The PRESIDENT’SOUTBOX

LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE CHARACTER

School year 2016-2017 has a lot of things in store for Bicol University. As we continue to move towards our goal of becoming a world-class university, we constantly improve on all aspects of our academic life.

We have started a new academic cycle, and with it, the challenge of a school year that will surpass all other school years in the past.

This year, we are faced with a new challenge, brought on by the Joint Memorandum of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) categorizing State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) into five levels instead of the current four. As a Level IV university, we certainly aim for no less than the highest level, and so we prepare ourselves for the more rigorous evaluation that will bring us to that level.

I am confident we can make it. We have proven our ability to work hard together and surpass quality assurance evaluations time and again. We will do so once more, because, yes, the best is yet to come! AACCUP/page 2

Consistent with Bicol University’s (BU) vision to become a world class university, President Arnulfo M. Mascariňas urged the faculty and staff to work together as the university sets its eyes on attaining an SUC Level V status by 2018.

BU eyes SUC Level V by 2018

SUC Level V/Page 3

Agenda Setting: Bicol University President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas presents the administration’s plan to attain the SUC Level V status by 2018 during the enhancement training of the different colleges and units. (Earl Epson L. Recamunda/OP)

ISSN 2094-3991 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 JUNE 2016

In a series of visits held from May 30 to June 3, 2016 during the annual college/campus enhancement programs, Mascariňas bared the administration’s plan to apply for SUC Level V accreditation, underpinning the university’s performance targets along Key Result Areas (KRAs) specified in the recently released Department of Budget and Management-Commission on Higher Education (DBM-CHED)

Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2016, otherwise known as the revised FY 2016 SUC Levelling Instrument and Guidelines.

Formulated jointly by the DBM and CHED in coordination with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), the circular is issued to revise the leveling instrument for SUCs, categorizing SUCs into five levels.

In the new performance evaluation instrument, SUC

levelling will be along quality and relevance of instruction, research capability and output, services to the community, and management of resources.

The levelling of SUCs is governed by three principles: Movement towards outcomes; alignment with ASEAN standards; and alignment with Typology-based Quality Assurance. The instrument has, for its Legal basis: PDP 2011-2016, Public Higher Education Reform Agenda 2012, Executive Order (EO) No. 80, s. 2012, and CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 46, s. 2012.

In one of his campus/

BU programs undergo AACCUP accreditation BU celebrates

Charter DayCelebrating its first-ever Charter Day, Bicol University (BU) commemorated the establishment of the premier state university in the Bicol region in a simple ceremony held at the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) Amphitheatre on June 21, 2016.

In his speech, President Arnulfo M. Mascariňas highlighted the significance of the event, emphasizing the difference between the Charter Day and Foundation Day, which is annually celebrated every September. According to Mascariňas, June 21 should be celebrated as the

In its relentless pursuit of world-class status, Bicol University once again submitted 11 curricular programs offered in the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) and Polangui Campus (PC) to the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) for evaluation.

Charter Day/page 3

Prof. Marina S. Quesada, overall team leader, delivers her opening message during the opening program of the AACCUP accreditation survey visit to the BU College of Agriculture and Forestry, and Polangui Campus, at the CAF Farmers Training Center Main Hall on June 20, 2016.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

MOA signing from page 4

AACCUP from page 1

Five programs from CAF underwent the third survey of their Level II accreditation, namely Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor in Agricultural Technology, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, and Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. The master’s degree program offered by the college, Master of Science in Agriculture, was also subjected to its second survey after its Level I accreditation.

In Polangui Campus, five programs namely Bachelor of Secondary Education,

Bachelor of Science (BS)in Food Technology, BS in Computer Science, BS in Electronics Technology, BS in Automotive Technology underwent the second survey of their Level I accreditation.

AACCUP is one of the four accrediting agencies in the country tasked to accredit the curricular programs of state universities and colleges. Programs that pass AACCUP standards and are awarded accreditation status are recognized for their excellence and quality standards. (Jona V. Castañeda/OP)

CAL, BU High School are 100% smoke-free compliant

– LGU LegazpiTwo units of Bicol University were certified as two of the “100% Smoke-Free Establishments” by the Legazpi City Health Office last June 29 at AVP Function Hall, Tahao Road, Legazpi City.

The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) and College of Education - Integrated Laboratory School (CEILS) received the Red Orchid Award from the Legazpi City Smoke – Free Committee (LCSFC).

The award is given to establishments that valuably contribute to the implementation of the Smoke Free Ordinance No. 0007 – 2009 of Legazpi City.Both CAL and CEILS underwent a rigorous process before achieving the award. It was the LCSFC through its Smoke-Free Inspection Team that conducted a secret inspection and evaluation of establishments in schools, hotels, restaurants in Legazpi City for the Search for 100% Smoke-Free Albay.

