By: Aishah Jimenez, Izza Belle Basubas
The Letran Student Council (LSC) holds another session of TINDIG to further give updates and answer concerns for the students. Photo courtesy of Eduardo Nollora Jr. of The LANCE.
The Letran Student Council (LSC) recommences its “TINDIG” forum and advocacy network for students with their second dialogue session with student representatives last April 2, 2024.
The event tapped on several reports of the council about updates and plans of action on student body concerns with the input and suggestions from the Colegio administrators and the Department of Student Affairs
Update on Proposed Memorandums
The proposed extra wash day, scheduled every Saturday, has been approved by the DSA, with students required to wear approved polo shirts of the Colegio.
Citing inclusivity for men and LGBTQIA+ Letranites, long hair is now permitted given the students must obtain a special permit from the DSA to enter the Colegio without reprimand. This policy, implemented during the pandemic, also stipulates that hair color must adhere to natural Asian tones.
However, the DSA did not approve the proposal to reduce the activity ban to one week and the proposed Magna Carta for students. Referring to the existing regulation for students, based on the student handbook, they instead advise the students to propose amendments to the existing provision. The student handbook is revised every two to three years, and the next possible change is expected for the school year 2024–2025.
Update on the General Concerns of Letranites
Different Learning Outcomes in Subject Courses
Students raised the concern that lessons were not aligned with the syllabus, while professors asserted they were at liberty to alter the syllabus based on student feedback, particularly in political science courses. The LSC responded that students have the right to call out, identify the professor and subject of concern, and write a letter to the DSA.
In light of examination procedures for general education (GenEd) clusters, the student council has proposed each professor create the assessment and distribute it to their students to avoid the burden of exam papers that have been created exclusively by a single or head professor of the subject course concerned. However, the DSA rejected this because the original strategy guarantees the syllabus is adhered to strictly.
Oppositely, the council clarified that in cases where a number of test items were not discussed, students may opt to raise such an issue to their respective professors or academic chairperson, if it remains unresolved.
Similarly, the request to have an academic consultation week before the commencement of major examinations was not granted. Instead, the LSC pointed out that such consultation must occur after the examination week, which professors from all college departments must conduct as it is an existing policy.
Tardy Professors
Concerns regarding tardy professors were also addressed in the forum as some individuals from different departments arrived in class 20 minutes before the time ended. LSC said that the students could leave the classroom after 15 minutes without any “notice” from the professor. This is to maximize the time for the students and avoid delays. The council highlighted the term notice, highlighting it is applicable even the day before the scheduled class of the professor.
Academic Break
Similar to the initial forum, the Council reiterated that while Letran created the Ginhawa Program, which gives students two days off after their midterm exams, the same cannot be enforced for the academic year 2023–2024 due to the numerous class suspensions.
RSO Budget
The DSA and the Letran Financial Affairs Division (LFAD) facilitated a discussion in September 2023 where the former sought to enrich the budget funds for the Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) from P7,000 to P10,000, which the latter did not approve. This is because an increase in the RSOs' budget results in a rise in the tuition and other fees paid by students.
Accordingly, the LSC will make an effort to provide a small amount of funds to the RSOs to guarantee that important events and activities will continue to be organized for the benefit of every student. The DSA will continue to tackle this matter with the LFAD in preparation for the upcoming academic year.
Suspension of Classes
The LSC stressed that the Colegio cannot decide upon the suspension of classes as the institution generally relies on the decision of the Manila - Local Government Unit and the national government.
Dean’s List and Latin Honors
The LSC added they received multiple complaints regarding the dean's list and Latin honors in response to the increase of the minimal average needed to be eligible for such awards.
The Student Council revealed that during the emergence of the pandemic, the minimum required average to be included in the honor list is 90%, which is two points lower than what has been standardized today, thereby resulting in constraints in the budgetary funds of the Colegio. As such, if the studentry wish to reduce the prescribed grade requirement, they may only do so by participating in the revision of the handbook prior to the start of another academic year.
Letran Gymnasium
LSC further discussed that the Colegio is currently dealing with a new contractor to construct the school’s gymnasium. If the plan will persistently be developed, students may anticipate the launching and utilization of the said facility.
TOFI
In July 2023, a dialogue with the previous Letran Student Council LSC occurred, yet no updates on the tuition fee increase were provided. However, in November of the previous year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) initially approved a 10% increase in tuition fees. While the revised and corrected approval due to addressing issues was released in December 2023.
As the second semester approached this year, information on the tuition fee hike was posted on the Colegios bulletin board. Upon the approval of LFAD, the LSC disseminated it through emails.
Response of the College Deans and Administrators
The LSC then reported that the student concerns had been compiled and sent to department deans and administrators with the aid of the presidents of RSOs and the student senate of LSC.
In the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), the dean and area chairperson have responded to BS Food Technology's request for better laboratory functionality, chemical availability, free lockers, and safety materials among others.
Meanwhile, for BS Hospitality Management and BS Tourism Management, the foremen settled on creating an action plan regarding improving the supplementing equipment in the hot kitchen bar laboratory, laboratory facilities, roof deck classrooms, bathrooms, and HDMI connectivity.
On the other hand, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), though acknowledged numerous areas of concern via the General Assembly by its dean, his manner of answering failed to satisfy the students, prompting the senate to gather concerns and direct them instead to the area chairperson.
The administration of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT) also responded to the worries of its learners. Petitions for the establishment of drinking fountains have been approved by the former, whereas the call for the installation of bidets in the engineering building necessitates systematic analysis. Additionally, the proposal to have a dining area in the said building may not be possible, unless the RSO president lays down areas where it can be built other than the former.
The demand for the accessibility of YouTube and Reddit for Information and Technology students was also denied as it constrained the acquisition of a faster Internet connection within the Colegio and adult-oriented content was deemed to be present in said applications, thereby increasing its hazard to work.
Remaining Activities and Events for A.Y. 2023-2024
The LSC has evaluated its final projects for the second semester of this academic year, which are REVITALIZING OUR SPACES: A Campus and Resource Access Improvements, LSC Elections 2024, OMG! Workshop Series, and Knight’s Movement: SustainABILITY.
Among others, the most anticipated event covers the LSC Elections 2024, which will be held on April 17-18. As the Letran Student Council election is ongoing, the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) began on March 15 and was initially set to conclude on March 19, 2024.
However, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued Memorandum No. 002 Series of 2024, urging recognized student organizations (RSOs) to organize relevant activities for the election and extending the CoC filing deadline until April 5.
COMELEC Chairman Reigh John Bench Almendras provided updates on the issue of no student filing for the presidency. He explained the possibility of a motion for a special election, where the Senate chooses a president from the representatives of the RSO.
A special election may occur the following day after the deadline for CoC filing on April 6, requiring the Senate and RSO representatives to nominate a candidate for the LSC presidential seat. The COMELEC further encourages student leaders to participate in the upcoming elections.