is aimed at improving the management of student records. It integrated the registration and enlistment process with the end of facilitating student enrollment. Its adoption is not the action of the Chancellor.
● Upon the introduction of SAIS, glitches were observed. It is expected that any new system will have to be debugged and adjusted to remove such glitches.
● In UPLB, SAIS replaced SystemOne which was also in need of improvement.
● 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗙𝗖𝗦 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. Contrary to such allegations, he took the initiative to grant concessions that are within the bounds set by existing policies and guidelines of the University. Extensions to the late registration period were granted, appeals were granted even after an extended period, and students with meritorious reasons were granted their appeals.
𝗔𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱. This would include having to reluctantly refuse readmission to students who have already been dismissed previously for two times on poor academic performance, including excessive absences, and dismiss appeals for students who have already stayed beyond the MRR.
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