The certification is divided into three levels - the Red Orchid award, Pink Orchid Award, White Orchid Award. The award is non-monetary although Sarte shared that the Legazpi Health Office bared that it would device other means to make the award more attractive to the establishments and academes. (Joshua Caleb P. Pacleta/OP)

Spearheaded by BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas and PNA’s Acting Executive Editor Luis Morente, the partnership agreement aims to further strengthen the ties between the two parties in the conduct of the internship program offered by Bicol University to incoming senior Journalism students.

Floreño Solmirano, Bureau Chief of PNA Bicol, CAL Dean Dr. Maria B. Sarte and Print and Broadcast Media Department (PBM) Chair Prof. Anacito Dematera stood as witnesses to the occasion. (Shan Gabriel Apuli, Shane Irish Pelonia/ CAL, Photo by Jona V. Castañeda/OP)

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BicolUniversity @BicolUofficialTheBicolUniversity

(L-R) Bureau Chief of Philippines News Agency (PNA) Bicol Floreño Solmirano, PNA’s Acting Executive Editor Luis Morente and BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas sign the Memorandum of Agreement as they renew their ties in the conduct of the Summer Internship Program of the BUCAL Journalism Department. Also in the photo are Ms. Connie Destura of PNA-Bicol, Prof. Benjamin D. Nebres III of the Office of Student Services and Dr. Maria B. Sarte and Prof. Anacito E. Dematera of CAL.

AACCUP accreditors evaluate the documents submitted by the Bicol University Polangui Campus (BUPC) during their survey visit last June 23, 2016.

Program.CEILS High School

Department Unit Head Sandra Casitas also shared this observation. According to Casitas, the university has made sure that it has a pool of qualified teachers. In fact, among its roster of teachers, around 20 faculty will come from BU, which include the most outstanding graduates last graduation in April, teachers coming back from retirement and another BU graduate who has previously worked in Dubai but has now returned to the Philippines.

“Teachers should share the objectives to the students. They [students] have to be motivated to learn and to accept expectations. They have to do their best. They have to be given activities that will develop their critical thinking and creativity. We will apply the Outcomes-Based Education,” Casitas said.

Meanwhile, starting this academic year, the Department of Education will work with the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) like BU to use their existing facilities and teaching staff to reduce the impact of the lack of incoming freshmen in the tertiary level during the transition program.DEPED VOUCHER PROGRAM

In order to assist parents for their children’s education under K-12, the national government allocated a P12 billion fund for DepEd’s SHS Voucher Program.

As stated in DepEd’s website, “The Voucher Program is intended for Grade 10 (Junior High School) completers who wish to

pursue Senior High School (SHS) education in non-DepEd Schools such as Private High Schools, Colleges, and Universities; Local Universities and Colleges (LUC); State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); and Technical and Vocational Schools, starting SY 2016-2017.”

“The voucher enables students to claim a ‘discount’ or a deduction from the cost of tuition and other fees charged by a non-DepEd SHS where he or she will enroll. The voucher subsidy is not given to students directly in the form of cash but will be disbursed by DepEd to the non-DepEd SHS where he or she enrolls.“

Under this program, qualified students who finished Grade 10 may get a subsidy. For those coming from public schools, they will get a voucher worth P17, 500. Students coming from SUCs like BU will get P8, 750 which will be released to the school on a per-semester-basis and will only be valid if redeemed within the first semester of the school year after completing Grade 10.

The voucher is disbursed to the school rather than directly to the student. This covers the tuition and other school fees for two years regardless of how long the student takes to finish. However, if the amount of fees exceeds the value of the voucher, the student should shoulder the remaining amount.

The SHS program allows students to choose the track that is most relevant to their needs and career goals. (By Cassandra Balala and Randall Matthew Lorayes/The Bicol Universitarian and Joshua Caleb Pacleta/OP)

Senior High School from page 4

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

university’s Charter Day because it was on this day that R.A. 5521, also known as the Bicol University Charter was enacted.

R.A. 5521 officially established Bicol University, converting what used to be the Bicol Teacher’s College which was formerly the Albay Normal School, Daraga Central Elementary School, Albay Provincial High School, Bicol Regional School of Arts and Trades, Roxas Memorial Agricultural School, and the School of Fisheries in Tabaco, into “appropriate or other units of the University.”

The BU Foundation Day, on the other hand, commemorates the historic event when the university became operational through BOR Resolution 1, series of 1970, which was passed on September 22, 1970. On the same day, certain officials were also designated as in-charge of the respective schools through BOR Resolution 2, series of 1970.

Mascariňas added that it was

former President Lylia Corporal-Sena who declared through Administrative Order No. 2, series of 1998 that the said dates should not be confused, highlighting the significance of both events as ratified through BOR Resolution 33, series of 1998. He further said that from this year on, the BU Charter Day will be properly commemorated; even promising that in the years to come it will be celebrated “with more grandeur.”

This year’s Charter Day was celebrated with a Thanksgiving Mass and a half-day program that highlighted speeches from University Student Council Chair Patrick Anthony Nota and Board of Regents Member Engr. Clemente S. Ibo. Ibo is an alumnus of the College of Engineering. The Search for BU Alumni Awardees was also launched in an announcement made by Dr. Rosana L. Madrona, BU Alumni Relations Officer. (Ma. Celina Eladia G. Meneseses/OP)

The head of the Consultancy, Linkages and Other Support Services (CLOSS) of the Bicol University (BU) Extension Service Center presented a paper at the Joint American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN)- Chulalongkorn University Intensive Environmental Ethics and Ethics of Science and Technology Conference held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand on June 13-19, 2016.

college visits, Mascariňas announced that according to the 2013 to 2015 statistics gathered and analyzed by the university’s Planning and Management Office (PMO), BU belongs to Level IV of the revised SUC levelling instrument. He then urged the faculty and staff to “build on these achievements to become a Level V State University, and realize BU’s vision of a world-class university.”

For this goal to be achieved, Mascariňas said that the administration has set up a number of mechanisms to ensure that the whole university work together collaboratively. One of this is the revised individual and office performance commitment review (IPCR and OPCR), which will now be geared towards the KRAs. The new IPCR and OPCR are uniquely designed that individual performance affects department and

college performance, and college performance affects individual ratings.

Mascariñas also promised full support to faculty and personnel for human resource development, including sending qualified applicants to top universities in the ASEAN region such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.

“If we want to build a world-class university, it should start from our faculty members. I believe that the faculty members, our personnel, the non-teaching staff, they are the best resources that we ever have,” Mascariñas said.

Should BU attain the SUC Level V status, the university would be comparable to the best universities or colleges in Asia, therefore achieving its vision to become a world-class university. (Ma. Celina G. Meneses & Gladys G. Serafica/OP)

CLOSS head presents paperin Thailand

SUC Level V from Page 1

has been tapped as an engagement with the trading partners worldwide.

“It is already a huge trend for the past several years and we want to make sure that we are not left behind. We have the creativity, the talent, and the strong potential to make the best, most beautiful and useful products in the world. We just need the right tools to do that,” he said.

Cristobal added that DTI’s partnership with BU is a good decision, assuring that the said partnership will be sustainable as DTI will always be there to continue to support this effort.

“The name of the game now is innovation and entrepreneurship. Together, government, academe, private sector and civil society must join hands to compete with the bests of the world,” he said.

In his speech during the inauguration, BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas thanked DTI for its grant to fund the building of the SSF inside the

university. By providing advance state of the art fabrication equipment, Mascariñas said that BU can now be able to respond to the challenge of the SMEs and become a partner of the industry, thus contributing to the region’s economic growth.

According to the DTI website, FabLab “helps develop the local economy by providing better and more competitive products. It enhances the local MSME ecosystem, encourages start-ups, and develops entrepreneurs who create more jobs.” By spurring innovation and creativity, DTI believes that through the FabLab, MSMEs can be at par with the global market demands.

The FabLab launching was attended by DTI Directors, officials from different regions, entrepreneurs in Bicol, Local Government Units (LGUs), officials and trainers of Fablab Bohol, JICA volunteers as well as BU employees and students. (Wilma E. Pajavera/BUCIT)

FabLab from Page 4

BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas turns-over the University banner to the faculty members of the College of Education who will be the host for the Charter Day celebration in 2017. (Jona V. Castañeda/OP)

Pres. Mascariñas and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sec. Adrian Cristobal Jr. unveil the FabLab Bicol plaque during the inauguration of the DTI-funded Shared Service Facility (SSF) at the BUCIT Multi-Technology Complex on June 23, 2016. (Jona V. Castañeda/OP)

Charter Day /from p.1

Prof. Rowena Zoilo presented her paper titled “Environmental Education for Sustainable Development” upon the invitation from the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN), USA, the International Peace and Development Ethics Centre, and Eubios Ethics Institute.

The conference, which includes sessions on Bioethics, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Peace, Disaster Resilience, Environmental Ethics, Policy-making, Paper and Thesis Writing, used

a cross-cultural approach.From Bangkok, Zoilo

proceeded to Phnom Penh for the four-day (June 20-23) ASEAN Inter-cultural Visit which was funded by the ASEAN Entrepreneur Foundation in Cambodia.

The said visit was part of the ASEAN 2015 Integration which aimed to provide opportunities for inter-cultural sharing, visits to community projects and universities, discussions on successful entrepreneurial undertakings, and exploration of possible collaboration with the Cambodian Government.

The Editorial Board

www.facebook.com/BicolUniversity

Editorial Head: Dr. Ma. Celina Eladia G. Meneses

Associate Editor: Prof. Gladys G. Serafica

Managing Editor: Ms. Merly J. Loria

ISSN 2094-3991 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 JUNE 2016

Circulation Manager: Ms. Mary Ann M. See

Photojournalist/ Layout Artist: Earl Epson L. Recamunda

Writer: Joshua Caleb P. Pacleta

Editorial Consultants:Dr. Reina O. Habalo

Dr. Helen M. LlenaresasOverall Consultant:

Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas

Bicol University (BU) renewed its partnership with the Philippines News Agency (PNA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on June 17, 2016 at College of Arts and Letters Amphitheatre.

The renewal of partnership between both parties happened during the graduation rites of the 16 Journalism students (11 for PNA Bicol and 5 for PNA Manila) who spent their 200-hour Student Internship Program (SIP) with the said agency last March - April this year.

To help local entrepreneurs produce high quality outputs and propel the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) inaugurated the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) at the Bicol University Multi-Technology Complex, College of Industrial Technology last June 23.

FabLab Bicol, the first facility in the region, is one of the existing DTI-funded Shared Service Facility (SSF) in the Philippines. The facility is not only a laboratory but also a Negosyo Center Plus in Bicol.

According to Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., the concept of building the Fablab is something that

BUCAL, PNA renew ties through MOA signing

DTI launches Fabrication Lab in BU

BU welcomes 400 Senior High School studes

MOA signing/page 2

Senior High School/page 2

JOSZABELLE C. ESTRELLA2nd Placer, 86.60%ARGIE JOY C. RED 8th Placer, 85.40%MONETTE JANE B. GUEVARRA 9th Placer, 85.20%

June 2016 Nursing Licensure Examination

BU welcomes exchange studes from Japan

As part of the university’s goal to promote globalization and internationalization, Bicol University opened its doors to two Japanese exchange students from the National University Corporation Kochi University (KU), Kochi, Japan.

Mori Kumazaki and Chinatsu Oda, both AB International Communications students of KU are currently taking up AB English subjects in the College of Arts and Letters. They will stay in the college for two semesters.

The Exchange Student Program was made possible through the Memorandum of Agreement between KU and BU which started in 2011 and was reapproved last May 23, 2016. (Earl Epson L. Recamunda/OP)

Bicol University (BU) welcomed at least 400 Grade 11 students for school year 2016-2017 with the opening of the Senior High School (SHS) program.

FabLab/Page 3

Linkages: Prof. Samuel C. Bobiles, Director of the Global Linkage Office @ Bicol University and Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas warmly welcome Japanese exchange students Chinatsu Oda and Mori Kumazaki during their courtesy visit to the Office of the President on June 13, 2016. (Earl Epson L. Recamunda/OP)

Grade 11 students under the HUMMS strand in the College of Arts and Letters listen attentively to their teacher during their first day of classes. (Earl Epson L. Recamunda/OP)

As one of the tertiary schools in the region offering K-12, BU opened the SHS program that allows students to take specific career tracks and strands which are similar to college courses and specializations.

Of the total 400 SHS enrollees, 102 finished Junior High School (JHS) at the BU College of Education Integrated Laboratory School (CEILS) while 298 came from other schools. The said enrollees were the first batch to finish the four years of JHS who are then required to advance in SHS instead of entering the tertiary level.

President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas said that although BU is not mandated to open SHS in the university, BU still accepted incoming Grade 11 students because there is a laboratory school in BUCE.

The university has a total of 10 classes for the different strands in the K to 12 Program: four classes for the Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand, three classes for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, and another three classes for the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand.

Of the three tracks offered, it is STEM which is lodged at the College of Science that has the most number of enrollees with 160. Both the HUMSS and ABM tracks have 120 enrollees, with the former lodged at the College of Arts and Letters and the latter at the College of Business, Economics and Management. Based on the breakdown, each track has a maximum of 40 students per class.

In an interview with the BUzzette, Vice President for Academic Affairs Helen Llenaresas assured that BU has undertaken steps in preparation for the new academic arrangements. She further said that the university is ready for the transition from the old curriculum to the K-12